Gone South (A Butterscotch Jones Mystery Book 3) by Melanie Jackson

stepping back up to the counter.
    “A thousand dollars,” Amy replied without even cracking a smile.
    “For these clothes?” Desoto replied in dismay.
    “Take it or leave it.”
    “I don’t suppose you’ll take a check?”
    “What do you think?”
    “Boss, will this go on our expense account ? ” Reese asked.
    “No.” Desoto fished his money out of his wallet and counted. Ultimately, the three agents had to pool their resources to pay their tab. When Desoto had gathered the required funds he tossed them on the counter in disgust. Then he turned and walked from the store without another word. Stepping out into the pouring rain, Desoto almost had his leg bitten of f by a crazed wolf on a leash.
    “Whoa, Max,” Wendell Thunder exclaimed, pulling hard on Max’s leash to hold him back.
    Max continued to snarl and bark as he pulled hard trying to get at Desoto. Desoto had almost pulled his firearm, only having been prevented by the fact that it was difficult to get to under his bright orange parka.
    “You should keep better control of that beast,” Desoto barked , though he suspected that the man was in fact very much i n control of the animal .
    “Yeah? You should watch where you’re walking,” Wendell replied as Max snarled on cue . “And keep your trap shut. The wolf doesn’t like strange voices.”
    Desoto strove for dignity. He raised his umbrella and walked around Wendell and Max , giving them both a wide birth. His fellow agents wisely followed suit. Wendell pretended to lose his grip on the leash and laughed as the agents trotted away down the street.
    Their next stop was a place called the Lonesome Moose. As they stepped through the front door of the establishment, all conversation ceased. It was replaced by snickers and outright laugh ter as everyone in the place got a good look at the newcomers. Comments in Gaelic followed the men as Desoto and his agents stepped up to the bar.
    The Flowers walked up to serve them with a smile on her face. The smile disappeared when she got a whiff of Reese and Dawson. Desoto’s own eyes were watering from having to stand next to his two agents.
    “ Slan leat. De tha a thu ‘g iarraidh ri ol? ” t he Flowers asked.
    “Coffee — or tea,” Dawson said, guessing what she had asked. “Anything hot.”
    Then he ducked his head, realizing he had usurped his boss.
    “We’re looking for Butterscotch Jones,” Desoto announced as t he Flowers turned away.
    “She left town,” the Flowers replied, sneezing and then pinching her nose closed with her fingers.
    “Let me guess, she won’t be returning.”
    “How’d you guess?”
    “Three coffees please,” Desoto finally ordered , taking a seat on a stool .
    The Flowers hurried toward the kitchen as if she couldn’t get away from the men fast enough.
    “I hate this place,” Reese moaned.
    “What do we do now, boss?” Dawson asked.
    “We wait,” Desoto replied .
    “We wait, sir?” Dawson did his best to not sound appalled, but his best wasn’t good enough.
    “We wait,” Desoto repeated, breathing through his mouth.
     
    *  *  *
     
    By the time Jimmy Nine Toes made it to the river crossing, there were only three of his task force remaining. The rest had either been too badly injured and needed to turn back or had slunk away into the woods in the hopes of rediscovering civilization on their own. The notable exception who still stood by his side was Tony, his right - hand man. The others who remained looked as if they were ready to break and run at the least provocation.
    Jimmy stood before a thorny thicket surrounding a deep gorge. He could hear a torrent rushing through the gorge caused by the same intense rainfall that was currently pummeling his head and shoulders. Shielding his eyes from the deluge, he looked up to the far side of the gorge and saw t w o figures climbing over the lip to safety. He almost had them.
    “What now, Mr. James?” Tony asked.
    “We climb,” Jimmy replied, walking over