Page 95 of Mystery in the Mountains

“I don’t trust that fella,” grumbled Ray.

This was the first time she’d heard anything less than glowing about him.

“What?” Sunny said, turning to him in surprise. “Why’s that?”

“I know everyone likes him, but I don’t trust him. I’m good at readin’ people, and something about him doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Hey, Ray,” Betty said as she came over. “What can I get for ya?”

“Hey, Betty, do you have any paper?” Nox asked.

“Sure thing,” she called as she brought him a notepad and a pencil.

He wrote down a number before hanging up.

Then he disappeared into the bathroom.

This was it. Sunny went over, snatched the notepad, and walked to the women’s bathroom. On her way, she stopped and snagged a crayon from the kids’ menus.

Once in the bathroom, she ripped the paper off the blue crayon, making sure all the little paper peeling made it into the trash can. Then she traced the crayon on its side gently on the paper. A smile spread across her face, and an address appeared on the paper.

Feeling like a proper detective, she ripped off the piece of paper, folded it, and slid it into her pocket. By the time she made it out of the bathroom, her aunt was handing him a sandwich. Standing still by the bathrooms, she watched him take the bag and head out to his car.

He set the bag on the seat next to him and turned his car on before pulling out of the parking lot.

She needed to follow him. She knew that as surely as she knew she belonged in the Hollow.

“Hey, Aunt Betty, I gotta go. When Asher comes, will you tell him something came up?”

“What are you up to?” she asked, hands on her hips.

“I’m not sure. Just tell Asher I had to go.”

She took a drink of her sweet tea before heading out the door, then unfolded the piece of paper in her pocket.

It was an address in Charleston, so it was about two hours away. Maybe she would need to tell Asher she was going, but she wanted to catch Nox there.

He was up to something, and this might be her only chance.

Chapter

Thirty

ASHER

“I’m headed to the diner. Do you want anything?”

“Julie’s bringing lunch,” Abe said as she slid the saw back into place. “I’m sure she’s bringing you lunch, too.”

“I told Sunny I’d meet her there for lunch.”

He got in his truck with a smile. Sure, it had only been a couple hours since he’d seen her, but he was ready to see her again.

As he pulled into the diner, he didn’t see her van. He must have beaten her here.

That is okay, he thought. I will order her a cheeseburger and fries and have it waiting for her.

As he opened the door, he saw the normal crowd. He grabbed the booth in the back, where they always sat at and waited.

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