Page 47 of Big Daddy Firemen

Outside the truck, Spencer nodded. “Yep. Got the alert but was asleep. Anyway, checked this morning, expecting to see a deer, and saw this instead. Damn shame. I thought I’d be getting me some meat to last the season. Instead, I saw a damn trespasser. Figured they might be the one setting those fires, though.”

“Ifanyone is setting the fires,” Walker called.

Daisy wasn’t surprised he’d thrown that out there. She knew he hadn’t let the public know about that device he’d found in the woods. He’d explained that he didn’t want to cause a panic, and the reasoning made perfect sense to her.

“Hell, maybe they’re not connected,” Spencer said. “I just hope this helps. I want this shit to stop as much as all you do.” He winced. “Beggin’ your pardon for my language. I don’t need to talk like that with little cuties around. You know, I don’t have a Little of my own so sometimes I forget stuff like that. I apologize.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Sheriff Quinn said. “And we appreciate you showing us this. Could you text that to me and one of the guys?” He looked toward Austin’s truck, so the implication was clear.

“Doing it now.” Spencer took his phone back and began to tap on the screen.

They said goodbye and Spencer climbed back into his big truck and drove away.

“What do y’all make of that?” Quinn asked.

“I think that’s even more evidence that we need to get to Durant and see what’s going on. And having a lawman there will help,” Austin said.

Quinn bobbed his head. “Then let’s get on the road and get this thing squared away.”

Daisy settled into her seat and got comfortable for the two-hour drive.

She just hoped this plan of theirs worked.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Durant was southwest of Big Cedar.

While Big Cedar was close to Arkansas, Durant was close to Texas. If you left the town and headed south, it wasn’t very long at all before you crossed the Red River and entered the Lone Star State. They wouldn’t be visiting there, though. They were on business.

That didn’t mean they couldn’t have a little bit of fun too, however.

The hotel and casino they were staying at was a full-fledged resort that rivaled anything in Las Vegas. The vast complex consisted of three giant towers all connected by a single-floor casino that linked the trio of buildings. There was also multiple swimming pools complete with private cabanas, water slides, and swim-up bars. Being winter, those were all closed. However, there were still plenty of things to do around the area.

The women oohed and awed as they stood in the lobby of one of the towers, looking at the high-ceilinged room with wonder. It seemed to stretch as far as their eyes could see. There were slot machines ringing and chirping, their digital screens flickering with bright colors. The check-in desk looked regal, as did the chandeliers that hung over them. There was even a bar rightthere in the lobby, and Daisy licked her lips as she thought of ordering a cocktail later.

“Did you know this place even has an arcade?” Grace asked the other women.

“It does?” Alyssa’s eyes were wide.

“Yep. My Daddy has taken me here several times,” Grace explained. “There’s also a bowling alley. It’s the coolest.”

Now, Daisy felt her excitement level growing, joining the Littles in forgetting about the investigation that had brought them to Durant in the first place.

“Daddies, can we bowl?” she asked, tugging on Austin and Cane’s arms as she strolled between them. “And play in the casino! Look at that slot machine! It has pirates on it.”

“We’ve got to get to our meeting,” Cane said. “But here, go shove this twenty in there and see if you strike it rich.” He took a bill from his wallet, passed it to her, and then watched with an approving smile as she and the other girls hurried to the tall slot.

Alyssa and Grace watched as the machine eagerly sucked up the twenty.

“What do I push?” Daisy pondered.

The other women shrugged.

Finally, she settled on a button that told her she was betting the maximum credits. Reels began to spin on the giant digital display screen. Loud chirps and other cheerful sounds came from the machine’s speaker as the reels settled to reveal four mismatched items.

Daisy tapped the button again, but nothing happened. She hit a few others. The screen stayed the same.

“Hey! That’s it?”

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