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“I’ll drive.” She climbed into the driver’s seat, giving him no option but to slide into the passenger side.

* * *

AT EIGHT-THIRTYon Saturday night, Leon’s wasn’t hopping yet. Only the locals had drifted in to gather around the bar. Reed seated Mona on an empty bar stool and stood behind her.

“How ya doin’, Oscar?” Mona smiled at the bartender when he came to take their orders.

“Been a while since I’ve seen you in here.” He chuckled. “Although I heard you were outside last night breakin’ up a fight. Wished I’d seen that.”

She shrugged. “Wasn’t much to it. How’s your wife? Did her surgery come out all right?”

“Sure did.” He grinned. “She’s a lot happier without those danged gallstones.”

“I’ll bet. Give her my regards, will you?”

“Sure will. Stop by sometime. I’m sure she’d love to see you.” He wiped the counter in front of her. “What can I get you?”

“I’ll have a straight ginger ale and we have a few questions to ask.”

The bartender stared up at Reed and back to Mona as if he was sizing up the man. “Shoot.”

Reed leaned over Mona’s shoulder. “Were you working the night before last?”

“Yes,” Oscar replied.

“Do you remember the five Hispanic men sitting in that corner?”

“Sure do. They’re regulars on Friday and Saturday nights. They come in, sit in that exact corner and leave. They pretty much keep to themselves.”

“Know any by name?”

“No.”

The man sitting beside Mona turned to her. “If it’s the guys I’m thinking of, they live in the trailer court down by the old silos.”

Mona turned the full force of her smile on the man. “Thanks, Bobby. How’s your little boy? Did he make the all-stars baseball league this year?”

Bobby’s chest puffed out and he grinned. “Sure did. Kenny’s the starting pitcher when they go to state.”

“That’s wonderful. Congratulations.” Mona rested a hand on his arm. “You wouldn’t happen to know exactly which trailer I could find them in, would you?”

The man shook his head. “No, but ask Les or Wayne. I’ve seen them talking on occasion.”

“Les Newton and Wayne Fennel?” For a moment, Mona’s smile slipped.

“Not much of a recommendation, is it? Those two have been in trouble since they were kids back in high school.”

“Yeah.” She stared across the room as if looking for them. Then she sipped from her glass and set it on the counter. When Mona pulled a bill from her purse, Oscar waved her money away.

“It’s on me. Come see us more often.”

“I will. You take care and be sure to say hello to Dottie for me.”

“Will do.”

Mona got off the stool and looked up at Reed. “Ready?” Without waiting for a response, she led the way out of the bar, the pretty white dress a ray of sunshine in the dark and dirty establishment. The men present didn’t wolf call or make rude comments, perhaps recognizing her for the lady she was.

Reed’s mouth turned upward on the corners. The woman must know everyone in town and she had a way of getting them to open up. Not by flirting and coming on to them. Her genuine concern for their welfare and that of their families made the difference. Mona Grainger was the real thing.