Part 46 (1/2)

David grinned. ”Simpson and Baker left it behind for me, actually. They'd been using my truck for some of their backwoods tracking so they felt bad about what happened to it.”

Joey frowned. ”That's a bit like sleeping with the enemy, don't you think?”

”They're not the enemy,” David said. ”They have a job to do like everyone else in the world. They're simply looking for a little cooperation, is all. And I suggest we give it to them.”

”Suggest all you want,” Jenny said. ”But I'm not cooperating with those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds at any point in the near future.”

David smiled. ”Not even if I asked you nicely?”

”Not even,” she said, grinning.

David sighed. ”All right, then. Climb in, everyone. Let's get going. It'll be a slower ride in the dark as it is.”

Annja took a look at the sky. Unlike the previous night, there didn't seem to be any clouds looming overhead, ready to open up on them at any second. Instead, pinpoints of light dotted the heavens in every direction, producing quite a bit of ambient light. It's really beautiful here, she thought.

”Annja, you ready?”

She looked back at Jenny, who was already in the backseat. ”Sorry. Just got caught up looking at the sky.”

Annja belted herself in as David threw the truck into gear and rolled quietly out of the back lot. Gravel crunched underneath the tires as they hit the asphalt. David steered them onto the main road and then drove out of town.

”You're not taking us back to where we nearly died this morning, are you?” Annja asked. ”I really hate revisiting the scene of near tragedies.”

”Not at all, but we do roll past there. We're going to my home up in the mountains. It won't take us much more than ten minutes to get there. We can eat, then I'll show you the evidence I have that proves that big foot exists.”

”I prefer you call him Sasquatch,” Joey said. ”It's a Native American thing.”

”Sorry.”

Joey shrugged. ”Forget it. So what is it you have, anyway? A plaster cast of a footprint?”

David shook his head. ”I'm not telling. Not yet, at least.”

Jenny elbowed Annja. ”I'm getting bored with this teasing bit.”

”So am I.”

Joey kept guessing. ”Piles of old p.o.o.p?”

David laughed. ”You'll have to be patient.”

Joey leaned back into the seat and sighed. ”Well, what's for dinner, then? Can you at least tell us that?”

”Sure. Barbecued chicken and potato salad. You guys okay with that? I've got the grill out and can get it fired up in no time.”

”It's a little dark to be grilling, don't you think?” Jenny said.

David shook his head. ”Porch lights will help. Besides, we'll need them on for later.”

Annja looked at Jenny. Why would they need porch lights? That didn't make any sense, unless what David had to show them was outside. But what could he possibly have as evidence that had to be kept outside?