Page 37 of Mountain Refuge

A chuckle from behind the counter drew my attention to the older guy. He was tall too, though nowhere near the giant’s height. He was maybe six-foot. He had salt and pepper hair, a clean-shaven face, and kind green eyes. You could tell a lot about a person from their eyes. It was one of the reasons I knew Gunther was lying about caring for his children.

I unintentionally wandered closer to the men in my perusal of the store. In the back was more outdoorsy gear than grocery. Hunting supplies, including a lot of guns.

My Glock was tucked away in the holster at the small of my back. I wore a longer jacket that hid the bulge. I’d need to keep in mind that this area had a lot of gun owners.

“…so excited. She’s been counting down to her birthday since the start of the New Year.” That was the giant who spoke. He had a very deep voice with a slight New Jersey lilt if I had to guess. A quick glance at his items on the counter and I saw birthday gift supplies. Not surprising, given the conversation the men were having.

“Belle deserves a great birthday after the winter she’s had.” The cashier finished ringing up the items on a manual cash register. Did this place even have internet? The giant handed over cash.

“Yeah, Mom’s making her a spaghetti birthday cake.”

“A what?” The cashier paused in counting out the man’s change to ask for clarification. I also had no idea what a spaghetti cake was.

“You heard me. I have no idea what my mother is doing orhow she is going to do it, but she swore to Belle she would have her cake.”

The cashier seemed to ponder this for a moment. “I’m sorry I’ll miss that.”

“You’re invited, you know that.”

“I know and I appreciate the invitation, but I have a lot to do around here to get ready for spring.”

I looked around the store and did notice a mixture of winter and summer supplies. It must take a lot of time to switch things over with the seasons.Disneyboasts that they can do it in one night, but I doubt the owner of this store has that much help.

The cashier reached under the counter and brought out a wrapped gift with a pink bow. “Tell her this is from Super Jack.”

Ah, Jack. As inJack’s General Store. Good, I found the owner.

“Will do.” The giant took his purchases and the gift. “Thanks for everything, Jack.”

He nodded once. “You never have to thank me.”

The giant left, and I was alone in the store with Jack. I tried to look like I was examining a plaid shirt that was in front of me. I’d never be caught dead in plaid. Leather was more my style because it provided better protection.

Jack came around the counter. “You know, it’s not polite to eavesdrop, Josie.”

I froze. What. The. Ever. Loving. Fuck.

I turned in time to see Jack lock the door and turned the OPEN sign to CLOSED. My hand went to my Glock at the small of my back. I did not like being locked in.

“Take it easy,” Jack brushed off my concern. “If I meant you any harm, I would have stopped you long before you arrived here.”

Before I’d arrived… What the fuck? Who was this guy? How did he know my name or that I would be here?

He kept his hands in plain view as he approached me. The guy was probably in his sixties. I doubted he was a physical threat to me, but I knew well that there are a lot of other types of threats that most people didn’t see coming.

Something tickled in my brain. This conversation was far too similar to one I’d had years ago with… Oh fuck. I’m an idiot. Jack. Jackson. Art Jackson.

“Son of a bitch,” I breathed out. I dropped my hand from my gun but didn’t drop my guard. “You’reJackson?”

I’d never met the man in person. Only had a number that I called to leave a message that I needed to talk to him and then he’d call me back. Always from a different number that never traced back to the same location.

The man’s lips twitched like he was fighting a smile. “I was impressed with your investigation from the start. You cared more about the welfare of the children than you did the million dollars. I figure that’s the difference between you and the others, who are still chasing their tails.”

He tipped his head, indicating for me to follow him. While I wasn’t keen to follow him into an unknown room behind yet another door, I did appreciate that he walked in first and didn’t block my exit.

“I don’t understand.You’reJackson? As in the man who runs a vigilante group that secretly hunts down murderers, rapists, and pedophiles?”

“I don’t like the word ‘vigilante’. It always makes me feel like I should be wearing tights and a cape—and believe me, you do not want to see me trying to fit this ass into a pair of tights.” He shuddered for effect.

---