Chapter 23

23

Special Agent Fallon Baxter

I t's evening when Jack and I land back in Pine Ridge Falls. It's dark and icy out and we're both hungry so we decide to stop off at my mother's diner.

Buddy gives a happy bark once we get out of the truck.

"He seems to be in agreement with our decision," I say.

"That's because he knows they feed him well here." Jack pats his belly as he says it. "Same here, big guy." He gives Buddy's head a quick pat, too. "I don't know whether to start with dinner or dessert."

We head inside and Riley is behind the register once again. It's warm, the fall garlands hanging over the counters and along the windows look perfectly cozy, but it's the pumpkins sitting on every free surface that brings a smile to my face.

I can't help it. I've always been a sucker for those happy little globes.

As soon as Riley finishes ringing up a customer, she heads our way.

"I take it Mom is short-staffed again?" I ask, giving her a quick embrace.

"Wrong," she sings. "Jet and I did a thing."

Jack and I cut a quick glance at one another.

"What thing?" I growl.

Marriage comes to mind. I'm not sure why. After the disaster that was our parents' marriage, the Baxter girls have been wary of the state of that particular union.

"Come on." She takes Buddy's leash from me. "I'll show you." She leads the way down the main aisle of the diner and out the back exit which is usually sealed off to patrons. It's where my mother typically stores whatever junk she can't fit inside, nothing worth stealing but not quite trash.

The cool fall air greets us as we step onto what looks to be a newly revamped patio where a plethora of customers are already seated and enjoying their meals. Tables and chairs are set out across the spacious expanse. Hundreds of twinkle lights weave through the air up above and cast a warm glow over the space.

Several fire pits crackle with life, throwing flickers of light onto the faces of the patrons huddled around them. And just about everyone sitting around one of those fire pits has spears of marshmallows that are turning luscious shades of golden brown as they puff up against the flames.

"Jet and I thought this would be a perfect spot for people to relax, especially with the view of the falls," she tells us with a goofy grin that sends another set of alarms off in me.

We glance over and, true enough, this space affords the perfect view of the falls as they cascade down the mountain in the distance, glowing an otherworldly shade of blue as the spotlights that shine over them every night make their presence known even in the dark. Their rumbling is a soft backdrop to the laughter and chatter around us.

"Wow," I say. "The setup with heaters and the fire pits makes the patio a cozy refuge. It looks as if you and Jet had a great idea."

Jack moans, "My brother rarely has a great idea." He eyes the space suspiciously. "But I have to give it to you. The two of you knocked it out of the park."

"Well take a seat. You know the menus. What can I get for you?" Riley is more than happy to land us at a table with a fire pit in the middle. "I'll bring out some s'mores kits, too. I just added them to the menu. They cost a mint, but we're already getting low on inventory."

"Mom is lucky to have you," I tell her as we get settled and Buddy hops in the seat between Jack and me as he gives a bark of delight at the flickering flames.

"Speaking of Mom." Riley winces just as my mother herself pops up behind her.

"There you are," Mom says, landing in a chair across from us. Her dark hair has been mostly taken over with gray, and the way she has it spun up over her head it looks like blue cotton candy.

Mom has deep-set eyes outlined with copious amounts of blue eyeshadow and her lips are always as red as cherries. She originally hails from Tennessee and her accent has never quite left her.

"What in the hell is going on?" Mom gruffs. "When were you going to tell me your sister is running around with some hairy scary mobsters? Don't make me dig that gun out of your purse and shoot up whatever strip club they've got my baby girl working at. I'm not above a homicide or two." She punctuates her tirade with a sharp look right at me and that fiasco with our father comes back in snatches.

The Glock, the blood, my dad dead.

"I'm aware of what you're capable of," I tell her before shaking my head at my sister. "I thought we weren't going to tell her?"

"Why in the heck wouldn't ya tell me?" Mom spouts off again, getting more country-fried by the second.

That's pretty much the direction her lexicon sails in when she's this upset.

"This is why," I say above a whisper as heads begin to turn this way. "You're not only threatening a felony, you're causing a scene."

"You would be, too, if it was your daughter," she shoots back.

"It's my sister," I say, trying to sound reasonably calm. "And I'm handling it."

Mom slices a dark look over at Jack. "Is that true, Hot Buns?"

"Hot Buns?" I sink in my seat a notch.

"You mind your own beeswax." She's quick to reprimand me. "I'm talking to him. What's going on? I know you'll tell me the truth."

"As opposed to me?" I muse and I'm quickly hushed.

Jack nods my way as if he's got this. "I can assure you, Bea. We're doing everything we can to bring your daughter home safe."

"Now that sounds like a crock pot full of baloney." Mom is quick to put him in his place.

"It sort of did sound like baloney," I tell him.

"It's not baloney," he says it firmly as he looks at the both of us. "Nobody here is going to go off half-cocked with a Glock and rushing at the mob. Got it?"

Both Mom and I give a reluctant nod.

"Would you look at that?" Mom fans herself with her fingers. "I do believe Hot Buns just ratcheted up the temperature out here by fifty degrees. Have you bagged this boy yet?" she asks with zero regard to my dignity.

"Please stop," I practically spit the words out. "Jack and I are coworkers. We're professionals. We work for the federal government, nothing more, nothing less."

"Sorry, hon." She makes a face at Jack. "This one can be as stubborn as a mule with a nail in its hoof. But don't you worry, Hot Shot. There are plenty of women in Pine Ridge Falls who would be happy to keep you up all night."

" Mother ," I growl.

"Oh, quit your witchin'." She stands mercifully. "What can I get you? I've got clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl as the special of the night."

" That ," I tell her. I would have opted for just about anything she offered just to send her back inside as fast as I can.

Jack nods. "Steak, rare, with a loaded potato for me."

"Got it," she says, giving Buddy a hearty scratch behind the ears. "And don't think I'm leaving you out of the fold, handsome. I'll bring you a treat you won't forget. You're gonna need one if you're living with cranky."

My eyes close a moment too long, and when I open them, my mother has vanished.

I look over at Jack. "I'd apologize, but I don't know where to begin."

Riley chuckles as she continues to hover above us and I shoot her a warning look.

"Don't fall into the fire." She winks at me before she takes off.

Dinner arrives and it's as good as it looks.

"I can already tell the sourdough bread bowl will be my go-to all through winter," I say.

"Buddy is glad to hear it," Jack says. "Mostly because you fed him half your bowl."

"I don't know, he seemed to enjoy that steak my mother gave him."

"Heck, I enjoyed that steak your mother gave me. The caramel apple pie with a mountain of whipped was a winner, too. What's next?" Jack pins his gaze on mine and it feels as if he's searing himself over me in far more intimate ways.

I'm not sure why, but with Jack it feels as if I've already fallen into the fire.

Our phones go off simultaneously and my stomach pinches because as of late it's never a good sign.

Jack glances at his screen. "There's another body."