Page 49 of Little Girl Vanished

I felt like a freeloader. I was going to need to find a job sooner rather than later. “You’re gonna start thinking I only hang out with you for the free meals.”

Louise winked. “We both know you hang out with me for my charming personality and witty humor.”

She wasn’t wrong. I would have been friends with her regardless of my circumstances.

She left, and I stared at my half-eaten meal. I’d lost my appetite and all I could think about was an ice cold beer. So when Kylie passed the table, I flagged her down and ordered one.

I opened my notebook and made a few notes while I waited. I really wanted to talk to Ava’s friends and wondered if it was safe to call Vanessa to ask her to set something up.

“Our paths keep crossing,” a deep male voice said, as I noticed movement across from me. James Malcolm was placing a glass of beer in front of me as he took Louise’s seat.

My brow shot up.

“The burger not to your likin’?”

I glanced down at the barely touched hamburger on my plate. “I haven’t had a chance to dig in.”

His gaze dipped to my notebook, and I covered the pages with my arm.

“I didn’t realize you’d been employed by a law enforcement agency, Detective Adams,” he said in his even tone.

“Not a detective anymore,” I said, holding his gaze as I shut the notebook. “How do you know anything about me?”

A wry grin twisted his mouth, but it didn’t look friendly. “Sometimes I can’t help overhearing the patrons talking.”

While I believed he knew my history, I didn’t for a minute believe that he’d gotten all his information from eavesdropping on his customers. As the head of a crime organization, he would have kept track of things like that. I found it hard to believe he’d lost the habit.

I took a sip of my beer. He had a reason for coming over here. I was going to wait him out to see what it was.

“You were at the police station this morning,” he said dryly. “And I keep finding you in my bar. What am I supposed to make of that?”

“You were at the police station this morning too,” I said, matching his tone. “Are you working with the Jackson Creek PD?”

To my surprise, he laughed. “Has hell frozen over?”

“I’m not working for them either,” I said, not sure why I’d told him other than I didn’t want to be associated with a lazy, incompetent department. “Just as I presume you were, I was invited”—I used air quotes—“in for a visit.”

He sat back in the seat and crossed his arms over his chest, his presence seeming to fill the entire booth. I was pretty sure he could pour on the charm, but right now he was downright intimidating. “You’re obviously working on something.”

My back stiffened. “What I’m working on or not working on is none of your damn business.”

“TJ Peterman is very much my business,” he said, his voice dark with anger.

“What makes you think I’m working on anything to do with TJ?”

“Kylie heard you mention his name.”

I took another sip of my beer to stall. I thought we’d been careful, but it was good to know that Kylie had been listening in. The real question was why she’d reported that Peterman’s name had come up. “How is TJ Peterman your business?”

He snorted. “He’s trying to get me shut down.”

I already had this information, but I decided to play it out. “And why would he be doing that?”

“Peterman’s trying to use me as an example for when he runs for the state senate.”

Nate had mentioned TJ’s political career aspirations, but this was the first I’d heard any details. “TJ Peterman’s running for state senate?”

“He plans to announce his candidacy in another month. He came to me asking for a large donation, and said if I refused, he’d use me as an example of his plans to be tough on crime.”

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