“Evening, Jake.”
“Cubby.” Leading him to where Branna sat, Jake went to make coffee for the sheriff.
“Hey there, Miss O’Donnell, remember me from school?”
“Of course and thank you for coming here at such an hour. Please, call me Branna.”
She sounded like the teacher she’d once been, polite and distant, and Jake wondered when she’d let the tears he knew had to be inside her fall.
Pulling up another chair, the sheriff dropped into it and took the mug Jake handed him.
“Jake said you had some trouble, Branna, so I went by your house to check things over. I’m sorry to say, they’ve made a mess over there and destroyed some of your property.”
She lowered her head, letting her hair hide her face. Jake saw her shoulders rise and fall as she drew in several deep breaths before looking at Cubby again.
“I-I th-thought that’s what was happening. I heard the sound of glass breaking and something tearing.”
“I’m sorry for it, and will say that this is not something common for Howling, Branna. I hope you know that.”
She managed a smile for Cubby. “It’s not your fault.”
“Would you mind telling me about it, and start from the beginning with anything you can remember. I’ll make notes, if that’s all right with you?”
After handing Branna hot her chocolate again, Jake sat on the arm of the chair as she began her story. He’d heard it, but hearing it the second time made him angrier, probably because he’d had time to think about the what-ifs.
“You heard no voices?” Cubby questioned.
“Whispers, but no loud voices. Whatever was happening down there, they didn’t want me to wake up and witness it.”
Jake touched her shoulder, then ran his fingers over the skin the loose neck of her shirt exposed. Cubby was scratching away in his notebook as she talked.
The childhood friend he and Buster had was now a man. Solid, with a shock of red hair, Cubby was a man the citizens of Howling had come to depend upon and often did.
“Now, Branna, I know you haven’t been back in town long, but have you had any altercations with anyone? Been threatened in any way?”
Jake felt her twitch, the gesture was small, but her body jerked in response to Cubby’s question.
“I need to know everything, Branna, no matter how small the detail is.”
She shot Jake a look, then turned back to Cubby.
“Yesterday morning, I went out to inspect my garden and found someone had destroyed it.”
“Destroyed it how?” Jake demanded.
“Jake,” Cubby warned, hearing the anger in his voice.
“Totally destroyed it. Tore out all the plants, stripped off leaves and flowers, uprooted everything, and stomped all over it. Even my new plants were ruined.”
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me, Branna?” Jake questioned.
“Why would I tell you?” She looked genuinely confused as she looked up at him.
“Because I care what happens to you… because I could have helped clean it up.”
“Sit, Jake, now.” Cubby’s voice was calm, and Jake hadn’t even realized he’d risen until that moment.
“Okay, Branna, you tell me everything now. Every detail, and don’t leave anything out because you think that big bastard seated beside you is going to get angry. I can handle him.”
