Partners: Blinded by the Trees by Kira Chase

Author:Kira Chase [Chase, Kira]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Torrid Books
Published: 2015-05-06T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Frankie finished the last of her wings. “I have to admit, those were pretty good.”

“Delicious,” Selma said, wiping her mouth on a paper napkin.

Johanna took her time savoring every mouth-watering bite. “You two eat too fast,” she teased as they eyed the three wings left on her plate.

“You eat too slow,” Frankie teased back.

“I relish every bite.” She pushed the plate away from her. “I’m stuffed. There’s three left so don’t you two fight over the last one.”

Selma laughed as she took one then pushed the plate in front of Frankie.

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” she said before biting into the wing.

“Hopefully Clyde is good and drunk by now. Any clue how we can entice Brenda over here?” Johanna asked.

Frankie had filled them in on her conversation with the woman and the fact that Clyde was shooting pool. “I thought you and Mom could casually walk by their table. When you spot Brenda, you can strike up a conversation and try to convince her to talk in private with you. I’ll stay here and see what I can find out about the Burrows’ from the waitress. She must know something about them if they come in here quite a bit.”

“Isn’t it odd that this place is so different from the neighborhood?” Johanna frowned.

“I was thinking the same thing. I might just ask the waitress about that, too. It seems out of place.”

Selma wiped her hands. “I’m ready if you are, Johanna.” She pulled herself to her feet.

“We’ll make like we’re going to the ladies’ room and if no one from the table recognizes us, then you can act surprised when you see Brenda.” Johanna rose and then casually led the way through the maze of tables.

The band was on another break and the jukebox was once again blaring. The mood in the tavern was loud and celebratory. Johanna wondered how many of these patrons had children waiting at home for them. How many were blowing the rent money or grocery money for a few hours of drunken pleasure? How many were spending money that could have bought a gift for their children? How many of them would wake up Christmas morning hoping that Santa had left them something and then hide the pain when they realized he hadn’t? When they neared Brenda’s table, she slowed to a crawl. She spotted Brenda sitting between two loud women. Her face showed little emotion. Johanna wondered what she was thinking.

She nudged Selma. As they walked past the table, Selma suddenly stopped. “Hello, Brenda,” she said cheerfully. “I thought I recognized you.”

All eyes turned to Johanna and Selma. Brenda’s eyes focused on them for a few seconds then registered recognition. She flashed a tight nervous smile. Her eyes flitted timidly as Selma squeezed between the table and an adjoining one until she was standing next to Brenda Burrows.

Brenda did not attempt to move, but looked up at Selma expectantly.

Selma bent down. “Can we talk privately for a few minutes?”

She turned her head toward the pool room.

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