You better be innocent, Sheriff, because I would love to pin this on you.
Chapter 13
The Tipsy Pig
Haven
“Leave the gun in the glove compartment.” Alexander parked the car. “We’re just here for lunch, and besides I’m sure the sheriff told them we were on the way.”
I did as he requested.
He left the car.
I did too.
Alexander got to my side. “But seriously, are you hungry?”
“I actually am.”
“Good. Although I’m not counting this as our meal.”
I looked at him. “Our meal?”
“You promised that we would sit down and have a meal together.”
“Hmmm.” Smiling, I turned away and continued to head to the door. “I only promised to recommend a place to you for good food.”
“No. I recall an agreement to have dinner that I would pay for.”
“I don’t remember that.”
“That was the conversation.”
“How interesting?”
“Interesting indeed,” Alexander smirked. “Regardless, this is not the meal.”
“Hmmm.”
“Hmmm. Is right.” He stopped at the front door and opened it for me. “We should eat and hang out here for a while. This place should have a bunch of regulars. They may have something to say.”
“You want to hang around and wait for the night crowd to roll in?”
“They’ll come in, have some drinks, and possibly be willing to talk.”
I quirked my brows. “Even though we definitely look like FBI agents?”
“There will be many that will be drunk enough to not notice.”
“Let’s hope.”
He smiled. “When it comes to alcohol, we only have to wait for the right ones to blab their mouths.”
“And we’ll be there listening.”
“We sure will.” Alexander winked.
We entered.
With a name like the Tipsy Pig, I didn’t expect much at all. I figured it would be a dusty place with a few signs of pigs here and there. However, when we stepped inside, the space provided the craziest décor I’d ever seen. Porcelain mermaids hung from the ceiling. In the center, a chandelier of silver pigs glimmered. Although it was summertime, a glittery Christmas tree sat in the corner. Crystal reindeers and gold stars dangled from the branches along with Santa pigs.
But the pig paintings on the wall were something to behold. There were pigs with unicorns. Other pigs washed their fat pink bodies in a tub. Some pigs wore blonde wigs and tight skirts as they stood on a corner like hookers. Others twirled in tutus and ballerina shoes. The painting near the bar showed a pig singing the blues. Another one donned a huge afro and held a fist in the air like a Black Panther.
“Wow.” I leaned to the side and whispered in Alexander’s ear. “They were really committed to the pig theme.”
“I see, and they spared no expense.”
“Nothing, but the best for the Tipsy Pig.”
In the back, a blues band played on a small stage. They each wore a different color of the rainbow. The lead singer donned blue. The guitarist had on green. One backup singer swayed her hips in a red dress. The other shook her white skirt while the piano man had on a bright yellow suit.
Alexander guided us to a booth near the bar. We sat down at the spot. The table leaned to the side. Cracks marred the cushion on the edge.
The waitress arrived, wearing jeans and a low-cut red shirt. Her cleavage weighed the top down in the front. Bright pink coated her lips. She handed us plastic menus. “We have a special today. Maple-habanero glazed pork steaks. It comes with a side of roasted potatoes and cheesy spinach.”
“That sounds amazing.” Alexander opened the menu. “For now, I’ll still need time. What about you, Haven?”
“Yes,” I said. “I need time too, but I would love a glass of water.”
The waitress nodded and then leaned forward, exposing her cleavage to Alexander. She tossed her black hair over her shoulder. “And you, sir?”
Turning to the menu, he didn’t take the bait. “Water sounds good. Thank you.”
Shrugging, she rose and left.
Alexander directed his attention back to me. “What do you think of the place?”
“Lots of pigs.” I scanned the area. “Lots of drunks.”
“Very drunk. It may not take too long to get someone to start talking.”
“Let’s hope.”
The waitress returned with our waters. We both ordered the specials— Maple-habanero glazed pork steaks. It comes with a side of roasted potatoes and cheesy spinach.
“So. . .” Alexander took a sip of his water.
I raised my eyebrows. “So?”
“We never really explored your conversation with Loverboy last night.”
“We did.”
“You said he came to the hotel.”
“He did.”
“You said he also asked for you to keep him up-to-date on any of our suspicions toward his father.”
“Yes, and I told Sean that I wouldn’t do it. Then, Sean mentioned the fact that he figured the FBI would suspect Reverend Thompson due to the Colesville murders.”
He twirled his hands back and forth as if bored. “I’ve got that part. I want to know the naughty details.”
I giggled. “The naughty details?”
“Is that not a proper request as your supervising agent?”
“It’s not, and also there are no naughty details.”
“I didn’t think so, but it was worth an opportunity to taunt you.”
“And you enjoy taunting me with Sean?”
Alexander gave me an intense stare. “I more want to know if you’re done with Sean.”
“I am, but what would it matter to you?”
He shrugged. “Getting rid of Sean is a wise decision.”
“Because?”
“He doesn’t deserve you.”
“And you know this how?”
“Any man that doesn’t want to put you high on a throne above them, shouting to the world that you are his, is a man that doesn’t deserve you.”
I considered those words. “Okay. I like that.”
“You should. You’re the one on the throne.”
“Although I don’t need to sit on a throne, and I don’t want to be above the man I choose to love.”
Alexander leaned his head to the side. “You want to be his equal?”
“That’s only fair.”
“Love isn’t fair, Agent Barron. And you should get what you deserve. I don’t know many men that could stand next to you, and I’m just meeting you.”
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. “You have a sweet tongue.”
“Do you like sweets?”
Again, he had me grinning from ear-to-ear.
Boy, you better stop flirting with me.
Still, with the silly smile, I picked up my water and took a sip.
“No response, Agent Barron?” He nodded. “That’s fair.”
The waitress carried over our food.
The food ended up being beyond delicious. Before we finished the chops, Alexander ordered us caramel pecan pies.