Page 86 of The Girl in the River

Derrick gestured to the bartender, and they ordered beers and burgers. Normally she wouldn’t drink on the job but one beer would help dull the pain and wouldn’t incapacitate her like the painkillers the doctor had prescribed.

She noticed the burly guy with the bandaged hand talking to his mother Ronnie. The conversation looked heated, then Ronnie pulled him into a corner.

The bartender Al slid the beers in front of them. “Food’ll be up in a minute.”

“Hey, Al,” Ellie said, feigning a light smile. “Last time we were in here, we asked about Patty Lasso. Why didn’t you tell us her brother worked for the stillery?”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “You didn’t ask.”

Just like everyone else, he wasn’t volunteering any information.

“Is he around?” Derrick asked.

“Haven’t see him,” Al muttered. “He made a delivery last night so he’s probably sleeping in today. I’ll get your burgers.”

He hurried to the opposite side of the bar where a waitress had set their orders, and Ellie scanned the room. Ronnie was watching them.

“I’m going to talk to Ronnie,” Ellie said.

Derrick touched her hand as she started to get up. “No way. We’ll get her to come over here.”

Ten minutes later, Al returned and delivered their food, and Derrick asked, “Al, can you tell Ronnie we need to talk to her?”

His nostrils flared and an uneasy look passed over his face. “I told you not to mess with them.”

“Listen to me,” Ellie said, irritated. “We’re investigating a woman’s disappearance and a murder. It’s my job to mess with people.”

He tossed the rag he used to wipe the counter aside. “Suit yourself. But I warned you.”

Ronnie started through a side door, but Al caught her just in time. A moment later, she glared at them then stalked over, arms crossed. Her skin looked as rough around the edges as she did, her face square and unforgiving. She looked like a mountain woman that had grown up in these parts.

Derrick introduced them, but Ronnie cut him off. “I know who you are. So does everyone in town.”

“Ronnie, this is a great bar. You own this place?” Ellie said.

She grunted. “Don’t be a kiss ass. I know you been asking about Jesse Habersham and that girl Patty. But they ain’t my kind of people and I don’t know nothing.”

“Well, Patty’s brother works for you,” Ellie said. “And we need to talk to him.”

Ronnie patted the pocket of her flannel shirt, which held a pack of Camels. “He ain’t here and won’t be back till night.”

“You must have his home address in your employee records,” Derrick said, flashing his credentials. “We need that.”

She rubbed a scarred hand across her ruddy cheek. “Guess I don’t got no choice.”

“No, you don’t,” Ellie said. “Get it for us.” She didn’t bother to say please or else she’d get the kiss ass comment again.

Ronnie’s glare said she didn’t like it, but she walked toward the side door and disappeared through it. Ellie and Derrick started on their burgers while they waited.

A few minutes later, Ronnie returned with a sticky note with an address on it.

“You knew about his prior arrests when you hired him?” Ellie asked.

Ronnie’s smile revealed a mouthful of crooked yellowed teeth. “Just tryin’ to be a good guy. Ain’t no law against that.”

Ellie simply stared at her. No use replying. She didn’t believe Ronnie was a good guy for a second. In fact, she might have hired Patty’s brotherbecausehe had a record for selling drugs, and she needed help moving her own illegal product.

ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN

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