“It’s going. Luckily I don’t have much to do, so it’s manageable, all in all. Emil’s been a great help. He thinks about things I don’t and makes sure I have it easy.” He smiled at the thought, and Kalle gave him a fond look when he noticed.
“So, I think the plastic is thick enough that if we’re really careful, we could put hinges here. What do you think?” he said without commenting on Makai’s expression.
Makai went to examine the situation, happy for the change of subject.
THEY MANAGEDto get the pen assembled in a way that was perfect for their needs. The door was left inside like Kalle had suggested, so as soon as they were done, they just left it open.
Kalle sat on the stairs with one of the chicken wraps Emil had made, and eventually the kittens managed to get past him, despite being shy for a moment at first.
Makai sat in the grass, and Emil came to join him with their food and drinks.
“You know you gotta help me up, right?” Makai asked, and Emil shrugged.
“Yep. Might have to utilize Dad’s help, though, getting all that vertical again,” he said casually, making both Makai and Kalle laugh.
Makai’s lungs decided laughing wasn’t a great thing after the moving around he’d done, and he coughed for a while before he could start eating.
The kittens and Mouse were all ecstatic. Mouse seemed to be content inside the pen, overseeing her babies play, and if Kalle fed her some sneaky bits of chicken, she certainly didn’t complain.
“Your mom is so into these critters it’s ridiculous. I think I can see the point, though.” Kalle watched the kittens play and wrestle on the grass. “Do you have homes for them yet?”
“One. Joie gets to pick the first one, but other than that, no.” Makai took a sip of his coffee while Emil held his wrap for him.
“I was thinking you could take photos of them, Emil. Maybe put them up at the diner or Doc Donovan’s?” Kalle reached out to scoop Spike into his hands and placed the kitten on his shoulder, then proceeded to laugh when it sniffed at his ear.
“That’s actually a really good idea. You think Leah would let me?”
Makai could tell Emil was already thinking about the photos he was going to take, and smiled into his wrap.
“Oh yeah, make them big and put in an info text, and she’ll put them on the counter, even. Right now, most of the town would do anything for Makai, so might as well use it to get these ones good homes.”
Makai felt awkward about the attention and the gratefulness of the town, but he’d started to accept that it was what it was.
“Okay, I’ll ask her when we go there next.” Emil winced when one of the kittens tried to climb up his back.
Kalle coughed in a way that signaled he had something on his mind. Makai looked at him, and saw the uncomfortable expression on his face.
“So, there’s another reason than just hanging out with you two bringing me here,” Kalle started and scratched Spike under his little orange chin. Makai realized whatever it was, the man was a bit nervous to talk about it. “The investigation is going fine, there shouldn’t be any repercussions for you at all,” he said at first in a tone that implied that he’d known that would be the first thing Makai’s mind would go to.
“Okay,” Makai said and swallowed hard.
“Your phone number is unlisted, so I’ve been handling some calls that were meant for you because I was the obvious person to call, being the sheriff and all.” Kalle looked at him and Emil and frowned. “There are some journalists that want to write about what happened.”
“What?” Emil sounded disbelieving. “How does that—wait.” He held out a hand. “Is this because what happened to me and Makai’s own past stuff? And now they’re interested in talking about him again?”
“Yeah, pretty much. It’s not common for a town this size to have incidents like these connected to it.”
“None of this has anything to do with Emil,” Makai stated firmly. “I would never put him into the public eye like that.” He’d had experience with some pretty fucking persistent members of the press and… yeah. Not good.
“Of course not.” Kalle seemed to understand. “But the easiest way to get out of this is to give one interview and say it’s exclusive. There’s one of these people who writes for an online thing that seems to be more interested in you than the town.”
“Is that a good thing?” Emil asked, obviously skeptical.
“Yes, because if you agree to do it exclusively, it means they’ll do pretty much anything to make you talk, including letting you tell them what the parameters are.”
“How many calls have you had?” Makai picked up a kitten to calm himself.
“Dozen or so. Some are pure trash. Tabloid stuff. Clearly not going to write about you fairly. I’ve also told each and every one that if they come to town and try to harass you or anyone else here, I will drive them out so fast they won’t know what hit them.” The tone was so small-town cop that it made both Makai and Emil grin. “What?”
