Chapter Twenty-Two
Every muscle in her body ached, but Vinnie remained alert as the authorities carried the body bag across the yard and loaded it into the back of the waiting ambulance. Wilkes had been a good deputy once. Or maybe he’d been better at hiding his true nature. There was no way to be sure.
It was a tragic ending to a wasted life.
Obsession had ruled Wilkes. It had ultimately killed him.
Along the way, he’d brought pain and misery to all their lives for no good reason.
Whatever his twisted beliefs, there’d never been anything between them except as coworkers, and even there they hadn’t been close.
The vehicle doors slammed shut with finality, closing that terrible chapter of her life once and for all.
Despite her protests, Cyrus was sprawled in one of the Adirondack chairs, a gleaming white bandage wound around his chest, his long, jean-clad legs kicked out in front of him.
Lines of strain radiated from the corners of his eyes and mouth.
His normally tanned skin was pale. He’d lost a lot of blood.
When he’d passed out, she’d panicked. Zach had come running at her yell and assured her sleep was the best thing for him, but he hadn’t stayed down for long. Not Cyrus.
Sheriff Morgan Eastridge, who’d helped carry out the body, joined them on the porch.
They all watched as the ambulance headed out the driveway to begin its journey down the mountain.
“God Almighty, Cyrus, I’ve seen animal attacks before, but nothing like this one.
” He removed his hat and swiped the back of his arm over his forehead, his dark skin gleaming with sweat.
Blood stained his khaki pants in several places, likely from helping the coroner move the body.
It had been a long, hot trek. The heat likely hadn’t helped the condition of the body. Having some experience in that area, Vinnie knew how nasty it could be. “Can I get you some water or lemonade, Sheriff?” She’d made a large pitcher of lemonade to give herself something to do.
“I’d appreciate the lemonade, Ms. Grant. Thank you.”
“Call me Vinnie. Please.” He’d been cordial and professional the entire time. The least she could do was reciprocate.
He took the glass she offered, raised it in a gesture of thanks, and drank half of it in one swallow before returning his attention to Cyrus.
“It’s probably no surprise to you that we found wolf tracks.
We’ve had reports of howling up here on the mountain for decades, though I don’t know of anyone who’s personally seen a wolf.
” He paused, waiting to see if either of them would comment.
When they remained silent, he continued.
“We all know wolves rarely attack humans. Hell, technically, there aren’t even supposed to be wolves around these parts.
Plenty of coyotes, but they tend to shy away from people.
When you said there’d been an animal attack I figured someone had managed to rile a black bear.
The viciousness of the attack...” He trailed off and stared out over the vast mountain, his dark brown eyes missing nothing.
In the short contact they’d had, Vinnie had pegged the man as astute and dedicated.
“Could be a hybrid wolf and dog mix someone found too difficult to handle and dumped,” she offered.
“Could be, but that’s just as big a mess as a rogue wolf or bear. Hopefully the coroner will determine the type of animal that mauled Deputy Wilkes. Either way, it’s going to rile folks up around here. Let’s hope whatever animal is responsible has left the area.”
“I’m sure it has. The last thing we need is a bunch of idiot hunters on our mountain.” Cyrus’s warning was clear. Trespassers would not be tolerated.
“I’ll make sure to pass the word around. Everyone knows you and your brothers are the best damn hunters around.”
The entire situation was a mess for the sheriff.
A deputy from West Virginia had wound up dead in his Kentucky county.
That deputy was accused of shooting a local and kidnapping a woman at gunpoint.
The media would have a field day with this if they got ahold of it.
Luckily, all parties wanted to keep it quiet.
“You sure I can’t talk you two into getting checked out by the doc?
” Eastridge leaned against the porch post, his gaze tracking over them both.
If he thought it strange that Cyrus was awake and alert after being shot in the chest, and not flat on his back in a hospital bed, he kept it to himself.
Vinnie resisted the urge to fidget under his regard.
“I’ve got a lot of aches and bruising, but nothing is broken.
” Her back was the worst where Wilkes had rammed her with the butt of the rifle.
Following protocol, a female deputy had taken pictures to document all her injuries as well as taking her statement.
Eastridge had spoken at length with Cyrus himself before trekking up to the site with the body.
