Page 39 of The Map Home
“Other than tired, how do you feel?” There was a stack of books sitting on the rolling table. “Looks like someone dropped off reading material.”
Curtis glanced at the pile. “Dean was by with his new man. And I’m pissed off.”
Tad smirked. “At least you’re alive to complain about it.”
“I suppose,” Curtis grumbled. “What’s going on? Have you found out anything more about that piece of excrement, Peter Kline?”
Opening his bag, Tad pulled out his laptop, and a minute later, he was looking at the notes he’d compiled for Curtis. And the photo he’d taken of Kline and Sweeting together at the tree lighting. Curtis’s business partner possibly had bad taste in men, but could she somehow be involved in the land grab and re-zoning too? Absolutely yes. But, he reminded himself, innocent until proven guilty.
Quickly, he went through the notes, which didn’t seem like much now that he had Curtis as an audience.
“But,” Tad added, “a college friend of mine lives in Cheyenne and works for the state zoning commission. He was surprised to learn about a proposed project. Dan did some digging around, and he wasn’t able to find any approved new construction projects for the plateau. He also couldn’t find a record of the LLC that Kline supposedly formed and wondered if we had his name right. Upon further research, he found a different LLC, DreamDwell, that names P. Kline as a managing member. As far as Dan could tell, there were no others named, so it’s possible that DreamDwell is just a shell protecting a bigger company.”
“Bugger. I don’t like this. Why did this have to happen now?” Curtis growled, scowling at his bandaged leg that was presumably pinned back together with surgical staples and whatnot. “Why couldn’t it have been a regular break and not something that required surgery?”
Ignoring the complaint, Tad said, “It sure seems like Kline is pulling a fast one. He doesn’t have all the environmental okays, so what’s the point of announcing a development?”
“Maybe it’s a bluff,” Curtis said after a second. “Maybe he’s hoping that people aren’t paying attention? Once the damage is done, it’s done.”
“But, say, he does start construction. There’s still the issue of water rights. That’s enough to start a good old-fashioned gun battle right there.”
Curtis looked thoughtful, then said, “Maybe check and see what county records say. Has that land actually changed hands? Didn’t you mention that Waylon and Penny thought it was still in probate?”
“They did. Do. I’ll stop by the county recorder’s office as soon as I can.” Tad packed his laptop back up and stood to go. “I have a lunch shift today at Jake’s, so I need to take off.”
“Ah, what I wouldn’t do for a Jake’s burger and fries right now,” Curtis muttered.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
THIRTEEN
Dakota
“Hey Ben, what’s up?’
“Happy Monday to you too, Dakota.” Ben glanced down at the travel mug Dakota held in his hand and grinned. “Nice mug there.”
“It’s Tad’s.”
Which, technically, wasn’t the truth. Tad had probably found the thing somewhere online and bought it specifically for Dakota. He’d always done stuff like that. When they were younger, Tad would pretend that he’d found five bucks and say, “So here you go, Dakota.” Or claim that Penny had accidentally ordered two senior sweatshirts.Sure, Tad.In two different sizes? Dakota’d never called him on it though. Beggars and choosers and all that. And Dakota was definitely a beggar.
“Suits you though,” Ben said with a knowing gleam in his eyes. “You’ve got to be the most jaded guy I’ve ever met.” He raised a hand before Dakota could speak. “I’d be the same, I figure.”
Dakota wasn’t exactly sure just how much of his past the rest of the deputies knew about, but since Ben was Sheriff Morgan’spartner and JD knew it all, Ben probably did too. It wasn’t a secret; Dakota just didn’t like talking about it.
“Yeah, well.” Dakota shrugged, not sure what else he wanted to say and trying not to project just how off-balance he felt this morning. Talking about his mother abandoning him and then years later discovering how she’d been murdered not long after leaving? Not his favorite topic. But maybe it was better than obsessing about Tad and last night. It was bad enough that he’d agreed to help Tad get a damn tree.
“So. Tad, huh?” Ben asked casually. “He’s a good guy.”
Dakota groaned inwardly because Tadwasa good guy. Too good. All he had to do right now was say something like, “Yeah, me and Tad,” and then confess to Ben how he—Dakota—was inherently unworthy, how he couldn’t make any promises. What if he turned out to be like Ana? What if he couldn’t stick with a relationship and ended up hurting Tad? Maybe Ben had some ideas.
“What’s up this morning?” he said instead. Maybe he should have said no to the tree hunt. He was probably going to have to work late anyway. And, crap, he hadn’t checked his email. Whatever Niall had sent was just sitting there, waiting for him.
Recognizing the question for the avoidance it was, Ben swung back around to his document-littered desk. “Some of the stolen toys were found. We’re going to collect them.”
“What?” Why hadn’t Ben led with that? Who cared about a damn travel mug? “That’s good news, right?” Checking his personal email could wait.
“Mm.” Ben shook his head and stared at his monitor, which chose that moment to sleep. “It’s more of a good news, bad news situation.”
