Epilogue — Gabriel — May
“Gabriel?” Casey called his name, managing to pack exasperation, confusion, and affection into just three tiny syllables.
Gabe was in their new-to-them kitchen, putting the vintage dishes that he’d just unpacked and washed into the cabinets where they now belonged. Nothing matched, the plates weren’t the same sizes, and a few were irreplaceable if they got broken. Gabe loved them all.
Three short weeks ago, they’d closed on their house.
The very same house that Shay and Claribel had rented.
Was it a bit big for two people? Maybe, but they’d already proven that they had plenty of room for guests.
It was close to Greta and Abby, as well as Pedro and Mickie.
There was a big yard for Bowie and lots of nooks and crannies for Keith.
Gabe had declared Casey in charge of the outdoor stuff while he had dived into putting their stamp on the inside.
“What?” Gabe replied, knowing full well what. That’s why he had picked up two packs of paper plates at the store yesterday.
Casey was returning from a last-minute trip to Norskland General Store because Barry had called to let them know a shipment with brand-new flavors of Jewel Creamery ice cream had arrived.
Since Casey was the very best partner, he’d volunteered to pick up a pint or five for the housewarming party. Guests were expected in two hours.
Gabe listened to the sound of Casey’s footsteps coming toward the kitchen. When he came through the door, he was carrying the bag with the ice cream in it.
“My hero, again,” Gabe said dramatically.
“Barry said he’d see us soon. Are he and Mercy coming? Do I want to know who you haven’t invited?” Casey asked as he crossed to the fridge and popped the ice cream into the freezer.
Gabe pretended to think about it. “The only people not invited are those who are behind bars. I can’t say who’s coming. Maybe no one.”
“As if. Barry and Mercy are for sure. They said Brooklyn might stop by with her new boyfriend.”
“Good, so at least two plus. I hope we have enough food. There’s nothing worse than running out of snacks.”
Casey stood there for a minute, then shook his head and leaned in to give Gabe a quick buss on the cheek. “So, the whole island is coming over?”
“I don’t think Deputy Eagan will make it, not now that she’s officially been tapped to be the sheriff.”
The Piedras Island relations were coming too, but Gabe and Casey were both ignoring that fact. They weren’t something a person could prepare for. They just happened, like a major storm system.
“A win all around,” said Casey, leaning one hip against the counter, directly next to where Gabe had been working.
“Damn right.”
Did they have time to head upstairs and test out the new mattress again? He figured not, but a guy could dream.
“When does this thing start again?” Casey asked, twisting to grab a glass out of a cabinet and fill it with water from the pitcher they stored in the fridge.
“Oh, Casey, babe, it’s already started. Haven’t you realized that it’s always a party when I’m around?
Twenty-four seven.” Gabe shook his hips, mimicking a cheesy disco move, and sauntered close enough to trap Casey against the front of the refrigerator and plant a real kiss on his lips.
Maybe they did have time to go upstairs after all.
The doorbell interrupted them, sending Bowie into a fit of barking.
“Bowie, quiet. Who’s that?” Casey asked.
“I think the only way to find out is to answer the door.” Releasing Casey, Gabe spun on his heel and headed to the front door. “Maybe we need one of those porch video things,” he said over his shoulder.
Pulling the door open, Gabe was surprised to find the island’s newly minted sheriff on the other side.
“Sheriff Eagan, are your ears burning? We were just talking about you. Official congratulations on the promotion by the way.”
He noted that she’d parked her cruiser across the drive as if she was in a hurry, and there was a serious expression on her face.
Shit. His heart started to race. “What’s up? Did something happen? Elton?”
Elton was as healthy as an older senior could be, but Gabe worried about him. He was as close as Gabe was going to get to a father figure.
“No, Elton is fine as far as I know,” she assured him.
Gabe took a calming breath. “Thank fuck. Do you want to come inside? I can make a coffee or we have fancy water.”
Because, yes, Casey and his new French friend Etienne had conspired and gifted Gabriel with a shiny new espresso machine. It was beautiful and if he wasn’t planning on asking Casey to tie the knot, he’d marry it.
He heard Casey wander down the hall and stand behind him.
She shook her head. “No time today.” The sheriff looked over Gabe’s shoulder at Casey. “Calvin Perkins has been located.”
“Located? The Valley?” Casey pushed past Gabe. “Who? How?”
“The Allard-Clarks. They were doing some rescue training with those dogs of theirs.”
Casey frowned. “He’s alive?”
“No.”
“Was it exposure?”
Eagan shook her head. “Also no. He was shot.”
“Where? I mean, where was he found?”
“Along a fire service road that runs behind Gordon MacDonald’s place and Snowcap Estates. He was executed, Casey. Shot in the back of the head.”
Gabe’s attention flicked between Casey and Eagan. “Shot in the back of the head? Not accidentally killed by a hunter, then?”
“No. His hands were tied. Whoever did it rolled the body up in a canvas tarp and tossed or dragged him off to the side. If it hadn’t been for the dogs, we might not have found the remains.”
Casey asked, “Do we know how long?”
Eagan nodded. “We have a timeline of sorts. He was alive until after this year’s maples lost their leaves. But how long after we don’t know yet.”
“I was up there back in March,” Casey told her.
“Did you see something?”
“No. But I had the distinct feeling that someone was watching me. At the time, I thought it could have been Calvin.” He shrugged his shoulders. “But it slipped my mind and I haven’t been back since.”
“He had your card in his wallet, Casey. When would you have given him that? You’re sure he didn’t reach out to you recently?”
“No.” Casey shook his head. “Calvin and I were never on polite speaking terms. I have a difficult time coming up with any scenario where he would come to me for help. I would have though, you know. Helped him.”
“Well,” the sheriff said after a moment passed, “it seems that he was considering connecting with you and someone didn’t want that to happen.”
“Which means—”
“Which means,” she said grimly, “we have a problem. And if where Perkins was found means anything, the problem has something to do with The Valley.”
“Damn,” said Casey
“Damn indeed,” said Eagan.
“Fuck,” Gabriel added. “This is definitely fuckery.”