Page 69 of Shephard

“Hold on now, Denny,” Cane said. He knew I hated when he called me that and was doing it on purpose.

Bastard.

“I suggest you tell your friend to lower his arm, Cane.”

Cane grumbled but threw a look to the guy. “Do what she says. She’s trigger happy.”

I wanted to pistol whip Cane, but resisted. Anger management. I almost laughed. The mystery man finally lowering his arm, but wasn’t happy about it.

“Pepper. Come.” I stood my ground for a few seconds. “You went off the grid, Cane. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I called it in, for God’s sake. A break. I’ve been working since seven this morning.” He made it sound like he’d been breaking his back.

“You called it in?” I lowered and secured my weapon, not trusting the man with the cold eyes in the least. He was staring at me as if I was food.

And he had a permanent sneer on his face.

There was something way off about the guy.

“Well, I texted it to Greg. He messaged me and I assumed to give the okay.”

I laughed. “He doesn’t pay any attention to texts. He was trying to get in touch with you and you’d all but disappeared.” I studied Cane’s friend. The man was completely out of place in his dark clothes and lack of any hiking gear or water for that matter. That meant he had a vehicle on the road leading to the parkway. Another hidden gem, which meant Cane had told him about the trail.

Why did I have a feeling there was more going on here?

“I tried,” Cane whined.

I took three long strides and was within his face. “I am going to recommend you be fired for this little stunt. You put your life, my life, and Pepper’s life in danger.”

“You can’t do that,” he said in a much deeper voice than I was used to.

“Oh, I can and I will.” I turned away from him, Pepper immediately in step as I headed down the trail. The man had performed his last ridiculous antic. He was a dangerous person within the organization and deserved to be canned.

I was almost to the Jeep when I was jerked hard, enough that I was almost dragged to the ground. Cane. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“You’re not going to report this. I did text my time. We still get a lunch, you know.”

When I tried to pull my arm away, he squeezed it until a wash of pain flashed all the way to my shoulder. “I suggest you fucking let me go, Cane.”

He suddenly realized what he was doing, immediately letting me go. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

It was the first sincere thing he’d said in a long time. Something was bothering him and I think it had Mr. Cold written all over it. “What was so important you dropped off?”

“You wouldn’t get it.”

“Try me.”

Cane shook his head. “He’s family. Okay? He’s been bugging the fuck out of me to lend him money and I fell into that well twice. I’m not going there again.”

I just glared at him. What did he want me to say?

“He’s in trouble. He always is. Anyway, he won’t be bothering me again. Just let it go, okay? We all have our crosses to bear.” He didn’t wait for me to give him an answer. He strutted to his park ranger Jeep and climbed in.

It was a reminder the Wrangler I was supposed to get from the county had yet to arrive. Months. Months I’d been waiting. I watched him drive off then turned to face the other direction.

Why did I have a bad feeling about Mr. Cold?

Something told me he was watching.