Death and Her Devotion (Rogue Vows #1)(10)

Since it was the only bar within a dozen miles, people’s protests soon fizzled away.

Jake was behind the bar. He’d changed since taking ownership. The former spineless drug addict now held his head up and looked people in the eye. He’d power-washed the formerly nauseatingly sticky bar floor and brought in tables that didn’t tip every time you set down your drink. Rumor was that he’d even had a real date or two. Stevie had known him since she was young and was pleased to see the change, but she still didn’t trust him. At all.

He flinched as she and Zane approached, keeping eye contact with Zane and avoiding her gaze. She wasn’t surprised. She’d kicked him in the groin pretty hard last winter, and no doubt the sight of her still caused him pain.

“Know these girls?” Zane immediately held out his phone showing the photo Sheila had sent him, skipping the small talk.

Jake tucked a strand of hair behind his ear, and Stevie was happy to see his hair had been recently washed. His shirt was clean too. Maybe he has changed for the better.

“That’s Marnie and her friend,” Jake answered promptly. “Marnie’s my newest waitress.” He squinted at the photo. “They were hanging all over that guy last night, claiming he was some sort of celebrity, but I don’t know him.”

“You don’t watch Detective Alex Gunn, the TV show?” Stevie asked.

“I’ve heard of it,” Jake said with a sour look. “He’s on that?”

“Do you have an address for Marnie?” Zane asked.

“I can do better than that. She’s in the back prepping for the lunch rush.”

Lunch rush? Here? Stevie glanced around, noticing each table was set with utensils and a small vase of real flowers. Is that a salad bar? Her estimation of Jake rose another notch.

“Marnie!” Jake hollered in the direction of the swinging door to the kitchen.

The dark-haired girl from the picture appeared, wiping her hands on her apron, and her surprised gaze landed on Stevie and Zane in their uniforms. “What’s up, Jake?”

Jake gestured at the two of them. “They have some questions about that guy you were hanging on last night.”

Her face lit up. “Chase Ryan. It blew me away when I went to take his order and I spotted those eyes under the brim of his ball cap. No one else recognized him; he was keeping it quiet. But I had to call Gwen to get over here ASAP and see.”

“What time was he here?” Zane asked. “Was anyone else with him?”

The waitress twisted her lips in thought. “Gwen got here at midnight, and he’d already been here for about thirty minutes, I’d say. He was alone. He said he was in town with some friends but had ditched them.”

“Do you know what time he left?” Stevie asked.

Marnie wrung her apron in her hands and blushed. “It was about twelve thirty. We’d done last call at midnight because it was pretty quiet.”

Stevie studied the young woman who no longer would look them in the eye. “What happened after last call, Marnie?”

Marnie glanced at Jake, who watched her with a question on his face. “He asked Gwen and me to go to the motel with him.”

“Both of you?” Jake burst out.

“We didn’t do it,” Marnie said quickly. “He was really drunk, and even though it was Chase Ryan, it felt kinda sleazy, you know?” She looked at Stevie for understanding.

Stevie’s head spun. He propositioned them together? Nausea swamped her stomach. “Are you sure that’s what he wanted?”

Marnie’s head bobbed enthusiastically. “Oh yes. He was very clear. Gwen and I joked later that we’d passed up a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

They haven’t heard . . .

“Have either of you listened to the news today?” Zane asked, and both shook their heads. Marnie sucked in her breath, understanding filling her gaze.

“Did something happen? Did he get caught driving drunk?” she whispered. “Can Jake be held liable for that?”

“Hey!” Jake slammed a hand on the bar. “No way is that coming back on me.”

Zane took a deep breath and glanced at Stevie, silently handing over the reins. “Chase Ryan died last night,” she said. “But not in a drunk-driving accident. It appears he was murdered at the Crying Indian Campground.”

Silence.

Marnie looked from Stevie to Zane. “Are you joking?” she asked hesitantly.

“I wish I were,” Stevie said. “You were one of the last people who saw him. Your Instagram photo of the three of you is all over social media and the news.”

“What?” Her mouth opened and her eyes widened. “My account is private! Oh crap. Someone shared it with a screenshot, didn’t they? Is he really dead?” she squeaked.

“He is,” said Stevie. “Did he talk with anyone else when he was here last night?”

Marnie sat on a bar stool, her shoulders slumping. “No. He didn’t want anyone to recognize him. He said he was pretty proud that he could blend in with everyone else.”

“Did either of you see him leave?” asked Zane.

“I barely noticed the guy,” Jake said, and Stevie doubted his words. Jake had been moony-eyed since Marnie stepped out of the kitchen. He would have watched closely if Marnie gave a customer special attention.