Free The Mighty Quinns: Cameron by Kate Hoffmann

asking him if anything had popped up on their radar with the dig near the airstrip.”
    “And what did he say?”
    “No,” Sofie replied. “Nothing.” She frowned. “I can see how it might work. With the airstrip about two miles away, they could fly the drugs in at night, move them over to the dig on ATVs and then just ship them out with whatever dinosaur bones they’ve found.”
    “But what does Walter have to do with any of this?”
    “That’s what I don’t get,” Sofie said. She twisted in her seat to face him. “If he’s involved in drug running, then this case is much more complicated than I thought. Maybe he found out about the operation and is shaking them down? Cheating on his wife is one thing, but there’s a whole other level of violence that comes along with drugs.”
    “I can imagine,” Cameron said.
    “No, you can’t. You have no idea how far these guys are willing to go to protect their territory. They wouldn’t think twice before shooting anyone who might get in their way.” She shook her head. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea after all.”
    “I’m just going to go inside, sit down, have a little lunch and chat with a few of the patrons.”
    “But don’t move too quickly.” Sofie handed him her cell phone. “If you can’t remember details, just excuse yourself to make a phone call and record them. Just push that button on the side. It’s all set up. And if an opening doesn’t present itself, then don’t force it. I don’t want you to—”
    Cameron reached out and pressed his finger to her lips. “It’s no big deal. Don’t worry.”
    She nodded, then pressed a wad of bills into his palm. “Tip the girls. Buy yourself some lunch. There’s enough there for one lap dance but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t enjoy it.”
    Cameron looked down at the money and grinned. “I can hardly wait to tell my brothers about this,” he said. “They’re probably out there working some boring job for minimum wage, and I’m having lunch at the Bunny Shack.”
    “Don’t get too excited,” she said.
    “I’m sure I can control myself,” Cameron said.
    Just then, Sofie straightened in her seat, her gaze fixed on the side-view mirror. “There he is. Blue Olds convertible.”
    Cameron watched as Walter Fredericks parked his car in the first row, about ten yards from the front door. Though Cameron had studied the photo in Sofie’s file, the man who climbed out of the car was much smaller than he’d imagined. He was also older, his hair now completely gray instead of the salt-and-pepper of the photo.
    “Just don’t be too eager. Just play it cool at first and—”
    This time he decided to stop her advice with a kiss. He grabbed her face between his hands and pressed his lips to hers. Slowly, he softened the kiss until her lips parted beneath his. They’d become so familiar with each other that kissing was easy, almost instinctual. There was no hesitation, no clumsiness, only a simple expression of need.
    But he knew it wouldn’t be long before the desire overwhelmed them. With Sofie’s mercurial nature, it might happen in an hour or sometime next month.
    Strangely, that didn’t bother him. He knew it would be worth waiting for. He drew back and looked into her eyes. “This is so strange. I’m kissing you in the parking lot, and I’m about to go stuff dollar bills into other women’s G-strings.”
    Sofie groaned, pushing him back. “Just act like you’re having fun.”
    He nodded, then opened the door and stepped out of the Jeep. He glanced back once before walking inside, but he couldn’t see her through the sun’s reflection.
    The Bunny Shack wasn’t quite what Cameron expected. The interior was shabby and worn and smelled of stale beer and cigarette smoke. The music blared out of speakers that were tinny and distorted. And the women, though not unattractive, plied their trade with a casual boredom that didn’t add much to the experience.
    He scanned the room, a