Grabbing the sandwich from where he tossed it on the cot, he opened the foil to see it was peanut butter. Taking a small bite, he closed the foil again. He would only take small bites until they gave him more food. In case the food was tainted, it would be dispersed through his body in small doses. He didn’t trust Slate, but his body wasn’t going to heal without nourishment.
Sitting on the cot, with his back against the wall, he counted seconds off into minutes before taking another small bite, along with a small swig of the water. Finishing off the tiny meal, he passed the time by thinking of Taylor. She would have called Viper by now to tell him he was missing. His brother was smart, but Gavin knew that he had three things going against him—Memphis, Crash, and Bedford. Viper had served with Memphis. Their tight bond was the reason Viper invited Memphis to join The Last Riders. Hell, he hadn’t wanted to believe that Memphis and Crash were stealing from The Last Riders, but now he knew that Memphis had taken part in the drug ring in Treepoint. If Memphis had been watching him, then he was on thin ice—even if he wasn’t stealing from the club. The brothers had a strict rule about hard-core drugs. They were laid-back about pot and alcohol, but anything more would have you handing over your cut and bike. Memphis had broken that rule. Gavin had gone out on his own to help Lucky in tracking down information on the drug ring, and he’d seen more than he’d ever expected. Memphis was the one coming and going from the suspected drug house, when he was supposed to be back in Ohio.
From what he’d pieced together, the road between Treepoint and Molly’s Valley were stopping points. Some isolated homes set off the road were used by mules as a drop point—to stash or sell before moving on to another stash house either in Virginia or Tennessee. From what he’d gathered, the mules didn’t know what stop was beyond the one they were heading to. It was the perfect way for high-level members of the drug trafficking organization to keep their routes a secret. They’d created a complex system, making it impossible for law enforcement to piece together.
To assimilate himself into Treepoint, he’d started eating at the local diner, not only to meet people in town but to listen in on conversations around him. During his military days, he’d learned some of his best intel came from the local establishments and watering holes. He’d been lucky one day to get a seat next to a local at the diner, who’d been happy to strike up a conversation with him.
“The coffee is the best in town. I don’t know if that’s much of a recommendation, but it’s better than the crap they sell at the gas station.”
The waitress came over, and Gavin waited until he ordered before turning toward the man. “I’ve had every coffee in town and can agree it is the best.”
They chatted as they drank their coffees and ate their breakfasts.
“You’re new, aren’t you?” the man asked.
“Been here a few months. I’m renovating the inn.”
The man wasn’t surprised. His hard face cracked into a smile. “Treepoint is small. Word gets around quick what you’re doing here.”
“I’ve been finding that out.”
“You plan on making Treepoint home?”
If asked that question when he first arrived, he would have said no, but Treepoint had grown on him. And if he didn’t love Taylor and knew she would never be able to adjust, he would consider making it a home base. But Taylor was in the picture, so it wasn’t going to be an option.
“No, my fiancée is a big-city girl.”
“You’re engaged?”
Gavin looked up from his plate to see a disappointed expression cross the stranger’s face before he lowered his face to his plate, and the cap he was wearing concealed what he was thinking.
“Getting ready to tie the knot next month.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“Must have been hard on you being separated.”
“It has been, yes.”
“Treepoint doesn’t have enough to keep her occupied.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
It didn’t bother Gavin that Treepoint didn’t have the conveniences that Ohio had. He didn’t need dozens of restaurants, shopping malls, or the other numerous places that Taylor frequented to keep him content.
The stranger finished his coffee and picked up his bill. Turning his swivel seat, he seemed as if he was about to go. “The longer you’re here, the more doors will open for you.”
Gavin’s paused with his cup halfway to his lips as the man continued.
“Most of the people like to keep to themselves. That’s why most around here don’t live in town; they live where it takes a little bit of work to find them. Used to be an old woman who ran a liquor store out of her house. Sheriff never did catch on to what was going on, and he was running the roads ragged trying to find out where the alcohol was coming from in a dry county. I reckon a man can find anything here in Treepoint that they can find in the big city—if they look hard enough.”