Page 34 of Xavier

Zach gets up from his stool and heads through the kitchen door.

My gaze follows his retreating figure before turning to Brianna. “He probably shouldn’t be back there. At least not until the police get here to report the damage and take everyone’s statement.”

“They will be here soon enough. Besides, he has to call his insurance company and start a claim. It will be easier to do that once he sees what damage has been done.”

She shoves another bite of pie into her mouth. She’s subtly fishing for more information from him. But what? I don’t know, yet.

What happened while Everett was ransacking the place?

What was said between the three partners before Everett was shot?

Was Zach mentioned in their conversation? What about the mayor?

How does Zach and the mayor fit in with the cartel?

I need answers. I’m tired of all these damn questions.

Getting my mind off the questions in my mind, I say, “I don’t think insurance agents will come out until after the hurricane is long gone.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” She shrugs.

“There’s no maybe. The storm is going to hit within the next twelve to twenty-four hours. No one is coming out besides the police and the coroner. So, why are you so worried about him looking at the damage?”

Brianna places her fork down and plants her hands on the bar.

“My uncle has sacrificed a lot in order to keep this restaurant running. It’s not as profitable as we want, so of course, I don’t want to see him struggle to fix the place up after a nonsense crime was committed.”

Her gaze leaves mine for a second as it goes to the kitchen door. I feel bad for sticking my nose in her family’s business, but the cartel wants something from her family.

And if we don’t figure out what it is, someone else will end up like Everett here.

She sighs and picks her fork back up, suddenly looking defeated. “I just care about my family. That’s all. They are the only ones I have.”

“I can understand that. I’m living in my dead father’s house in a town I’ve never stepped foot in before last week. I’m in between jobs and still trying to figure life out.”

Not that I need to work with my retirement pay, but I don’t want to sit at home alone for the rest of my life either.

And as far as figuring out life, well, that one is on the back burner until I sort this situation out.

Her facial expression softens. “You don’t have any other family here?”

I shake my head. “To be honest, I was surprised to find out my dad moved down here. My nearest family is a half day’s drive away.”

Not that they’d open their doors for me if I showed up on their front porch.

She scoffs. “What’s so bad about being down here?”

“Nothing.” If you like everyone in your business. I add, “But my father was close to his family, and this town isn’t close at all.”

Our conversation is cut off when Zach storms back through the swinging kitchen door, looking frantic.

He immediately walks over to the cash register, pushes a button to open it, and pulls out the tray.

It’s obvious that he’s looking for something.

Is it something that the killer took before fleeing? Is it what they were looking for the entire time?

Brianna raises an eyebrow as she watches him tear through the contents in the bottom of the drawer. “Uh, Uncle Zach, is everything alright?”

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