The Seventh Sons (Sycamore Moon Series Book 1) by Domino Finn Read Free Book Online Page B

quickly glanced at Maxim, who was suspiciously watching them both. The biker instinctively wanted to cover the knife in his sleeve with his other arm but didn't want to make any telling movements. The detective was too observant. It was well enough hidden where it was.
    "Unfortunately, Debbie, we've had no luck sweeping the area and no one we interviewed here that night saw anything." Maxim looked around at the few stragglers still in the bar like he was condemning them. "Any idea why that might be?"
    Whatever third parties remained in Sycamore Lodge started to finish up.
    Deborah turned to the detective and took his hat from his hand, playing up her southern charm. "Well you know how small town folk are. They don't always trust authority."
    Diego picked up his new glass as he sat watching and couldn't help chiming in. "I suspect it depends on the authority."
    Maxim ignored the comment. "And what about the man and the woman who escaped custody? Do you have any idea where they are now?"
    Mom twirled the detective's hat in her hand methodically. "Well, you know I wasn't here that night, but I'm told they were drifters, not associated with the MC. No one at the clubhouse knows anything about them."
    Maxim nodded knowingly. He looked like he expected these answers. But Diego wondered about the gang's operations and cut in again. "Where exactly is your clubhouse, Mom?"
    Deborah pursed her violet-pink lips and crow's feet hugged her experienced eyes. "Dear," the woman started, impatiently, "I ain't your mommy and my clubhouse is deep in the woods of Sycamore." Deborah looked straight at the biker. "Your sister ain't there, and I don't know where she is."
    She turned to the detective and put her hand around Maxim's tie, brushing off some lint. "And more importantly, it's outside your jurisdiction, sugar. So don't go getting yourself into trouble."
    The woman pulled off the sweet act pretty well, but nobody got into her position without being able to bite, and she was starting to bare her teeth. Deborah placed Maxim's hat gently back atop his head and said, "Y'all are just gonna need to trust me."
    Diego put his drink down when he noticed his hand was shaking in anger. His sister was somewhere else and he needed to be there. Maybe that place was the Seventh Sons clubhouse or maybe there was something there that would lead him to her, but what was damn sure was that this woman's smug disregard wasn't helping him.
    The biker softly slid from his barstool as he controlled his breaths. He felt the need to act, but what was he to do with a police officer present?
    Instead, the detective broke in.
    "You know what? I've changed my mind."
    Maxim walked around Mom and slipped behind the bar. He grabbed himself a Maker's 46 from the top cabinet, placed it next to the biker's tomato juice, and filled a rocks glass halfway. Maxim stared at the drink and slid it in little circles along the wooden surface, swirling the liquid within.
    "Sister, huh?" he said without even looking up. Then Maxim brought the glass to his lips and swallowed it in one gulp.
    Diego hadn't mentioned Angelica to Maxim the last time they'd met. Maybe he should have, but he didn't want the motive of a kidnapped sister entering the cop's judgment. The detective had still suspected Diego's guilt, even though it couldn't be proved, but there was no sense adding an alibi to his arsenal.
    "Ms. Holton," said Maxim, his tone more gruff, "I already got reamed for doing my job by the marshal yesterday afternoon. If you have any concerns for me, I'll ask that you leave them to him."
    He poured himself another round and held the bottle up to the biker. Diego, still standing, put his hand on top of his glass. Maxim shrugged.
    "Secondly," he continued, "concerning my jurisdiction, it is true that the reach of the marshal's office does not cover all of Sycamore and that your clubhouse is far outside of Sanctuary, but this lodge is in my town. And, at this moment, you are right in the thick