by Alex Archer
"Not at all, but we do roll past there. We're going to my home up in the mountains. It won't take us much more than ten minutes to get there. We can eat, then I'll show you the evidence I have that proves that big foot exists."
"I prefer you call him Sasquatch," Joey said. "It's a Native American thing."
"Sorry."
Joey shrugged. "Forget it. So what is it you have, anyway? A plaster cast of a footprint?"
David shook his head. "I'm not telling. Not yet, at least."
Jenny elbowed Annja. "I'm getting bored with this teasing bit."
"So am I."
Joey kept guessing. "Piles of old poop?"
David laughed. "You'll have to be patient."
Joey leaned back into the seat and sighed. "Well, what's for dinner, then? Can you at least tell us that?"
"Sure. Barbecued chicken and potato salad. You guys okay with that? I've got the grill out and can get it fired up in no time."
"It's a little dark to be grilling, don't you think?" Jenny said.
David shook his head. "Porch lights will help. Besides, we'll need them on for later."
Annja looked at Jenny. Why would they need porch lights? That didn't make any sense, unless what David had to show them was outside. But what could he possibly have as evidence that had to be kept outside?
"So where are Simpson and Baker now?" she asked. "I'm assuming you know where their camp is."
David shook his head. "They don't need to check in with me, unfortunately, so I don't know where they are. All they have to do is let me know what they're up to and that's about it. They really have free reign of the place."
"Must be nice," Joey said. "All that power. Not having to answer for any crimes. Must be very nice."
David eyed him. "You driving at something, Joey?"
Joey shrugged. "Nope. Just saying that no one is untouchable. Even those who think they've got the best position can sometimes be unseated unexpectedly."
David held up a finger. "Joey, I'm going to have to tell you not to disturb those guys. They aren't going to fool around with you. You know what they can do if they're provoked."
"How would I provoke them?"
"I know some of what you're capable of."
Joey sighed. "It's not my fault if the laws of nature decide to move against them. I can't be held responsible for that."
"You can be if you're the tool of their justice. You know I'd have to arrest you. And even though you're still a juvenile, you'd still get into a lot of trouble for interfering. I have no doubt that these guys can make your life pretty miserable. They might even be able to make you disappear."
"I'm not a magic trick," Joey said.
"Nope, you're not. But you are a fourteen-year-old boy who can do things most adults can't do. Surely your grandfather has taught you that with power comes great responsibility. And that responsibility is yours to ignore or abide by."
"He might have said something like that."
"Then I hope you'll honor his wise words by following them. To ignore them would be foolish and dangerous."
Joey lapsed into silence as the trees flew past the windows. David's headlights cut through the night, and the road in front of them was reduced to two beams of yellow that just enabled him to navigate the twists and turns.
"Where do you live, David?" Annja asked.
"We're almost there," he said. "Just another half mile. Then there's the turnoff and a steep grade to climb, but we'll be at the house."
"You live alone?"
"Except for Missy."
Jenny tensed up. "Who is Missy?"
"A calico cat who keeps me company. I've had her for about ten years now. Mostly she sleeps, gets up to eat and then finds another place to sleep. She's got quite the busy schedule."
Jenny relaxed and went back to looking out the window. Annja watched her and sighed. Jenny needed to get over whatever it was she felt for David. Annja still wasn't sure how much she even trusted him.
"We're here."
David turned the steering wheel and abruptly the truck seemed to rear back on its wheels as the front treads bit into the steep incline and churned to gain purchase. They eased up the driveway and then leveled off.
David put the truck into Park and then switched off the ignition. "Home sweet home."
Annja stepped out of the truck and instantly felt the bite of the night air sweep over her. They were up a bit higher in elevation and she could feel the cold air settling in.
Jenny stepped out and shivered. "Wow, it's colder up here."
David waved them inside the ranch house. "It'll be warmer inside once I get the lights on and stuff. Come on in."
Joey crept out of the truck and took a look around. Annja saw him stooping and studying the ground. "Everything okay?"
Joey looked up. "Huh? Yeah. I guess."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Joey shrugged. "Nothing. I'm tired, I guess. And he's right. As much as I want to hurt the guys who killed Cheehawk, I really can't. How would I care for this place if I was in jail? As much as they deserve it, sometimes the toughest part of being powerful is knowing when the universe has to dish out the justice and not you."
Annja smiled. "You say some pretty wise things for a kid."
Joey grinned. "I'm not a kid anymore. Not after Cheehawk died. And not after I saw who killed him." He walked inside, leaving Annja alone in the darkness.
