CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Passing multiple restaurants on the list, each time, the men would enter, walk around, and then ask if anyone had seen Archie. Each time, it was a resounding ‘no.’

“He has to be in one of these places,” said Jonas.

“Well, there’s one more up ahead, and it’s packed, so maybe he went in there,” said Carl.

He opened the door, and the smell of grilled meat hit his stomach. Wishing he had time to order one of everything on the menu, they walked around the bar and restaurant, only to end up back at the high-tops near the bar.

“Can I help you, boys?” asked a waitress.

“We’re looking for a friend of ours that we think might not be taking his medication,” said Jonas, holding up the picture.

“Oh, yeah. He was just here. I thought he went to the bathroom, but I think he stiffed me on the check,” she frowned.

“You’re sure this was him?” asked Rett.

“Honey, I’m sure. He was wearing brand-new boots, ridiculous designer jeans, and a polo shirt with a black suit coat. He was about as out of place as a vegetarian.” She watched as three of the men headed to the bathrooms, holding up the photo for a few men inside to see.

“He was just in here,” said one of the men to Sebastian. “I thought he left to go back to his table.”

“Is there a backdoor?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. You’d need to ask the staff. They usually keep those doors locked because of folks skipping out on their checks.”

The men walked back to the waitress, asking the same question.

“He’s right. The doors at the back would sound an alarm if he tried to go out them. This place is so packed right now, he might have went through the restaurant and left.”

“Tanner? You read me?” asked Jonas.

“Loud and clear, and yes, I have the cameras in the restaurant, and I’m searching for him. It’s damn busy in there. Got him. Seven minutes ago, he left the men’s room, walking through the restaurant and out the front door just as you guys were getting to his table. Looks like he went right and down the street. Let me see if I can get into the street cameras.”

“You boys gonna want anything to eat?” she asked.

“I wish,” said Ham. “I’m starving, but we have to find our friend.” The waitress nodded, clearing the table as the men spoke to one another. Then she tapped Ham on the shoulder again.

“Does this mean anything to you?” It was a napkin and written clearly on the back of it was something that sent chills up their spines.

New Orleans

“Unfortunately, it does,” said Ham. He dropped two hundred-dollar bills on the table so that the waitress wouldn’t have to cover the check. She smiled up at him, nodding her thanks. “Let’s go.”

Splitting up again, they took different directions, moving swiftly up and down the snowy, icy sidewalks. Every once in a while, they’d peek inside a bar or shop, hoping to catch him. While they searched the streets, Sor, Garr, and Matt went back to his hotel to wait in the lobby.

“Oh, hi,” said the desk clerk. “Did you find your friend?”

“Not yet. Have you seen him?” asked Matt.

“He came back about ten minutes ago. I haven’t seen him leave,” she said.

The three men ran toward the elevators and disappeared. Just as the elevator went up, the second elevator opened, and Archie stepped off.

“Oh, Mr. Bell! Your friends just went up to find you,” she said, smiling.

“Don’t tell them,” he laughed. “This is an old college trick we play on one another. So far, I’m winning, and I love to win.”

She didn’t say anything as he left, placing his key on the counter. When he walked out the door, she turned toward the televisions playing in the lobby. That’s when she knew this wasn’t a game.

“Watch the desk,” she said to her co-worker, racing toward the elevators. On the twelfth floor, she spotted the three men coming out of the other man’s room. “Sirs?”

“Uh, yeah,” said Garr, starting to give an explanation. She raised her hand.

“Save it. I know who that man was now. He just left. He said it was a game you guys played. I caught a glimpse of his photo on the television.”

“Which way did he go?” asked Garr, running toward the elevators.

“I don’t know. He threw his bags in his car and took off.”

“Everyone read?” asked Sor, tapping his earpiece. “The goose has flown the nest. He knows we’re onto him.”

In the lobby, the men were waiting to decide what to do next.

