Page 77 of The Good Girl

“Do you want me to use you for target practice, Crane?” I ask him sweetly.

He scoffs. “We both know you won’t shoot me. You like me. Everyone likes me.”

“So modest.”

“It’s a blessing and a curse,” he sighs, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Now hurry your cute ass in there and get us some ice cream.”

“What kind?”

“Surprise me,” he says before heading over to one of the picnic tables. He sits down on the wooden bench and kicks his feet up beside him. I give him a salute, making him chuckle, and head inside.

.

I push the door open. The little bell above it announces my arrival. But I know everyone saw us pull in. The room goes quietas they all stare at me. Ignoring the urge to squirm, I head straight for the counter. Thankfully, there’s no line, so I take a moment to check out the glass case to see what they have.

“Can I help you?” a gruff voice asks.

I look up to find the young woman who’d been standing behind the counter gone and, in her place, a man in his late forties, wearing a white hat and a matching apron. His name tag says Ed, but judging by the scowl on his face, he probably wouldn’t be happy if I called him that.

“Can I get a couple of ice creams, please?”

He grunts, so I take that as a yes.

“I’ll take one with a single scoop of bubble gum and the other with a scoop of the bourbon and a scoop of vanilla.”

Without a word, he turns and starts banging around. Well, okay then. I take a seat at the nearest empty table. Looking outside, I see Crane watching me like a hawk and give him a little wave. He shakes his head and grins as I turn away.

I glance around and see people still watching me. Some quickly look away when they realize I’ve noticed them, and some glare, while others talk in hushed whispers, disdain clear on their faces.

“You know what kind of man you have out there?” a voice behind me says, making me turn to see an older couple sitting nearby.

The woman grabs the man’s arm and hushes him. “Be quiet, David.”

He shakes her off. “No, Marjorie. She should know.”

“I know exactly what kind of man Crane is. But he’s not my man. Havoc is.”

That causes the room to buzz.

“Havoc’s back?”

The question comes from another table, where an older man sits with two little boys who have ice cream all over their faces.I’m guessing they’re his grandkids, but you never know these days.

“Sorta. Havoc’s the President of the Mother Chapter of Raven Souls now. He’s back to figure out what the heck’s going on with his old club. And trust me, he’s not happy. I’m guessing some of you know what really happened with Havoc and the club.”

“Those bastards shafted Havoc without a second thought,” David says, shaking his head.

“He didn’t know anyone knew the truth until yesterday. It helps that people didn’t think he was guilty.”

One of the others in the room clears their throat, drawing my attention. “So, you know what’s been going on here since he’s been gone?”

“We heard yesterday that girls have been going missing.”

Everyone nods, confirming what the cook told Mac and Toot.

I lower my voice, knowing I shouldn’t be telling them any of this. Havoc will probably punish me afterward, but something tells me this might be the one chance we have to get the townspeople to help us.

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