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“City Hall.” She did not specify which one. She thought he could probably figure it out.
She looked longingly at her hotel bed, but she didn’t think she had time. Maybe she’d have to find some espresso after all. Her friend had shipped some boxes of her things, and she knew that she had some business attire in there somewhere, but she didn’t know where, or what exactly her friend had sent, or what state of wrinkled it would be in. So now that it was almost time to leave South Dakota, she started unpacking the boxes.
She found a cute pantsuit that she was excited to wear but it was a wrinkled mess. She plugged in the hotel iron and then stared at it impatiently waiting for it to heat.
Another phone call came in and then another. All of these people sounded so shocked. Had they not thought that the toad was real, that it was really alive? Even though they’d had photographic proof? Or had they just had no faith at all that she would be able to find it?
She thought the former idea was more likely. Sarah had given her hardly anything to work with. Few funds, few boots on the ground. Maybe no one had expected her to succeed—which made her success that much sweeter.
Chapter 33
Suspecting that theHill City City Hall would be packed, Tucker got there forty minutes early. It was already a zoo.
He tried to worm his way through the crowd, wondering why on earth so many people cared about the toad—but then he realized that most of them didn’t. Most of them were there for an update on hunting season. This suspicion was confirmed when another outfitter recognized him and made a beeline for him. Tucker wished she could hide. He really didn’t like this guy.
Jonas Shucker had been accused of illegal baiting, poaching, and other unsavory things. Tucker didn’t want to be seen talking to him.
“I was pretty mad at you for siding with the government,” Jonas Shucker said.
Not a good start, Tucker thought. “I didn’t side with anyone,” Tucker said without making eye contact. He kept his gaze fixed on the front of the room, hoping the man would take the hint and knowing that he would not.
“Well, now I’m glad you did. It was smart after all. You always were a clever one.” He said this as if being clever was a bad thing. “So?” he said too loudly. “Are we safe? Starting on time? I got a big bow hunt lined up with a city slicker from East River.”
Tucker flinched. First, he didn’t think there were manycity slickersanywhere in South Dakota, even East River. And second, he had endured some obnoxious, pampered, rude clients in his day, but he would never talk that way about someone who was paying him for a professional service. Maybe that was why he had to turn clients away while Jonas Shucker had to resort to cheating at the hunt. “I don’t know anything more than you do,” Tucker said. “That’s why I’m here.”
“What?” Jonas shouted loud enough so a dozen people turned to look. “How can you not know? Aren’t you the one who found the toad?”
Still refusing to look at him, Tucker shook his head. “I was just the guide.” Tucker saw Wynona working her way through the crowd toward him and was suddenly desperate to get this man as far away from him as possible. “If you’ll excuse me,” Tucker said.
Jonas looked around blankly; he didn’t understand.
Tucker finally looked at him. “You’re a criminal. I don’t really want to be seen talking to you.”
Jonas swore at him and then stomped off.Great, Tucker thought. Just what he needed, another enemy.
He caught Wynona’s eye, and she smiled brightly. She looked absolutely gorgeous in her plum-colored pantsuit. She didn’t even look tired. He knew that he looked like he’d been on a week-long bender. “Do you know anything yet?” he asked, trying to sound more patient than he felt.
