Page 35 of Silent Bones
Headphones on. Round, flushed face. Bald dome.
“You?”
The man blinked, then broke into a grin. “Well, if it isn’t Officer Friendly. Didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
Ed, standing by the makeshift bar, turned. “You two know each other?”
“We… crossed paths,” Noah muttered.
“Out in the field,” the man added helpfully, pulling the headphones down around his neck.
“Miles Banning. Podcaster. Cryptid enthusiast. Right?”
“So you do know him,” Ed added.
“Unfortunately,” Noah replied.
“We were just recording a new episode.”
“You should’ve warned me,” Noah said to Ed. “I wouldn’t have come over.”
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Ed said with a shrug. “You need something?”
“Just heading out. Thought I’d check in.”
“Oh, shoot, you can’t stay?” Miles asked. He leaned forward, tapping the mic. “We’re live. And I know our listeners would love to hear directly from the man who saw the site. You werethere, right? The Saranac Slayings? What did it look like? Gory? Grisly? Anything… unnatural?”
Noah gave him a look. “I’m not doing this.”
“Censorship,” Miles said, spinning toward the mic. “You heard it here first, folks. The cover-up is real. Remember that. They don’t want you to know what’s out there. But we’re here. And we’ll find the truth.”
Ed rolled his eyes. “Take a break, would you?”
Miles grinned. “We’ll be back in five. Just off to knock a few trees. Don’t go anywhere.” He hit the mute button on his setup.
He followed Noah and Ed out to the main living space, still glowing faintly with the light from the monitors behind them.
“Going somewhere nice?” Ed asked.
“Dinner,” Noah said. “With Natalie Ashford.”
Miles perked up. “Ashford? As in the daughter of Luther Ashford? That sexy little thing from theAdirondack Daily Enterprise?”
Ed chuckled. “The one and only.”
Noah didn’t answer.
Miles kept going. “She’s got a look, that one. Dangerous and expensive. You sure she’s not part of all this?”
Noah stared at him. “I’m heading out.”
“Well, before you go, are you coming to Whitehall?”
Noah paused. “What?”
“The Whitehall Sasquatch Festival. Happens every year. Ed here’s entering the Sasquatch Calling Contest again. Defending champ. You can’t miss that.”
“I’ll pass.”
