Chapter 41: Panther Hunted

Lainie took a quick shower while Dimitri washed up in the guest bathroom. It had been a long day on the road—over nine hours—and, at first, Lainie wanted to refuse her brother's suggestion of hitting a bar and just climb into bed and sleep the night away. However, the feeling lasted only a second before the lure of a cold beer called to her, and she headed for a hot shower. Monday, she had to show up at the sheriff's department for her first day of duty, so she would make the most of her time off before she didn't have any. Less than an hour later, she was in Dimitri's truck as they headed for the bar he called Everglades. Or rather, she was being jostled in Dimitri's truck because of the crappy roads of Bull Creek.

"I need to warn you," Dimitri said once they pulled off Crabgrass Road and onto Highway 192, turning left toward Everglades. "This bar is nothing like Shades back in Draven Falls." He glanced over at her and shrugged. "It's more like a…comfy shack."

Lainie laughed, believin