Duke gripped his fork tighter. If his father talked about having a wife on the campaign trail one more time, he might slug the man. Worse, he couldn’t seem to get a break on finding Annie. His source at her mother’s home hadn’t seen her. Besides the piece of leather he found, it was like she had vanished without a trace. Her phone hadn’t been turned on in over a week, and her car wasn’t at any of the impound lots.

Where the hell did she go?

He’d had to start running his campaign on his own, and people were beginning to ask questions. Making up one lie after another, they began to jumble in his mind. She was somewhere, and he would find her. No one just disappeared without a trace.

The group of Guardians that sat at a table across from him all stood and strolled to the cash register. He did his best to glance at each one, spying for a hole in their jacket. More than likely, whoever ripped their leather wouldn’t be wearing it, but it was worth investigating nonetheless.

And that big guy, Wilde. What the hell was his deal? He’d been at the courthouse, staring at him like he had something to hide. He didn’t have a jacket, but he sat at the same table they did. Was he part of the group? Whether he was or not, the guy rubbed him the wrong way which made him worth investigating.

The young redheaded waitress tending his table laid the ticket down. His dad reached for the bill. “Here, Dad, let me get that.” Duke pulled out his wallet and grabbed the check.

“Well, gentleman, thank you.” The mayor rubbed his fat stomach.

The bill came to seventy dollars, nearly forty from the fat ass alone. He would gladly pay the check. If fatso could help win him more votes, and get his father off his ass, he’d buy the man a steak every damn night.

“I’ll be back. Excuse me.” He stood and walked to the cash register, stopping a few feet behind the biker group. He scanned each of them as they went to pay.

“What time are we meeting, Saturday?” A burley biker with a mustache asked.

“Ten,” the short woman said while she handed the cashier her credit card. When she stretched out her arm, a nice hole stared back at him.

He gripped the ticket book tighter and glanced straight ahead, like he hadn’t seen it. The opening in the window had been small. Someone of her size could have easily slipped out.

Finally. A lead.

She signed her receipt, then glanced up and noticed him. Immediately, she placed her arm against her ribs and used her other hand to accept the receipt.

“I gotta go, guys.” She shoved her card in her back pocket and spun on her heels.

“Later, JoJo.” One of the men called out.

Yes, later JoJo.

He would see more of her soon. Very soon.

After paying the tab, he sauntered back to the table. Duke caught Brayden staring down the waitress’ shirt. He’d seen that waitress before. She’d worked here when Annie did.

Maybe she knew something. He stared back at Brayden—his key to picking the waitress’ mind.

“Well, gentleman, dinner was great, but Brayden and I have to get back on duty.”

“We do?”

“Yep.” Duke slapped a firm grip on the rookie’s shoulder. “Ready?”

“Uhh…yeah.” The guy had a questionable look on his face.

“Yes, duty always calls.” The mayor stood. “If I don’t get a chance to talk to you before the big debate speeches, then good luck, Fields. However, I’m sure you won’t need it.” The man stuck out his hand.

“Thank you, sir.” Duke shook then reached around to shake his father’s. “Dad, I’ll talk to you soon,” he said then hurried Brayden out the door.

“Boss, what’s up?”

“Not here. Get in the unit.” He crossed the street at a clipped pace and unlocked his patrol car. Once the officer got inside, he asked, “Brayden, how would you like to be my right hand man when I make Sherriff?”

“Really? I’d love it, sir.”

“Then you’ve got to prove you’re worthy.”

“How do I do that?”

“First thing you’ve got to do, sleep with that redhead in there. Find out anything you can on that boss of hers and that old biker. I saw the old guy get pretty chummy with Sandi. I want to know if they have something going on.”

“Okay, but why?”

“Don’t worry about that. Also, ask the waitress what she knows about the bikers. All of them. Start by questioning her on the blond guy we saw at the courthouse, Tyler Wilde.”

“What makes you think she knows anything about this Wilde guy?”

“Waitresses talk. They wait on a lot of people in this town. Surely, she can tell you something. Find out where he works, too. That’s important. Maybe the waitress knows.”

The rookie pulled out a notepad from his pocket and started jotting notes. “Sure, but can’t I just ask her? Why do I have to sleep with her?”

“Because, it will be more fun for you if you do. Trust me.” He slapped the rookie on the shoulder. “Then, I want you to find out the names and addresses of everyone in the Blue Guardians, including that chick, JoJo.”

“Sure, but again, I have to ask why?”

He grit his teeth and took in a deep breath, searching himself for patience. This rookie asked too many damn questions. “I’ve got reason to believe that group isn’t as good as they seem.” He cuffed the guy on the neck. “Also, you should know, in the future, a good employee just does what’s asked of him. No questions. Got it?”

“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”

“No problem. Someone’s got to show you the ropes. Now, let’s see how well you can prove yourself. But remember, everything we say is confidential police business. Not a word of this to anyone, got it?”

“Yes, sir, I’ve got it.”

“You’re a good man, Brayden. Now, let’s get back to the station so you can get to work. The more you find out about this Wilde guy and the Blue Guardians the better.”