Chapter 22 Furyon #2
When I turn to Bishop, he looks skeptical, but I’m not seeing anything that leads me to believe the Sidewinders are responsible.
I grab one of my business cards out of my pocket and hand it to Kohdiy.
“I’d appreciate you calling me if you see anything at all that seems like a cause.
I’m at my wit’s end in town trying to figure it out. ”
“Of course.” He slides the card into the pocket of his leather vest. “I’m going out every damn night trying to separate the infected, but at this point, I’m not sure I’ve got room to store them all.”
Pressure and frustration rise inside me at his words. If this is haven-wide at this point, we’re in even worse trouble than I thought. That poor moose who died was the first, and knowing other animals might be headed that way makes everything inside me ache.
“You should talk to that land developer, actually,” Kohdiy says. “I’ve only met him once, and he’s sleazy, but I didn’t necessarily get criminal mastermind vibes. But he’d sure stand to benefit if the land was suddenly worthless and full of poisoned animals.”
“Noted.” I’m not willing to share the info Bishop and I have already gathered on Varek. “Anything else?”
The big ophiotaurus shakes his head. “Nope.”
“Stay outta trouble,” Bishop barks. “I’m tired of comin’ out here to remind you not to be a buncha assholes.” He waves at the cattle standing on the far side of the big open room. “And don’t think I don’t see Mykel Longhorn’s brand on those cattle. Return them immediately because they ain’t yours.”
Kohdiy says nothing, nostrils flaring as he stares at us. The silence stretches long, and I look up at him. “Comm me if anything comes up, please? We’ve lost an animal to whatever this is, Kohdiy. I don’t wanna see more go the same way.”
Unease flits through his crimson eyes, and he answers with a curt nod.
When he says nothing else, Bishop and I turn to go. At my truck, Bishop hops in the bed and opens the back window. “I think we should bring Varek in, wrassle him down a little and see what he knows.”
Sighing, I lift my comm watch to call the big minotaur.
He answers with a gruff hello. I don’t relish doing this, given I don’t have a ton of info to go off of, but seeing the animals at the Sidewinders compound reminded me what we’re up against here.
“Need you to come down to the office for a little chat, Varek.”
There’s silence for a moment, then a soft grunting like he’s in the middle of something.
“Can’t do that,” he barks back. “But you’re welcome to come find me at my place. I’m in the middle of a project but happy to chat.”
“Be there in fifteen.” I hang up and glance at Bishop, who’s glaring through my back window.
“This sucks,” I offer.
The big gargoyle sheriff nods. “It does, son, but if he’s got anything to do with it, I’m gonna rip those horns right off his head.”
I bark out an awkward laugh at that visual. Honestly, I’m not sure who’d best who in that fight, and I hope we never find out.
It gets more awkward when we pull up Varek’s long dirt driveway to find him standing in the middle of four giant minotaur statues representing the four minotaur gods and goddesses.
Three sit upright with wet concrete around the base.
The fourth lies on its side and Varek’s working on making the hole deeper.
He’s got his shirt off, exposing massive muscles.
He snorts, tail lashing from side to side, making him look mighty irritated.
Bishop hops out of the back of the truck and stalks toward the minotaur, both hands on his big, muscular hips. “You got anything to do with the sick animals?”
So much for diplomacy, gods almighty.
Varek’s dark brows rise, eyes widening. “Are you serious?”
“Unfortunately,” I say as I join them, “you stand to gain a lot if certain plots of land all of a sudden seem less valuable to their owners, Varek.”
He narrows his crimson eyes. “Let me get this straight. You think I’m poisoning the animals to destroy the land so I can then buy that destroyed land? Do I have that right?”
“Pretty much,” Bishop confirms. “So is that a yes or…”
Varek drops the shovel in his hands, clapping them to remove the dirt. Then he grabs his shirt from where it hangs over the statue and pulls it over his broad shoulders.
“No, I’m not doing anything to the animals, and frankly, I’m surprised you’d think I would.
I bought this property five years ago.” He waves at the statues.
“I’m putting up statues of the minotaur gods and goddesses because I intend to put down roots here.
I’ve never done anything but try to put down roots. ”
He snarls, baring twin fangs. “Pine Gulch is such a welcoming place, so long as you don’t wanna change anything about it. I don’t fit in here, and that’s fine because this is supposed to be a place for the misfits, for those who want something more than they can get in other havens.”
He points at me. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed Lemon. She doesn’t fit in here either. Have you considered that?”
Unease filters through me because I know what he means. Pine Gulch is cozy and welcoming, but we can be set in our ways, too. Either way, I stare at him for a long minute, working to get a read on him. Bishop says nothing, just stares down the big minotaur, who glares at us.
Shit. I don’t think we’re getting anywhere here with Varek. When I glance at Bishop, it’s obvious he’s thinking the same thing.
We’re back to square fucking one.