Page 23 of Sins of the Fathers
Sheriff Rollins gave a curt nod, seeming to accept Knox’s account. He pulled a photo from his jacket pocket. “Last question.” He gave a pointed look at Denny. “Do you recognize this woman?”
He passed the photo to Grady, who held it for Knox. Knox squinted at the picture for a minute, studying the face, then shook his head.
“No. Not familiar at all. Who is she?”
Grady returned the picture, and Rollins pocketed it again. “We think she’s the woman who impersonated a nurse and purposely gave you the wrong medication. She’s an HDF supporter who seems to have gone on a long, sudden vacation without leaving a forwarding address,” he added in a dry tone.
“Thank you for stopping in.” Denny made it clear from his voice and body language that the interview was at an end. “Any chance those dead coyote shifters were killed by HDF folks?”
Rollins’s eyes narrowed. “You know I can’t comment on other investigations. And since you Kings have a lot on your plate, I’d suggest you leave the law to my deputies and me. Even if you do have a couple of friendly feds.”
“Just being helpful, Sheriff,” Denny replied with a twitch of a smile. “Let us know how we can help.”
Rollins muttered something under his breath Dawson didn’t quite catch and left. Colt eyed the door for a moment and then turned to them after Knox settled back in bed.
“While Knox was sleeping, I went over the room carefully,” Colt said. “He’s had nightmares. Maybe that’s not a surprise after everything that happened, but I figured it pays to be careful. So I did a perimeter warding and a cleansing ritual, and when I went poking into every corner, I found a hex bag.”
“Where is it?” Denny demanded, immediately concerned.
Colt shrugged. “I took a picture of it and then went outside to the smoking area and burned it. No telling how long it’s been in the room, but I’m gonna bet someone left it for Knox. He hasn’t had any nightmares since then.”
He bent down and kissed Knox on the forehead. Knox smiled at him with more happiness than Dawson had seen on his face in a long time. Colt was good for Knox, and Dawson was glad they had found each other.
“Great. Now we’ve got witches involved,” Denny muttered.
Grady shrugged. “Is it really a surprise? The HDF and the SPS probably both have witches on speed dial. I wonder if the feds have gotten more information since I don’t think we’re going to get a peep out of Rollins.”
Dawson sighed. “I’ll let the hardware store and the body shop know we’ll be out for a couple more days. And after that hex bag, we need to make sure someone’s with Knox at all times until we can move him home.”
“I’ve got the doctor working up discharge papers,” Denny replied. “That hex bag nonsense is the icing on the cake. Knox and Colt are safer at my place. Y’all can come too if you want. We’ll hunker down and ward up.”
“We’ll keep digging and try to find out who’s responsible so we can all go back to normal—well, ‘King normal’ anyhow,” Dawson replied with a crooked smile.
Within the hour, Knox was in a wheelchair heading for the door. Colt pushed the chair, Dawson and Grady flanked him, and Denny led the way. They didn’t draw their weapons, but everyone in town knew that the Kings hunted monsters and didn’t do it barehanded.
To Dawson’s relief, they got Knox and Colt into Denny’s truck without incident. Dawson and Grady followed them home and stayed until Knox got settled.
“We’re going to swing by the body shop and make sure everything’s in order, up the wardings just in case, and then head home and do some research,” Dawson said when they declined Denny’s offer to stay for dinner. “There’s got to be something that ties all this together.”
Concern flickered in Denny’s eyes. “Maybe this is one time you oughta leave it to the feds.”
Dawson wanted to ask about links to the deaths of Grady’s dad and granddad as well as his own father, but the time wasn’t right.Let’s get Knox safe. Then we need to talk.
“Nah. Can’t let them have all the fun,” Dawson countered with a smile he didn’t feel. “We’ll call to check in later tonight. Sooner if we find a hot lead.”
He and Grady were quiet on the ride back to their house. “I hope you didn’t mind,” Dawson said. “I just needed some time for us alone, after everything. Even if we spend it researching the case.”
Grady reached over and put a hand on Dawson’s thigh. “Knowing Knox is safer at Denny’s takes a big weight off my shoulders. But I’m happy to have ‘us’ time before things get crazy again.”
“How about I put that frozen chicken tetrazzini in the oven and make a salad, and you can tell me all about the honeymoon trip ideas you’ve got in that folder on your laptop?” Dawson joked.
“You weren’t supposed to look in there!” Grady blushed.
“It wasn’t marked ‘secret.’ Or weren’t you planning on taking me with you?” Dawson teased, loving Grady’s reaction.
“Of course you’recomingwith me,” Grady replied. “But that folder’s just a bunch of random things—probably mostly trash.”
Dawson shrugged. “After all the serious stuff, I might like to look at ‘trash’ as long as I’m with you. I’ve got some other ideas for honeymoon trip activities we can try out later.” He waggled his eyebrows with exaggerated lechery and felt rewarded by Grady’s laugh.
