Chapter 27
27
Hudson
H udson entered the bar and glanced around the dim room. Just being in this place made his skin crawl. After seeing how hard it was for Wade and Annabel to kick their own addictions, he’d vowed to never let things get that far.
His hand wrapped around the empty cigarette box in his jacket pocket. Something told him that he would have a better chance of finding someone involved with the crimes committed against Rachel at a place like this. The folks around here weren’t exactly the most upstanding.
Only a few people tossed curious glances in his direction. When no one immediately got up to leave, Hudson moved to the bar and pulled out a stool. His eyes darted down the counter, but he didn’t immediately recognize anyone.
Hudson wasn’t na?ve enough to believe he’d get lucky at the first place he entered; even still, his frustration and disappointment grew. Time was running out. It hadn’t sounded like Rachel had made a firm decision yet, which was his only saving grace at this point in time.
The bartender brought over a menu and a glass of water with a napkin. “Let me know when you’re ready to order.”
“Thanks,” Hudson murmured. The cigarette box practically burned a hole in his pocket, prompting him to call back the bartender. “Actually, can I ask you something?”
She returned, a wide smile on her face. “What do you need, sugar?”
Hudson pulled the empty cigarette pack from his pocket and pushed it across the bar. “Have you seen anyone smoking in here—this brand?”
The bartender picked up the box and turned it over in her hands. “I’m sorry. I don’t really pay attention to the brand of smokes the guys bring in here.” Her smile turned apologetic.
“That’s okay, I figured it would be a long shot.” He let his focus sweep through the darkened establishment, then heaved a sigh. As much as he knew he should stick around and see if anyone familiar would show up, he could already tell his mood was getting worse just by being here.
Thoughts of Rachel pulled on him, making him second-guess what he was even doing here. Finding someone responsible for the damage that had been done was like looking for a needle in a haystack. He wasn’t much closer to breaking the case than he was when he’d left Rachel behind.
On top of those emotional traumas, he was still dealing with the physical one on his shoulder. The burn had healed for the most part, but the hot, stinging sensation continued to flare up. Maybe Rachel was right. He needed to go home and just give in.
He got up from the bar and shoved the box into his pocket. He’d been disillusioned into thinking he could solve this problem, and he’d ended up losing everything anyway. As he got to the door, it opened, and a group of guys entered.
The last one bumped against his shoulder, sending a sharp pain sparking through Hudson’s body. The guy looked up at him with a scowl. “Watch it!” His face was familiar. A faint memory yanked Hudson out of his disappointment. He peered at the guy in the dim lighting.
The guy continued past him and headed toward the bar.
Hudson turned, his focus locked on the stranger. He couldn’t confirm if the guy was one of the men from the break-in. And he wasn’t stupid enough to go poking the bear. Still, he wandered back to the bar and chose a seat where he had a clear view of the man.
The guy didn’t seem to notice him. He ordered a drink and then turned to his buddies. They were loud and obnoxious, and even the bartender didn’t seem pleased they were seated there.
Twenty minutes went by before Hudson started questioning his reason for sticking around. He was just about to get ready to leave when the man pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Hudson was too far away to be able to confirm the smokes were the ones he’d found at the creek and at the barn.
Still, alarms were going off in his head. Something about this guy was giving Hudson dark, twisty feelings in his gut. More than once he nearly got caught staring. The guy grew visibly agitated from where he was sitting, and eventually, he nudged his comrades and insisted they leave.
Shoot, he took his cigarette with him.
Hudson internally berated himself for not getting closer. He should have moved his seat and gotten a better look at the guy. Now that he was gone, there was an even slimmer chance that he’d end up finding him again.
He pushed away from the bar and charged out of the building. The only thing he saw was the red flash of brake lights as they turned the corner at the end of the street. Now he didn’t have a make and model of the truck or a confirmation that the man was the guy he’d seen running off when Rachel had been attacked.
He’d been so close. He could feel it. Why did he hesitate?
Hudson paced up and down the street. There wasn’t a chance he could catch up to the truck, and there was no way he’d get lucky enough that the guy would show up to this bar again while Hudson was staking it out.
His frustration continued to mount until he thought he might burst. The door to the bar opened, temporarily distracting him from his spiral and giving him a moment to take a deep breath and center himself.
It wasn’t the end of the world. He was getting closer. He could taste it. If Rachel could hold out just a little longer and not sell, then he might have a chance to keep her from leaving.
