Page 79 of Skin Game

“No, Elton is fine as far as I know,” she assured him.

Gabe took a calming breath. “Thank fuck. Do you want to come inside? I can make a coffee or we have fancy water.”

Because, yes, Casey and his new French friend Etienne had conspired and gifted Gabriel with a shiny new espresso machine. It was beautiful and if he wasn’t planning on asking Casey to tie the knot, he’d marry it.

He heard Casey wander down the hall and stand behind him.

She shook her head. “No time today.” The sheriff looked over Gabe’s shoulder at Casey. “Calvin Perkins has been located.”

“Located? The Valley?” Casey pushed past Gabe. “Who? How?”

“The Allard-Clarks. They were doing some rescue training with those dogs of theirs.”

Casey frowned. “He’s alive?”

“No.”

“Was it exposure?”

Eagan shook her head. “Also no. He was shot.”

“Where? I mean, where was he found?”

“Along a fire service road that runs behind Gordon MacDonald’s place and Snowcap Estates. He was executed, Casey. Shot in the back of the head.”

Gabe’s attention flicked between Casey and Eagan. “Shot in the back of the head? Not accidentally killed by a hunter, then?”

“No. His hands were tied. Whoever did it rolled the body up in a canvas tarp and tossed or dragged him off to the side. If it hadn’t been for the dogs, we might not have found the remains.”

Casey asked, “Do we know how long?”

Eagan nodded. “We have a timeline of sorts. He was alive until after this year’s maples lost their leaves. But how long after we don’t know yet.”

“I was up there back in March,” Casey told her.

“Did you see something?”

“No. But I had the distinct feeling that someone was watching me. At the time, I thought it could have been Calvin.” He shrugged his shoulders. “But it slipped my mind and I haven’t been back since.”

“He had your card in his wallet, Casey. When would you have given him that? You’re sure he didn’t reach out to you recently?”

“No.” Casey shook his head. “Calvin and I were never on polite speaking terms. I have a difficult time coming up with anyscenario where he would come to me for help. I would have though, you know. Helped him.”

“Well,” the sheriff said after a moment passed, “it seems that he was considering connecting with you and someone didn’t want that to happen.”

“Which means?—”

“Which means,” she said grimly, “we have a problem. And if where Perkins was found means anything, the problem has something to do with The Valley.”

“Damn,” said Casey

“Damn indeed,” said Eagan.

“Fuck,” Gabriel added. “This is definitely fuckery.”