Free Hooked (A Romance on the Edge Novel) by Tiffinie Helmer

could afford a satellite hook up. The two phones got a lot of business.
    There was no sign of him. She was about to give up when she stopped in at the General Store. A place where you could buy a can of bacon and a marine battery all in the same shopping spree.
    “Well, if it isn’t the celebrity of the hour,” Davida greeted from behind the counter. Davida with her multi-colored spiky hair of golds, reds, and deep browns, and her equally spiky attitude, ran the store much like an army general. She was the one person who knew everything worth knowing. “Let me pour you a cup of coffee and you can fill me in on what I’ve missed.”
    “Why don’t you first tell me what you’ve heard? Could save time.” Sonya took the cup of coffee, though she preferred tea. Tea was considered a sissy drink out here. She wasn’t going to add to the stereotype.
    Davida filled her in, taking her time since the store was empty. There wasn’t much she’d missed. “You didn’t actually cork off the Albatross , did you?” At Sonya’s nod, she shook her head and chuckled. “Damn, wished I could have seen that. I like it when bad things happen to Chuck Kendrick. Lord, knows he should be plagued with bad karma, considering all the things he’s done.”
    “Agreed.” Sonya changed the subject before Davida decided to visit the many things suspected of Kendrick. Some of those things were against her own family and too raw for casual conversation. “I’m looking for Garrett Hunt. Have you seen him?”
    “The new trooper? That is one delicious-looking man.” She closed her eyes and hummed. “Yes, almighty, I wouldn’t mind getting a piece of him this summer.”
    Sonya didn’t like the image that picture painted. Davida had a reputation for not only knowing the men, but really knowing them.
    “He was in here a few hours ago. Bought a bag of trail mix, some jerky, a water bottle. Oh, and some wax.”
    “Wax?” What would he need wax for?
    “Believe you me, I was hard pressed to find it. Wax isn’t something that’s called for every day.” She leaned her impressive bosom on the counter. “Word is that he brought along a surfboard. You ever heard of anything so crazy?”
    Now the wax made sense. “Saw it with my own two eyes.”
    “Get out!” Davida shook her head again. Her hair didn’t budge from its sprayed-stiff state. “I really thought he was pulling my leg when he said he was going to ‘catch a wave’ down at the old Diamond O.”
    Seeing Davida always paid off. “Why don’t you ring me up a bag of chips and a candy bar?” She needed to borrow some wheels. “Any chance you’d let me use your ATV?”
    “You headed to the Diamond O?” Davida tilted her head as though to hear Sonya’s response better.
    The going price for a rented ATV looked like firsthand information. “Yes.”
    “Now why do you want to meet up with a fish cop with that blustery wind out there?”
    Here came the risky part. If Sonya didn’t give enough information, Davida would fill in the lines. Too much, and gossip would spread like fireweed that she was shagging a fish cop. “I have some words to say to him regarding his conduct today.”
    “Going to put him in his place, are you?” A twinkling entered her eyes. “You taking on everyone this summer, Sonya?”
    “Gotta throw my weight around to be taken seriously around here.”
    “Ain’t that the truth. Just be careful you don’t throw out a hip.” Davida handed the ATV’s key to her. When Sonya reached for it, she pulled it back. “You will fill me on how it went between you two.”
    Sonya hesitated. Maybe she could walk the distance. It was only six miles round trip to the abandoned cannery. The wind slapped against the metal side of the building with a hard gust. At least one direction would have a headwind. “You have a deal.”
    Davida smiled and handed over the key along with Sonya’s chips and candy bar. “Happy hunting.”

C HAPTER S EVEN
    He was certifiably