“You had some trouble with Wilkes back in West Virginia.” It wasn’t asked as a question. She had no doubt he’d already spoken with Sheriff Kingman.
Cyrus stirred in his chair. “I told you what happened. You’ve got the bullets Zach dug out of me. What else do you need?”
“And we’ll be testing them against Wilkes’s rifle.
I expect they’ll be a match. One of my deputies found Wilkes’s truck.
It was parked off the main road a fair distance away.
We’ll be towing it in and processing it.
” The sheriff smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“I’ve heard your side of it, and I’ve heard what Kingman had to say.
Now I’d like Vinnie’s take on it. If you wouldn’t mind? ”
It wasn’t as though she had a real choice. A deputy had died on the mountain. The sheriff’s department back in West Virginia would demand answers. Eastridge couldn’t afford to leave any stones unturned.
Stick to the facts. “Adam went camping without my permission. We mounted a search. After the town resources ran out, I sought out Cyrus because of his reputation with finding people.”
The sheriff finished his lemonade and set the glass down on the top porch rail beside him. “You stated it was then you realized Cyrus was Adam’s father.”
Heat climbed up her cheeks, but she refused to feel shame. “Yes.” She took a steadying breath. “We found Adam and brought him home. Some members of the department suggested I might be an unfit mother.”
Eastridge shook his head. “Some folks are jackasses. I don’t know any sixteen-year-old who hasn’t done something stupid, myself included.”
She didn’t take his easygoing manner as belief in her.
He was trying to lull her into slipping up and saying something incriminating.
It was an interrogation technique she’d used herself on occasion.
“Sheriff, I gave a detailed report to your deputy. Unless you have specific questions, I’m done rehashing it.
I have a seventeen-year unblemished record of service.
I resigned because my boss and coworkers didn’t have my back.
” That still hurt and probably always would.
Cyrus snagged her hand and pulled her down so she was sitting on the arm of his chair. He twined their fingers together. She might have been on her own in the department, but not here. He tilted his head to one side as if listening to something canted his head toward the trail. “They’re coming.”
Eastridge jammed his hat back on his head. “I swear you have ears like a bat, Sin.”
The crime scene techs, loaded down with gear, were followed by Zach.
He’d remained with them, partly to guide them back down and partly to ensure they didn’t discover anything they shouldn’t.
It was a way to keep some control over the investigation.
He peeled away from the group and trotted over to the porch.
“It’s done. Your people got everything they needed. ”
Vinnie breathed a sigh of relief. So far, the entire experience, while intense, had gone more smoothly than she’d anticipated. That had everything to do with the family’s reputation.
Cyrus slowly pushed to his feet and held out his hand. “If there’s anything else you need, you know where to find us.” It was a dismissal, pure and simple. The sheriff knew it too.
Eastridge shook it and sighed. “Writing this report is going to be a bitch. The autopsy report should shut down Sheriff Kingman. He’s not a fan of yours, Cyrus.”
“The feeling is mutual. Unlike you, he’s not a lawman I’d trust.” That was an understatement. If this had happened in West Virginia, she had no doubt the sheriff would have tried to find a way to pin it on Cyrus or her.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He tipped his hat. “Y’all take care.”
Vinnie didn’t release her pent-up breath until he was out of sight. When Cyrus swayed, she slipped her arm around him. “You need to lie down.” He and his brothers might persist in the illusion that he was indestructible, but that was pure fantasy.
Yes, he was damn hard to kill and had supernatural healing abilities, but he could die—almost had. Sweat broke out on her brow and her stomach lurched. She could almost smell the blood, feel it sticking to her hands and staining her skin.
He growled in protest, but she glared right back at him. “I need you to lie down, damn it.” He’d put on a show for the sheriff and his men, but he was nowhere near healed. Since Zach was watching with undisguised interest, she might as well put him to work. “Help me get him inside.”
“I can manage,” Cyrus groused, but she noted he didn’t push his brother away when he lent a shoulder to lean on.
“I’ll update the others and handle anything that arises,” Zach assured them. Once Cyrus had been deposited on the bed, he left them alone, closing the bedroom door behind him.
“Come here.” Cyrus beckoned to her with an imperious wave.