Becca had a faraway look in her eyes as she listened to the spirits. “The ghosts are a mix of spirits from miners who died at the site, Mob guys who worked with or for Santoro, and people who blame him for their deaths. Not his biggest fans, but they’ve got nothing to lose anymore by telling the truth.
“Santoro has ambitions to climb the ladder, but he’s a mediocre performer,” Becca said, frowning as she concentrated on the ghosts’ conversation. “Hot tempered, quick to blame everyone else for his shortcomings, a penchant for getting revenge. Stone cold killer.”
“If the Mob cares about the mine revival succeeding, why put a guy like that in charge?” Justin mused.
“Unless they really want to bury the project and need it to fail,” Liam pointed out. “A guy like Santoro could think it was a big honor and not realize he was being set up as the fall guy.”
“Rossi and Petrovic would be the perfect henchmen,” Justin said. “They’re disposable.”
“Why even bring up reviving the mine if there’s no interest in doing it?” Scott looked confused.
“Maybe they want to unload the property on a buyer who’ll pay more if he thinks it’s a viable concern,” Amy suggested. “These aren’t ethical people we’re talking about.”
Scott looked stricken. “It’s bad enough that we were shot down because someone wanted to get rich on the mine. But if this is all a scam, then Mike and Bill died for nothing.”
“There’s another possibility,” Justin mused. “Maybe you were right that there really is some sort of creature trapped in the mine because the iron serves as a ‘monster prison,’ and Santoro’s witch wants to free it and sic it on enemies.”
Scott’s eyebrows rose. “You seemed to think it was far-fetched when I brought it up.”
“I’ve seen a whole lot of crazy since then,” Justin said. “It’s all relative.”
“We’ll keep digging,” Becca assured Scott and Justin. “I think we can learn a lot more from the ghosts, and that can help fill in the gaps to prove these guys are as bad as we think they are if we go to the authorities.”
“I just want Scott to be safe,” Justin said. “We’ve been lucky so far, but that won’t last forever.”
“Give us a day or two,” Amy replied. “We should have more to go on by then. We can get back together again here at the library the day after tomorrow.”
Justin agreed, but sensed Scott’s tension at the delay. While he would be relieved to have Rossi and Petrovic off his trail, healso knew that, unlike on TV, tracking down the bad guys took time.
Scott was quiet when they left the library together. Justin could see that his boyfriend was unhappy in the set of his mouth and how stiffly he held his shoulders.
“Talk to me,” Justin coaxed.
“Nothing much to say,” Scott replied.
“If I had my way, I’d keep you under house arrest until those two maniacs are caught. I just found you. I don’t want to lose you,” Justin admitted.
When they reached the car, Scott reached out and gently turned Justin toward him. “I love you, and I appreciate how protective you are. I don’t like being a target. But we’ve got a whole team on our side now. If Rossi and Petrovic make a move in Fox Hollow, the sheriff is watching for them. I have to trust that, or I’ll hide under the bed.”
Justin muttered something under his breath that suggested he preferred that option. Scott leaned in and kissed him. “Thank you for being you, and for taking such good care of me,” Scott told him. “Let’s go home and get warm.”
That night, despite their previous flirting, both men were too tense to do more than fall asleep tangled up together. Justin was grateful for the comfort it provided.
The next morning, Justin fretted as the time came for him to leave for work. “I wish you’d just stay home,” he told Scott. “The house is warded. You’re safer here.”
“I can’t hide for the rest of my life,” Scott countered gently. “And I’m climbing the walls. I’ll go right to Bear Necessities Coffee and Café, sit in the back corner, and work from there until I come straight home. Plenty of people around. I’ll be safe.”
“I don’t like it, but I understand.” Justin gave Scott a lingering kiss goodbye. “Please, be extra careful.”
11
SCOTT
“I promise.”Scott watched him drive away, then he gathered his laptop, phone, and research notes. He peered out the windows to assure himself that Petrovic and Rossi were nowhere in sight, then he slipped outside, locked the door, and sprinted to his car.
I’m letting Justin’s nerves get to me. I’ll be a total wreck by the time this is over unless I get a grip. I’ve got to find the line between careful and paranoid, or I really will end up hiding under the bed.
The drive to Bear Necessities wasn’t far, and on a warm day, Scott would have enjoyed the walk. But between the cold wind and the threat from the hitmen, he decided to err on the side of caution.