Lights flickered on inside the house and Annja could see more of it as it became illuminated from within. It was a modified ranch that looked as though there was an upstairs. Bits of wooden porch furniture sat near the entrance and Annja could see that David had a nice view of the valley below.
This must be something in the daylight, she thought.
"Annja?" David's voice called out from inside. "You want a beer?"
Annja grinned in spite of herself. "Yeah, great, thanks."
The sheriff appeared on the porch with a bottle. He handed it to her and then pointed toward the valley. "Pretty nice, huh?"
Annja took a sip and swallowed. "I'd probably be in a better position to make that call when I can actually see it, but, yeah, it looks pretty nice."
David smiled and moved closer to her. "I'm glad you're here."
Annja frowned. "Really?" She took another sip from the bottle, watching David as he smiled at her.
"Yes."
She could feel the shift in energy. Oh, great, she thought. Not this on top of everything else that's going on. She put up a hand as David moved in even closer. "Please don't," she said.
"What?"
"You know what."
David moved in again. "What? I shouldn't try to kiss you?"
She put up her hand to stop him. "You'd better not."
David shook his head. "I can't help myself. I'm really attracted to you. What's the harm in letting that show?"
"The harm," Annja said, "is that my friend is nuts about you and she's deeply hurt that you're not interested in her."
David took a deep breath. "Look, I've got a confession to make. The only reason I asked her to come out here was because I knew she was friends with you. And I hoped you'd follow her."
Annja frowned. "How the hell did you know we're friends?"
"Jenny wrote something in one of her e-mails that mentioned you had been close in college. I took a chance that if she came out here to solve the Sasquatch mystery she might include you. And obviously it paid off."
Annja held the beer bottle in front of her. This was bothering her more and more. "Look, David, don't take this the wrong way, but I'm not into you. At least not like that."
"You might be if you let me kiss you." David leaned in again.
Annja backed away. "Come any closer and I will put you down on the ground painfully," she said.
"Technically, you'd be guilty of assaulting a police officer."
Annja frowned. "Don't play that petty power bullshit with me, Sheriff. I've tangled with guys a lot meaner than you before. A
nd they all lost. Every last one of them."
David stepped back. "I'm not like the other guys, Annja. You'd know that if you'd just let me do what I need to do."
Annja pointed at the door. "Right now, you need to take yourself back inside that house and get dinner grilling. Or else you're going to have a lot of explaining to do to Jenny."
"The hell with her."
Annja gripped the bottle tighter. "You're talking about my friend, David. One I happen to care about very much."
"Then you should kiss me."
"Why on earth would I do that?"
David smiled but there was nothing pleasant about it. "To keep me from telling her how you've thrown yourself at me," he said.
"What? I've done no such thing."
"You really think she'd believe you? After all, you said yourself how crazy she is for me. You think she's in the right frame of mind to tell who's lying and who isn't? I don't think she is. And jealousy is a real pain the ass for friends to deal with. But, hey, you go ahead and try it if you want." He leaned back on the porch railing and crossed his arms.
Annja looked at him. What a jerk, she thought. But she would have to play this just right. Jenny was fragile enough not to believe her if David really ran with this. Just how much did Jenny trust Annja? How jealous was she?
The door swung open and Jenny walked out. "What's going on, guys?"
Annja eyed David, who cocked an eyebrow and mouthed the word later to her. She frowned but quickly looked back at Jenny. "Nothing. David was just telling me how nice it is up here during the daytime. The view is spectacular, apparently."
Jenny nodded. "David, Joey says to tell you that the chicken is almost finished and he's starving."
David laughed. "All right, I'm going. I'm going." He walked inside and left Annja alone with Jenny.
Jenny looked at her. "You okay? You don't look so good."
Do I tell her? Annja frowned and tried to work all the scenarios through in her head. How would Jenny take it if she knew David had a thing for Annja instead of her? Not well.
And Annja had no way of knowing what Jenny's reaction might be. This whole thing was spiraling out of control far too quickly for Annja to keep up. Somehow she'd have to get to grips with it all and fast.
David would want a kiss before too long, and if Annja didn't have a solution for his looming libido Jenny would be hurt badly. And Annja was determined to make sure that didn't happen.
She took another swig of the beer, which now tasted stale to her. "Nothing's wrong. I'm hungry, is all. Let's get inside and see if David is at all talented in the kitchen."
Jenny smiled. "Sounds good to me. But I really want to see whatever it is he says he has to prove that big foot exists."
