Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“I agreed to step in until we found out what happened to Duke,” Logan stated, finally looking up at the mayor. “I’ll cover for him until his disappearance is solved, but I’ve had my fill of policing people. I spent the better part of ten years with a gun in my hand, right now I’d rather pour a draft beer with my woman.”
“He’ll reevaluate his position once Duke is found,” Ty appeased, sitting next to the mayor.
Logan’s attention shot to Ty. “Reevaluate?”
“Don’t make any rash decisions when you’re less than a day on the job.”
“Precisely,” the mayor agreed. “We need someone with your experience. Settle in and see how it goes before you decide.”
Logan noted the gleam in Ty’s expression.
“You on the council, Ty?”
His gleam turned into a full on smile. “Youngest member in the history of Ennis.”
“Fucking politicians,” Logan mumbled under his breath.
“Have there been any new developments? Any evidence that points you in any direction?” the mayor asked, leaning his forearms on his legs. “Duke was a good friend. If someone killed him, as you and the Yellowstone police believe, I want them apprehended as soon as possible. Duke deserves that much.”
Logan understood how the man felt. He’d only known Duke a single day, but he respected the man from the moment he met him. “There’s nothing new, but you could help with that. I need keys to Duke’s home so I can search it, and a set of keys to his office. If you have time this afternoon to escort me over to his house so I can gain entry, that would be appreciated.
The mayor stood and dropped the set of keys he’d used to open Duke’s door. “These have everything you need on them. I took the liberty of going to Duke’s house and grabbing his spare key this morning.”
Logan looked up from the keys back to the mayor. “Did you touch anything while you were there?”
“Only the rock where he keeps his spare. I never entered his house. I know better than to tamper with possible evidence.”
Logan turned to Ty. “What about when you were searching for him yesterday?”
“Ask Ed Burk. He checked Duke’s house.”
A shrill ring filled the air as the office phone rang on Duke’s desk. Logan hesitated at first, then grabbed the receiver. “Ennis police.”
“He’s dead,” a voice rang out, it’s tone shocked. “Old Rip is dead.”
Seventeen
Revelations
THE BAR WAS packed for the third day in a row. The residents of Ennis were gathering in the one place they could drink and also come together while we all waited for news about Duke. I’d been inundated with questions the moment I stepped foot inside. From Josh, the town council, heck even deputies from Twin Bridges had been waiting. Logan had called the mayor before we left Yellowstone and updated him on our suspicions about Duke. The news had clearly made the rounds.
Big Sky Saloon had been the only watering hole in Ennis when the town was founded. Over time, Ennis had gained restaurants and another bar designed specifically for tourists, but Big Sky was the town’s bar. Had been no matter who owned it. When my father bought out the previous owner, nothing changed. When the residents wanted to celebrate, they came here. When they wanted to mourn, they came to Big Sky to be surrounded by friends. Weddings, funerals, graduations—Big Sky had seen it all. But this was the first time we’d come together because of murder. That’s not to say murder had never been committed in Ennis, but not on this scale. Not to someone so beloved by everyone. So linked and woven into the very fabric of all our lives.
“To Duke!” Ed Burk raised his glass of bourbon, and the rest of the bar followed suit.
“Best man I knew. Best fisherman I’ve known,” Dusty Banks followed with his own toast.
He wasn’t wrong about that. Duke had won many fishing trophies in his lifetime, including our own Ennis Fly-Fishing Tournament attended by hundreds of avid fishermen. I hoped with everything I am that when Duke had passed through the pearly gates, it was with a fishing rod in his hand and a stocked river waiting for him.
Josh was behind the bar helping me by restocking glasses, and Jake—who came in much calmer than I’d seen him in days after hashing it out with Logan—was rotating and restocking the bottled beer and wine coolers. Even though they were underaged, most of the town looked the other way when they helped me out when I was shorthanded. And with all that had happened, I needed them close. Needed the familiarity of the bar. The sound of a draft filling a mug. The hiss of bottle tops as they released their hold. The thud a glass made when it hit the surface of the bar top . . . Even Rocky the moose hanging over my shoulder, his big eyes following as I worked. I needed the one place that reminded me most of my dad. Of his place in this world.