Page 69 of Junkyard Dog

“There are toomany cameras around to hop the fence,” Bo stated, peering through the chain link fence at the Pirithous rental. “Probably no point in trying to break in, though. The cops would’ve wiped it clean and cleared it out already.”

Ryan nodded, glancing around and stepping away from the security camera’s reach. “I’ll scent it out from here.”

Bo and Alex stood back as Ryan stripped down quickly and transformed, chuffing when the scent of the Pirithous hit him. After a quick perusal of the grounds, he was back and dressing within minutes. “No missing that stench. The bloodline has definitely taken full hold.”

While Ryan’s words held no hint of accusation, his guilt rose. “I should’ve called you down earlier.” He hesitated. “My head wasn’t in the game.”

“Your head was too busy being buried betw—”

Bo was cut short by Ryan’s hand smacking him upside the head. “We’ve hunted them feral before, we can do it again.”

He gave Ryan a grim nod.

Once a Pirithous bloodline went feral, they were harder to track, their movements and kill zones becoming less predictable. They abandoned all modern luxuries, their sole focus on the hunt and kill, their nutritional needs met by the bodies of their victims.

It was unpleasant and messy.

Bo opened the passenger door of the SUV, flipping Ryan off as he got in. “So what’s the plan?”

Ryan folded himself into the back. “Since our window of opportunity to hunt in human form is gone, we’ll need to work from within the park.”

He tried to clear the sudden tightness from his throat. “They’ve reopened the campgrounds. If we pick up some camping supplies and food, we can establish a base inside and go from there.”

*

Charlotte hit thebrakes of her work truck, kicking up a plume of sand and dust. She craned her neck to get a better look at the campsite, her stomach sinking as she recognized the color and year of the SUV parked beside a small tent.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered, grabbing her CB. “Jonas? What’s the name on site nine at White Tank?”

The radio crackled as Jonas looked up the information back at the station. “Ryan Echidna, paid for two weeks on a Visa,” he replied. “Problem?”

Forcing her eyes off the small tent, she pulled back onto the road. “No. Just curious.”

“Since you’re in the area, could you confirm the vehicle plate and make sure the campers have the alert sheet?” Jonas called out. “Save me from driving out there after shift.”

She took a deep breath. “Site looks empty right now. Have Max do it when he finishes the eastern loop.”

“Waste of time,” Jonas responded, his voice cracking on the poor connection. “Sun sets in an hour. Circle up to the northern entrance and hit them up on your way back.”

Dropping her head onto the steering wheel for a moment, she kicked herself for calling it in. There was no way she was in any position to see him yet, no way she would be able to play it cool in his presence. Not when the heavy ache in her chest was still making itself known every time her mind drifted to his soft, skilled lips that moved every time he counted the bar till. Or his fascinating blue and hazel eyes that lit up when he’d caught sight of her from across the room. Or the way he always leaned forward in his seat whenever he was talking about some of his favorite movies, almost giddy whenever he realized it was one she had yet to see and they weredefinitely going to have to watch it.

She drove along the paved road, scanning the terrain as she linked up to Max’s radio, cringing when his music crackled through the speaker. “I need a favor.”

“Jonas already radioed in and told me to say no,” Max answered. “What’s the problem?”

She groaned. “I’m pretty sure it’s Alex’s SUV.”

Max turned down his music. “Whoa.”

“Pretty much my thought, too,” she huffed, pulling off the road and squinting into the setting sunlight at a couple posing beside a large rock. “Advise me, king of unattachment.”

*

Alex hefted ajug of water from the back of his SUV and set it beside the small camp stove. “Told you we should’ve grabbed a larger pan,” he said as Bo flipped the two burger patties wedged side-by-side. “It’ll be an hour before we eat at this rate.”

Taking a long drink from his beer, Bo nodded in Ryan’s direction. “Don’t look at me. Blame the streamline junkie over there.”

Ryan placed a lamp on the picnic table, pointedly ignoring Bo. “After we eat, you can lead us through the area the last kills were found,” he said, opening the cooler and pulling out the cheese slices and condiments. “I grabbed a handful of maps at the visitor center that we can use to plot out our runs.”

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