Page 38 of Last Witch Attempt
“What if she doesn’t?”
I made a face. “Since when are you the optimist?”
“I’m not optimistic. I can tell by the look on your face that we have more to worry about than just the Feds.”
I bounced Calvin on my knee as I geared up to tell them the rest. “The victims were from the Detroit area. Supposedly they were up here camping.”
“Why do you say ‘supposedly’ like that?” Clove asked.
“It’s early in the season,” I replied. “There’s not much to hunt this time of year.”
“So, they weren’t hunting,” Thistle said.
“They could’ve been hunting morels,” I said, “but it’s early for that.”
“Morels won’t be popping hardcore for three weeks,” Thistle agreed. “By the way, we’re going morel hunting this year. I want to freeze some to get through the winter, and that means I need a big haul. Our Moms will want enough for at least two dinners, too.”
I made a face. “I hate morel hunting.”
“That’s because you can’t see them,” Clove said. “They’re yummy.”
“I don’t mind eating them. They’re not my favorite, but they’re fine.”
“Well, we’re going.” There was no give to Thistle’s tone. “Go back to the dead guys. Why do you think it’s out of the realm of possibility that they were camping?”
“It’s not warm enough to have fun camping yet.”
“You can’t have fun camping regardless of the weather,” Clove sniffed. “Maybe they were trying to save money. Sometimes the snowmobile routes last into April.”
“The snow is gone early this year. There are no trails.”
“Maybe they couldn’t get their deposit back and decided to come up here and drink for a week.”
“I’m trying to figure out why they were targeted. It’s possible they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but that doesn’t feel right.”
Thistle and Clove were silent, letting me finish.
“This morning, when I was outside with Winchester, I found the same print we saw near the bodies.”
“I didn’t know you found prints.” Thistle straightened. “I’m guessing they weren’t human.”
“They kind of looked human. The toes are too long, though, and the feet were bare.”
“Well, it’s too cold—especially at night—for a human to be walking around without shoes.”
I nodded. “I was thinking that myself. Whatever it was positioned itself to stare into our bedroom.”
“Creepy,” Clove muttered.
“Steve and Spencer are staying at the inn. They decided it was smarter to be close to the action.”
“Ugh.” Thistle wrinkled her nose. “‘The Man’ is invading.”
“They’re not the ones we need to worry about. Cam, Hodgins, and Patrice are bigger threats. I don’t believe they’re staying intown—at least not yet—but I expect them to stop in regularly and poke their noses into our business.”
“You don’t like Cam,” Thistle noted.
“I don’t trust her.”
