Page 25 of Spiritwarrior

“Nah, I just don’t want to have to do the paperwork myself. Joel is a lazy bastard; it’ll give him something to do.”

She had heard of the expression dumbstruck but had never experienced it before.

Watching as the deputy ate the burger, unconcerned, while she was terrified of the man who wanted his money coming back left her speechless.

Logan, who had taken the extra burger and was eating it, placed it back down on the plate. “Uncle Greer, I think she’s afraid. Maybe you should take the paperwork or tell Knox.”

“She has nothing to be afraid of unless she has two hundred thousand in the safe out back.” Greer picked up two fries. “Do you?”

Sophie stared at him in dismay. “Of course not.”

“Then you should be good,” he said, eating his fries. “Whoever he is will at least wait till morning to get the money. By then, you’ll have made the report.”

“I couldn’t come up with that kind of money if he gave me fifty years.”

“Then you have a problem.” Greer started on his other burger. “Which I can help you with in the morning, or you close up when I’m done eating and mosey across the street.”

Gaping at him, she couldn’t believe this guy was a deputy. “Are you serious?”

“Listen up. I’ve been at work since six this morning. I’m tired, and when I get home, I’m going home to a house filled with youngins and their mamas expecting me to keep the little ones entertained so they can make dinner then help the older ones with their homework. If I stay late to do your paperwork, it’s going to upset the balance, and I have to go home to angry women who are going to bust my chops for working late.” Continuing to eat his food, he gave her a repentant stare.

“Women?” How had this guy found two women to live with him?

“My wife, Holly, and my brother Dustin’s wife, Jessie. We share a house. Wasn’t the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Logan made a face. “It was your idea.”

“Yeah, well, hindsight is foresight. I blame you on that score.”

Sophie stared at them quizzingly. “How do you blame him? He’s just a kid.”

“He’s fourteen—he’s a man.”

Sophie stared at the young man whom she had taken to be much younger. From Logan’s red cheekbones, he must have seen how surprised she was to learn his age.

“We Porters don’t show our true age,” Greer said, snatching the rest of Logan’s burger. “I keep telling the boy he needs to eat more protein.”

She was surprised Logan was able to get any food around Greer.

Refilling his glass, Greer stared around the restaurant. “Business is slow for this time of day, huh?”

“Mostly, people just come to the door and look in,” she told him. “My dad must have scared off most of his business. His lawyer told me he deliberately drove people away.”

Greer made a snorting sound. “They’re probably just taking a gander at you to see if you’re still breathing. Two people were killed in here. I’d say that dampens their appetite.”

Her stomach churned at his revelation. “Who died in here?”

“Marty and Nickel.”

“God.” Sophie came around to take a seat at the counter. “My dad died here?”

“Yeah. The lawyer didn’t tell you?”

“No.”

“Where at?” Raising a hand, she forced the bile down. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

“Logan, get her a glass of soda. It’ll calm her stomach.”

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