Part 7 (1/2)
”Maybe he just hates racc.o.o.ns.”
Her jaw fell slack. ”You know that's not it.”
”Tia, let me do my job. We're searching this area for evidence.”
”Found any?”
”Not much. But sooner or later he'll make a mistake.”
”What if it's later?”
He understood her concern. But he was not going to put the town in a panic if it was some sick prank. ”If I see people alone I'll caution them, as I did you. Not that it mattered.”
”People need to know why.”
”Some people just listen.” She had no idea how complicated an investigation was. What did she think, he could hang a flier and the guy would turn himself in?
”You might try it yourself sometime.” She shook her head and started back down the trail.
He jammed his hands in his pockets and left Moser to bury the carnage.
From the bench seat encircling an aspen cl.u.s.ter, Piper watched Tia coming down the trail. She had a mountaineer's physique, toned and slender, sinewy, her tanned legs muscular in cargo shorts and hiking boots. She was not breathing hard, but, by the flush of her face and the set of her jaw, something was wrong.
Piper clutched the paperback to her chest. ”What happened?”
”I'll tell you, but let's go inside.”
Piper scooped a leaf off the ground and used it as a bookmark, tucked the paperback under her arm, and followed Tia. ”Did you see the eagles?”
”I saw something else.” Tia leaned the walking stick into the corner of the mud room. ”Two racc.o.o.ns. Jonah said they'd been sewn together, but they had torn themselves apart. It was awful.”
”What did he mean sewn?”
”Surgically. Legs removed and organs joined together.”
Piper recoiled. ”That must be what I saw.”
”When?” Tia hung her jacket on the hook.
”The day I met the chief. On our path. I thought it was a dead animal. That was the night he warned you not to be out. Remember?”
Tia slumped. ”I didn't know it was right on our path.”
”Does he know who did it?”
”I don't think he has a clue.”
”Maybe we can help. Ask around.” She followed Tia to the parlor, flopped onto the settee beside her. ”If we get people talking-”
”Jonah doesn't want whoever it is getting attention.”
”But someone might know. People brag. They tell me all kinds of stuff.”
Tia slid her a look. ”So I've seen.”
”I can use that. To investigate.”
”Jonah won't like it.”
”He doesn't have to know until we have something to tell him.”
”Piper, this isn't a game.” Tia pressed the skin between her brows as though staving off a headache. ”Those creatures suffered.”
”I know. That's why I want to help.”
Tia shook her head. ”Trust me; this isn't the way to get his attention.”
”What?”
”Don't think I haven't noticed.”
Piper blinked. ”He's cute, don't get me wrong.” Piper drew up her knees and settled into the corner of the settee. ”But he's not interested in me.”
”Then he's the only man alive who's not.” The corners of Tia's mouth pulled up.
”Guys here are just starved for someone new.”
”You think in a year or two you'll be old news?”
”A year or two? What would that even be like?”
”What do you mean?” Tia turned.
”I've never been anywhere a whole year.”
”Why not?”
She shrugged a shoulder. ”We were sort of like ... gypsies.”
”Gypsies are not tall, blond Barbie-doll people. You look like you had the all-American family.”
”I do?” She had made friends in most of the different schools, but she'd never thought she looked settled.
”How come you moved so much?”
”Let's just say my family couldn't do their thing for long in any one place.”
”What thing?”
Out of nowhere, tears brimmed her eyes. She hadn't realized the shame was still so close.