Page 2 of Saving Dakota

"Enjoy your time together because things have been quiet for too long, and we both know what that means," Terrance interjected. "I'll keep watch on the town this weekend because I have a feeling the quiet is about to end."

“Yeah, I feel it too.”

It was Friday morning, and Dakota was sitting on the edge of the bed at the Starlight Motel in downtown Mt. Pleasant. He had been on the road for two days now, and as he'd expected, all the signs pointed to Eric and Ivy being in this city. Ivy's debit card had been used for gas twice, once in Traverse and again about fifty miles from Mt. Pleasant.

His heart and his instincts were telling him that they were there they were somewhere in this town. He got up andshowered and dressed before putting in a call to the local police station and asked about the Eric Blackbird missing persons case that was originally filed in Traverse City. He didn’t identify himself as anything other than a friend who was making inquiries on behalf of the family.

They had little only what came through the wire from Grand Traverse County, and they claimed to have done a search of the area and found nothing. The officer he spoke to was Deputy Lawson who sounded capable and intelligent but also came off short and distant with little patience to be given to an outsider looking for answers.

He advised Dakota to go back to Grand Traverse County because the likelihood was that Eric was still there. Dakota thanked him for his time and hung up. He was useless and out of touch Deputy Lawson cared nothing about Eric Blackbird and did not hesitate to make that clear.

He had a strange feeling about this town. Able had told him during the protection ritual he conducted the night before Dakota left on this journey that he would encounter others. By that he meant something other than human. Able had referred to them as nightwalkers and that they controlled this area of the state. But he also mentioned others that shared their spirit with the animals, and he said that the guardians of the nether world, the black dogs, also existed in this territory.

Dakota felt the energy in the atmosphere the moment he drove into town. The magic, the mystery and the shadows abounded. This was the territory of the unearthly and Dakota would have to walk with care and attention. Eric would have felt the shift and would not have lingered, but his heart was telling him that Eric was there . . . somewhere and he had to find him.

He decided to have breakfast that morning at the café across from the bookstore and show Eric’s picture to see if he got any recognition from anyone. During his walk last night, he found the least mystical energy to be in that area. That would mean the others don’t frequent the area often and Eric would have felt that too so if he was in town he would go there. Someone might recognize him and know where he is or where he went. He decided to walk.

Last night he got many different impressions as he walked the downtown area, and the worst was near the Zen Bar there were heavy magics there and a depressive heaviness that was so thick Dakota could taste it. The nightwalkers, the animal spirits and the black dogs were all present.

He hadn’t gone inside, and they did not notice him. Most of downtown was touched by the supernatural except for the café and the bookstore. There might be other places within the city, but downtown was usually a good indicator for the town overall.

Able had told him the nightwalkers ruled Mt. Pleasant, and if that were true, they would know Eric's whereabouts. But the likelihood of them sharing that information was small. He didn’t want to think about the possibility that they held Eric for the idea was too distasteful.

The café was busy, but several tables were still available. He took one by the east wall near the front window that looked out on the main street but didn't put him on display. He watched people coming and going, everything looking normal, but in his heart, he knew this town was anything but.

The moment the wolf entered the café, Dakota felt the shift in the atmosphere. There was a sudden charge in the air, and he could see the spirit of the wolf beneath the face of theman. He wore a deputy uniform, and he was looking at him, and there was a strange recognition was almost immediate, damn so much for keeping a low profile.

The officer got his coffee and headed right for Dakota. “Do you mind if I sit here?” He was indicating Dakota’s table.

"There are other empty tables," Dakota stated without expression.

“You’re new in town.” The deputy said with a look that was both derisive and suspicious.

“Is that against the law?” Dakota asked and took a slow sip of his coffee.

"What's your name friend?" The deputy took a wide stance as if thinking he might have to defend himself, and set his coffee down on the table.

“What is your issue with me officer?” Dakota remained calm and detached, and it seemed to infuriate the young man.

“No issue.” He lied. “Just being friendly.” Dakota cocked an eyebrow as he looked up at him but did not comment since his expression said all he needed to say. He was spared further discourse when the Sheriff stepped in and called out to the officer.

“Lawson.” He called and it all made sense. Dakota thought the superior disdainful attitude sounded familiar this was the deputy he spoke to on the phone earlier. The deputy fixed him with a hard stare that Dakota held and returned. He then turned and joined the Sheriff at the door.

Dakota watched as they spoke and then Lawson left the café, but the Sheriff remained, and he was heading Dakota's direction. The closer he came the heavier the air became he was no average animal. The darkness and energy exuding from thisman was massive. He was a black dog a fearsome creature and bringer of death. Dakota stiffened slightly in his seat and waited. His fear for the welfare of Eric Blackbird spiked in the face of such creatures.

This man did not ask permission to sit he pulled out the chair and sat down opposite Dakota. They locked eyes and remained silent for several seconds before he introduced himself as Sheriff Kass Keller and then waited for Dakota to do the same but instead merely nodded.

"What can I do for you, Sheriff?" He asked.

“My deputy believes that you may be trouble.” The Sheriff spoke honestly.

"Your deputy is very excitable," Dakota responded with a calm he definitely was not feeling, and the grin on the dog's face did nothing to lighten his dread.

"Yes, he can be but as a rule I trust his instincts." Good man, he didn't discount Dakota's feelings and still supported his deputy. The slow back and forth continued for a few more minutes with neither side gaining any real information. Then the Sheriff stood and, with a full smile that seemed out of place, said goodbye.

There was more to that exchange than appeared obvious. The Sheriff had an agenda, but Dakota was not aware, at this point, of what it was. The town was off, and the citizens closed and suspicious or perhaps it was only the others and not the entire citizenry. Once the deputy and the Sheriff had gone he waited a few minutes and with a picture of Eric and one of Ivy questioned the staff if they had seen either of them.

He identified himself to everyone he spoke with and explained his interest in finding them. He hadn’t shared anything with the others and didn’t plan on it. The Sheriff’soffice was clearly a no go since they were all of a similar breed. He wasn’t certain if the others were involved in Eric’s disappearance but it was very possible so he would deal with the humans of Mt. Pleasant as much as possible and avoid the others for now.

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