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Cody leaned back to look down at him. “I smelled different?”
“That thing didn’t smell like you,” Demmy said. “It looked and sounded like you, but it didn’t smell like you.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“I’ve always thought you had a unique stink,” Dave said as he approached them.
“Very nice,” Cody said, but with a grin. “Can’t you see I’ve had a bad day?”
“Yeah, all right.”
“Let’s get you both to Memorial,” Lucia said.
When Deputy Walsh went to stand up, Cody reached out to take her hand. “Thank you.”
She smiled and nodded. “I’m glad I was here.” She looked toward the pond, then up at Lucia. “Although I don’t know if I’ll be getting a good night’s sleep anytime soon after what I saw today.”
Lucia looked out at the thing floating in the water. “You’ll get used to it.”
“I’ve called for an ambulance already,” Deputy Walsh said, brushing dirt off her pants. “They should be here soon.”
“Okay if I stay and assist?” Clarabell asked.
“I was about to ask you to do just that,” Lucia said. “We may need some help understanding what to do with this…”
“Specimen?” Ollie offered.
“Right,” Lucia said, then she gave him a long look. “I suppose you want to stay and help as well?”
He looked to Dave who shrugged and nodded, then Ollie looked back at Lucia with a smile. “Yeah, I’d like that a lot.”
“I’ll meet you guys at the hospital,” Jugs said, giving the nix’s body a distasteful look. “You’re going to need a ride back here to your trucks, and I don’t want to be anywhere near that thing.”
“We can return their trucks to the house,” Lucia said. “I’ve got some other deputies on the way.”
“My keys and wallet are in my truck,” Cody said.
“Keys are probably in mine,” Demmy said as he leaned into Cody again. “I don’t really remember anything that happened.”
Dave crouched to put his arm around Cody’s shoulders and pulled him into an awkward hug. “I’ll go check on Grandma.” Then he lowered his voice. “You really need to put on a shirt.”
Cody couldn’t help laughing. “Fuck you.”
Dave laughed and gave him a squeeze before straightening up and stepping away. Ollie approached them next and knelt on Demmy’s other side across from Cody.
“I’m glad you’re all right,” Ollie said, taking Demmy’s hand and giving it a squeeze. He looked up at Cody. “Both of you.”
“Thanks, Ollie,” Cody said.
Clarabell patted Cody’s shoulder before following Lucia and Deputy Walsh down to the shoreline. The sound of a diesel engine up the slight hill signaled the arrival of the ambulance, and Cody kissed Demmy’s hair again.
“We’ll be okay,” he whispered.
Demmy tipped his head back and looked up at him. “Will we?”
“Always.” Cody leaned down to give him a soft kiss on the lips.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
