Boared Stiff by Allen Gretchen

Author:Allen, Gretchen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Summer Prescott Books
Published: 2023-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

When she returned to the festival grounds, Billie parked her car and headed back into her office. She had a list of upcoming festivals she wanted to print for Dillon, as she had recently done for the other food truck managers.

While the list was printing, she went into the kitchen space in the middle of the large building in search of Asher. The thought had occurred to her when she was on her way back from the police department that he would be there when she returned. The mistake would have been remedied and Asher would have been dropped back off to resume his work and his life. She shuddered when she realized that he was nowhere to be seen.

Billie wandered down the hall to his office and began to look around. She had no idea if Asher had a person in his life that she should call, be it his mother or his best friend, a sister or a brother. She was beginning to think that she should call someone, anyone, but if she did and the police had already handled it, she might cause someone unnecessary trauma. Surely the local police department would have done everything they could to find him, too. She knew for a fact that not all of the officers were at the lunch since not every police officer could be in one place at the same time. Someone had to be working to find Asher. Billie decided to head home to check on Waffles. She had no idea if he needed to walk regularly or if he was used to running free in the backyard.

Waffles was resting under the bush next to her front steps. He perked up when he saw her coming. Billie ran inside the house to use the restroom and slipped on her favorite beach walking sandals. She headed back out, carrying two water bottles for the walk, and unhooked the leash from the railing and headed for the gate to the beach.

She glanced back toward the metal building, mostly out of habit, and spotted Dillon standing outside speaking to someone she had not seen before. Billie slowed her step and watched as they spoke. Dillon held a cigarette in his hand. Smoke curled around his head. He leaned in as he spoke to the other man. He gripped the man by the lapel of his jacket and narrowed his eyes.

The other man pulled away slightly, but Dillon wouldn’t let him go. He shook the man slightly and then released him. Billie watched as the other man lowered his head, nodding quickly. She felt like she had just watched a playground bully extract lunch money from a weaker kid at recess.

Dillon looked up suddenly. He appeared to have seen someone watching him and craned his neck to have a better look.

Billie turned promptly around and directed Waffles toward the beach. “Let’s go, buddy,” she directed. “Come on!” She urged him on faster.

Her mind began to race again as she walked.

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