Page 24 of Midnight Whispers
“And you’ll take it because it’s what he needs you to do.” Cass wasn’t a parent, so he didn’t know what parenting was like. A guy in Iven’s position didn’t have anywhere to go but forward. “It’ll bring you closer together in the long run.”
“Did he tell you all about fresh starts and such the night he got into town?”
“Yeah, he did. Although I didn’t realize he was your kid. It didn’t take me long to figure it out, though.” Maybe Cass should steer the conversation away from Riley. It was safer if they didn’t talk about him.
“He’s with Zinnie today. I think she’s going to offer him a job. Maybe you can keep an eye on him when he’s there.” Iven made Riley sound like a young kid.
“He’s an adult.” Cass knew exactly how grownup Riley was. He felt like a man in Cass’s arms.
“I know. I just want him to feel like he has family around him. I want him to know he has us.” Iven was a good father when people got out of his way.
“I’ll look out for him.” Cass would do much more than look out for him. He’d keep him so close that Riley wouldn’t have to guess who he could rely on.
“Thanks.”
Cass pushed the guilt down and changed the subject. “I know where Krieger lives. We should head over there. Take the next right.”
Iven turned. “You don’t want to talk to your alpha yet?”
“He’s got the mayor’s ear. Two of the town commissioners are pack members. He could make it difficult for us since we don’t have enough evidence yet. It’s best to find Leo first. He might turn on the alpha.”
“You don’t think Miller will take responsibility?”
Krieger’s house was a couple of miles down a dirt road, but the drive was bumpy.
“Hell no. He’ll lie his way through. But maybe Leo isn’t as loyal as he wants the alpha to believe.” Cass hoped that was the case because if it weren’t, they’d have a hell of a time proving the alpha was involved with the information they had.
“I’ll work the Alice Newman angle. See if we can connect her to the alpha.” Cass and Iven made a good team.
Cass hoped they would stay that way after Iven learned about him and Riley.
Krieger lived in a camper trailer in the middle of the forest. He didn’t have neighbors for miles. A creek ran behind his house. Even before Cass got out of the car, he knew why Krieger chose the place. It was a perfect location for making moonshine.
They got out of the car.
Cass kept a hand on the hilt of his gun. He noticed Iven doing the same.
There were no cars in the driveway besides their own.
“The place feels empty.” Cass sniffed the air. “Unless he’s upwind, which is possible, he hasn’t been here for a while.”
Iven made his way to the trailer. When he stepped onto the small stairs, they wobbled. He managed to keep his feet under him, but he proceeded with a bit more caution as he knocked on the door. It was a waste of time. Cass would have smelled Krieger if he were inside the house.
Cass looked around the property. Nothing was around except for an abandoned copper still. They still lay on the ground with a dent in it.
As soon as Cass made his way back to Iven, Iven sighed in frustration as they made their way back to the car. Without probable cause they couldn’t enter Krieger’s home, even if it was a camper trailer in the middle of the forest.
“At least we have enough evidence now.” With Quincy Barr’s testimony, they had enough to make an arrest.
The problem wasn’t evidence on Krieger, though. Cass wasn’t sure how they were going to prove the alpha was involved without Krieger’s turning on him.
They needed to find Krieger and fast before the alpha ordered him to kill again.
Chapter Twelve
Riley didn’t mind helping Griffin fix things around the inn, but it wasn’t his favorite thing to do. He also didn’t comprehend the mechanics of certain things like Griffin did. Griffin seemed to know instinctively how a furnace worked.
He loved spending time with his brother, though.
