Page 7 of Deadly Sins

The man chuckled, pouring dark brew into two cups. “No rush. Not like we get a lot of excitement around here.”

Fenn handed over cash and fixed lids on the cups, his eyes casually sweeping the room as he turned back to the counter. Heleaned in slightly, his voice low and conversational. “Quite the crowd for a weekday afternoon.”

Dupuis shrugged, wiping his hands on a towel. “Eh, just the regulars. The longer the sun stays away, the antsier everybody gets. Most peeps like an excuse to get out of their houses.”

Fenn raised an eyebrow, feigning mild interest. “Plus it gives people a chance to check out the visitors. You all probably don’t get a lot of new faces out here. Must be pretty exciting when someone new rolls into town.”

Dupuis chuckled. “Depends on the company. I can’t lie. Your team’s been good for business. I’m sorry to see you all go.”

Fenn nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. “Well Kate and I’ll be staying a while. We’ll do what we can to keep the customers rolling in.”

“Nice.” Dupuis grinned. “Kate’s…” His voice trailed off.

“Yeah, she is.” Fenn knew exactly what the guy meant.

Women weren’t thick on the ground in old Endurance. Kate and Paige had their own sets of groupies during their stay.

Dupuis set down his rag and leaned against the counter. “Why do think it’s so packed for a random Tuesday afternoon? Word’s already gotten out about your plane.” He shuddered. “Mostly, the gossip’s a good thing. People taking care of each other. Watching out. But man, you should try dating out here. Last month, on my vacation, I headed down to Winnipeg. Had two dates with a gal I met online. Word was out before I even got back up here.”

Fenn hummed thoughtfully. “Still, must be nice to have that sense of community. Everyone looking out for each other, noticing if something seems off.”

Dupuis shrugged again, but there was a hint of unease in his expression now. “I suppose. Though sometimes, people can be a little too nosy for their own good, if you know what I mean.”

Fenn met the man’s gaze, holding it for a beat longer than necessary. “Oh, I know exactly what you mean,” he said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. “I bet most people live way out here for a reason. Mostly, I’m guessing, it’s privacy.”

“You’re right about that.” The barkeep scratched his chin, eyeing the rough-looking group at the far table. Then he leaned close. “Fact, you and Kate might watch yourselves.”

The back of Fenn’s neck prickled, but he made certain no sign of his interest showed. “How so?”

“I wasn’t gonna mention it. You and your team look plenty capable of handling yourselves, and then I heard you were heading out today anyway. Figured there was no need. But now that you and the pretty captain are here for a bit, I guess you should know there was a strange fella that came through town a couple days ago. Kept to himself, didn’t talk to nobody. But he was asking an awful lot of questions about the airstrip.”

Fenn’s heart quickened, but he kept his expression neutral. “What kind of questions?”

“Wanted to know about the comings and goings, who used the airstrip. Mostly he seemed interested in your lot.”

“Like really interested?”

Dupuis shrugged, but the tightness around his mouth belayed his casual movement. Whatever the stranger wanted, it was enough to catch his attention.

Fenn nodded, his mind already racing. He wanted to press for more details, but now wasn’t the time. Show too much interest, and reasonable people clammed up. Dupuis would offer details when he was ready. Fenn’s job was to make sure it was sooner rather than later.

For now, he’d retreat. He picked up the cups. “Much appreciated.”

Dupuis nodded and got back to polishing the spotless bar.

Fenn was shoving the door open with his hip when Dupuis called out. “Fenn? You and your lady watch your sixes, you hear?”

“Will do.” He pivoted out into the blackness. It wasn’t much past fourteen hundred hours. He shook his head as if he’d just come up for air. This unrelenting night was disorienting.

But Dupuis’s warning had been crystal clear. The man sensed trouble.

His use of military lingo seemed genuine, too. Not the fake, affected way civilians tossed out terms. No. Fenn would bet that the tavern owner was ex-military for sure.

That only made the warning more serious.

If it wasn’t clear before, now he knew he had to do his own investigating. Waiting around for Kate to trust him enough to give him the full picture wasn’t an option.

Ducking his head against the rising wind, he lifted a prayer as he strode back toward the hangar.

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