“Shadow, we’re hoping you’re a more reasonable man than your father was.No offense, but we’re here about Linda Farmer.”
Vince Pruitt takes over.“I brought the news from Betty to Jake this morning, Mr.Sylva.Linda got sick while visiting the island and now she’s dead.”
Ben pipes up.“Poor Jake didn’t have the heart to come with us, but consider us his envoys.”
Carson Reagan must have walked here from the mechanic shop.He’s still wearing his oil-stained overalls.I’m surprised to see him here.He’s gotten real rich off Midnight Rider business.
“Shit’s gotta stop, Shadow.Your dad should have done something long ago.I can’t get a woman to spend one night with me, let alone think about shacking up.Landslide is starting to get a bad rep.”
Ben nods.“Carson is right!Begging your pardon, Miz Luna, but a man can’t wait for the slim chance of a single lady coming to visit the inn during summer.These long winter nights alone are killing me.At least sort out a satellite connection for us, Goddamn it!”
Luna agrees.Is that a smirk I see?Her hazel eyes are twinkling in the dim lighting.“Yes, sorting out the connectivity is the least you can do, Shadow.Why don’t you try Starlink or get a booster for the nearest cell tower?It’s like living during the dark ages on Landslide.”
Swaggering over to the bar, I lean my elbows against the counter.Darting an amused side look at Rundas, I pretend to take a swig of beer.They won’t notice that it is room temperature with no condensation dripping from the bottle.
“Visitors come here for the unplugged experience, guys.What you are suggesting will jeopardize that.”
Luna tries to reason with me, darting a nervous glance at Ben’s shotgun.
“I know I’m a newbie here, everyone, but I think a grieving family would be the last thing you need.If a visitor gets sick or—God forbid—dies, you could be facing a serious lawsuit.”
Now it is my turn to smirk.“They all have to sign a waiver first.It would be the same as someone trying to sue a national park after they get eaten by a bear...or a wolf.”
Luna’s eyes widen as she gets the analogy.
Jerry is not satisfied.“Something is picking off the womenfolk one poor gal at a time.Satan’s grandfather!Landslide is dying, Shadow!Dying.Whatever is killing our females can follow them to the mainland now.What’s the point of our kin trying to convince people to come and live here once they know that?”
“If you don’t like the deal, Jerry, you’re free to leave.I’ll have another prepper in your house before the snow settles.”
“Yep, Jerry.”Rundas says his piece.“You’re free to go live on the mainland and start paying all those taxes, forking out for all those inflated prices, and trying to duck out from under all that crime…”
A stillness fills the room as I let all that sink in.I think Luna is starting to get the bigger picture of living on Landslide, too.
But Ben isn’t having any of it.“It’s gotten so sparse around here that I can’t even find a soul to look after the farm when I want to go courting on the mainland, Shadow.”
Vince Pruitt joins in.“Yeah!At least get the connectivity sorted out, for the love of God!Percolated!It’s so lonely without a friendly voice at the end of the line or being able to read a text message every now and again.”
“Landslide is a bitter pill to swallow, and it’s likely to stay that way if we can’t get a scientist or medical professional to find out what it is in the water that’s killing all the women.”Carson Reagan shrugs as if he’s stating the obvious.“And what happens if this leaks out?Betty says the doctors are asking her all sorts of questions about Linda’s whereabouts before she passed away, and so on.”
Pointing at Luna like she’s an exhibit in a court case, Theron interrupts.“Tempest’s niece is still alive.”
Artim whispers under his voice low enough so that only the MC can hear it.“Barely.”
Rundas chuckles.“Look, the best we can do is look into the wi-fi.Until then, you’re just going to have to make do with using the satellite phone on Vince’s boat at the marina.As for testing the water, you’ll have to hold off until next spring.”
“There was a radio on Tempest’s boat.You are all welcome to use it,” Luna kindly offers.
Ben rolls his eyes.He’s getting all fired up with frustration.“Oh, that’s ridiculous.Will I also have to tell my date to call me on the right radio frequency?”Shouldering his shotgun, Ben sighs.“Sorry about being curt with you, Miz Luna.Please remind me to check the battery on your aunt’s boat.You might need to use the radio if there's an emergency.”
The men begin to shuffle towards the door.Jaecar is on the ball.I hear him parking the bike outside, and he opens the door holding a can of sweetcorn from Heiner’s general store.
“Y’all leaving already?Aren’t you going to stay for a beer?”Jaecar waves the can of sweetcorn at the four men as they amble back to the truck.
Peeling off from the small group as he stomps back to the garage, Carson Reagan shouts back over his shoulder.
“Another time.Thanks, Mr.Larsson.”
Ben Magoo has the last word.“It’s not even eleven o’ clock in the darn morning yet, fella,” he grumbles under his breath.“Perhaps you should drink less beer and hire more doctors.”
