He parked a block down and across the street from the bar, grateful that he drove an unmarked vehicle. Now that he was here with Terra, he thought maybe he’d made a mistake. She was a huge distraction. As he stared out the window, taking in the area, a strand of hair fell from the clip and curled across her cheek. Jack gently lifted it and tucked it behind her ear.

A small gasp escaped from her as she turned to look at him, her eyes shining.

And her lips . . .

The stakeout, Jack. Remember why you’re here.

“So, I’m told this guy comes in every night. Sits in the booth and drinks a few beers.”

“Oh, that’s a new one,” Terra said.

“The thing is, someone took the regular guy’s place a few nights ago. Nobody sits in that booth, right? Because they know the regular guy, Blevins, likes to drink his beer alone. And he’s a bully. Nobody gets in his way. And every Monday night at ten-thirty, someone comes in to sit across from Blevins. Like a meeting.”

“The same person every time? Or someone different?”

“I haven’t confirmed anything yet, except I was told that Neva Bolz had been in to meet with Blevins. Since a new guy took Blevins’s place and the bar employees think that’s unusual, I’ve put a deputy on finding Blevins. We still don’t know where he is, and it looks like he might have skipped town.”

“You mean he disappeared?”

“I mean . . . we’re looking for him.”

“You don’t think he’s the killer, do you?”

“I hope he’s not our next victim. I hope there won’t be one. Now, if we can question this new guy who took Blevins’s place, whether he’s the pilot or not, we could find out more.”

Terra sighed.

“What’s the matter?”

“Everything. Investigations just take too long.”

“I’m getting impatient too, Terra.” The evening had started to cool down, so Jack turned his vehicle back on and cranked the heat. “Were you able to talk to the museum curator?”

“They were closed.”

“When I left the bar today, I went out the back into the alley and I saw the back of the museum.”

“What are you thinking?”

“It’s just something to note. The Bar Wars owners are collectors.”

“Of Star Wars memorabilia. But you think there could be more going on behind the scenes?”

“Something else to look into.”

“Again, it seems too obvious. Too easy. No one would be so bold to operate like that.”

“In plain sight? Sure they would.”

“I’d like to talk to the Bar Wars owner, then—about their collections. But we’re staking out the bar tonight, sitting in your vehicle. You haven’t explained how we’ll know this guy when we see him.”