afe got out of his sheriff’s vehicle and approached the shiny silver Airstream trailer parked overlooking the water, the lone vehicle parked up here.So far, life as the sheriff of Skeleton Island had been way more eventful than he’d bargained for.
He loved a challenge.Had always liked to stay busy.But it felt like he’d just found the end of a long piece of yarn, and every time he pulled on it, it kept unraveling.
An American flag hung alongside a Marine Corps flag from the side of the trailer.He knocked on the door.Earl opened it a moment later wearing his trademark Marine Corps ballcap, shirt tucked neatly into his belt, gray beard trimmed, eyes bright.
“Sheriff.Can I help you with something?”
“I’m hoping so.Mind if I come in for a few minutes?”
“Not at all.”He stepped aside for him.“Can I get you anything?”
“Appreciate the offer, but no thanks.”The inside was small and as tidy and organized as he had imagined.“I’ve never been in an Airstream before.”
“No?Best home on wheels you can buy.I bought this baby brand new in ninety-eight, and she’s still in perfect condition.”
“I can see you’ve taken good care of her.”He leaned against the galley countertop and folded his arms.“Earl, you know anything about a local militia here on the island?”
“That it’s forbidden under our state constitution.”
“Yeah, aside from that.Humor me.”
Earl lifted a shoulder.“I’ve heard certain things over the years.Why?”
“I thought I knew a lot about the island—until I became sheriff.”
Earl chuckled.“That’s to be expected.Skelly loves to keep her secrets hidden.Takes years to get to know her properly.”
Yeah, something told him Earl knew plenty of things happening here on the island that he hadn’t told anyone about.Maybe he figured everyone else was on a need to know basis, especially newcomers.Even if one of them was the sheriff.“What can you tell me about them?Hypothetically speaking, of course,” he added.
Earl took a can of Arnold Palmer lemonade tea from the fridge and popped it open.“Story goes, it all started off small just under a decade ago.Some preppers decided to band together and make a more formal organization under the guise of forming a gun club.They tried to recruit me at one point, but I wasn’t interested.Didn’t amount to much until about a year or so ago.Then it got a big bump in membership.”
“How big?”
Earl shrugged.“Upwards of one-fifty, give or take.”
That was...a lot bigger than Rafe had expected on an island like this.How had he never been briefed on this before?He should have known about it.“Are they well organized?”
“No idea.”
Rafe wasn’t so sure about that.“What about equipment?”
“Not really sure, but I’d bet they have a decent amount.I mean, they’re officially a gun club.”
Right.“What’s their goal?”
“The usual stuff.Home defense.Protecting the island and her citizens, other home guard stuff.”
“Are they anti-government?”
Earl’s mouth twisted in a smirk.“Most unsanctioned militias are.”
Yeah, that didn’t make him feel any better about this situation.“I need to talk to someone on the inside about an investigation I’m working on.Can you give me a name?”
Earl hesitated for just a fraction of a second too long before answering.“Darren Lassiter’s one of the club organizers.He and his wife live in a new development over near the golf course.”
“Thanks, Earl.You’ve been a big help.”
“Happy to be of service, Sheriff.You know I’m all about helping keep Skelly safe.”
