Page 21 of Wired Justice

“Looks like a real little town,” Sophie said. “I wonder who owns this land.”

Jake shrugged. “Someone who doesn’t care what’s going on with it.”

They worked their way through the village of motley homemade dwellings. Most of the residents eyed them with suspicion and denied knowing anything, but halfway through the encampment they encountered a family with several young children. The father scowled. “Yeah, I know where those two are holed up.” He pointed. “Last shack on the left. Watch out, they have a mean-ass dog and a terrible attitude.”

Sophie and Jake approached the shack with caution.

A dark, cramped-looking dwelling made of roofing tin and tarps, there was nothing inviting about it. Sophie wondered how well the crude shelter would even keep out the frequent rain.

The dog they’d been warned about started a barking that unnerved Sophie and made Ginger whine anxiously. Sophie secured the Lab to a nearby ohia tree, straightened her shoulders, and boldly walked forward toward a doorway framed in rough logs. A tarp hung over the crude opening.

There was nowhere to knock, so Sophie called out instead. “Hello! Anyone home?”

The dog barked louder. It sounded as big as a tank and just as deadly. A rustling noise inside the dwelling confirmed that it was occupied. Jake took up a position beside her, and she knew that he had drawn his weapon; they’d worked together long enough that she could predict his behaviors.

Sophie called again: “Hello in there! We need to speak with you!”

The tarp moved back. The woman Sophie remembered from the campground stuck her head out, scowling. Holly Rayme’s snarled blonde hair didn’t look like it had been touched since the last time they saw each other. “You again. What do you want?”

“We need to speak to you. Where is your companion?”

“I got nothing to say.” The woman dropped the tarp and it fell back into place.

Anger swelled in Sophie. She swept the tarp aside and barged through the doorway, reaching for the woman.

Her eyes didn’t have time to adjust to the dim interior as she was slammed from the side and knocked sprawling.

---