Free Survivor's Remorse: Brothers of Ink and Steel by Kathryn Thomas

lot of blood. Like maybe the bodies had been shot somewhere else then dumped there. Any of that ring a bell?”
     
    “Nope. Should it?” Leo smiled. Lundergrund was fishing, and they both knew it. She knew the score, but she had no proof. They had performed this dance many times in the past three years. It had almost become a game – a deadly game for Leo and Lima 6, but a game nonetheless.
     
    Officer Lundergrund stepped in just a bit closer and took a semi-sexy pose. “You know, Leo, I could make this worth your time. We know Lima 6 is performing illegal interceptions of drugs and Mexican nationals. If you were to cooperate, I could see that you walk. I could help you cut a deal with the DEA. They’re not as nice as I am.”
     
    “Why haven’t you busted us, then, if we are doing something illegal?”
     
    “In due time, Leo… in due time. I’m just trying to make it easy on you. You know, as a friend. I don’t want to see you get hurt. You might get that handsome face messed up in prison. That would be a real shame.”
     
    “You know what they say about friends like you?”
     
    “I’m not your enemy, Leo. I’m trying to help you.”
     
    “By having me rat out my club? It’s not going to happen. If there were anything to rat them out over, that is.”
     
    Lundergrund smiled, and it wasn’t a particularly nice smile. “Play it your way, but don’t wait too long. One day I may decide you don’t want to be my friend anymore and I may no longer feel like helping you.”
     
    “I’ll think about it. In the meantime, why don’t you go back to your office in El Paso and wait by the phone for my call.”
     
    “Are you trying to get rid of me?” she asked. “I’m beginning to think you don’t like me.”
     
    “Whatever gave you that idea?”
     
    Lundergrund’s nasty smile grew even wider. “I’ll be seeing you around,” she said before she turned and strode back to her vehicle.
     
    Leo didn’t move until the Tahoe turned around and proceeded in the direction it had been traveling before they passed. He stood his bike upright as it rumbled to life. Every time he talked to that woman, he felt like he needed a shower.
     
    ***
     
    Leo sauntered into He’s Not Here about six-thirty, just before the big crush normally hit. After his little chat with officer Lundergrund, he had started to return home, but on the way, he decided that he would stop by HNH for a burger and a beer. He wanted to delay the voices as long as possible, and being around people helped.
     
    He settled in the small two-person booth in the back corner and waited for Bobi to get freed up enough to take his order. He didn’t even bother with the menu.
     
    “What’ll you have?” Bobi asked as she swished up.
     
    “Bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a Hefeweizen.”
     
    “Comin’ right up, sugar.”
     
    A moment later, his craft beer was delivered by the owner herself. She sat the beer down in front of him. “You’re not avoiding me, are you?” Jamie asked.
     
    “No! Of course not. Why do you ask?”
     
    “Normally you sit at the bar. And after this afternoon…”
     
    Leo smiled. “No. Bobi is rustling me up a burger, that’s all. And about this afternoon… that was the best part of my day.” Leo paused for effect. “The kiss wasn’t bad either,” he said softly.
     
    Jamie giggled. “You flirt. I have to get back to the bar.”
     
    “I’ll come up there after I eat.”
     
    “See that you do.”
     
    ***
     
    “Tough day?” Jamie asked as Leo plopped down at the bar.
     
    He snickered. “Yeah. You could say that. I wasn’t kidding when I said that helping you this morning was the best part of my day. After I left here, I rode out to where you said you saw the kids. I didn’t have anything better to do and I wanted to check it out. I found where they had been stuck. Something about the whole thing just didn’t feel right. You could tell that they wrecked the trucks getting unstuck. While I