Page 56 of Hell Hath No Fury

“Then you both go. Voluntarily or with help.”

On cue, the other men pushed away from the bar and approached.

Emma raised a hand. “I don’t want any trouble, and we don’t want to be served.” She aimed a thumb over her shoulder at Matthias. “He is a cop, but he’s out of his jurisdiction, here to help me.”

The four men continued to advance.

“I’m Emma Anderson. Nell Anderson’s sister.”

It was the bartender’s turn to lift a hand, stopping his buddies. “You’re Nellie’s sister?”

The realization that Nell was so well known in this establishment that they referred to her by her nickname terrified Emma more than the four goons did.

“I can see it. The family resemblance, I mean.”

“Have you seen her lately?” Emma asked.

“You just missed her.”

“How long ago?” Matthias asked.

“Less than an hour. Maybe forty-five minutes. She came in with cash, we did our deal, and she left.”

“You sold her drugs?” Matthias’s tone dropped into the deadly zone.

The bartender raised both hands. “I never said nothing about drugs.”

One of the other thugs chimed in. “Yeah. We sell—what’s it called? Avalon? Yeah. Nellie came in and bought herself some lipstick.”

They all chuckled.

Emma didn’t bother correcting the makeup company’s name.

Matthias touched her shoulder. “Let’s go. You got what you came for.”

She held up one finger at him before asking one more question. “Did she happen to mention where she was going after she left here?”

“Nope,” the bartender said.

The comedian of the bunch snickered. “She probably went somewhere to put on her new lipstick.”

The others doubled over in laughter.

Emma turned her back on them, so the only person to see her tears was Matthias.

* * *

Matthias sat behind the wheel of his Jeep, making no move to start the engine. Emma, in the passenger seat, hung her head, her face turned slightly away from him. But she couldn’t conceal her soft sniffles.

He didn’t know what to do—what to say. He’d seen Nell and the haunted look in her eyes. He knew she might not be seeking the escape from turmoil offered by alcohol and opioids. She might be planning a more permanent release from her grief.

He wouldn’t dare mention his concern to Emma. She wasn’t stupid. She probably already feared the same thing. Besides, there was nothing either of them could do to stop it. They had no idea where Nell had gone after leaving the Highlander. With at least a forty-five minute head start and a propensity for hitchhiking, she could be anywhere by now.

Matthias’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He was surprised to see Eric’s name on his Caller ID. He looked at Emma, but she was resting her head on the window, paying no attention to him or the incoming call.

“Honeywell,” Matthias answered.

“Have you found out anything about Nell?”