Valerie frowned. “A business group? I haven’t heard anything. Why?”
Drew shrugged. “I don’t know whether they’re business or government. Some friends up in Plattsburgh told me that there have been more charter flights from Albany than usual in the last couple of weeks. Guys in suits who rented sedans to take them out toward Platt Mountain. They brought their own drivers and didn’t say much about why they were visiting.”
Elias frowned. “The big iron mine on Platt Mountain has been closed for over fifty years. Everyone said it was some of the best ore in the country. Got used in the Brooklyn Bridge and other big projects. But it went so deep that it was too expensive to mine further. I heard someone bought it and plans to reopen.”
“I’ve also heard that,” Scott volunteered. “It’s true.”
“I’ll ask around and see what I can find out about the guys in suits and the poachers,” Drew said. “I guess I’m nosy like that. I’ll let you know what I find out.”
They planned another time to talk and wrapped up the call. Scott felt restless now that the conversation had ended.
He had been in Albany since graduating from college, and he belonged to several in-person gaming groups as well as a gym and a hiking club. Scott had friends he could call to go to a movieor go out for a drink, but until he met Justin, no one he could call a best friend, and no one he wanted as a mate.
He looked around his apartment and wondered how much he would miss Albany.It would be nice to move before winter sets in.
You already know he’s our mate,his coyote chimed in.What’s the holdup?
Scott sighed.Human things. I’d need to break my lease, change my mailing address, forward my mail, that sort of thing. Worth it, but they take time.
Then get started. Waiting sucks,his coyote replied.
Curiosity about Platt Mountain wouldn’t go away, so Scott indulged his weakness for research, chasing threads he had not followed before.
He was deep enough in his thoughts that he jumped when his phone rang and he realized it was Justin, calling at the scheduled time.
“Hey there. How was your day?” Justin’s deep, sexy voice went straight to Scott’s cock.
It seemed long, since we’re not with our mate,Scott’s coyote groused, but for the moment Scott ignored his other half.
“Pretty uneventful, which is a good thing,” Scott replied. “How about for you?”
“Same. I’m starting to get requests to fly in winter supplies for places up north,” Justin said. “Some are for folks who like living by themselves. The others are for winter emergency shelters, remote ski chalet rentals, and that sort of thing. It’s always a sure sign that the season is changing.”
“Be careful,” Scott cautioned. “I know the weather can shift fast up there.”
“That’s why I’m hoping you’ve thought through what it really means to move up and live here year-round.” Justin sounded abit less bouncy. “I want you to come, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t want you to regret it once you do.”
“I already know Fox Hollow isn’t the thriving metropolis of Albany.” Scott made his sarcasm clear.
“Good. I promise I’ll find ways to keep you busy and make sure you stay warm,” Justin teased.
“I’m counting on that,” Scott replied. “I was actually just thinking about what it will take to move.”
“You’ve made my day,” Justin said. “Let me know how I can help. The sooner the better.”
“Hey, I have a question, when you’re flying supplies to the northern hinterlands, are you hearing about strangers in suits and big dark cars from the city? Or anything more about poachers?”
He filled Justin in on the conversation from his Halloween planning meeting, as well as the theories about what might be going on and the gossip about reopening the mines.
“I haven’t had any requests except from you, but I imagine anyone coming from Albany would go through Plattsburgh. That’s the nearest full-service airport, and they could get charters from there up to Platt Mountain,” Justin replied. “As for the dark sedans, they sound like rentals or company cars. I’ve seen a few, but I haven’t heard about anyone who actually met the people in them. Could just be the new mine owners, investors, or contractors taking a look at the property.”
“Mysterious men in suits, long-abandoned mines, strange creatures, and big black cars, it sounds like a movie!” Scott said.
Justin didn’t laugh like Scott expected him to. “You remember I told you about finding that dead poacher in the woods? I don’t remember if I mentioned it, but from the blood, it appears one of the animals he had killed was missing. Sheriff Armel sent a sample of the blood off for testing, but he hasn’tsaid anything. The only reason the guys and I could come up with was maybe it wasn’t a normal animal.”
“Do you think he shot a cryptid?” Scott asked, in a voice just above a whisper, even though he was alone.
“I think it’s a possibility, or maybe one of those ‘monsters,’” Justin confirmed. “And there’s one more thing: the poacher didn’t die in a hunting accident. He was shot at close range by a handgun. Don’t share that, Armel wants it kept quiet, but you need to know this is serious.”
