Page 52 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“She likes me. I haven’t been around her long enough to make that big of an impact. It will be the same as saying goodbye to a friend at school.”

“It will?”

He hadn’t meant to sound as though he had already decided to part ways with her when this was over.

“If this doesn’t end up turning into something more,” he said.

She glanced at him with appreciation for the clarification. As they reached the car, Callum wondered why he had reassured her. The prospect of their becoming a real couple—maybe even a family—gave him a sick feeling. He would never forget the way he had felt when Annabel died, along with their unborn baby. His soul had been ripped from him. He hadn’t been able to function. He had wondered if he would ever make it through.

No more talk about the future for him and Hazel. He’d make sure she was safe and then that would be that.

* * *

Since they were already dressed in disguise, Callum suggested they start staking out Joe’s Bar. Nate Blurge was known to have spent a lot of time there, as Kerry had said. Someone had to know something that might lead to a break in the case. Hazel stepped into the dimly lit bar with Callum. Right away her first impression was that the lights were low to conceal the disrepair. A melting pot of people half-filled the place with its dirty, worn floor, and scratched and chipped tables and chairs. The ceiling had water stains and dirt caked the twenty-plus year old trim.

“Have a seat anywhere,” the bartender called out.

No Wait to Be Seated sign here.

Two young couples laughed at a table. Solitary patrons at the bar watched the television that hung above shelves of liquor or stared at their drinks. A group of scary-looking biker men loitered around a pool table. The tallest one zeroed in on Hazel, making no effort to hide his ogling.

Callum chose a table in the middle of the bar. Hazel sat adjacent to him. Moments later a scantily clad waitress approached with a name tag that said Shelly. Callum ordered a beer and Hazel ordered a chardonnay.

“Hey, isn’t this the place where that man who was murdered hung out?” Callum asked.

Hazel was amazed at how quickly he went to work.

“Nate?” the waitress replied. “Yeah. He was here most nights. Been kind of peaceful without him.”

“Oh, really? Why is that?” Callum asked.

“He liked to flirt with all of u

s girls. Nate wasn’t the handsomest man you ever saw. Shame he was killed and all, but I didn’t know him very well. I’ll be back with your drinks.” She left for the bar.

Hazel watched her get their drinks from the bartender and walk back over to them.

“Did Nate sleep with any of the waitresses?” Callum asked.

Shelly slowed as she placed the glass of wine in front of Hazel. “Why do you want to know?”

Callum shrugged dismissively. “Maybe that has something to do with why he was murdered.”

“Police already came in asking questions.” She set a bottle of beer in front of Callum.

“Did they talk to anyone who had relations with him?”

“Don’t know for sure. He bragged to me once that he had a thing going with Candace.”

“Candace?”

“Yeah. She works two jobs. Has a day job in town.”

“Is she here now?” Hazel asked.

“She only works weekends here,” Shelly said.

“Did he engage with anyone else?” Callum asked.

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