“Oh, right.The remains.”
“Remains?What remains?”
Meredith regretted mentioning it.“A group of boys found human remains near the lake.Old bones.It’s a mystery, I guess.”
Wynona seemed disturbed by the news, which didn’t surprise Meredith.The woman had lost her son less than six months ago.She drained her margarita glass, left some cash on the table, and excused herself to use the restroom.
Meredith paid the check and waited for Wynona to return.A dull ache started in her lower abdomen, a little pulsing cramp that often accompanied her period.She rifled through her purse for an ibuprofen tablet.Then she went to the restroom to look for Wynona.
“Wynona?”she called into empty stalls.
No answer.
It dawned on Meredith that she’d been ditched.Wynona must have snuck out the side entrance.Her favorite bar, Crazy Horse Saloon, was within walking distance.Shaking her head in annoyance, Meredith left the restaurant.She drove to the bar, two blocks down, and parked.She wondered if this had been Wynona’s plan all along.The woman was crafty as hell.Grief and alcoholism were a dangerous mix.
Inside the bar, a popular country-western song blasted from the jukebox.“Poison Rose,” by Tripp Gilley.The lyrics described a man who’d gotten caught up in a toxic relationship.Meredith was familiar with the song, and she had no doubts about its inspiration.Hearing it now did not improve her mood.
Wynona was sitting on a barstool, sipping beer and tapping her foot to the catchy tune.Meredith took the space beside her.
“You found me,” Wynona said brightly, as if she’d been playing hide and seek.
“Is it really Billy’s birthday?”
Wynona ignored the question, because another bar patron came rambling up to them.He was about ten years older than Wynona, with long gray hair and a full beard.He gave Meredith a crooked smile.
“Hey, Nona, introduce me to your friend.”
“She’s too young for you, Barry.”
“So are you, but that doesn’t stop me.Dance with me.”
Wynona laughed gaily and rose from the barstool.They joined another couple on the dance floor.
“What can I get you?”
Meredith turned to face the bartender.She was a pretty woman in her thirties.She had straight black hair, perfect red lipstick, and an impressive bust.Beneath heavy lashes, her eyes were hard.
“Shirley Temple.”
“Coming right up.”
Meredith nursed the drink and endured the too-loud ambiance.Since she’d given up alcohol, she didn’t enjoy the smell of it.Bad memories assailed her, and her stomach cramps worsened steadily.She nibbled on the cherry garnish from her drink and wished she could be anywhere else.
Life was so freaking unfair sometimes.It was a sad fact that decent, hard-working people struggled to make ends meet every day, while violent, abusive jerks like Tripp Gilley got rich from taking their money.
Before Wynona returned from the dance floor, a man in uniform walked in.Meredith did a double take to make sure the deputy wasn’t Wade.The badge on his khaki shirt, along with the utility belt on his waist, declared him an officer of the law.He had dark hair and a trim physique.He spoke quietly to the barmaid.She leaned forward to distract him with her cleavage.His eyes dipped but didn’t linger.
Wynona came back for her beer.“That’s Sheriff Nava’s boy.He’s the spitting image of his father at that age.”
Meredith glanced at the officer again.He was handsome, and the barmaid was practically purring at him.He didn’t appear pleased by the exchange.They chatted for another minute.He surveyed the bar in a quick sweep.With a curt nod, he left.
“She’s married,” Wynona said.“But she don’t act like it.”
Meredith turned her attention back to Wynona.Pain radiated from her abdomen in waves.“I don’t feel well.”
“You look pale.”
“Can you drive me home?”
