Gina's Private Police Force [Men of Montana 3] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) Read Free Page B

been a battle so far. Mayor Jennings was not giving up on the idea, yet. She confronted the man just about every day on the matter. The woman had faith in Glen although he didn’t seem to like people in general, so why would he like children any differently?
     
    * * * *
     
    Glen looked quizzically at the lawman, debating whether he should give any information at all. The hard angry look in Connor’s gray eyes made up his mind for him. He knew the information he was about to give would get him in trouble, not only with the sheriff but with the Feds also, and he knew a couple of them were hanging around lately.
    “I have orders to get out and the kid is still too green to leave alone. Can we talk in the kitchen?” What was having a few lawmen in the kitchen? If he was going to condemn himself he might as well go against the health inspector, too, he thought.
    “All right,” Connor said, pushing himself off the brick wall with his foot. “But you had better be honest with us, Glen. I have no qualms about shutting down the diner and putting you in a cell.”
    A mischievous smile struck the man’s features, making it seem as if he was gentle and kind, before a cynical laugh erupted from him as he walked back into the restaurant. The other two followed him. Every eye in the place watched the men walk back to the kitchen and then the quietness that settled on the dining room caused an eeriness to descend as if everyone wanted to hear what was going on.
     
    * * * *
     
    Glen stepped up to the counter, looked at some tickets, and then turned to the grill. Breaking several eggs onto the hot surface, he took his spatula and waited to turn them. Connor shifted from one foot to the other. “How long has Gina been here?”
    “About six months. She came in here July third looking for a job. I thought it was strange since most people are getting ready for the holiday. Here was this woman, nearly begging me for a job,” Glen explained as he flipped the eggs he was tending to. Grabbing a few pieces of bacon from the warming tray on the back of the grill, he arranged them on a plate and then dished the eggs onto it. Handing it over to the other chef in the room to finish it off, Glen broke some more eggs, this time into a metal bowl.
    “Did she have all the correct paperwork?”
     
    * * * *
     
    Connor didn’t have to hear the answer. He knew it by the way Glen froze up momentarily while whisking the eggs. Guilt-ridden, Glen lowered his head briefly before looking the sheriff in the eyes. “She didn’t have a driver’s license or a social security card, Sheriff. She looked like a lost little girl so I took pity on her and gave her a job. I pay her in cash so no one can trace her.”
    Jared stepped forward unable to suppress his anger. “Did she say she was in trouble?”
    Glen shrugged his large shoulders as he poured the egg mixture into a skillet on the grill to create an omelet.
    “Glen,” Connor said, softening his voice. “You know we care deeply for her. We know she is in some kind of trouble. We scared her off so I believe it has to do with the police somehow. Did she talk to you about anything from her past? Did she tell you where she was originally from? Any piece of information you can give us would be appreciated.”
    The white-haired burly man turned to face the two men who were now standing side by side in the narrow space between the prep counter and the grill. “No. She was a very private person. I knew she was in some kind of trouble and for some odd reason, I felt she needed a place to hide, to get herself back together. Contrary to what everyone thinks of me, I’m not a heartless bastard.”
    The two men had the grace to shudder at the older man’s comment. The man was a great chef but social graces were not part of his repertoire. Outside of the restaurant, everyone avoided the man due to his brusqueness against his fellow man. Connor had to wonder if Gina was the only one hiding a haunting