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“The woman reported seeing the gang in the Windy Peak housing estate.”
We share a worried look as we sit parked at the forest's edge. The housing estate is only a short distance ahead.
“On it,” Knox says.
After ending the call, he turns to me. “I need to check it out.”
After considering the situation, I turn to him with a suggestion. “You're on official business. Why don't you drop me somewhere on the way? I can make my own way home.”
“We're miles out of town. What are you going to do? Call an Uber?”
“I’ve got a perfectly good pair of legs. And I run faster than you ever will,” I retort, half-jokingly.
Knox raises an eyebrow. “I see you pull out the monstrous card when it suits you.”
“Meh.” I shrug.
“Assuming you could run in that three-piece suit, Atlas, you'd be visible on a fifteen-mile stretch of freeway. And I know you don't like attention,” he points out, highlighting the flaw in my plan.
I let out a groan, and he responds with a chuckle. “Come on, buddy. I could use your help. Are you up for it?”
He’s convinced me partly because there’s no viable alternative. “Sure. What are you working on?”
“The usual. Chasing the scum of the Earth and that kind of thing.”
Lately, I've heard reports about the gang causing problems for humans and monsters. New residents like Celeste moved to Screaming Woods for its safety. I don't have Celeste's address handy, but I'll double-check when I return to the office. If she's in danger, I'll inform Knox.
After discarding the wrapper, I fasten my seatbelt. “You’d better fill me in on the details.”
As the engine roars to life, he flashes a grin and accelerates onto the highway. “At first, the group looks like a regular motorcycle gang, but they're affiliated with drug cartels pushing pharmaceuticals.”
“Gangs? Ahhhhh shoot! We don’t need that in our quiet town.”
“Did you just say shoot?”
I laugh. “Yeah. The new office manager isn't a fan of my curse words. She's gone as far as setting up a jar for me to drop some cash every time I slip up.”
“Let me guess. You’ve already switched to a bigger jar?”
I roll my eyes. “If I don't watch what comes out of my mouth, I might have to take out a loan.”
“Sounds like your new hire’s keeping you on a short leash,” he says.
“She's making improvements around the office.” I sense Knox's stare but avoid eye contact by studying the passing scenery. “Tell me more about the job.”
“Criminal groups operating along the coast have been focusing on smaller towns to establish their operations. Our investigation is looking into a possible connection between the developer and these gangs.”
“Ah, that’s dark.”
“It’s the way these guys operate. They ruin everything.”
Both Knox and I were born and raised in this town. His family relocated, but they returned when the locality improved and now reside in Screaming Woods.
As we pass by his parent's new home, it dawns on me that it's been years since I last saw them. “How are your folks? Do you get to spend much time with them?”
The corded muscles of his arms flex as he tightens his grip on the steering wheel. He shoots me a sidelong glance before focusing on the road ahead again. “Not if I can help it,” he replies. “What about you? How are your parents?”
“I talk to my mom once in a while, but I haven’t spoken to my dad in years,” I respond with a forced steadiness. I’m not fond of either of our dad’s after they locked me in a basement “for my own good.”
