Chapter 14
Huck tossed a biscuit across the office, the arc lazy and unhurried, landing with a soft clatter near the plush, overpadded dog bed Ena had supplied.
Another one. Seemed like every few weeks, a fresh monstrosity of fluff and orthopedic foam appeared, courtesy of her insistence that Aeneas deserved comfort, too.
Huck was convinced the woman had stock in a dog bed company.
Aeneas lounged on the latest addition to his growing collection, a broad rectangle of memory foam covered in something Ena called durable fabric.
It was already fraying at the corners, courtesy of Aeneas’s industrious teeth.
Chew, tear, destroy, and the game continued with a fresh bed. Huck half smiled.
The dog was striking. A Karelian Bear Dog with a coat of pure black and white, the contrast sharp and clean.
His chest was broad, head narrow and intelligent, with pointed ears that twitched at the slightest noise.
His dark eyes glinted with an almost human awareness.
All muscle and instinct, he was built to charge straight at a bear instead of away from it.
Aeneas had the nerve for it, too. No hesitation, no second-guessing. Pure adrenaline and drive.
“It’ll be bear time soon, buddy,” Huck promised.
Aeneas’s core function was to scare bears off before they even thought about wandering into town.
Sure, he was one of the few breeds in the world that didn’t go jelly-legged at the sight of a grizzly, but he was just as damn effective at search and rescue.
Huck had relied on him more times than he could count.
Between tracking down lost hikers and keeping wildlife at bay, the dog had earned his keep ten times over.
Huck’s phone rang, the shrill tone jolting against the quiet. He snagged it off the desk. “Rivers.”
“Hey, it’s Agent Norrs.” The man on the other end sounded as ragged as Huck felt. “Is this a good time?”
“Sure.” Huck settled deeper into his chair, eyes flicking back to Aeneas, who had curled himself into a tight coil of muscle and fur on the torn-up bed. “What do you have on the attack against Laurel and Walter?”
“Not a whole hell of a lot,” Norrs admitted, his voice slipping into a flat tone of frustration.
“We’re combing through old case files of Laurel’s as well as Walter’s.
Trying to see if anyone’s recently out of prison or if any past cases have flared up.
We’re also checking more recent cases, seeing if there’s any connection. ”
Huck’s gaze drifted to the window, the bleak stretch of gray sky outside offering nothing but another dismal reminder that the world wasn’t in a mood to make things easy. “And the black truck?”
“Nothing. Not even on CCTV.”
Huck straightened. “So you think it was just waiting out there on that deserted highway for them?”
“Looks like it.” Norrs’s tone was clipped. “Can’t find it in town, not in Elk Hollow. We’re running scans of the CCTV in Genesis Valley, too. Still coming up empty. And your office building? Nothing from the security footage there either.”
Huck’s jaw tightened. Whoever was behind the attack had been thorough, clean. If there was one thing he hated, it was hunting a ghost. “Damn it.”
“I always think there’s some crazy out there causing trouble,” Norrs replied. “Or, what if there’s a slim chance that the attack on Laurel and the shooting of Abigail could be related?”
Huck leaned back in his chair even more. It creaked in protest. “How so?”
“Abigail killed Zeke, and it’s well-known Laurel didn’t like the guy. She wanted to put him away. I wonder if this is some sort of revenge on the whole family.”
“It’s possible,” Huck murmured, figuring that since Norrs had given up the goods, he might as well do the same, just in case the investigations were related.
“I’m headed out to the church later to interview a few people Pastor John thinks could be involved in the shooting of Abigail.
He doesn’t believe anyone there would do such a thing, and he claims he doesn’t know any snipers, but you never know.
We’re also running deep dives here in the office on some of the congregation members.
So far, we haven’t found anybody with a sniper’s background. ”
“Doesn’t mean somebody didn’t hire him,” Norrs said.
The guy was quick. “That’s my thinking as well.
I need more probable cause before I can get search warrants for any bank records, but I’d like to go see who catches my attention at the church.
Keep in mind, the attack on Abigail might not be from a church member.
” Huck rubbed his chin. “I also have state officers checking at the Tech Institute where Abigail works, in case she has any enemies there. Right now, we’re looking into backgrounds, just in case. ”
“Sounds good. I appreciate you keeping me apprised.”
“Ditto,” Huck said. They might as well work together, at least as long as they could.
