“I can’t speak to that at the moment. My focus is on the festival today. But I’ll let you know the minute I know anything.” He looked at the other officers. “We don’t like what’s going on, either. Glass was flying completely under our radar and we’ll be continuing our investigations into that.”
“Damn straight we will,” Sargent Williams added.
They went over the rest of the day’s plans before the officers cleared out of the station, leaving the Watchdog team with Sargent Williams. The man looked exhausted and angry.
I know Glass isn’t in Lyons proper, but dammit, he’s still in my territory.”
Kyle laid a hand on the man’s shoulder. “We had the best looking into him, and it still took some digging. Don’t put all of that on your shoulders, George.”
“I have to, son. This is my town and my responsibility. I’ve requested more support from Boulder County but we’ll see if we get it.”
“My team is here for you.”
“I appreciate that. In the meantime, I’ve got my own eyes and ears inside the department.” He lowered his voice. “One of them just walked out of here. Word is, your friend Gina is making a lot of people nervous.”
“Spooky does that,” Jake said.
“I’d love to know the names of the people who are jumpy around her,” Kyle said.
“You’ll get it,” Williams said. “And you’ll let me know what she has to say once she does get in to Glass?”
“Affirmative,” Kyle said.
Williams took his leave.
Kyle ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t like any of this. It just keeps getting bigger and uglier.” He looked at Brock. “How’s Brianna holding up?”
“She’s strong. Right now she’s practicing for tonight.”
“I’m going to tell you, she’s a favorite to win,” Jake said.
“Is that according to Rachael?”
“That’s according to everyone, brother.”
* * *
Walking the festival grounds, Brock would’ve never known anything was amiss. People were having fun, music was in the air, and cloud cover brought the temperatures back down. Brianna was safe. Gina would get in and Jerold would talk. Brian was stable. Even Jake, Wolf, Caroline, and Rachael looked more relaxed. But Brock couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was wrong. The air felt tense and charged like it did before a thunderstorm.
Late afternoon, Brock grabbed a couple of cheeseburgers and a greasy cone of fries from the food vendors for an early dinner and found Brianna with Anthony sitting in a couple of folding chairs in the shade behind the pavilion.
She smiled up at him, then looked at the food. “Oh, thank you, but I’m so nervous I don’t think I can eat.” She turned to Anthony. “You want my burger?”
Anthony laughed. “Not a chance. That one’s yours. Get some food into you before the performance. You don’t want to pass out in the middle of your set.”
She shook her head and looked at the burger. “I’ll do my best.”
“You’re going to do great tonight. I have all the faith in the world in you.” Anthony stood up from his folding chair and nodded to Brock, then headed toward the food vendors.
Brock took the empty chair. “He’s right. You’re going to kick ass.” He handed her one of the burgers and offered the cone of fries.
She snatched a fry and bit into it. Then she took two more. “Maybe I am hungry after all.”
“That’s my girl.” He watched her unwrap the burger and take a small bite. “Before you ask, Brian is still stable.”
Brianna nodded. “Luna texted me.”
“I notice you always call your parents by their first names.”
