Page 83 of Hero Mine

Bear ran a hand over his jaw, mind racing. This wasn’t some random thief looking for quick cash. This was calculated, specific. Someone had wanted items that wouldn’t immediately be missed.

He tried to remember if he’d told anyone they could take stuff from the scrapyard. He’d been distracted lately, with Joy and everything else, but he was certain he hadn’t given anyone permission.

He turned 360 degrees, looking for anyone around. Feeling like there was someone watching but knowing there wasn’t.

He scrubbed a hand down his face. Joy’s paranoia was rubbing off on him. He shut the closet door and snapped the lock back into place.

But the unease lingered as he made his way back inside.

* * *

The Eagle’s Nest buzzed with midday activity, the lunch crowd filling most of the tables. Bear spotted Joy the moment he walked in, her movements efficient as she balanced three plates along her arm. He couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips when she saw him, her face softening for a brief moment.

She crossed to him, rising on her toes to press a quick kiss against his mouth.

“Hey,” she said, voice warm.

“Hey yourself.” He resisted the urge to pull her closer. “Busy today.”

“Hudson’s convinced it’s all the publicity from the food truck festival.” Her eyes danced with amusement. “But it’s probably just everyone avoiding their own cooking.”

Bear chuckled, his hand finding its way to her waist. “You taking a break soon?”

“Not yet. We’re shorthanded.” She glanced over her shoulder at an impatient customer. “Gotta run. You want the usual?”

“Yeah, chicken sandwich. I’ll be sitting over with Callum.” He hadn’t planned to talk to the sheriff about the missing stuff yet, but he might as well since Callum was here.

Bear watched her dart off before making his way toward the booth where the sheriff was hunched over a stack of paperwork, a half-eaten burger beside him.

“Mind if I join you?” Bear asked.

Callum waved a hand at the empty seat. “Please. Give me an excuse to put this shit away.” He slid the papers back into a folder as Bear settled across from him. “How’s it going?”

“Fine. Good.” Bear nodded at the folder. “Anything interesting?”

“Nothing that can’t wait till I finish lunch.” Callum took a bite of his burger, then leaned back. “How’s the garage?”

Bear hesitated, trying to decide if he was overreacting. “It’s fine. Busy. But I noticed something weird this morning.”

“Weird, how?”

“Had some stuff go missing from my scrapyard area. Old tires, some tools from the supply closet.”

Callum’s eyebrows shot up. “You too?”

“What do you mean,you too?”

“We’ve had reports of small thefts around town the past couple weeks. Nothing major—stuff from sheds, back porches. Even here.” He nodded toward the bar. “Hudson had some crates and tarps go missing from behind the kitchen.”

Bear’s jaw tightened. “You investigating?”

“Keeping tabs. Nothing’s valuable enough to warrant a full investigation. You know how it is in a small town—could just be kids messing around.”

“Yeah, maybe.” But why didn’t Bear believe that?

Joy appeared with his food, setting it down with a smile before rushing off to another table. Bear watched her go, noticing the easy way she moved through the space. No hesitation, no jumpiness.Progress.

“You think it could be a vagrant?” Bear asked, turning back to Callum. “Someone passing through?”