Page 24 of Spiritwarrior

“You Marty’s kin?”

“I was his daughter.”

“You know your old man was an asswipe?”

“Pretty much.”

“Nothing pretty about that bastard.”

Sophie was shocked at how he talked in front of the teenager.

“I can’t disagree with you.”

The deputy raised his eyebrows upward. “You can’t?”

“No, nor do I want to. I hadn’t seen my father for years before his death.”

“Lucky you. He made the town miserable just for wanting to eat one of his burgers. You cook as good as he did?”

“No,” she admitted.

Greer reached for the half-eaten burger on Logan’s plate and took a generous bite. “Give me a couple of those bad boys and a large fry.”

“What would you like to drink?”

“I’ll take a milk. Might as well leave the jug—I drink a lot.”

Bringing the gallon of milk to the counter with a glass, she refilled Logan’s before filling Greer’s.

She excused herself when she saw Greer finishing Logan’s burger and went back to the kitchen. It didn’t take long before she was back, placing the plates down on the counter.

“I didn’t order three.”

“It’s for Logan, to replace the one you ate.”

“I didn’t order it; does that mean it’s on the house?”

“Yes, if you can help me with a little problem I’m having.”

The sheriff deputy squirted a glob of ketchup onto his plate. “Lady, did Logan tell you, you can bribe me with food?”

“I didn’t—”

“Hush, boy.” Greer scowled at his nephew before he turned his gaze back to her. “It takes more than one burger to bribe me.”

“The burger wasn’t meant as a bribe. I was just going to ask for some advice.”

“Oh …” Greer’s expression became dejected. “What kind of advice?”

“A man come in here about an hour ago and told me my father owed him two hundred thousand dollars, and he wanted his money. Should I make a police report?”

Greer’s gaze turned cunning as he took a bite. “Is the burger on the house?”

“Yes.”

“Then yes, you should make the report. Do it tonight. Don’t wait until morning.”

Sophie started to feel scared again at the deputy’s serious tone. “You think I should be worried enough to make the report today?”

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