Page 149 of Five Mountain Daddies

That gives me an odd idea. I flip through a few more pages, and sure enough, it looks like everyone drinks at that bar. I don’t remember it, but that’s not surprising since I left town before I could legally drink. I grab my phone and call upCora.

She answers right away. “Hi, Wyatt,” shesays.

“Do you know a bar calledHottie’s?”

“Sure,” she says. “Pretty crappy place.Why?”

“Did Atticus used to drinkthere?”

“I think so,” she says, not sounding sure. “I don’t really go inthere.”

“Huh.” I hesitate a second. “In the mood for adrink?”

“Are you asking meout?”

“Absolutely I am,” I say,smiling.

“In that case, come pick me up atseven.”

“See you soon.” I hang up and lean back in mychair.

If people that knew Atticus drink at Hottie’s, then that’s the place we want to check out. It’s probably a dead end, but it’s worth ashot.

I pack up my things and head out, smiling to myself as I imagine taking Cora out on adate.

* * *

Hottie’s isa standalone place tucked at the far corner of downtown Mason, a little squat building that looks like it used to be a Pizza Hut. The neon “H” on the neon sign out front is burned out, so really we’re heading into “ottie’s” rightnow.

I glance over at Cora. She smiles at me calmly. She looks fucking good, I can’t deny that. Short skirt, hair pulled back, blouse showing off just enough of her perfect breasts. She looks like she’s going out on a date, and I wish I had something nicer to wear. Unfortunately, I’m in the same old clothes, a button-down and jeans, since I don’t have much else towear.

“Nice place,” Cora says as we step in through thedoor.

I grin and don’t respond. Hottie’s is far from a nice place, but it’s already crowded. It looks like a chain bar, but without the stale cleanliness. The lights are down low and couples are sitting in booths and at tables, eating dinner and drinking. We head over toward the bar and grab seats toward the end. I order a beer and Cora asks for a whiskey and gingerale.

I get my drink and glance around the room. The place is a lot like the Great American, but a little seedier. The people here are rougher, louder, a little looser, and it’s still early in the night. Cora seems to be enjoying herself, a little smile on her face as she sips her drink, but I can’t help but feel a littleexposed.

I don’t know who’s here from high school. I could know a ton of people here and never even realize it, which makes me vastly uneasy. I haven’t seen these people in years, and I just have to hope that they won’t recognizeme.

“How’s being home been for you so far?” Cora asksme.

I glance at my drink. “Not bad,” I say. “Went to a funeral, got roped into a murder investigation. You know, theusual.”

She grins at me. “You’re acting like it’s sobad.”

“I guess not. I get to spend time with you.” I meet hergaze.

She quickly looks away, and I’m pretty sure she’s blushing. “Yeah, lucky you, coming to my house in the middle of the night because I had anightmare.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Nightmare?”

She sighs. “I had a nightmare, before I called you. I think… I don’t know if what I saw wasreal.”

I nod and let out a breath. That makes sense, that’s why she hasn’t gotten in touch with me today. She feels weird about last night, probably thinks it wasn’treal.

“Listen, your trashcan really was left open,” I tell her. “Unless you have really smart raccoons or you left it open, someone was inthere.”

She bites her lip. “Really? I mean, it couldn’t have been thewind?”

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