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“Oh shit.” That was some seriously bad blood.
“That’s what matters most to us,” Paz said. “The family business and legacy. They threatened it.”
“And up here, that’s grounds for a blood feud,” I finished.
He gave me a weary look. “Sort of.”
I rubbed my hands together. “Ooh, I cannot wait to dig into this guy. This is some Hatfields and McCoys shit. The perfect kind of small-town insanity to keep things interesting.”
“We’re not violent or anything. We hate each other and keep our distance. He runs their business; Henri runs ours. We only interact when necessary. He’s got five sons, all dumbasses, and for the most part, they’re not even involved in the business. Just Mitch the asshole and his dumbass brother.”
I snuck another look at Mitch, who was holding court with a handful of townspeople like some kind of redneck royalty. His forehead was suspiciously smooth, and he wore large, garish rings on his fingers.
“The timber business is life up here. The jobs, the community, it’s how people survive. No amount of online research can show you the soul of a place. Trees sustain this place, but so does fierce independence.
“Maybe it sounds silly—hell, I thought it was absurd for most of my life—but to the people here, it’s meaningful.”
“My father understood it, though. It’s not about jobs or the local economy. Although those are more important than ever these days. It’s about pride and independence and an identity that was founded on the principles of our ancestors. The folks who came here and made this unforgiving wilderness their home.”
Taken aback, I grasped my coffee mug with both hands. His words were poetic. The meaning deeper than what I could have imagined coming from someone like Paz.
But as I looked around at the diner patrons, I felt it.
This place had its own strong identity. Its own secrets. And I wanted to unlock them all.
* * *
After stuffing my face with shockingly delicious pancakes and tolerating my black coffee, I headed to the ladies’ room, aware of the attention I garnered as I made my way across the room. A few well-meaning townsfolk had stopped by to say hello. Each time, Paz had introduced me as his girlfriend, the author who was visiting for a few weeks.
I was washing my hands in the small sink when the door behind me opened and Bernice shuffled in.
Sliding up closer to the sink, I made room for her to pass, but instead, she stood, blocking my exit. “He’s a good boy, you know. Doesn’t always show it, but he has a good heart. Just like his dad.”
I nodded politely, not sure of what to make of this interaction.
“When our walk-in refrigerator broke last year, we had to shut down for a few days. Lost all our perishables. We couldn’t find an affordable one secondhand, and we weren’t sure we could reopen. But two days later, a brand-new one showed up. Top of the line and everything.”
I smiled, pleased that despite his penchant for evil, Paz could use his resources for good once in a while.
“He’s a caretaker. He doesn’t want anyone to know it.”
“I’ve noticed,” I said. I’d already witnessed how much he supported his family and employees.
“Good. Don’t let him act like an ass and push you away. From what I can tell, you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. So when he tries his usual bullshit, don’t budge. Show him that you’ll stick.” So far, this woman had been nothing but intimidating. But now, here she was, brow furrowed in concern, sticking up for Paz like she cared deeply for him.
“Um… sure.” I stuttered. This was day one of our fake relationship. I didn’t even know when his birthday was. There was no way I was going deep with this stranger in a diner bathroom.
I nodded and smiled, going for smitten.
“He’s a keeper, for sure,” I said, tugging a paper towel from the dispenser. “I won’t let him go.”
“Good girl. Those Gagnons all deserve good things.” With that, she stepped aside so I could pass.
I headed back to the table, forcing myself to smile through the anxiety coursing through me as I slid back into the booth. It was happening already. I was getting invested. Not just in the case but in Paz and the Gagnon family. And probably this weird ass little town as well.
Because that was my weakness. What made me a liability as a cop. I cared. Too much. And it could be my downfall.
Chapter9
