A Darkness Absolute (Casey Duncan #2)(89)

“Finally,” Cypher says when he spots Dalton. “Would you tell this fucking yahoo to put his gun down or I’ll stick it where he ain’t ever going to get it unstuck.” He wheels on Paul. “And inform him that’s no idle threat.”

“It’s fine, Paul,” Dalton says. “He’s a former resident.”

“Former fucking sheriff, you mean,” Cypher says.

Anders falls in beside me and whispers, “Oh, this explains so much.”

“This is Tyrone Cypher,” Dalton says. “He was the sheriff before my father took over and a deputy after.”

Cypher’s lips tighten, annoyed by the reminder of his demotion, but Dalton continues as if he was just being thorough with the introduction. “Ty is permitted in Rockton, but only if I’m informed of his arrival.” He looks at Cypher. “And only if he remembers he’s no longer the sheriff.”

Cypher snorts. “You like that, don’t you, jungle boy?”

I step up to Cypher and say, under my breath, “No.”

He raises his brows.

I meet his gaze and say again, “No.”

There’s a moment where he studies me. Then he claps me on the shoulder and says, “Get your back down, kitten,” and turns to Dalton with “Eric, I’ve got something for you.” He emphasizes Dalton’s name, telling me he understood my message and might even comply.

Dalton jerks his head. “We’ll take it inside.”

“We were just about to have lunch,” I say. “Looks like we have enough for four.”

I glance at Anders, which prompts Dalton to say, “This is Will Anders, my deputy. Will, Ty Cypher.”

Cypher looks Anders up and down and then flicks a glance at me. “Can’t escape that minority hiring quota shit even up here, huh?”

“Nah,” Anders says. “After you, the council just got really skittish about hiring dumb-assed white dudes. It’s actually just the dumb-assed part that was the problem, but you can’t blame them for being overly cautious.”

“See?” Cypher says to Dalton, pointing at Anders. “He knows how to make a proper comeback.”

“I just have a lot more experience dealing with dumb-asses. And racists.”

“Hey, who you calling racist?” Cypher points at the boxes of food. “I’m not the guy who sent the black dude to fetch his lunch.”

“Actually, I volunteered—”

I cut Anders off with a wave. “Don’t even bother. Tyrone is still convinced I’m Aboriginal.”

Cypher screws up his face. “What?”

“First Nations,” I say.

“First…?” He rolls his eyes. “Oh, fuck. Are you offended ’cause I called you an Injun? Fine. Are those the currently fashionable terms? First Nations? Aboriginal? I’ll use those, then. Happy?”

Anders looks at me, one brow cocked. “Then I should warn you about lunch, Case. It’s probably not something you’ve tried. Chicken chow mein. Chinese. But it’s pretty good.”

“I’ve heard that.”

Dalton shakes his head and escorts Tyrone into the station.





FIFTY-ONE

Cypher has found Roger. Found his camp, at least.

“I’d have brought him in,” he says as we eat. “But he knows something’s up. He’s hunkered down in an open patch right up against a cliff side. No way of getting close without him seeing me coming. I’m no fucking good at subtlety.”

Anders snorts under his breath. Cypher doesn’t catch it and continues, “I considered waiting for nightfall, but I figure I’m about as likely to spook him as to bring him in. If I spook him, he’s gone. Seemed safer to just come and get you folks.”

I thank him for that. Then Dalton and I exchange a look. While it’s a sensible decision, it’s also worrisome. I’d have kept my suspicions to myself. But Cypher isn’t the only one in the room who lacks subtlety.

“You setting us up, Ty?” Dalton asks as he reaches for another helping.

“What?”

“You heard me. I appreciate that you didn’t risk spooking him. It’s the right move. Not a Ty Cypher move, though.”

Cypher’s eyes narrow. “You calling me stupid, boy?”

“No, but given that you’d get a bigger reward for bringing him in, I’d have expected you to try.”

“Maybe because you knew a younger man, one a helluva lot more willing to wager good money on a shitty bet. I want my fucking coffee. I’m not going to risk that. I want supplies, too. We’ve got a bad winter coming. You spend time out in those woods, you learn that big gambles are the sure way to guarantee you won’t spend much more time in those woods. That’s something I’d expect you to know all about.”

I make a noise in my throat, but Cypher doesn’t push the jab further, just refills his mug and adds enough creamer to make my teeth ache.

“If you don’t want Roger, that’s fine,” Cypher says. “But you still owe me for scouting him.”

“You know I’ll come with you. I’m just letting you know that I don’t trust you, and I’ll be bringing Will and Casey.”

“You sure you don’t want the full fucking militia? An honor guard to keep you safe?”