The Switch (Avery Falls Motorcycle Club #1) - Debra Kayn Page 0,3
and even they weren't reliable. That's not to say he was clueless about Google maps, but so far, the closest they'd come to Avery Falls was Federal, over Moon Pass, about thirty-six miles away on a dirt road.
"Remind the waitresses they're not to share any information beyond the areas where tourists can go," he said.
Steven continued to gaze at him. Trip leaned back, sensing something else going on.
"You don't think she'll give up?" he asked.
"A woman alone with two kids asking about a house that no one should know about..." Steven shook his head. "She's staying in the RV park, in the rental trailer. The car she drove was stuffed to the roof with household belongings. I'm surprised the kids could fit in the car."
"Where's she from?"
"IA"
Recognizing the Idaho designator for Ada County, he said, "Boise?"
"Yeah."
Trip turned his head and spit on the ground. "I'll phone Prez when I get back to the clubhouse and let him know."
"Better yet, go talk to her."
"The less she knows, the sooner she'll give up, hit the road, and move on."
"I don't think she's going anywhere until she finds the house." Steven stepped away. "Check her out yourself."
His MC brother motioned him inside. Lugging the duffle off his bike, he walked into the back of the diner.
He shoved the bag at Steven. "Put it in the office until I'm done."
"She's sitting in the booth by the front door with the kids. Two boys."
Striding into the diner, he caught Elena's gaze and lifted his chin. The waitress hurried to him.
"Hey, Trip. Do you want your regular?" Elana smiled up into his face.
"Not tonight." He gazed to the front booth, expecting to find a middle-aged woman. The woman with two kids couldn't be a day over thirty. His gaze dropped to the bare crossed legs and the slip-on sneaker dangling from her toes as she swung her foot back and forth. Maybe she was the kids' older sister.
"Do me a favor and bring me a coffee." He strode across the small diner and slid into the booth behind the woman and her family.
He looked out the window, seeing Keenan and Hank ride by. They were part of the crew going into the cave tonight. Tomorrow night would be his turn to work, and he needed to get more sleep before then.
"Here you go." Elena placed the coffee in front of him. "Two spoons full of sugar like you drink it."
"Thanks." He brought the mug to his lips, barely letting the steaming hot liquid touch his tongue before he got a taste.
Elena stepped away from him and directed her attention to the woman and kids in the next booth. "Is there anything else I can get you three?"
He straightened his head. The woman's soft reply mixed with the country music playing in the diner.
"Can you tell me where the courthouse is?" asked the woman.
Elena leaned her hip against the back of the booth, directly at Trip's side. "That building is over in Federal. The easiest way to get there would be to go back through St. Maries and work your way up to Interstate 90 and head east. You can't miss it. If you cross the Montana border, you've gone too far."
"There's no one closer who can help me get directions to the house?" The woman paused. "I don't understand how this has become so difficult. Everyone I ask from the area doesn't know the address."
She was a determined woman, not letting the lack of information go.
He reached over and patted Elana's leg. The waitress shifted.
"Trip, you know all the places around here. Have you ever heard of Sunrise Gulch?" Elena smiled at the woman. "He's lived around here forever. I'm sure if there's such a place, he'd know where it was."
He scooted out of the booth and stood, facing the woman. Up close, he couldn't miss the anticipation on her face or how her eyebrows raised in the hope that someone would know the address.
"Nope. Never heard of the name." He glanced at the boys, who appeared uninterested in the conversation.
The one with longer hair sulked in his seat, looking out the window. The other, with a crewcut that made him appear younger, though body-wise—the two boys could be twins for all he knew, barely glanced at him before diving into the last half of his hamburger.
"I have a picture." The woman dug in a backpack and handed him an old Polaroid that had seen better days. "That house...it was my grandpa's place."