Missing in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law #5)(24)

What made the most sense was that someone came upon them while Zach was changing the tire and stole the car. What didn’t make sense is why they took Raissa with them. If they’d only wanted to rob them and steal the car, they would have left them behind…or shot them on the spot, but that was a scenario Jadyn thanked God she didn’t have to dwell on.

Unfortunately, the reasons for taking Raissa were all things she needed to dwell on, and Jadyn couldn’t think of a single one that led to a tolerable outcome, much less a pleasant one. Statistics said if Raissa wasn’t already dead, she would be soon. And if it was a ransom heist, surely they would have been contacted already.

When they finally got back to the hotel, Helena disappeared upstairs, claiming she needed a long, hot bath while Mildred and Jadyn called Maryse and filled her in on what they’d found. Then Jadyn had poured Mildred a shot of whiskey and she’d trudged upstairs to get some rest.

Back in her room, Jadyn paced, too wound up to sit still, much less sleep. She glanced at the clock again and sighed when she saw that only five minutes had passed. The overwhelming feeling that she should be doing something nagged at her. But what? She and Colt would head into the swamps tomorrow morning and the diner end of things had been covered, so what else was there to do?

Knowing she wouldn’t be able to sleep until she calmed down, she grabbed her room key and some money and headed across the street to Bill’s Bar. Maybe Bill would have some local gossip for her. Granted, Bill’s information usually consisted of speculation and exaggeration, but sometimes those things put you onto a new investigative track.

The bar was crowded for a weeknight, and Jadyn wondered how many were here to whisper their theories about Raissa and Zach. She made her way over to the bar and gave Bill a wave. He headed straight for her and before she could even ask, poured her a beer.

“On the house,” he said.

“Thanks,” she said. “It’s been a long day.”

He nodded. “Everyone’s been talking about it. Kinda hushed, if you know what I mean, but I hear most of what’s said.”

“What are people saying?”

“Everything from criminals they arrested got them to they were attacked by the Honey Island Swamp Monster.”

“Is he stealing cars now?”

Bill smiled. “In the bayou, everything is possible.” He glanced around, then leaned across the bar. “Some of the guys overheard those FBI agents talking in front of the hotel, and they said Zach emptied his weapon at the scene. You don’t have to tell me nothing that will get you into trouble…”

“It’s true.”

Bill frowned. “I was hoping they’d misunderstood.”

“Yeah. It does make things appear more dire.”

“It’s not just that.” He glanced around the bar again and frowned. “Some people are saying Raissa and Zach were dirty and whoever they were fronting for called his mark. Now, I am the first to say that’s total bullshit, but in these small towns where not much goes on, people sometimes flap their mouths a bit much.”

“Any reason why people would want to make up tales about Raissa and Zach?”

He shrugged. “Jealousy, boredom, too much HBO, just plain crazy. Take your pick. That last little bit of criminal activity you were involved in didn’t do much to curb people’s imagination. They’re dreaming up everything from the Mafia to international drug lords living in Mudbug.”

She nodded. “I’m sure it’s nothing. I can’t imagine Colt, Luc, Maryse, Mildred, and a host of others beings friends with Zach and Raissa and having no idea they were on the take.”

“Exactly. I haven’t heard anything of real merit so far, but I’ll keep my ear to the bar and if I do, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Thanks, Bill.”

The door opened and Bill glanced over then looked back at Jadyn and grinned. “Your boyfriend’s here.”

Jadyn didn’t know why she expected to see Colt standing there, but she was wrong. Bart and his friend Tyler, a pair she’d met her first day on the job, strolled in. Bart scanned the bar and when he locked onto her, he headed straight for the empty stool to her left. Bill gave her a wink and reached for two beer mugs.

Jadyn shuffled uncomfortably on her stool. Bart had made his interest in her clear, and while he seemed like a nice guy and he definitely wasn’t hard on the eyes, for some reason, he hadn’t caught her attention.

You know the reason.

She held in a sigh and smiled at Bart, determined to put the aloof Colt Bertrand out of her mind.

“Hi,” Bart said and gave her a big smile. “How’s it going?”

“Tough day,” she said.

He sobered and nodded. “We heard about Zach and Raissa. That’s bad news. How is Mildred holding up?”

Her heart warmed a bit that he’d thought to ask about Mildred, and she chided herself for not giving Bart a chance. What’s the worst that could happen—she’d end up with a friend who was a guy? Life definitely held worse things.

“She’s doing okay, considering. Just feeling kinda helpless, like the rest of us.”

“Does the FBI have any idea what happened?” Bart asked.

Tyler snorted. “Like they’d tell anybody if they did.”

“Unfortunately,” Jadyn said, “Tyler’s right. If they have any thoughts on what happened and why, they’re not sharing them.”