No, the timing didn’t fit. And there were questions that needed to be asked—and answered.

“What are you doing?” Simon asked as he walked into the front part of Howling Good Reads.

“Pulling a book request.”

Simon looked at the books on the top shelf of the cart. “Who’s buying that many books?”

“More like bartering than buying. Everyone all right at Sweetwater?”

“Everyone is fine. Meg talked to Hope; I talked to Jackson. No one is going to bite anyone. Yet.” Simon watched Vlad select a couple more books. “Who isn’t fine?”

“Joe Wolfgard called while you were talking to Jackson.”

“Joe? Did he leave a telephone number or an address?”

“Joe is fine. But, Simon?” Vlad looked at his friend and comanager. “We need to talk. We all need to talk.”

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8

Windsday, Juin 6

“More disputes are heating up in the aftermath of the storm that swept up the East Coast yesterday. Some boat owners, whose vessels were damaged during the storm, are claiming the damage was done by members of the HFL movement because the boat owners refused to let the HFL use their vessels for ‘questionable activities.’ Representatives of the accused HFL chapters vehemently denied the allegations, saying the boat owners were targeting them because ‘You can’t sue the damn ocean for damaging your property.’

“Here in Lakeside, a number of businesses were vandalized last night. The police have no leads as yet on the person or persons who broke windows and painted obscene suggestions on the buildings. One store owner said he was going to leave a dictionary on a public bench so the vandals could at least spell the obscenities correctly. It was noted that none of the vandalized businesses displayed an HFL logo in the window. Police Commissioner Kurt Wallace, who recently admitted to being a member of the Humans First and Last movement, was not available for comment. This is Ann Hergott at WZAS, bringing you the news...”

Monty turned away from the break room doorway, having heard enough.

“Lieutenant?” Kowalski hurried out of the break room. “You ready to go?”

“Not yet. Did you hear anything on the news about bison being killed?”

Kowalski blinked. “Bison? Around here?”

“No, not around here. Anywhere in Thaisia.”

“Didn’t hear anything like that.” Kowalski leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Is that a concern?”

“Could be. I need a minute with Captain Burke; then we’ll go.” Monty went to Burke’s office and knocked on the doorframe—and wondered what Burke’s cousin Shady was really doing in Lakeside, since the man spent most of his time at the police station. “Captain? Can you spare a minute?”

“I can spare two,” Burke replied.

Monty wasn’t sure if that was literal or a joke. “Simon Wolfgard called. A hundred bison were shot in Joe Wolfgard’s territory this morning. Simon wanted to know if we’d heard of any other incidents.”

“Bison?” Shady asked.