Twisted Innocence (Moonlighters Series Book 3) by Terri Blackstock Read Free Book Online Page B

back on the bed, he seemed to have forgotten what they’d been talking about. He wrapped up in his thin blanket and turned to the wall.
    Eventually Michael climbed onto the upper bunk and lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. If he were out of here, he would find Miller. He’d make sure he got justice. There were several warrants out on the man, and if they ever found and convicted him, he’d go to prison for life.
    But Miller wasn’t stupid. Even staying here in town, he would manage to elude the authorities.
    Michael tried to quell the sense of absurdity that he was locked up instead of the man who had murdered, kidnapped, trafficked cocaine, and evaded the law so many times. But that was the way things worked.
    He would see if he could get more information about Miller out of anyone else in the jail population, then let Cathy know tomorrow about Craven’s confirmation that Miller was back. Max might also be able to find Miller in his official capacity with the Panama City PD, now that they knew he really was in town. If Max knew, he’d be all over it. Next to Cathy and himself, Max wanted to find his brother’s killer most of all, and they all wanted the arrest to be incontestable. They wouldn’t let him get off on a technicality again.

CHAPTER 12
    H olly hated lying to Juliet, but it wasn’t the first time. Her lying muscles had grown weak over the last few months, but it was like getting back on a bicycle.
    “You want to drive at night after you got mugged?” Juliet asked her. “I thought we talked about this. You were going to transition to full-time at the office and quit driving the cab.”
    “That’s not what I said, Juliet. I said I’d work more for Michael, but that I’d still have to drive. I worked all day at the office, but I need cash now. I lost a lot in the robbery, and I need to make it up.”
    “But aren’t you scared?” Juliet asked as she took Lily.
    “I have to get back in the saddle. I’ll be careful who I pick up. No more dodgy neighborhoods. I’ll stick to the airport tonight.”
    Holly headed to Southport, her notes open on her seat. She’d found Creed’s last-known employment, a restaurant where he’d worked as a server. She would go there first and see what she could find out. Then she’d go by his parents’ house—theaddress he’d used last—and see if she could catch a glimpse of him coming or going. Yes, the police were probably watching him too, but they were a small-town force. They might not have the manpower for twenty-four-hour surveillance.
    The taxi could stand out like a sore thumb in certain areas, but there were times when it became invisible, like at hotels or the airport, and sometimes people overlooked it in neighborhoods too. She hoped that would be the case tonight.
    Holly easily found the Gourmet Crab Bar and Grill in Southport. There weren’t that many patrons taking up spaces. She went inside, looked around. The place was nice, with a good atmosphere, and classic rock music played throughout. A couple of groups sat at tables, three or four around the bar.
    Holly slipped onto a stool and waited for the bartender to notice her. Finally, the girl—who sported a name tag that said Brittany—came to her. “What can I get you?”
    “Coke,” Holly said.
    Brittany crossed her pit and filled up a glass. When she came back, Holly tossed out the question. “Hey, is Creed working today?”
    The girl paused and gave Holly a narrow gaze. “No.”
    Holly sipped her drink. “He works here, right? I was just gonna say hi. When will he be back in?”
    “Are you a cop?”
    Holly almost spat out her drink. “A cop? No, do I look like one? Why? Are they looking for him?”
    Brittany got a dishrag and wiped off the counter. “I don’t know where he is, all right? I haven’t seen him in days. I’ve already been questioned, and I told them everything I know.”
    Holly took that in. Brittany’d been questioned . . . but why? Had they questioned all his