He pulled out his phone and opened her contact information. His thumb hovered over the icon that would allow him to call her. Hesitation and fear were the only things holding him back from following through with contacting her.
Hudson shook his head and shoved his phone back into his pocket. He couldn’t call her, not after she’d reached out to him and asked him to come back. He’d look like he regretted his decisions. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
The first thing he needed to do before he called her was to confirm he’d found someone who could lead them to the end of this nightmare.
Hudson spun around and charged into the bar. There was only one person who might be able to confirm that he might see the familiar looking man again. His only chance was that the guy was a regular. If he could get that information, he’d get back on track.
The second he reached the bar, he placed his palms on the counter, getting the bartender’s attention. She jumped and glanced around nervously. “Can I help you?”
“The men who were sitting here, are they regulars?”
She blinked several times.
“The cowboys. One of them was smoking right here.” Hudson jabbed his finger hard on the counter beside him. “I think he might be the guy I was looking for. Does he come here frequently? I just need to find him so I can ask him a few questions.”
The woman hesitated. He couldn’t blame her. In fact, she was probably considering calling the security guy over to have Hudson removed.
“Please,” his voice softened. “I just need to find out if he knows something.”
She pursed her lips together and then nodded. “He’s a regular. I don’t know his name, though. I haven’t been working here too long.”
Hudson straightened. “That’s great. When does he usually come by?”
The bartender shrugged. “It’s not a set time or day. He comes in a couple times a week. But a few weeks ago, he didn’t come in at all for a week or two. I don’t know how any of that is going to help you.”
His eyes swept across the bar to a stack of napkins. He pulled one from the pile and placed it in front of him. “Do you have a pen?”
She didn’t move right away.
“Something to write with?” Hudson held out his hand.
She jumped into action and handed him a pen.
“I’m going to write my number on this napkin. If you can give me a call when he shows up, I’ll make it worth your while.” He pushed the napkin across the counter. “Please. It’s a very serious matter.”
The woman stared at the napkin. There was a good chance she wouldn’t do any such thing. All he could do was hope.
Hudson stood outside of the bar. Four days later and he’d finally gotten the call. He wasn’t sure what awaited him inside. The bartender might have even told the guy that Hudson was looking for him.
He pushed into the darkened bar and let his eyes adjust. The man was alone. That was a sign in his favor. Hudson approached slowly. The bartender caught his eye and then looked away. He’d have to make sure to give her a big tip for her help.
The man sat stooped with a whiskey in one hand and the other pinching a cigarette that had met its end. He glanced at Hudson, faint recognition flickering in his hazy focus. He put out the cigarette in a nearby ashtray and scowled at Hudson. “What are you looking at?”
Hudson lifted a brow, then pulled out his phone. He snapped a shot of the guy, which only angered him further. The man released a string of obscenities and lunged for the phone but only succeeded in losing his balance and falling off his stool.
When he got to his feet, he stared Hudson down with a venomous stare. “You’re going to delete that.”
Hudson ignored him, instead grabbing a baggie from his pocket. He put his hand inside it and grabbed the cigarette before turning the bag inside out.
The man’s eyes darted to his movements, and that was when the realization hit that Hudson wasn’t just anyone. “What do you want?”
Hudson scowled right back. “You know the problem with this nasty habit? You leave a trail of breadcrumbs so anyone can track where you’ve been.”
He frowned but didn’t immediately respond.
Lifting the baggie to examine it, Hudson let the man focus on it before he spoke again. “There was a break-in at a ranch in the next town over. Then a creek mysteriously dried up. And wouldn’t you know it, a fire. All at the same location.”
There it was. The fear in the man’s face appeared, but it only mildly affected Hudson’s mood.
“How easy do you think it will be with a little bit of money and a lot of influence… for a woman scorned to get the DNA tested and matched to the butts found at those crime scenes?”
His brows shot up and he paled visibly. “I don’t… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammered.
“I think you do.” Hudson folded up the baggie and put it in his pocket. “I think this could go all the way to the federal government. What do you think?”
The man’s eyes darted back and forth, and he wet his lips nervously. “I might have some information.”
“I thought you might.”
“But I want immunity.”
Hudson shook his head. “I’m not law enforcement. I don’t have that kind of power. If I were you, I’d think real hard about what your next moves are going to be.”