Page 34 of Belle

“I’m a grown man, Chet.”

“I guess you are. It just seems a little crazy.” He chuckles, but I gather he doesn’t find any humor in the situation.

“When are you planning to make your way back to California? You’ve already been gone longer than I expected.”

“Hopefully in the next few weeks. I have a couple more things to take care of.”

“I still can’t figure out what you would need to take care of in that town.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just family stuff.”

“Alright, man. I guess I’m gonna go. I’ll talk to you later.”

I hang up the phone, feeling frustrated. Chet is my best friend, but I don’t like that he feels like he can tell me how to live my life. We’re friends. We own a company together. That’s it. He doesn’t get to tell me what to do in my relationships.

Since I have no idea what Belle is doing today, and I know there isn’t anyway I’ll get her to open up to me, I decide to head into the diner downtown and see if there is any gossip about Dax.

“Hey, sugar.” The same woman that helped me the last time I was here greets me at the door.

“Hello. Can I get a booth, please?”

“Is it just you today?” She glances behind me.

“Yes, ma’am.” I follow her to the back of the diner, to the same booth I sat in last time.

“What can I get for you?”

“I’ll just have some pancakes and a coffee.” I smile up at her as she jots my order down.

The diner is full today. I lean back in the booth to try and listen to the people behind me.

“Dax is missing. Maybe they’ll finally shut that club down now.” I hear a little chatter coming from the booth behind me.

“I doubt that. It seems like there is always someone lined up to take over.”

“I heard they found a dead body next to the club. It’s probably Dax. You damn well know the department ain’t doin’ nothing about that. They are probably relieved he’s gone. He had so much shady shit goin’ on in that place.”

“Nobody would care if Dax was murdered. Most folks would just be mad they didn’t do it first.”

I blow out a breath and lean back towards the table. I gathered Dax wasn’t well-liked by the locals.

“It’s not polite to eavesdrop, you know?” I jump at the sound of my waitresses’ voice. I glance at her nametag.

“Good advice, Betsy.” I shoot her a grin and she laughs.

“Small towns do always have the best gossip though. I’ve worked here my whole life. I know everything about everyone.” She winks and walks away.

I pull out my phone to shoot a quick message to Belle.

Maddox: The rumor mill is flying down here at the diner.

Belle: It’s flying at the club too.

Maddox: What are you doing there?

Belle: I’ll tell you more later.

I stick my phone back in my pocket and finish my pancakes. Belle needs more groceries at her house. I don’t know how she survives with only cereal for breakfast.

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