Page 18 of Breaking Rules

Shaking his head, Pete said, “Nah, I didn’t recognize ’em. It was busy.”

“How’d he seem?” Sam asked. “Anything off about his behavior?”

“Well, he got pretty lit,” Pete said with a chuckle. “His buddies practically had to help him stand.”

Jo and Sam shared a look.

“Did he leave with them? When did they leave?” Jo asked.

Pete shook his head. “I didn’t see him leave. Place was packed last night. I barely remember even seeing Alex, let alone some random guys. When I saw the car here this morning, I was glad he’d gotten a ride home with someone. Sorry I can’t be more helpful, but I had my hands full here behind the bar.”

“No problem. Thanks for the help,” Sam said. “Anything else comes to mind, give me a call.”

“You got it, Chief.”

Sam turned and headed for the exit, Jo and Lucy on his heels. Pushing out into the crisp afternoon air, Sam paused outside the front door. “So Alex was here getting drunk with some mystery pals,” he mused. “And then what happened?”

“Good question,” Jo added grimly.

Sam looked up at the small camera over the door. “We need to figure out who those ‘friends’ were ASAP, and I think I might know how we can do it.”

“We’d better stop for donuts,” Jo said as they got into the Tahoe. “This case is going to require some brain food.”

Sam started the engine. “Can’t argue with that logic. Brewed Awakening it is.”

As they pulled out of the parking lot, Jo brought up the mystery surrounding Alex’s presence at the bar. “So do you think someone lured Alex to the Drunken Moose, or did he go there to meet up with people?”

“Hard to say at this point,” Sam replied, turning onto Main Street. “Could’ve been a planned meetup or just a chance encounter.”

Jo nodded. “Yeah, no way to know yet. We gotta find the guys he was drinking with.”

“Agreed. Pete didn’t recognize them, so likely not regulars.” Sam slowed for a stop sign. “You think they slipped Alex something?”

“Maybe,” said Jo. “No drugs turned up at his place, so if they did dose him, it was probably just for that night, to incapacitate him.”

Sam turned left toward Brewed Awakening. “Incapacitate him in order to drown him in the lake, make it look accidental.”

“Right.”

Sam pulled up to the window and turned to Jo. “The usual?”

“Yep.”

Lucy poked her head between the two seats as if to say she wanted “the usual” as well.

“Morning, Chief, Jo,” the teenage girl greeted them cheerfully from the drive-thru window.

“Hey, Emily,” Sam replied.

Lucy popped her head further into view and gave a little woof.

“Well, hi there, Lucy!” Emily grinned, leaning down to get a better look at the police dog. “Here for a snack too?”

Lucy’s tail thumped against the seat in response.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Emily laughed. She turned her attention back to Sam and Jo. “So what’ll it be today? The usual dozen with two coffees?”

“You got it,” Sam confirmed.

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