Searching For Jenna novel Chapter 27

Steven nodded. "Sorry for being a jerk."

"Okay, let's get to work," Sandy said and went to greet the people coming in the front door.

Elliot put his hand on Cara's shoulder. "I'll fix you a sandwich. What do you want?"

Cara smiled up at him. "Just something simple, ham and cheese, or something like that," she said and patted the hand on her shoulder. "Thanks."

"No problem." Elliot smiled and turned toward the kitchen.

Elliot came out of the kitchen with a ham sandwich for Cara. "When does school start back?" he asked as he handed her the sandwich.

"August twenty-first. My last day here will be the eleventh," Cara said and took the sandwich from Elliot. "Thank you," she said before taking a bite and moaning. "Oh my god, that's good. I am starving."

"That does look good," Megan said. "Can I get one too?"

"Sure," Elliot said and headed back to the kitchen. He let out a long sigh. Thank God, Cara wouldn't be here when the bust of the cartel went down.

Elliot got a to-go box and wrote a note for Mark on the inside. It read: CM leaving Aug. 11th. Elliot took the box out and handed it to Megan. "Can you run this out to the couple in booth four while I make you a sandwich?"

"Sure," Megan said. She took the box and headed out to the dining area.

"Thanks for stepping in back there," Cara said, smiling at Elliot.

"Glad to," Elliot said, returning her smile, and then turning serious. "Be careful around Steven."

"Okay," Cara said. She studied his expression, and he got the feeling that she understood what he meant and agreed that Steven could be a dangerous creep.

Elliot went out front to say goodbye to Mark and Dana. "Let me know about the family get together so I can ask off," he said as he hugged them both.

Mark held up the to-go box. "Hopefully, it'll be late August."

"That would be good," Elliot said and waved as he headed back to the kitchen.

Steven was watching from the bar. "Going home in August?" he asked.

"If that's when the family reunion is scheduled," Elliot said and watched Steven's expression.

"Great," Steven said, a little less enthusiastic when he heard Elliot would provide Cara with an excuse to leave early. "We'll have the whole team out there."

"We've got some food left from the orders that didn't get picked up," Elliot said, turning to Sandy. "You want to take them out there?"

"You think your friends will be hungry?" Sandy asked Steven.

"Hell yes! We're always hungry," Steven said.

"Let's do it," Sandy said.

Jason, Elliot, and Michael gathered up the leftover food. Sandy, Sarah, Megan, and Cara got the to-go boxes. By the time the restaurant officially closed at eight o'clock, all the food was loaded and ready to go.

They split up into different vehicles. Michael rode with Steven instead of Sarah. Jason decided to ride with Elliot. Megan rode with her boyfriend, Tom. Sandy went by herself, and Cara rode with Sarah. They looked like a convoy with all five vehicles following Steven out U. S. Highway Sixty to Menifee County road Eight-oh-one. Steven took them a few miles down the road to a small cove directly across from the dam. Several cars were lining the road and filling whatever grass was available.

There was clearly a party going on along the rocky shoreline. Several people were playing in the water. Elliot was sure there was probably some alcohol floating around even though Menifee County was a dry county.

"We'll follow Steven to where he stops and then get people to help us unload the food. I'm going to turn around after we get everything out and park closer to the dam side so if Cara decides this party is not her thing I can take her back to her car," Elliot told Jason.