Page 142 of Property of Whiskey

“Somebody tried coming through the back of the clubhouse.”

My free hand closes around the edge of the counter. “For Kaylee?”

“Looks that way.”

“Who?”

“Don’t know. Took off before we got hands on him.”

“How’s she?”

“Scared.”

Twila is right behind me, close enough to catch half the conversation. She doesn’t ask me to put Bullet on speaker or demand the phone. She just moves within hearing distance, deputy instincts wiping every trace of jealousy from her face.

“Keep her inside.”

“No shit.”

“Double the doors.”

“Already done.”

“Legend know?”

“Yeah. Told me to keep you posted.”

I look at Twila. Her face has gone pale. She understands what this means before either of us says it.

Pearly Gates ain’t waiting anymore.

“Bullet.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t let her out of your sight.”

His answer comes without hesitation. “Ain’t planning to.”

I hang up.

Twila grips the back of a kitchen chair. “They came for her.”

“Looks like.”

“At the clubhouse.”

“Yeah.”

“Which means…”

She stops, working the facts the way I’ve watched her work a scene.

“They know she got out.”

“Yeah.”

“And they know the Kings have her.”