Page 40 of Three-Inch Teeth

Kolb’s eyes got wide upon hearing the name. He asked slyly, “Have you ever met him?”

“No. Why?” In fact, it was Liv who had set up the job.

Kolb shook his head. “I’m not one to gossip, but I think you’ll find him kind of … unusual.”

Sheridan tried to discern what he meant by that, but Kolb deliberately looked away. She’d already pegged the motel owner to be a local gossip, despite his disavowal. If Walden was anything like Saddlestring, half of the town would know about the twenty-something female master falconer staying there by sundown.

“A place like this tends to attract all kinds of different characters,” he said.

“That,” she said, “isn’t unusual to me.”

As she opened the door from the lobby to go get her falcons and gear, Kolb said, “If you need anything while you’re here, I want you to know that even if the lobby is closed up, I’m here twenty-four seven. All you have to do is pick up the room phone and dial zero.”

She turned. “Is there something I should be worried about?”

“Nothing like that,” Kolb said quickly. “It’s just that the town is a little rambunctious this time of year. Lots of out-of-state hunters drinking whiskey and carrying guns and whooping it up. They might get a little frisky seeing a young woman on her own who looks like you, if you catch my drift. Plus, my brother is the chief of police.”

After a long pause and wondering if she should be grateful or offended, Sheridan thanked him for the room.

*

SHERIDAN TOOK A moment on the way to her Acadia to send a text to her mother and Liv saying that she’d made it and found a room and she would touch base with the client as soon as she could.

Moments later, her phone vibrated with an incoming call. Sheridan guessed that it would be her mother, but it was Liv Romanowski.

“So you made it,” Liv said.

“I did.”

Sheridan could hear Kestrel jabbering in the background and visualized the toddler being cradled on Liv’s hip while she made the call.

“I’ll let our clients know you’re on-site,” Liv said.

“Thank you.”

There was a beat before Liv said, “Sheridan, I know this is a really tough time for you. I hope you’re doing okay.”

Sheridan smiled. The sentiment affected her more than she would have anticipated. “I’m doing okay,” she said.

“I know what it’s like to be a young woman alone in a strange place. It’s important to keep your guard up and that you be alert. This job isn’t all-important, and I know how smart you are. So if you feel uncomfortable at any time, for any reason, I want you to come straight back here.”

“What about …”

“Nate?” Liv said, finishing Sheridan’s thought. “Don’t worry about Nate. I can handle him.”

“Is there something I ought to know that I don’t?” Sheridan asked. “About our client?”

“Nothing I haven’t told you. I’d never send you on a job if it felt wrong to me. But I’ve never met this man and he’s located in a pretty remote area, from what I understand. So all I’m saying is to be professional and polite, but also on alert.”

“I get that,” Sheridan said. “Thank you.”

“No worries,” Liv said.

“Kiss Kestrel for me.”

“I’ll do that right now,” Liv said. Sheridan could hear the kiss over the phone.

*

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