Page 43 of Captured on Film
And Sasquatch said no more himself. Just went back to beinga show dog. And since everything was quieter that way, Caleb could finally driftoff to sleep.
Clink Cups
“Okay …? What’s this?” Josheb asked in an undertone.
“Star wine.”
“And why did we have to comethis farto taste it?”
They were about half a mile from the nearest entrance toAndor’s den. Far enough to guarantee a smidgen of privacy.
Caleb wrestled with the flimsy can opener from their campingkit. “Because … I don’t know. Does there have to be a reason?”
“Gimme.” Josheb expertly opened two servings of ravioli.
“I just wanted you to get a share.” Caleb handed his brothera fork.
“Because someone shared it with you?”
“Yeah. This is Andor’s flask. You were almost right aboutthe distillery. He’s a wine-maker.”
“And his special reserve pairs well with Italian?” Joshebmunched cold pasta.
Caleb angled his shoulder to keep Sasquatch’s nose out ofhis mid-morning snack “There wasn’t much else to work with.”
“Here, boy.” Josheb offered the dog a ravioli, chucklingwhen Sasquatch delicately slid it from the tines. “I mean, I knew there wasbooze. Hard to miss the barrels. And I asked Hesper about it, but she onlyknows the basics about Skypact business dealings. Mostly by reputation. This isher first time here, and honey mead is her branch of the family’s stock andtrade.”
“Wait. Did you say … Skypact?”
“Apparently, it’s stamped on every blessed barrel. It’sAndor’s surname. Well, they call it theirclanname. Andor Skypact.Oaken, too. He’s Andor’s son. Their wine’s in high demand, but they’re atwo-man operation. Except it’s more properlymales. Or morespecifically, boars. Since they’re bear clan.”
Caleb sort of wished he’d brought along his field journal. “Youknow a lot.”
“Been asking a lot of questions.” Josheb offered Nessie aravioli. “Interviews—it’s what I do. Investigative journalist, remember?”
“You’re actually doing your job? Even though they’ll neverlet you publish the story?”
“Not much elsetodo.” Josheb chewed thoughtfully. “We’rereally in deep this time. Not sure we’re actually in trouble, but it’s like yousaid at the start—bigger than both of us.”
Skypact. That had to refer to Andor and Eri, didn’t it?People knew about star wine. It might even be world-famous. But did anybodyelse know that the father and son brewers had a silent partner?
Josheb offered Sasquatch another ravioli, but the dog turnedup his nose. “More for you, sweetheart,” he said, passing it to Nessie instead.
Caleb suddenly remembered something of the night before. “Ithink Sasquatch is holding out for the star wine.”
“Big drinker, is he?”
Oh, yes. It was all coming back to him. “Star wine is one ofhis favorites.”
“And how would you know that little detail?”
Caleb stared at his too-cold toes and quietly admitted, “Hetold me so.”
Josheb hummed. And when Caleb stole a glance, his brotherasked, “Just now?”
“Last night. I was a little drunk.”
Sasquatch cocked his head to one side, and he sniffed in thedirection of the flask.
