“Is that a threat?” Huck stepped closer to the man.
“Of course not.” Zeke smiled. “That was just a statement.”
Huck could not measure the degree to which he disliked this asshole, so he turned and took Laurel’s elbow. “Let’s go.”
She stepped up into the truck.
“Laurel, I would very much like to speak with you and your mother. She won’t return my calls,” Zeke said.
Huck edged him away from the door and shut it. “She’s done talking to you.”
Yeah, he was being an ass. Laurel was an FBI agent who could take care of herself, but right now Huck was over this. He’d seen the danger inherent in Zeke Caine during that sermon. Oh, he knew all about the pastor’s checkered past and had no doubt there were victims out there that Laurel would find, but watching the man in action had been another thing entirely.
Zeke reared back. “You have no right to get in my way.”
That’s where he was wrong. Dead wrong. “I don’t know a lot about psychopaths or sociopaths or narcissists or whatever label fits you, Pastor.” Huck leaned in, staring down at the shorter man. “But I know they all end up where they belong. You want to watch yourself.”
With that, he turned his back on Zeke and walked around his truck to slide into his seat. He ignited the engine and pulled out onto the main road as Zeke Caine watched them go.
“Did you get that off your chest?” Laurel asked somewhat dryly.
“Hey, I didn’t punch him,” Huck noted. “I’ll take that as a win.”
She chuckled.
His phone buzzed, and he hit a button on the dash. “Captain Rivers,” he said.
“What the holy fuck is going on in Genesis Valley?” Deputy Chief Mert Wright yelled.
Laurel winced.
Huck sighed. “I take it you sawThe Killing Hour?”
“Saw it? Did I see it?” Wright yelled. “I’ve had fifteen different people send me links. You do realize you were taken off this case? Because you’re a possible suspect?”
Huck’s jaw tightened. “Of course I realize that. I’m not involved in the slightest.”
“The FBI agent you’re currently banging is involved,” Wright snapped.
Huck stiffened. “You’re going to want to watch your words, Deputy Chief.”
“Excuse me?” Wright asked.
“I believe you heard me. Agent Snow has done nothing wrong, and you will speak of her with respect.”
Silence ticked over the line for a moment. “Or what?” Wright snapped.
Huck’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, and he forced them to relax. No way was he letting this jackass upset him. “Or you and I are going to have a little talk, man to man. I don’t give a shit about your position within Fish and Wildlife.”
He meant every word. If he needed to find another job, then he would, but nobody was going to insult Laurel like that.
She punched him in the arm, and he cut her a look. He was a pretty flexible guy, at least in his own mind, but there were some lines that weren’t to be crossed. Wright was real close to stepping over.
Wright cleared his throat. “Captain Rivers, you are officially on notice that you are to go nowhere near this case, or I’ll have you arrested for hindering an investigation. You are on leave from Fish and Wildlife. Period. Next week, you’ll be interviewed again by me.”
Huck turned toward the square in front of Center Diner. Laurel had to be hungry, and he could eat as well. “Is that all?”
“You will be interviewed Monday. Make yourself available.” Wright ended the call.
