And as I follow him around the room, I can’t help but think about how hard my heart is thumping against my chest.
Chapter 5
Levi
“Where did you end up going last night?” Dakota asks as the two of us clock in for our shift that night. “I never heard from you again when you responded to whatever was happening at the Laurel Lean-To.”
“Dude.” I take a drink of the Red Bull I bought last night. “If I told you, you wouldn’t even believe it.”
He laughs. “The same thing could be said about me, but I’m asking you where you were.”
Dakota is my best friend, but he’s got a mouth on him. He doesn’t know how to keep a fucking secret, and right now I don’t want him to know that I spent the night with Magnolia Grace. If he finds out, then more than likely my sister will find out, and I’ll never hear the end of it. “I had a difficult reporting party and it took longer than I expected. By the time I was done, it was time to go home. Thanks for making sure that car wasn’t towed. You didn’t run the tag did you?”
“No, I didn’t.” He gives me a side-eye, and he doesn’t believe me. I know he doesn’t, but I’m also not about to tell him what exactly happened, either. I’m about to talk shit to him, but our division director comes in for our nightly meeting and I decide not to say anything.
There are only four of us tonight. We typically run a skeleton crew, especially at night, and sometimes operations happening in the dark are way more dangerous. I watch as the director gives the other two officers on shift their orders, and then turns to us.
“Harrison and Keller.”
“Director Drake.” I stand at attention, tuning everything else out as I wait for him to give us our orders. “Have either of you been briefed on what’s happening out County Road 16?”
We’ve heard rumblings about it. Everyone in the agency has, but no one has been able to find out exactly what the situation is. “No, Sir.”
“Both of you, follow me.”
He heads toward his office, and we tag along. This is the first time either of us have been tapped to do anything that isn’t a normal day at work. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity where I could be used to do the work I know I can. Most of my life I’ve been watching my dad and grandfather, my cousins, and the men I call uncles, saving lives and making sure that Laurel Springs is safe. I’ve wanted to do this since my freshman year of high school. Never even thought of doing anything else. So the fact that Director Drake is asking to speak to us means a lot. When we get into the room, he nods toward two chairs and motions for us to take a seat.
I’m nervous as I sit in front of him, waiting to hear what he’s going to say. But I try to keep my knee from bouncing too hard.
He has a seat, and I listen as intently as possible when he begins to speak.
“We were told about a farm a few weeks ago. It had been for sale for over a year, and it was purchased by what we believed to be a couple who were interested in homesteading. That was six months ago. Neighbors in the area began noticing a lot of activity going on not long after they moved in. Cars and trucks at all hours, they reported crews out there, even overnight. They built barns and pens. For a while they thought that it just had to do with the animals they were keeping for the homestead, but then someone reported that there were white-tail deer out on the property.”
I’m sitting up straighter, and so is Dakota, as we hear what he’s saying.
“Yeah,” Deputy Drake says as he sees us paying even more attention. “It looks like they’ve brought them in from different parts of the US, and they might be breeding. We pulled permits, there are none for a breeding program, and if maybe they’re planning on having a hunting set up, they also haven’t applied for the property licensure.”
He grabs a few pieces of paper, and places them down in front of us. It’s aerial shots of the property, and he’s pointing to where the pens are. “I’d like someone to get up close and personal over there to see what’s going on. There are only so many pictures we can get from above, and they’re tucked deep into the woods.”
“What are you proposing?” Dakota asks, glancing over at me.
The two of you are on nights right now. So for the next week, I’d like for you to do some recon, while it’s dark enough. Next week, I’d like for you to go undercover. You’re two best friends who are looking to get some hunting in, and heard through the grapevine that they might be opening up for group hunts soon.”
This can be dangerous, and we both know it. People who are willing to do things to animals are just as apt to do things to humans. They’ve obviously put a lot of money behind this, and if that’s threatened by anyone, including the authorities, they’ll be willing to fight for it.
“Are you two up for it?”
This is exactly what Dakota and I joined the agency for. We wanted to see action, but in my case I didn’t want my dad and grandpa following me around to make sure I was okay. “I think we’ll do exactly what you need us to do.”
Director Drake nods. “Great, it’s up to the two of you how you get in tonight. Be careful, and make sure that you stay in the dark as much as you can. Once you do your recon, we’ll come up with a scenario to get you in during the day. Y’all be careful.”
“We will,” Dakota says as he jumps up.
“Take yourselves a few minutes and come up with an idea before you even get out there. Once you get there, you can always pivot based on the layout. Just be sure and keep track of everything you’re doing. Take pictures, video, whatever you can get, once you get there.” He nods toward us, shuffling a few papers on his desk. “I have faith in you two. You’re going to do great.”
We’ve been dismissed, but it’s like we can’t move. Finally, we slowly leave the office, and when we do, both of us are wide-eyed. Dakota and I look at one another, both allowing the surprise of Director Drake asking us to do this wash over our faces.
“What the fuck man? Did you have any idea he was going to ask us?” He asks, getting up to walk over to the vending machine.
