Page 12 of Cautious Love

“You’re welcome!” she says cheerily.

When I walk into Bradford’s Diner, a classic red and white 1950s diner, they’re hopping. Mollie-Mae smiles at me as she carries a pitcher of tea. “Find yourself a seat, sheriff. I’ll be right with you,” she says.

“Mollie-Mae,” I say, tipping my hat. “I’m here on official business,” I tell her.

“Oh,” she says softly.

“Can I go talk to Jenkins in the back?” I ask her.

“Yeah, go ahead,” she says, looking over her shoulder at the window.

I walk around the bar people sit at to eat and back to the kitchen.

“Hey, Jenkins.”

He looks up and flips a burger. “Sheriff, what can I do for ya?” he asks.

“Well, I got a call regarding Shiloh Sullivan. She claims she was jumped at the back of the diner.”

He frowns and looks at the back door. “I didn’t hear a thing. She said it was out back?” he asks.

I nod. “She claimed a group jumped her.”

Jenkins stares at me as if I’ve grown a third eye, and it blinks in the center of my forehead.

“I feel terrible, sheriff, but I didn’t hear a thing. And if I did, I would have shown them the business end of the shotgun right there,” he says, nodding to the one hanging on the wall.

I assumed that was the case. “Was anyone working now on the same shift as Shiloh?” I ask him.

“I don’t think so. It was a new shift, people coming and going. But she only left about six or so hours ago,” he says. “But is Shy okay?” he asks.

“No, Jenkins, she’s not, but she got medical attention, and she will be.”

He frowns and flips another burger, barely looking at it.

“Do y’all have cameras?” I ask him.

Jenkins shakes his head. “Only on the front door and by the office. I don’t think Mrs. B had it wired for out back.”

Of course.

“Thank you for your time.”

“No problem. I hope you catch the bastards that did it,” Jenkins says.

I nod and turn to leave the kitchen.

“Hey, Sheriff?” Jenkins calls.

“Yeah?”

“You know, I did hear Shiloh talking to Mollie-Mae about her boyfriend. It sounded to me like something happened. I don’t know what, but… maybe that can help.”

I give him a grim smile. “Thanks, Jenkins, I’ll make a note of it. Take care now.”

He dips his chin, and I gesture for Mollie when she gets a second.

She gets a new Coke for Mary and Lou Roberts, then wanders over to me. “Did you want something to eat, sheriff?”