Page 72 of Every Which Way

Kenna fell asleep in the car, and when Stairns pulled into the campsite, she woke up with her forehead against the side window. She winced, a cold spot on her face from the glass, and groaned. “That’s the worst way to sleep.”

Stairns put the car in park. “Bruce is in our rig. He said to come see him.”

“I’m going back to work.” Maizie pushed the door open and got out. “Which is what I should’ve been doing this whole time.”

Kenna nudged Ramon awake. “Time to switch to your bed.”

He groaned, pushed the door open, and stumbled out.

Stairns met her at the rear of the car. “Maizie talked to Jax. She’s fine. They were both worried about you guys.”

“What does Bruce have?”

“A lead.” Stairns pulled the Class C door open, and she stepped inside, spotting two unexpected men sitting at their table. “It’s going to get crowded in here fast.”

Bruce stood by the sink, drinking from a short glass. “Our friend next door?”

“Went back to work.” She moved by him and got a water bottle out of their fridge.

Bruce pulled out his phone and sent a text.

Ramon eased by her. “I don’t wanna know, and I’ve been stabbed, so I don’t care.”

She glanced at the two bound men at the table. Their wrists and feet were taped together. Their eyes widened, watching Ramon, and Cliff appeared to be breathing hard underneath the tape stretched over his mouth.

Worried about what was going to happen next?

Bet you didn’t expect to get picked up by the same people you started a fight with, then ran from.

Ramon’s retreat made her wonder how bad he felt that he didn’t want in on what was going to happen next. Kenna watched him roll onto his bunk, halfway down the hall before the bedroom section. She held the water bottle to her face. “Cliff. And your brother. How fortuitous.” With her other hand, she tapped out a quick text, took their picture, and included it.

It would probably take Langford half an hour to get over here, which would save this situation from a turn that wouldn’t do any of them any good.

Stairns closed the door and set his elbow on the counter. The two men at the table both had bloody knots on their foreheads. In about the same spot. Bruce must have used the same tactic to take them both out.

“How’d you know we’d need them?”

Bruce lowered his glass. “Watched them run out the back. They were taking a path into the trees, so I followed. When I scoped it out before, I found a cabin up there. These guys chatted while they were walking.” His tone flattened. “Heard them talking about you and Ramon.”

The two men at the table started to breathe harder.

“Okay,” Kenna said to draw their attention to her. “Who wants to talk about the motel?”

Both of them looked from her to Stairns, then at Bruce.

Definitely, the kind of older men a fool might underestimate.

But Bruce had taken them both down, subdued them, and transported them here.

“As you can see”—Kenna motioned to where Ramon was now snoring—“we’re not interested in a fight. We only want information, and then you’re free to go.” To jail. “Whoever talks first gets to ask for something.”

Cliff’s unnamed brother lifted his chin.

Stairns leaned over and tore off the tape. “Your name?”

“Elyan Cartland. Cliff and I weren’t doing nothin’ but protecting our place. That’s the price of business.”

Kenna said, “Recommending to couples that they stay in a certain motel. After that, you…what? Send a photo of them to someone. So they know who to expect?”

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