Norrs cleared his throat. “Abby’s coming in to speak with you again today. She wasn’t calm when you visited her in the hospital. She should be there any minute.”
Huck grunted. “Okay.”
“Be nice to her, would you?”
Huck snorted. “I’m always nice.”
“Getting shot really shook her balance. She desperately wants to have a relationship with your girlfriend,” Norrs said.
“Sure.” That wouldn’t happen. Laurel could take care of herself, and Abigail Caine had the survival instincts of a cornered rattlesnake.
“I’ll catch you later.” Norrs hung up, abrupt as usual.
Right on cue, Ena poked her head in the door.
Her long black hair was braided today, tight and neat, and her Fish and Wildlife uniform was so freshly pressed it looked like she’d ironed it while wearing it.
Huck noticed she seemed happier lately. No doubt because she was dating Walter Smudgeon.
“Hi, Huck. Dr. Abigail Caine is here to see you.”
He shoved a stack of file folders aside, barely clearing enough space. “Send her in.”
Abigail strolled through the doorway, moving like she had all the time in the world.
Today she wore a black leather skirt, black boots, and a deep red sweater that hugged her curves.
Jewelry glittered at her ears and throat, diamonds and rubies, flashing under the overhead lights.
A small white bandage showed along her clavicle that disappeared beneath the sweater.
Two uniformed Genesis Valley police officers hovered outside, their eyes darting inside before they took position on either side of the door. Abigail closed it behind her, shutting them out.
“Have a seat.” Huck nodded toward the one chair that wasn’t buried under gear or stacks of clutter.
“Thank you, Captain.” Her voice was a purr, the kind some people might mistake for civility.
Her hair was down, curled just enough to look effortless.
Laurel wore hers like that sometimes, but on Abigail, it appeared like armor.
“Are you any closer to finding the person who shot at me?” She slid into the chair, all elegance.
“I’m growing very tired of Lurch and Dumbass flanking my every move. ”
Huck let one eyebrow lift. “I’m sure Genesis City would take the bodyguards off if you wanted. Though considering somebody’s trying to shoot you, I’d think twice.”
“Somebody could get at me from long distance and you know it.” Her voice was clipped, eyes sharp. “I feel like there’s a bull’s-eye on me at all times.”
“There very well might be.” Huck kept his gaze steady on her, watching her like he’d watch a bear trying to decide whether to charge or bolt. Abigail’s fingers drummed on the arm of the chair, too controlled to be nervous. The woman was pissed. She should be scared.
Huck took out a notepad and reached into his drawer, his very messy, disorganized drawer, to find a pen buried in the back. He fished it out and popped the cap off. It was one of those cheap ballpoint pens he liked best. Reliable. Disposable. Nothing fancy.
Abigail glanced at it and smirked. “You need something a little more official than that.”
“I really don’t,” he murmured, eyes on her face, which looked way too much like Laurel’s. “Do you have any idea who’d want you dead?”
“Besides you?”
For fuck’s sake. “I don’t want you dead, Abigail. I just want you out of Laurel’s life.”
“There’s only one way that’s going to happen, Captain,” she said easily, crossing her legs and revealing toned thighs. It was too damn chilly to be wearing a short skirt, considering it was only spring in the Washington mountains.
Huck deliberately kept his gaze on her eyes and not lower. “Besides the threat from Tim Kohnex and your father’s girlfriend, whom I’m going to meet today, who else do you believe wants you dead?”
“Nobody.” She lifted both hands. “Honestly, I have a few exboyfriends, and I brought you a list.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a folded sheet of paper.
“But not one of them wants me dead. I ended things amicably, including with Pastor John. You know he has former military experience, right?”
Huck hadn’t known that. He was still waiting for the background checks from the state. “Was he a sniper?”
“I have absolutely no idea,” Abigail murmured, her eyes glinting as if she found the question amusing or irritating. “Maybe both.”
“I want to tell you really quickly, since we have a moment, how sorry I am about the baby.”
“Thanks. We’re all sorry,” Huck said curtly. “Let’s stay with your case.”
Abigail held up one hand, revealing nails painted bright red—a far cry from the polished, restrained look she’d donned for the courtroom. “No, I’m worried about my sister. It’s a good time for you to make a clean break.”
“Excuse me?” Huck said, ice skittering down his back.