After more fruitless web searching, Justin closed his browser and tossed his cup in the trash.
To get his mind off the callout, Justin chose to focus on his date that night with Scott.He agreed to go out for dinner again.
Justin hadtwo previously scheduled flights in the morning. Strong coffee kept him awake despite the early morning disruption. Liam ambled by after the second flight.
Liam was the head librarian at Fox Hollow’s local library, which had a well-rounded collection of books and a busy inter-library loan program.
“What’s up? I got your text this morning,” Liam asked. “Something about monsters?”
Justin told him about the encounter with the creature at the old tunnel, the fragmentary glimpses he had gotten with his client, Scott’s question, and what his web searches had revealed.
“We set up a camera, but so far it hasn’t gotten anything useful.” Justin showed Liam the images from the trail cam that he had downloaded to his phone. Other than the glint of eyes in the darkness, the camera hadn’t picked up any good shots.
“I haven’t heard of anything like that around here, but I’ll do some digging,” Liam offered. “There are some things that don’t add up.”
“Like?”
Liam shrugged. “Where would the creatures have come from? Where have they been that no one’s seen them? Why did they show up now? It almost seems…convenient.”
“Convenient?” Justin asked.
“It makes a great distraction,” Liam replied. “But distraction from what? Who would benefit? And that still doesn’t explain the creatures themselves.”
“That’s spooky.” Justin decided to float a theory that had occurred to him on his drive into town. “I hear they’re opening up that mine in Plattsburgh again. Do you think there could be creatures living in there who got out? Or people who let them out?”
Liam didn’t hide his surprise. “Huh. That wouldn’t have been my first guess, but it’s worth considering. There have always been stories about strange things that live in the deepest places. But Plattsburgh was an iron mine, and iron is protective against supernatural danger. Which doesn’t match with the stories of ghosts and creatures. Let me see what I can find.”
Liam followed Justin as he went to refuel the plane. “I hear you and that writer guy had dinner and are going up for another flight. He seems like a nice guy.”
Sometimes it felt to Justin that the entire town was invested in helping him find his special someone, despite not being of advanced bachelor age. He didn’t mind. He figured it was his friends’ way of showing that they cared.
“There’re are definitely a lot of common interests,” Justin replied. “We both like gaming. He’s a Scorpio, and I’m a Taurus, so that’s supposed to be a good fit.” He sighed. “Except that I’m not a shifter.”
Liam gave him a look usually reserved for people caught talking in the library. “If it’s right, that won’t matter. Plus, you’ve got abilities of your own, even if you don’t turn furry.”
Justin pretended to concentrate on topping off the plane’s gas tank. “Can we still be fated mates if I can’t shift? When we touch hands, I swear I feel a ‘zing.’”
Liam grinned. “Absolutely! That’s great! Yes, that spark is one of the first tip-offs. Congratulations.”
“I don’t know if he felt it too. I haven’t said anything yet because I want to give us a chance to find each other without feeling obligated by a bond beyond our control,” Justin confessed, knowing Liam would keep the confidence.
“You’ve read too many romance books,” Liam joked. “In real life, at least for Russ and me, it wasn’t like a jail sentence. More like knowing in your bones that this was the right person for you. And if Scott’s a shifter, his other half should be able to tell.”
“I was hoping that was how it worked for real,” Justin said. “But I didn’t know if it would be different since I can’t shift.”
Liam frowned, thinking. “I think it’s a little different for every couple. Russ and I don’t shift into the same kind of animal. Maybe that feels a little different than if we matched, but it’s enough.”
“Good,” Justin said.
“Trust your psychic mojo. You’ll know, deep down, if it’s right. And sorry for stating the obvious, but you could just ask him.” Liam patted him on the shoulder and gave him a pitying look.
Friends can be so irritating, Justin thought fondly as he watched Liam walk away. Their conversation stayed in his minduntil it was time for Scott’s appointment mid-afternoon. He greeted Scott with a big smile and got a grin and a wave in response.
“How was your morning?” Scott asked as he climbed into the plane.
Justin wasn’t quite up to explaining about the fire department callout until he had time to process what had happened, so he just shrugged.
“I showed some tourists around the area and talked with Liam for a while. He glanced over to Scott as he did his pre-flight check. “How about you?”
