Page 32 of Rio's Release

“Poor girl. I wouldn’t want to be her. I try to take the backroads whenever possible. Avoid the cops at all costs.” She leans closer and drops her voice. “They’re all corrupt as hell. You’d do good to avoid them, too.”

I take out my wallet and peel off a twenty, holding it out. “Thanks for the advice.”

“Wow. Thanks.” She retreats with a smile.

A girl walks in and moves to the counter.

Dolly approaches her. “Well, hello, Jenny. Haven’t seen you in months.”

My wallet still out, I twist to look.

Jenny gives her a big smile, and something about her clicks in my memory.

“I need two orders of cheeseburgers and fries, please,” she says.

“Two?” Dolly cocks her head.

“Yep. Shelby’s back in town, and I’m meeting her.”

“Well, isn’t that nice.”

I bump my cup and saucer, making a clatter, and Jenny turns my way. She stares for a moment, and then her eyes widen, and she pushes from the counter.

“I… I’ve got to go.”

I’m out of the booth to cut her off before she makes it to the door. “I’m looking for Shelby. You know where she is?”

“Nope. Haven’t seen her.” She dashes past me and out the door.

Zig dumps money on the table and stands, moving to me. “I get the feeling that girl just lied to you.”

“She’s protecting her friend,” I say, watching her through the window as she runs down the street.

Zig dips his head. “Bet she’s running to tell her about you right now.”

“I bet you’re right. Come on.”

Zig holds up my wallet. “You left this on the table, boss.”

“Thanks, man.” I snatch it, and we head out after Jenny.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Ghost from the Past

Shelby—

“Your options are you could sell the place or lease it out, and with the market like it is right now, I think leasing it may be the better option,” Claire explains, but I shake my head.

I know that as my realtor, she’s only giving me what she thinks is the best advice, but she doesn’t know my past. “I have no interest in leasing either property out. Not the house, and not this place.”

We stand in the middle of my father’s tire store. Well, it’s actually more of a repair garage where he changed tires and sold them.

“Are you sure, Shelby? If you wait a few months, the market may improve. Perhaps you haven’t considered all the benefits to—”

I cut her off, maybe a bit too harshly. “I’ve considered all I need to, Claire. To lease either property would mean I’d still have to worry about upkeep, taxes, and all the rest. I want to be done with it. I want no ties to this town. I want a quick sale.”

“Then you won’t get top dollar.”

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