Diesel marched over to the man and asked him directly, “Are you from Finder’s?”
The man was older, hair graying at his temples, but still nice-looking. Diesel’s despondence over Juliana’s betrayal didn’t preclude him from being jealous of this man she’d sold her story to.
“How do you know that?” he asked, sounding suspicious.
Diesel pointed to the back of his car. “I saw your bumper sticker.”
The man brightened. “Oh! Well, then. Yes, I do work for Finder’s. My name is Pete Harriman. Call me Pete.”
“Okay. What are you doing here, Pete?” Diesel asked, “Are you in search of a big story about aliens?” He laughed as if it was a huge joke to look for aliens in a place called Alienn.
The man pretended to be amused, but Diesel could tell he was caught by surprise by Diesel bringing up the aliens angle first. Good. That was his intention.
“Sort of, but not exactly. Do you know anything about the rumors here in town?”
“Rumors? What rumors are you talking about?”
“I heard about anincident,I guess you’d call it, involving a dangerous creature roaming the streets of Alienn, causing all sorts of mayhem.”
“Oh, you mean our local Bigfoot story, the supposedlytruelegend of the Fouke Monster?” Diesel laughed again. “That was just a story way back before my time. They say it’s true, but that was a long time ago. I think there is a movie about it, though. You might want to check that out.”
“No. Not that one,” Pete said. “I heard that there was a malevolent beast roaming around town that had to be subdued with what I understand ended up being experimental tactical means.”
“Experimental tactical means? Like a test solution? I’ve never heard anything like that.”From any human anyway.As far as Diesel knew, Harriman had not heard it from Juliana, either. She hadn’t put anything like that in her article.
The article he’d read from first page to last, standing alone in her empty apartment as his heart sank to his knees. She’d only mentioned the part about a beast roaming around, what they’d called the Boogieman Affair, not the special means they’d used to subdue the creature. How did Pete know about it?
“Well, yes. Say, do you work here?”
Diesel nodded. “I’m the manager of this truck stop.”
“Wonderful,” the man said. “Could I interview you? I’d like to do some follow-up questions on an article someone turned in to me today.”
“Sure,” Diesel said. “Come on inside to my office and we’ll chat.” He pulled his communicator off his belt and texted Cam:
Bring your Defender and come to my office.
I’ve got someone you need to zap, pronto.
Cam responded in seconds.
Who are you and what have you done with my brother?
Diesel rolled his eyes, stopping in mid-roll.Space potatoes!He didn’t need to start that bad habit again. He closed his eyes briefly, opened them and responded with:
Just get to my office! Be the solution not the problem.
Diesel led Pete into the convenience store, walking right past Alice at the front counter. She waved, looking a bit nervous, and started to say something. He held up his hand, pointed a thumb over his shoulder at Pete, and said, “Later, okay? I have a meeting.”
Alice nodded, but didn’t look happy.
Welcome to my world,he thought bitterly. Diesel didn’t expect he’d ever be happy again.
Cam was waiting at his office door with a large Defender hooked on his belt.
Diesel said, “This is our security manager, Cam.”
Before he could finish the introduction, Pete stuck his hand out. “Pete Harriman. Call me Pete. Great to meet you, Cam. Interesting place you all have here.”
