Prime
Sheriff Banks showing up on Skull Island wasn’t on my bingo card for the day, but the second Lost said his name, I knew nothing good was gonna follow.
Anchor didn’t even have to speak.We all filed out onto the porch with him.Vin leaned one shoulder against the rail, Push crossed his arms, and I planted myself right next to Anchor, making damn sure Banks couldn’t see inside the clubhouse where Pearl and Shay were tucked in with Lost, Wannabe, and Piney.
Banks stepped up onto the porch with that casual-but-not-really-casual sheriff stroll.Friendly enough to keep the peace.Not friendly enough to forget he wore a badge.
“Boys,” he said with a nod.
“Sheriff,” Anchor answered.
Banks shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket as his gaze moved over each of us like he was sizing up a lineup.“Got something for you, Vin.Not much, but something.”
Vin straightened just a hair.“You look at Caleb Token’s file?”
Banks snorted.“If you can call it a file.Thin as hell.Just the basics.Same stuff from the article.Suspicious drowning, never confirmed.No witnesses, no statements.Nothing weird noted, and nothing new added.Case died the same week he did.”
My jaw clenched.“There had to be something.”
Banks shook his head.“If there was, I’d tell you.But that folder looked like it hadn’t been touched since the year it opened.”
Push muttered a curse under his breath.“So basically, nothing.”
“Basically,” Banks agreed.
Anchor glanced at Vin, then back at the sheriff.“Appreciate you checking.”
Banks tipped his hat like it didn’t matter either way.“Figured I’d bring it out myself.”
He turned like he was about to leave, took one step down the porch… then paused.He pivoted back around.“There is one more thing,” he said.
We all went still.
Banks shifted his weight.“Got a private investigator poking around.Woman outta Lansing.Said she’s looking for her missing sister.”
I looked at Vin.Vin looked at me.Push looked at Anchor.
Lots of looking.No talking.
Banks kept going.“Says the last time she heard from the girl, she was headed out here.Haunted house date with her boyfriend.”
Anchor didn’t so much as blink.“Thousands of people have been through that haunted house in the last decade.”
“Yeah,” Banks agreed, nodding once.“That’s exactly what I told her.But she’s got that stubborn thing going on.One of those who won’t believe a damn thing until she sees it with her own two eyes.”
“Great,” Push muttered.“Just what we need.”
Banks didn’t acknowledge it.“Figured you boys might wanna keep an eye out.I told her not to jump to conclusions, but you know how people get when family’s involved.”
Anchor’s voice stayed steady.“What’s her name?”
“McKayla Ward.”Banks stepped off the porch.“If she shows up, don’t be surprised.”
He walked a few steps and looked back at us again.“And don’t make me come out here because she ends up causing trouble.Keep it clean.”
Anchor lifted his chin.“Always.”
Banks casually walked the path back to the parking lot like he hadn’t just dumped a gallon of gasoline on a bonfire.
