“No. Calder is going to the store after work and picking up the groceries. We’re hoping that seeing the groceries together will give us an idea.”
“I cook a lot, but that recipe stumps me.” Sex Piston went behind the cash register.
Zoey took out her credit card, giving it to her. “If it’s a recipe you need help with, you should ask Sophie. She’s the best cook in town.”
Crazy Bitch took out her phone, flipping to the list that was Greer’s clue.
Sophie took her cell phone, frowning in concentration. “It looks like he wants you to make cowboy casserole.”
“I’ve made that before. I should have recognized it from the ingredients.” Sex Piston gave Zoey back her credit card.
“You forgot to tell me how much it was.”
“No charge. Your cuts are on the house.”
The women beamed.
“Sex Piston, I don’t know who Ginger is, but you don’t have anything to worry about. Greg went to Stud’s shop when his bike needed work done on it last week, and he came home saying Stud was showing him pictures of Star’s birthday party. Greg said he showed him more pictures of you than Star.”
“Thanks, Zoey. And you, too, Sophie. You saved me a trip to the grocery store.”
“We’ll see you next month.” Sophie gave her a tip, which she held in her hand until they left. Going to the tip jar, she dropped it inside.
“I should text Calder and tell him he doesn’t have to go to the store.”
“Why? I’d let him fix you dinner.” Fat Louise put what was left of the candy bar into her purse.
“I would, too,” T.A. chorused.
“I’ll go get us some burgers while you decide.” Killyama left as Crazy Bitch swept both stations and started a load of towels in the washer out back.
She decided not to text Calder. Even though they knew it was a cowboy casserole, it didn’t say where they would be able to find the next clue.
“How does Sam feel about you spending time with Calder?” Fat Louise asked as she helped straighten the hair magazines Sophie had looked through.
“I’m not seeing him anymore.”
“Why not? I thought you and him were having a fuck fest when you both took the same days off.”
It was gratifying to know that her punches had forced him to lose time from work.
Crazy Bitch hadn’t wanted to make it uncomfortable for Fat Louise to work around Sam, but she didn’t trust the bastard as far as she could throw him.
“I don’t want you to say shit to any of the brothers or Killyama, but he tried to roofie me.”
Sex Piston took the broom away from her. “Hell no, I’m not going to keep my mouth shut about it. When I tell Stud, he and the brothers will kick his fucking ass.”
“I know, and when they are finished with him, Killyama will scrape together what’s left and make hamburger out of him.”
“Then why not?”
“I don’t want Fat Louise to lose her job. Sam might complain that the Destructors beat him up, and everyone in town knows that Fat Louise belongs to the club. You still want that promotion you applied for last month?”
Fat Louise bit her lip. “Yes. It’ll give us another five hundred a month, and I can even work from home a couple days a week. It’s in the same office where Sam works.”
“That’s why I haven’t said anything. Once you get the job and get past the probation period, then Stud and Killyama can have him. The only reason I decided to say something now is because I don’t trust the bastard not to slip something in your drink to get back at me.”
Sex Piston clenched the broom handle. “Then let’s go to the sheriff’s office and report it.”
“I don’t have any proof. I never drank it. He was just acting weird. I should have saved it and took it to the sheriff’s office, but I threw it at him.”
Sex Piston’s lips thinned into a line. “As soon as Fat Louise gets that job and is off probation, the bastard is dead meat.”
Crazy Bitch looked out the window. “Killyama is back.” She hurriedly changed the subject. “You think that clue of Greer’s was an actual clue or him just wanting us to cook for him?”
They threw ideas around as they ate.
After lunch, T.A. and Fat Louise left to go back to work. Killyama hung around until Sex Piston was finished so they could go to the club together.
She waved them off when they wanted to wait for her, but she was in middle of a perm.
Exhausted, she turned the open light off after she finished and locked the door on the way out. When she turned toward the parking lot, she stopped, seeing Sam leaning against her car. She hadn’t seen him drive into the lot while she had been working, nor had she seen it when she had come out the door.