Part 45 (1/2)
”The plan is to find David and see exactly what it is he has to show you. May as well see the reason for him dragging you out here and then you dragging me out here.”
”What's he got?” Joey asked.
”Supposedly, evidence of the Sasquatch,” Annja said.
”Is that so?” Joey chuckled. ”This ought to be good.”
Jenny glanced at him. ”You don't believe him?”
Joey shook his head. ”Never said that. A lot of people have thought they've found evidence over the years. As long as I've been around I've heard stories about people who claim to have found tracks and hairs and even scat. Nothing ever pans out as being authentic.”
”Well, maybe David found something real this time,” Jenny said defensively.
”Maybe he did,” Joey said. ”And if so, then good for him. I just hope it doesn't provoke an onslaught into this town and to these woods. I've sort of adopted them as my own and that makes me something of a caretaker.”
”Did your grandfather teach you that, too?” Annja asked.
Joey nodded. ”All woodlands are sacred. The flow of life continues even in the face of death. Cheehawk's spirit now roams those same woods as he did in life. The cycle always continues.”
”And as a caretaker you do what?”
”I make sure nothing upsets the balance and harmony of the place. It's my job to ensure nothing threatens the creatures that live there.”
They stopped outside the police station. Annja looked at Jenny. ”You okay with doing this?”
”Why wouldn't I be?”
Annja shrugged. ”What we talked about earlier. David's reaction to you. That kind of thing.”
Jenny frowned. ”He just doesn't realize how great I am yet. The trick is to make him see.”
”I suggest subtlety,” Annja said. ”Don't be so overt about it.”
”I can be subtle,” Jenny said, and she marched up the steps into the office.
Annja glanced at Joey. ”She's never been subtle.”
Joey smirked. ”Now there's something I never would have guessed.”
Inside, Jenny was already deep in conversation with David, who sat on the bench outside his office drinking a cup of coffee. Annja studied him and found it tough to imagine that he was anything like how Sheila had described him.
Glancing at Ellen, who laughed from time to time as the flow of conversation slowly progressed, Annja doubted that she was in any way distressed by her boss. Like Joey had warned her, Sheila might have been a few sandwiches shy of a picnic. She was a great hostess, but still a bit crazy.
David called out to her. ”Jenny tells me you guys found the hotel okay.”
Annja nodded. ”Nothing like a hot bath and a nap to make you feel almost human again.”
”I'll bet.” David got up and washed his coffee mug in the sink.