Page 37 of Enforcing the Rules

Memphis did the same, and she filled both. She studied me as she did. “I remember you from the other night. You ran off those filthy losers.”

I leaned back and met her eyes. “I did. They seemed like they were giving Kate trouble.”

“Oh, Kate, is it? You two friends?”

“We are now. You her mother?”

She huffed a laugh. “No.”

“You know where I can find her?”

She set her carafe down. “And why would I tell you?”

“Because I asked nicely. I mean her no harm. I swear it.” I held my hands up and read her name tag. “Cora Lee.”

“She doesn’t work here anymore.” She leaned and read my patch, throwing what I’d just done right back at me. “Enforcer.”

Memphis almost spit his coffee all over the table, quickly grabbing a napkin and wiping his chin.

“Call me Utah. Kate told me her mother owns the place.”

“I’ll let Kate know you stopped in. If I see her. You ready to order?”

Memphis leaned against the backrest and grinned. “Now that you’ve shot my brother here down, I’ll have the cheeseburger plate.”

I stuffed my menu behind the caddy a little forcefully. “Same.”

Cora Lee turned on her heel and left.

Memphis took another sip of his coffee. “Damn. This is good. Really good. Wonder what brand they use.”

I rolled my eyes. “Why don’t you ask her? She’s a fount of information.”

He chuckled. “Just because she shot you down, don’t take it out on me.”

“She didn’t shoot me down. She just wouldn’t tell me what I wanted to know.”

“Same thing.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Maybe she’ll tell you where Kate works.”

“I doubt it.”

“So now what’s your plan? You gonna let it go?”

“No fucking way. I’ll find her. Somehow.”

Memphis lifted his chin toward the kitchen. “March back there and ask her mom. Bet she’s in the kitchen.”

He was fucking with me. We both knew how that would end. But I kept it in mind as an option and changed the subject. “Where do we go with the Dude? You want to start over with that stack of businesses?”

“I suppose,” he muttered.

I stared out the window. I knew I needed to focus on finding that asshole, but right now, the only person I was interested in finding was Kate.

Cora Lee returned with two plates of food.

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