"Yeah," Annja said. "That should be interesting."
Chapter 25
As disgusted as Annja was with David, even she had to admit that he could whip up some pretty tasty grub. The barbecued chicken had a slick coating of thick sauce that made her mouth water. The potato salad had an interesting mix of mayonnaise and mustard that gave it a yellow hue and delivered just the slightest tang. Combined with the cold beer, Annja was in culinary heaven.
She wiped her mouth. "Food's good, David."
He smirked. "Finger-licking good, huh?"
Annja grew serious. "So when are we going to get to this evidence of the Sasquatch? I don't know about anyone else, but I'm anxious to see it."
Joey nodded. "I agree. Let's see it."
David held up his sauce-stained hand. "First we enjoy the meal and then we can get to business." He glanced at Jenny. "Food okay, Jenny?"
She nodded. "You're quite the chef."
"I grew up with a family of cooks. My mother and grandmother made sure that I knew how to work a kitchen. Maybe they thought they'd better do it because no woman could ever stand to be with me for too long. If they didn't teach me to cook, I'd starve to death."
Annja grimaced. If only they knew how right they were, she thought. She glanced at Jenny and grinned. Jenny smiled back.
Joey finished his chicken and wiped his mouth. "I'm done."
David smiled. "Joey, I've got a nice chocolate cake for dessert. Just try to be patient, would you?"
Joey slumped back into his chair.
David checked his watch. "Besides, we're still too early."
"Early for what?" Annja asked.
"The evidence," David said.
"You don't have it here?"
Dave shook his head. "It's coming, though. Probably even as we speak."
Annja's radar was on full alert. What was he talking about? If he didn't have the evidence, then who did? And why wasn't it here already? She sighed and took another sip of her beer. "This just keeps getting better and better."
"What's that?" David asked.
"Nothing," she muttered.
David eyed her and then went back to his chicken. Joey, however, stared at him and frowned.
"Seriously, Sheriff, what the hell is going on here? What do you mean you don't have the evidence but it's on its way? What's that about? It's mobile?"
David grinned. "Very mobile."
"You've got someone helping you?" Annja asked.
David shrugged. "I guess you could say that."
Joey shook his head. "I hate riddles like this. They're a waste of time. Better to just come out and say what you mean, rather than dick around with this useless teasing crap."
"You need to learn some patience, Joey," David said sharply. "There's something to be said for creating an atmosphere."
"There's also something to be said for getting back to the hotel for some much-needed sleep," Annja said. "Just how much longer are we going to be waiting for your evidence to show up?"
"Maybe twenty minutes. Long enough for a piece of cake."
Jenny pushed her plate away. "I'm stuffed. I don't know if I can handle a slab of cake right now."
Joey nodded. "Yeah, I'm not into the cake, either. Maybe later, huh?"
David shook his head. "No. You have to have the cake. It won't taste as good once it cools. Fresh out of the oven is the best time to eat it."
Annja shook her head. "Fine. Whatever. Just dish out the cake and let us eat it and then we can get to the reason we're all here."
David stood and collected the plates. "You guys relax and I'll be right back with dessert."
Annja watched him leave the dining room and then looked at Joey and Jenny. "Anyone else think this is getting a little strange?"
Joey nodded. "He's different. This isn't how he normally is. He seems obsessed about that cake for some reason."
"And what was up with the evidence not being here yet?"
"Beats me."
Annja looked at Jenny. "You okay? You haven't said much."
Jenny looked at her. "What were you guys doing out on the porch for so long before I came outside?"
Annja swallowed. "You want the truth?"
"Of course."
Annja frowned. "Your would-be suitor made a pass at me."
Jenny jerked back. "Cut it out."
Annja shook her head. "I hate having to tell you this, but it's true. He tried a few times to kiss me."
"Did you?"
Annja leaned forward. "No, Jenny, I did not. In fact, I told him that you were crazy for him and that he should really open his eyes to the great woman he has in front of him."
"You said that?"
"Something like that."
"What did he say?"
Annja sighed. "I don't think he's interested, Jenny. He went so far as to suggest that the reason he got you out here was because he knew you'd contact me and I'd come out, too."
Jenny frowned. "He didn't say that."
"Unfortunately, he did."
"I don't believe you."
Annja put her hands on the table. "And why would I lie? I'm not even attracted to him."
"That's why. Because you don't like him."
"Whether or not I like him has nothing to do with
this. If it was up to me, I'd force him to like you just so you could stop whining about not having a boyfriend."