“The foot traffic’s fantastic since the council makes folks park outside the market area.I’ll talk to Tamsin, but it’d be great not to worry about having a stall every market day.The organizer keeps coming up with new excuses to give our spot away.”
“That woman is difficult on a good day,” Tony said.
Liam unpacked their stock and sold several mugs.He made a mental note to have Hedrek design a special one, featuring a village scene and possibly the village name.Given the Bodmin Beast buzz, a design depicting a black cat might sell well.He and Tamsin had noticed the local paper headlines when they’d trundled past the bookstore.
Tamsin arrived half an hour later, fists clenched.“It feels like someone’s trying to destroy us, and this woman is just another tool, using her petty power to twist the knife.The locals know we depend on this income.”
“You’re entitled to your frustration, but good news.Tony confirmed his offer to share his site.All we’ll need to do is pay half the cost.”
Tamsin brightened.“Tony, you’ll let us sell from your site?”
“I will.Keep bringing your mugs, and we’ll both benefit.”
Tamsin beamed and extended her hand.“It’s a deal.How much do we owe you?”
While Tamsin and Tony discussed business, Liam sold two more mugs and gave change.
“Have you seen the Bodmin Beast?”A teenage girl with a perky ponytail leaned across the counter.
“No, but the hunters are taking it seriously,” Liam said.“Three professionals with high-tech equipment.”
“I heard a billionaire is funding the whole thing,” Tony added, joining the conversation.“Edwin Smith.Read it in the paper this morning.”
Liam went still.A billionaire.That explained the professional hunters, the month-long timeline, and the sophisticated equipment.“What would a billionaire want with a myth?”
“Maybe he collects rare animals,” the girl suggested.“Think about it—if the Beast is real, it would be priceless to the right buyer.”
The woman beside her nodded.“Rich people collect all sorts of things.Art, artifacts, so why not legendary creatures?”
After the customers left, Liam pulled Tony aside.“This Edwin Smith—what else did the article say?”
“Just that he’s funding a scientific expedition to document wildlife on Bodmin Moor.But between you and me…” Tony glanced around and lowered his voice.“Those men don’t look like scientists.”
Later That Night
“Edwin Smith.”Liam paced the small kitchen while Sienna took notes.“We need everything we can find on him.Business interests, properties, any connection to exotic animal collecting.”
“The library has internet.I can research during my lunch breaks,” Sienna said.
“I’ll ask around the village,” Tamsin offered.“See if anyone knows more about what the paper said.”
“And we need to warn the others,” Liam said.“If this man collects animals, he’s not here to prove or disprove a myth.He’s here to capture one.”
Sienna tapped her pen on her notepad.“How do we warn Papa without leading the hunters straight to them?”
Liam’s jaw tightened.“Carefully.If Smith’s people are half as professional as they seem, they’ll be watching us.”
Chapter 9
Theknockatthedoor last night had rattled them, leaving everyone jumpy, ears tuned for any unusual sound.Still, Liam’s quick thinking—rumpled hair, unbuttoned shirt, the illusion of interrupted intimacy—had been convincing enough to send the hunters away.Sienna couldn’t stop thinking about how easily he’d played the role of her lover.How natural it had looked when it was anything but.
“I keep expecting another rude interruption,” she said, focusing on drying dishes.“That was good acting last night.”
“Was it?”His voice was closer than she’d expected.
She turned to find him watching her, his expression unreadable.
“This isn’t working.”
