Page 11 of Anders
And underneath it all, that strange wild scent that had been haunting her since she’d arrived in town.
She rubbed her temples, trying to ward off the headache threatening to build behind her eyes.
Her head snapped up at the sound of a car door slamming, though the vehicle must have been at least a block away.She’d always had good hearing, but this was ridiculous.Maybe she needed to get her ears checked.
Everything felt heightened here—smells, sounds, even the quality of light seemed different, more intense.She blamed the altitude, the desert air, anything that might explain why her senses were suddenly operating in overdrive.
The newspaper office sat between a vacant storefront and what appeared to be some kind of community center, though she didn’t see anyone going in or out.The faded lettering on the window readSunburst Heraldin peeling gold paint.
Her key stuck slightly in the lock before turning with a protesting screech.
The smell of dust and abandonment washed over her as she pushed open the door.Old papers were scattered across desks, some yellowed with age.Filing cabinets lined one wall, and a partition separated what had probably been the editor’s office from the main workspace.
Etta’s nose twitched.Beneath the musty smell of neglect, she caught something else—something that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.She shook off the sensation.
Just nerves about the new job.
Or so she told herself.
She moved through the space, noting sight lines through the windows, mapping exit routes, cataloging the occasional people passing by outside.
Most seemed to be heading toward either the diner or the small grocery store at the end of the block.A pair of handsome, sandy-haired identical twins caught her eye as they walked past, their movements oddly synchronized.
Local color, she thought, already composing potential stories in her head.Small-town characters, daily routines.
But another part of her mind was making different observations: how the twins moved with unselfconscious grace, how they positioned themselves to maintain clear views of their surroundings, how the other pedestrians unconsciously gave them a wide berth.
The first filing cabinet she opened released a cloud of dust that made her sneeze.Inside, folders were meticulously labeled by year and topic.She pulled out a handful, scanning headlines about town council meetings, school events, local sports.
Nothing particularly newsworthy—until she hit a gap in the coverage.Three months of missing issues in 2021, with no explanation.She made a mental note to look into it later.
By noon, she had sorted through half the filing cabinets and created neat piles:read first,keep,recycle, andneeds further investigation.
Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since the protein bar she’d had for breakfast.
The Desert Sunrise seemed as good a place as any for lunch.
As she locked up, she noticed how foot traffic had shifted—fewer people on the streets now but more cars.
As she walked down the sidewalk, she noted the afternoon wind was picking up, carrying new scents: ozone from an approaching storm, hot metal from sunbaked cars, and again that wild, unidentifiable smell.
The diner’s bell chimed as she entered.Sarah glanced up from behind the counter and smiled, though Etta noticed how the waitress’s gaze swept over her assessingly before the smile appeared.
Welcome back,Sarah said.How’s the office?
Dusty,Etta said, sliding onto a stool.But salvageable.The filing system is actually pretty impressive, once you get past the cobwebs.
Nick emerged from the kitchen, and Etta had to suppress a sudden urge to maintain eye contact with him, to show she wasn’t intimidated by his presence.Which was absurd—he was just a local business owner, albeit an unusually intense one.
Finding everything you need?he asked, his tone casual but his posture alert.
More or less.Etta accepted the menu Sarah offered.Though, I’ll need to start setting up interviews soon, get a feel for the community.
Sarah and Nick exchanged one of those loaded glances she was starting to recognize as characteristic of them.
You should talk to some of our community leaders,Sarah suggested.Malcolm Crawford and Larissa Ortega head up the ranchers’ association—they could give you good background on local issues.
And Anders Hamilton,Nick added.He handles security for several of the larger properties.Good source for any stories about the area.
