Read Online Shadow of Vengeance by Kristine Mason - Free Book Online Page B

started. I was against this festival from the beginning. The thing is, a lot of people around here believe in Bigfoot, just as much as Wexman Hell Week. Now here’s the other thing. There hasn’t been a single disappearance for the past two years. Because two years is the longest time between these missing persons cases, I think the business owners did worry another kid could possibly go missing this year, but I believe they also saw dollar signs.”
    Owen shifted in the metal chair. “So there’s no pattern.”  
    Jake shook his head. “None. Believe me, I’ve combed through the old sheriff’s files and other than the note…well, maybe you guys will be able to come up with something solid.”  
    “Are you expecting a lot of people to come to this festival?” Rachel asked.
    “The local motel is booked, so is the campground—which has never happened in January. I just found out this morning that the motels and hotels in the neighboring county are also booked because of this festival. From what I understand, they’re expecting about five hundred or so people, which is good business for Bola.”
    “But bad business for an investigation,” Owen countered.
    Jake nodded. “Right. So, between the festival and Josh Conway, the town council has been…um…”
    Rachel smiled. “Up your ass?”
    The sheriff released a low chuckle. “That’s putting it mildly. Anyway, I’ve got to run. You might want to start with Josh and Sean’s dorm room, then try meeting with that professor. I was told he should be available in a couple of hours. Before you head over to the university though, you better secure your rooms for the week.”
    “I thought you said the motel was booked,” Rachel said, and stood.
    Jake ripped a sheet of paper off a notepad, then handed it to Rachel. “It is, so I called Joy. She runs a boarding house and has two vacant rooms. Here’s the address. I asked her to hold off on giving those rooms away, should any of the Bigfoot fanatics find out about her place. I wasn’t sure if Sean would move back into the dorms after he’s released.” He nodded to Owen. “I also wasn’t expecting Rachel to have company, but this should work out fine for now. Owen, if it turns out you need a place to stay, I’ve got a pullout couch.”
    While Rachel stuffed the information into her pocket, the sheriff moved toward the door. Owen grabbed the file box off the desk, then followed Rachel and Jake. As they exited the back hallway, a young, pretty blonde burst through the front door.
    “Sorry, Jake,” she said. “I got tied up in class.”
    “No problem, Abby,” he said to the girl, then turned to them. “Let’s meet up at River’s Edge later. It’s a local—”
    “I know the place. They have the best pancakes,” Rachel said, with a smile. “Does six o’clock work for you?”
    Jake grinned as if they’d made plans for a hot date. “Works perfect.”
    “Works for me, too,” Owen mumbled under his breath and pushed through the door. From the moment they’d entered Bola, things had started to become…whacked. There had to be a better word, but he couldn’t think of one at the moment. Right now, all he could think about was the way Rachel had smiled—all sultry-like—at the sheriff. He hadn’t even realized she could do sultry. He also hadn’t expected his body to react with a sharp sting of jealousy.  
    As he walked toward the back of the Lexus, Rachel climbed into the passenger seat. Because she’d left her heavy coat in the car earlier, he was able to catch a nice view of her ass. Even in a pair of boring, black suit pants her butt looked…tempting. Round and tight. Unlike the women he normally dated, Rachel had the kind of ass he could hang onto while thrusting—  
    Good God, what the hell was wrong with him?  
    He wanted to slam the Lexus’s gate shut, but refrained. Knowing Rachel, she’d remind him of his vehicle’s capabilities. At this point, he didn’t need any smartass