“I think we stop chasing this rabbit and get home,” said Jonas. “At least there, I can be sure that Khloe is where she’s supposed to be.”

“I happen to agree,” said Carl. “Tanner? Have the jets here as quick as possible. We’ll turn the cars in and get home. Do not, under any circumstances, let Khloe leave the property.”

“Roger that. Luke has her off-duty and not working. She’s not happy, but she understands.”

“Good. We’ll be home soon. And when we are, we’re going to set a trap for this asshole that he won’t soon forget.”

Archie was surprised that he wasn’t pulled over for speeding out of Nashville. Apparently, the cops had other things to worry about, which suited him just fine. He took the highway south to Tuscaloosa, where he decided to stop for the night.

Worried that his car would be recognized, he traded the car in for a small pickup truck, all in cash. The redneck running the lot probably thought he’d made his year. It was all helping Archie. With a new vehicle, he would be much harder to find.

Knowing they could be watching the higher-end hotels, he lowered his standards just slightly, staying in a large chain hotel. Finding himself famished once again, he ventured out to a small diner, hoping to remain out of sight.

“Hi there,” smiled the young girl, bringing a menu and a glass of water. “Ain’t seen you around here before.”

“No, definitely not,” he grinned. “Just passing through.”

“On business?” she asked.

“That’s right. I’m a lawyer, and I’m headed to New Orleans to handle a case,” he smiled.

“Oh, a lawyer! Are you one of them big fancy lawyers that have all the commercials on television? You know, the ones that have earned millions?” she asked hopefully.

“That’s me,” he smiled.

“How exciting. Nothing exciting happens around here. Boring as all get out. What’ll it be?” she asked, nodding at the menu.

“I’ll do the burger, well done, cheddar cheese.”

“We only got American cheese,” she said, disappointed.

“American is fine,” he smiled. “I’ll have a soda with that and then maybe a root beer float for dessert. That is if you’ll share with me.”

“Oh,” she whispered, blushing. “Maybe. My boss ain’t here tonight, so if the cook goes out back for a smoke, I can probably sit for a few minutes. As you can see, we ain’t that busy.”

“No, you sure ain’t,” he repeated in his best southern twang.

Forty-five minutes later, his burger was gone, his dessert was melting in front of him, and the little waitress had somehow popped a button on the top of her uniform. Convincing her to go for a ride with him, she left a note for the cook and jumped in the truck with the handsome stranger.

“We don’t have to play at this,” she smiled. “I can tell you’re horny, and so am I. Just pull over anywhere, and we can do it.”

He chuckled, shaking his head at her anxiousness.

“We can take our time,” he smiled.

“I don’t have a lot of time. Told the cook I’d be back in thirty minutes,” she said, pulling off her panties. “Just pull over.”

“Whatever you say,” he grinned.

He pulled into a narrow dirt lane and slid a little to his right so that he was in the middle of the seat. She pulled on his belt, yanking out his stiff cock. Without a word, she straddled him and slid down on top of him.

“Ohh, that feels good,” she grinned, bouncing up and down. He gripped the lapels of her uniform and ripped open the blouse, squeezing her tits.

“Hey! What’d you do that for? Now I gotta go home and change,” she said angrily.

“Don’t worry, baby, you won’t need to change,” he said, turning her swiftly in the seat. She hit her head on the door handle and grimaced as he pounded into her.

“Hey, slow down. I ain’t in that big a hurry,” she frowned.

“Shut up,” he snapped.

She started to say something, but he covered her mouth with his hand, holding it there as her face turned purple trying to scream. Pushing her knees further up, he moved his cock to her tight, tiny hole and rammed inside her.

Startled and in pain, her eyes went wide as he continued to pound into her, over and over again. When he was done, she tried to push him off of her, but now he was excited. This was making him feel powerful. Desirable. He wasn’t going anywhere.

“Sorry, honey. We’re just getting started.”