“Awesome. We’ll take my SUV.” He pointed to a large black SUV parked in a slot with a sign that read, “parking space reserved for our Fearless Leader.”
Diesel slammed Wheeler’s trunk lid closed and they all followed him to his vehicle. They selected the same doors they had when searching Wheeler’s car. Diesel driving, Raphael riding shotgun, with Lucy and Wyatt in the back.
Raphael typically appreciated Earth’s beautiful landscape. Today, not so much. His usual low-key temper was riled to the point of imminent explosion with the least provocation. Diesel better have a good plan or Raphael might lose it altogether.
Diesel drove slowly and carefully out of Alienn, Arkansas, and into a neighboring township, Skeeter Bite, Arkansas.
“Are you driving slow so that anyone following us won’t lose us?” Raphael asked after Diesel came to a full stop at a stop sign and waited a good thirty seconds before taking a left toward a sign along the road announcing Skeeter Bite, pop. 5,703.
“Maybe.”
“Are you really driving to the hiding place to see if the gold ingots are still there?”
“Probably not.”
“Wow, you’re just a fount of information.”
Diesel smiled. “If I’m wrong, then I don’t have to admit it.”
“Where are we going?”
“Daphne Charlene’s restaurant, Critters Café.”
Raphael frowned. “Isn’t that sort of an obvious place for Indigo to have searched?”
“Yep. But in case Wheeler was forced to give up the real location, this will throw off the scent for anyone checking to see if his information is accurate.”
“Will I ever be one of the privileged few who know where the gold ingots are hidden?”
“Why do you need to know?”
“I don’t. I’m just rabidly curious.”
“Sorry, rabid curiosity isn’t the secret password. But I’ll take your feelings into consideration and think about it.”
Raphael said, “All I can ask.”
They made their way to Skeeter Bite and Critters Café without mishap. If anyone was following, Raphael didn’t see them.
The blue sky filled with puffy white clouds was beautiful, but that was another thing Raphael barely noticed as they all disembarked from Diesel’s SUV.
In a few hours, it would be a whole day since he’d been with Francine. It was intolerable. The moment he found her, he might sling her over one shoulder and take her to the nearest place that they could get married, running Ichor-Delta fast the whole way.
His belly roiled with worry for his love.
Wyatt led the way into Critters Café. He didn’t seem happy about it, but knew that Daphne Charlene would likely talk to him because it was no secret she wanted Skeeter Bite’s sheriff for her own. It didn’t matter to her that he was married to Valene, the youngest Grey and only girl, or that Valene was pregnant with their first child.
Daphne Charlene told anyone and everyone within earshot that when the time came—as it naturally would—that Wyatt and Valene’s foolish union was over, she was ready, willing and able to step in and make Wyatt happy.
Raphael followed Wyatt, with Diesel and Lucy behind him.
Daphne Charlene didn’t see them enter, but when she spotted Wyatt standing in her café, she squealed like she’d just won the lottery.
“Wyatt! What are you doing here?”
He opened his mouth, but she didn’t let him speak before answering herself. “Oh, that doesn’t matter. How can I help you?” She walked the short distance to the foursome and moved directly into Wyatt’s personal space, pressing her body into his.
Raphael saw him stiffen and quickly form a smile. Daphne Charlene was likely the only one in the room who didn’t see that his smile was an uncomfortable one.
