Jeremiah walked in and pulled out one of the two yellow seventies-style chairs to sit on. “I want to know what your connection is to this serial killer.”
“I don’t have one,” Seth answered honestly.
“Mia does,” Jeremiah said. “I still have great resources in DC, and I got a hold of her file from the Robert Delaney case.”
Seth sat back. The FBI wasn’t known for just sharing information like that. “Is that a fact?”
“Yeah. She thought there was a copycat, and apparently, she was right because there were kills between DC and here before the two most recent murders. This is all about Mia, Seth. You know that, right?”
“I have her covered,” Seth assured.
“Of that, I have no doubt,” Jeremiah shot back. “However, it’s my people dying. Claudia was an innocent young woman and should never have been brought into whatever game your fiancée is playing.”
The hackles on Seth’s back rose. “If you know Mia at all, you know she’s not playing anything. It’s not her fault.”
“Fine, but this is all connected to her,” Jeremiah said. “I don’t understand the hold you have on this town just because you own the mine. But you do have one. I’m expecting you to fix this. If not, I will.”
Seth bared his teeth. “Really? And how are you going to do that?”
“I still have connections. I can make life very difficult for you here in town, even though you’re trying to clear out most people. I don’t know why you’re doing it or why you only want people from your mine to live here, but I won’t let that happen.”
Seth had found if he offered people enough money, they moved. Every once in a while, he got the strongest urge to turn into a wolf and scare the crap out of Jeremiah. But he knew better. “You do your best, TJ.” He’d been nice enough to call the guy Jeremiah the entire time, but he was done being kind.
Jeremiah leaned toward him. “I also know that Pete’s death wasn’t an accident. What I can’t figure out is why you would want him dead.”
“I didn’t want him dead,” Seth lied. “I think the guy just had an accident. It does happen, you know.”
Jeremiah was all muscle and looked oversized on the old chair. He’d most likely give Seth a decent fight. “Not to Pete. He was looking into the Volk holdings, the Volk mines, and you. I think that got him killed.”
Seth met his old friend’s gaze directly. He would hate to have to kill somebody he knew from high school. “You’re wrong, and there’s not much more I can tell you.”
“I’m not wrong, and I’ve hired three private investigators to find out what’s going on.”
That seemed like overkill. Seth forced a smile. “You hired three?”
Jeremiah shrugged. “To be honest, two are members of our co-op. The other is a guy who works for the asylum. I figure between the three of them, we’ll uncover what you’re hiding.”
Seth stood. “Best of luck to you. If anybody can figure it out, it’s you.” He had to warn the pack that investigators were looking into them. If anybody discovered that wolf shifters existed, he would have to take them out. “I suggest you move on and find another hobby.”
Jeremiah stood. “From now on, you are my hobby.” With that, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room.
Seth looked at the open doorway.
Damn it.
Chapter26
Marjorie’s Pizza was a quaint little restaurant on the corner of 4th and Jones Streets outside of DC. The place smelled like garlic and cheese, and the tablecloths were red-checked with cheerful yellow napkins.
“Are you sure about this?” Kurt asked, sitting across from her.
“Yeah, I thought it would be better if we interviewed him somewhere he was more comfortable,” Mia said.
Kurt cut a look toward Todd and Erik, where they sat in the far corner, already munching happily on an extra-large, fully loaded pizza. “I’m really starting to hate those guys.”
Mia chuckled. “They both want to be deputies, and they’re trying to learn.” She kept a straight face as she lied.
“Uh-huh,” Kurt deadpanned. He was no dummy. “With a private plane, there’s no reason for us to stay the night in DC. Is it possible good ol’ Seth Volk is afraid to leave you alone with me for a night?”
