Searching For Jenna novel Chapter 26

Dana reached over with her fork and took a piece of Mark's sandwich when he put it down. "I bet Nelson would like this judging by the smell," Dana said.

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "Does Nelson like wild game?"

"Oh yes," Dana said nodding vigorously so Elliot would know he'd caught the name. "He says he's had snake before."

Elliot wrinkled his nose. "That may be something I have to draw a line on. I don't like snakes. Even a dead skinned one."

Dana took a bite of the meat. "That's not bad. Where do you get the meat?"

"Louisville," Elliot said.

"Isn't Cincinnati closer?" Mark asked.

"Maybe, but I don't think we have a distributor up there," Elliot said a little confused as to where they were going with this.

Dana took a drink of her wine and turned her head toward Mark so she could see if Steven was still listening. Steven was moving bottles around in the coolers, but still clearly eavesdropping. "Judging from what Nelson said, he might know someone in Cincinnati that could get it for you. I don't know if it would be cheaper."

Elliot pulled out a notebook where he wrote recipes and handed it to Dana. "Give me Nelson's number, and I'll talk to him about it."

Dana wrote on the paper: Boone County judge Sam Nelson is involved with Cobras. He has links to Menifee County. Still trying to piece together.

Elliot took the pad back and opened a new page. "Here's the recipe for that dressing." He wrote: Is he linked to Matthews? How high up the food chain? What do you want me to do?

Mark looked around the restaurant. "I love the way this place has an old world style. I know it's an older building, but I wonder if there are any restaurants in the area that go back to the time period Sandy's portrayed here."

"Well, there's Talbot's Tavern in Bardstown," Elliot said. "It's been around since the seventeen hundreds."

"No, I'm thinking of something closer. Maybe Maysville or Richmond. You should research that and maybe next time we come down, we can all go check it out together," Mark said and took the notebook. He went back to the page Dana had written her note and wrote: We believe Nelson has a cabin and relatives in the area. Try to find out.

"Okay, I'll do that," Elliot said. He looked up when he heard a female voice coming from the kitchen. His eyes found Cara instantly. He tried not to stare. He really did, but she was so beautiful that he couldn't stop himself.

Dana followed Elliot's gaze. "She's pretty."

"Yep, but she doesn't like boys," Elliot said.

"How do you know that?" Dana asked.

Elliot pointed at Steven and said, "Her and the two other new girls shot Steven down the first night they worked. Brittany has a boyfriend, Megan is engaged, and Cara is gay."

Steven turned and glowered at him. "You talking about me?"

"Yep," Elliot grinned. "Telling the fam about your conquest of the fairer sex."

Elliot stepped in between Steven and Cara. He put his hands firmly on her shoulders and forced her to take a step backward.

Sandy grabbed Steven's arm as he started to raise it and had it pinned behind him in a painful grip. "If I didn't need a bartender tonight I'd fire your ass right now."

"Maybe I'll quit," Steven said in a half whimper, half whine.

"You do that. I wonder what your uncle would have to say about that?" Sandy said. "He told me that if you lost one more job because of your big mouth, he was cutting you off from the help he gives you." Sandy let go of Steven. "I'm not sure what that means for you. I'm just trying to help your uncle out because he helped me get my liquor license. But any more bullshit like this and your ass will be out on the street. And you try any punk stuff like messing up my restaurant like you did the last place you worked at, you won't get off as easy as you did the last time."

Elliot was trying to listen to what Sandy was saying, but it was hard while he was still holding Cara's shoulders. She was glaring past him at Steven. Elliot was a little surprised she hadn't shrugged him off, but she might be glad he was keeping her from punching Steven.

When Cara looked up at Elliot, he felt the pull of the attraction he had always had for her. She must have felt something too because she swayed slightly before catching herself.

"You okay?" Elliot asked when he felt her go slack.

"Low blood sugar," she said moving out of his grip. "I haven't had anything to eat since this morning."

"I want you two to apologize to each other, and I don't want to hear about any more fighting between you or I'll fire you both," Sandy said, pointing from Steven to Cara.

Cara looked like she was going to protest, but instead, she sighed and said, "Sorry for being a bitch."