Page 20 of Flesh and Fury
“Yeah, I’m not so sure about that,” Eoghan said. “Garcia was pretty plowed when he fought with us. Regardless of how quickly werewolves metabolize alcohol, the accident probably could have been avoided if he were fully sober. Maybe he didn’t see the semi or was just slow to react. Perhaps he cut it off. Or the driver of the truck ran from the scene because he was carrying something he shouldn’t have been. Under the influence maybe. I’ve heard of long haulers taking uppers to stay awake on the road. Who knows. Maybe it was totally unintentional or maybe it was something worse.”
“That’s a whole lot of maybes there,” Carly said. “It’s more likely that Alvin Walters decided to take out Garcia instead of going to war with him. Perhaps he wasn’t being honest when he said he’d sit down with Garcia once he sobered up. You said he was pissed when you talked to him last night. How pissed? Do you think he was serious?” She looked back and forth between the two of them.
Ari exchanged a glance with Eoghan who nodded.
“Yeah, I think so,” Eoghan said. “Garcia kidnapped Walters’ youngest grandson, then tried to convince or shame or threaten Edward into doing the right thing. What reason could Alvin Walters possibly have for deliberately trying to kill Oscar Garcia? I mean Garcia is…was an asshole.” Eoghan looked over at him. “My partner and Ibothheard the way he talked to Carmen and Edward. We didn’t know who they were at the time, but we heard the exchange. Yes, he was a total asshole, but I don’t think he met with them in Walters’ establishment to try to start a war. The two men were close…at one time at least. I think Garcia’s decision to meet at the brewery was no accident. Perhaps he thought if he couldn’t convince Edward to marry his granddaughter, he’d move on to try to convince Alvin to put pressure on him.”
“By being up in his face?” Chastain asked.
“Who knows?” Ari said. “In any case, now we have to try to hold this peace together, right, Chief?”
“You got that right,” Washington said. He looked up and smiled when he saw their waitress arriving with the food and they all dove on their breakfasts, ceasing conversation for a while.
Ari admitted the biscuits were good even though the gravy couldn’t hold a candle to his mama’s. He finished off his chicken fried steak with relish while watching Eoghan with his bowl of chocolate granola and pistachio milk, knowing heshould have ordered that. There’d be hell to pay when he wanted a long nap later, but for now, it was all good.
After Washington finished his toast and eggs, he pulled out his phone and called Alvin Walters. He arranged a meeting with him in Hawthorne at six that evening, telling him he’d be expecting Edward to be there with his favorable acceptance of the marriage between his grandson and Carmen Garcia. All of this…to avoid a war no one wanted. Ari figured this was a nice way of reminding him what he’d promised to do the night before. Clearly, talking with Garcia was impossible, but perhaps Alvin would come back to the table and talk with the Alpha’s family. When he hung up, he smiled.
“Well, that went better’n I’d hoped it would. At least he’s gonna talk,” Washington said. “Let’s hope Garcia’s family thinks the same.” He scrolled through his phone.
“I think we’d better hope their new Alpha thinks so,” Eoghan said.
Washington looked up, looking momentarily at a loss for words. “Well, yes, that’s true. Hopefully, they’ve got a new decision maker by now.”
“And if they don’t?” Ari asked. “I can’t imagine the Garcia family wanting to do anything to move the peace along while they’re grieving. They may even side with Carmen if they’re suspicious of Alvin and hold him responsible for Oscar’s death.”
“We’ve got to get someone from Hawthorne to the table tonight,” Washington said. “I’ve already got Alvin coming and he’s not going to like it much if no one from the other family is there to talk. He’s making a big gesture by havin’ the talk on Hawthorne Pack lands. I really hope they pay him honors.”
“Let’s hope it’s honors they pay him with, and not fangs and claws,” Carly said behind her coffee cup.
The chief side-eyed her. “Let’s hope so, darlin’.” He looked back at his phone and pressed a button, then put the call on speaker. It rang a few times before a young woman answered.
“Hello?”
“Hello, is this Carmen Garcia?”
“Yes, who’s this?”
“Sorry to bother you, ma’am, but this is Deputy Chief Marshal Washington from the I.S.R. in Nevada. I’m callin’ to express my condolences and check in on you. Were you injured last night, ma’am?”
“No, baby and I were lucky.” Her voice caught.
“I’m glad to hear it. Now, I know you’re goin’ through a tough time, ma’am, and I hate to be bothersome, but can I ask a favor. I’d like to invite you and your new Alpha to meet with me, my marshals, and Alpha Alvin Walters from Bishop this evenin’ there in Hawthorne.”
“You want to meet with us to discuss my marriage to Edward, I suppose,” she said. Before he could answer, she said, “That’s fine. We’ll meet you. Where?”
“Thank you, ma’am. I told Mr. Walters we should meet at the El Capitan Diner. Do you know where that is?”
She snorted. “Hawthorne is a one-horse town, Deputy Chief. Of course, I know where it is. There are only about five restaurants in the whole town. I gotta tell you, the food’s not great. What time should I be there?”
“I’m not expecting five-star dining, ma’am, and we’re meetin’ at six.”
“I’ll be there with my bro—with my new Alpha at six, Deputy Chief. Thank you for calling.”
“You’re welcome and I hope you’ll pass on my deepest condolences to your whole family.”
“I will. Thank you. See you this evening.”
The phone disconnected, and Washington looked up. “Well, that’s steps one and two. Hopefully, we’ll be able to accomplish all that we need to at the meetin’.”