Page 11 of Covert Chaos

Interest flickered in Burly Guy's eyes. "Why? Drugs?"

What the fudge? "No, because…" I had to think fast. What would Burly Guy think was a great reason? "We're innocent."

He nodded. "Yeah, I know how that goes. Damn cops judge everyone."

Guilt flickered through me. Was this the kind of betrayal that Hattie was talking about? Sending the Ugly Man customers after Devlin and Griselda so Hattie didn't go to prison for murder?

Yep, yep, that was what Hattie had been talking about. My moral compass was a complete lie. I was somewhat shattered, but I didn't have time to plunge into the depths of a personal identity crisis. I was about to betray two men who I liked, who were willing to risk their lives to save mine.

But hey, they were former black ops. It might even be fun for them. I tried not to feel guilty. "The guy at the end of the aisle in the blue T-shirt and sunglasses, and the one at the bar in a black bomber jacket and black sneakers."

They both sat up and looked around.

"Blue shirt is coming this way. I got this." Burly guy shot to his feet. "Drinks on the cops!" he shouted, pointing to the bar.

"Don't help Mia, Bert," Rachel snapped. She waved her arms to get Devlin and Griselda's attention. "Hello! Mia and Lucy are under here!"

Um…wow. That was brutal.

But she was too late, because the tavern had already burst into rousing cheers, and everyone jumped to their feet and surged away from the table, no doubt over to Griselda and Devlin.

If they had any brains, Griselda and Devlin would know that was my fault, especially if they'd seen Turbojet outside. I was going to pay for that, but right now, we had to go save Hattie. She'd had a head start going after Charles, and despite what she thought, she wouldn't have a chance in hand-to-hand combat with him.

Bert the Burly Guy leaned under the table, a smug grin on his face. "Favor given, favor owed."

Dear heavens. I didn't want to owe that man a favor. "Thank you!" I said brightly, not quite agreeing to sell my soul to him.

"You're amazing," Lucy said. "Thank you!"

"My pleasure. Chaos is my friend." Bert did have a twinkle in his eye, which made me think he might be my kind of guy after all.

Rachel stood up and walked away, and I had a bad feeling she was going to rat us out.

"Let's go, Lucy." We scrambled to our feet and raced through the crowded room, staying hunched over, ducking around people flooding to the bar to order drinks.

I caught a glimpse of Griselda getting back slaps and man hugs, and then we were through the swinging door and into the back hallway.

Eight

The moment we stepped into the back hall, I saw Devlin.

He was only a few feet away, his back toward us as he spoke to Diesel, the owner of the Ugly Man.

Crap!

I skidded to a stop, and Lucy crashed into me. She hit the wall and bumped a picture. I lunged and grabbed it before it hit the ground, and King Tut squirmed out of my arms. Lucy let out a muffled burst of laughter, then Hattie popped out on our left from the kitchen, grabbed us and yanked us sideways, dragging us through the swinging doors.

I grabbed King Tut at the last second and pulled him with me, ignoring his rumble of irritation.

As the door swung shut, I saw Devlin start to turn around, his cop instincts no doubt alerting him to the "trouble is behind me!" warning. "Devlin's out there." I swaddled King Tut back in my sweatshirt, but I knew he was running out of patience.

"Obviously. That's why I saved you," Hattie said.

"There's a back hallway." I knew about the back hall all too well from a past visit to the Ugly Man. "Let's go out that way."

"You got it." Hattie led the way through the kitchen, waving at the staff as she went. "Hello, my lovelies. You all are doing a wonderful job!" She stopped suddenly. "Emmeline?"

A woman about my age was in the back, standing over a table of pies.

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