Read Online Down Among the Dead Men (Entangled Ignite) by Claire Baxter - Free Book Online Page B

of Steve watching her. “Um…so, Miriam?”
    “Right.” He frowned. “She remembers a man coming into the store with Wally. It could have been Chet. She heard him say he was staying in Coober Pedy. I think I should go to Coober Pedy and ask around there.”
    “Not on your own. I’ll come, too. Oh, wait, no. I can’t leave Max alone. We don’t know who might be out there waiting for a chance to do something.”
    “I agree, and it will take the whole day. A few hours to drive there, a couple of hours asking around, and back by dinner time. But I have an idea.”
    “Go on.”
    “Wednesday is Rose’s day off this week. I could ask Max to babysit Ginny, then she’d be away from the servo if anything happened.”
    “Wouldn’t you have to pay her for the whole day?”
    “Yes, but that’s not a problem.”
    “Okay, then. Let’s go on Wednesday.” Several hours in the truck alone with him. The prospect wasn’t at all horrifying.
    “Well, don’t you two look cozy?” Brenda said.
    Startled, Caitlyn jerked her eyes away from his face. She’d been staring, but then, so had he, but had he been pondering the same thought?
    “Same again, dear?” Brenda asked as she took the glasses from Caitlyn.
    “Yes, please, Brenda. How are you?”
    “To tell you the truth, I’m tired.”
    “I’m not surprised. You work such long hours.”
    “It’s not the hours I’m worried about. I’m tired of all the cooking.”
    “Oh, I see.”
    “A little bird told me you used to do it, too.”
    “What, cooking?” She gave Dale an accusing look.
    “Listen, I’d like to make you a proposition,” Brenda said. “How would you feel about taking over the cooking here temporarily? Lunch and dinner. We’d pay you, of course. Maybe not as much as you’d make in the city.”
    Nowhere near what she’d make in the city. No question about that.
    “But we’d make it worth your while because it would be as good as an overseas holiday for me. You could cook anything you like. I wouldn’t interfere.”
    Caitlyn opened her mouth to refuse, then hesitated. She hadn’t come on this trip to work, but since she’d quit her job before leaving Sydney and could be stuck here for weeks, she would run out of cash at some point, and that could be a problem. This might be just what she needed.
    There was another reason she was considering Brenda’s offer. Being in the pub, she would see everybody in town as well as the people passing through. She would be invisible and could observe them, maybe even overhear the odd conversation. “Can I think about it and let you know?”
    Brenda sighed. “When people say they’ll think about it and let you know, you already know they’re not going to do it.”
    “Not in this case. I want to talk to Max about it, that’s all.”
    Brenda smiled. “All right. I’ll look forward to hearing from you when you’re ready.” She hurried over to her next customer.
    Caitlyn picked up the two refilled glasses and turned to Dale. “If I do it, I’ll have less time for looking around, but I might see someone interesting here.”
    “Yes, well, we’ll work something out.”
    “I guess we will.”
    “Will you ask Max about the babysitting for me?”
    “Yes, and assuming she agrees, I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
    He nodded. “And remember, be careful.”
    “Steve’s all right.” She headed back to the table where Steve was waiting for her. “Sorry I took so long. I’ve been offered a job,” she said as she sat down.
    “Doing what?” He leaned forward. She could say one thing for him, he took a keen interest in everything she said.
    “Cooking. Here at the pub.” Sipping her drink, she considered the offer.
    “Oh.” He grimaced and sat back. “I’ve eaten here, so I can see why they’d need someone. Are you going to take it?”
    “I don’t know. It could be good, but I’m concerned about the time commitment. I’m only here for a short time and I don’t want to spend all of it