Watcher in the Woods (Rockton #4)(79)

“You do not aim a gun unless you intend to shoot,” I say. “I will shoot. You know that.”

“Eh, don’t worry about it, Phil,” Dalton says. “Ignore that loaded gun aimed at your chest, like I’m supposed to ignore the one you’re pointing at mine. No big deal, right?”

Phil lowers his weapon. I do the same.

“There,” Dalton says. “Now we’re back to square one, where I tell you I’m leaving, and you tell me I’m not, and this time, I’ll ask if the council has spoken on the matter.”

“No, but they consider Casey’s sister a suspect. You’re putting me in a very difficult position here, Eric.”

“Yeah, get used to it. All the positions up here are difficult. All the choices are tough. We don’t wave guns around to get our way. If you ever see me doing that, feel free to take my badge. If you want, I can clock you.”

“Clock me?”

“Hit you. Jaw’s best. It’ll leave a mark, and we’ll tell everyone that’s what I did when you tried to stop me. Not your fault. I’m just an asshole.”

“I am not letting you hit me.”

Dalton snorts. “No, but you were willing to shoot me. You got a strange sense of priorities there, Phil. Fine. Play it your way. If you can stop me without resorting to gun-fire, you’re free to do so.”

“I’ll stay.”

The voice comes from behind me. I turn to see April, the source of this argument, forgotten by everyone. She steps forward.

“I understand your predicament,” she says. “Casey and Eric promised I could leave, and they are attempting to make good on that promise. However, if they do so, they risk both disobeying this council and placing Phil in an even more precarious situation. Casey did attempt to warn me about the circumstances here. I thought she was exaggerating. I see now that she wasn’t, and furthermore, that no one could have foreseen this collision of events—my arrival coinciding with the arrival and murder of this U.S. Marshal. The timing of those events makes me a suspect, and if I were at home in this situation, I’d be told I cannot leave town until the matter is resolved. The same applies here.”

“You have commitments,” I say. “You’re needed In Vancouver.”

“Which makes this inconvenient, but emergencies happen. What I will ask, Phil, is that you allow Casey to go to Dawson to conduct her research and, at that time, she can make the appropriate calls, with excuses that will permit me another week here. I know I’m not guilty of any crime, and I’m sure a week is all you’ll need to determine that.” She looks at Phil. “Is that acceptable?”

“I need to check with the council.”

“Fuck the council,” Dalton says. “You know they’ll waffle, say they can’t guarantee anything. She’s asking for a promise, Phil. From you. She’s staying here, for what you and I both know is no damned good reason. She’s putting her professional reputation on the line to save your ass. We all know you’re screwed here. The sad truth is that Casey and I can’t afford to give a damn. April is throwing you a life jacket, but you’re going to need to swim a bit to grab it. You want to swim? Or just keep paddling and hope you stay afloat?”

Phil’s jaw twitches, but after a moment, he says, “One week. I will not update the council on this matter, and they will likely forget April is here. She may leave on the weekend.”

“Great,” I say. “Now, hand over the gun.”

“What?”

“This is the second time you’ve pulled it,” I say. “You’re a cop’s worst nightmare. The dude who carries his handgun to the grocery store and pulls it on the guy who cuts him off in line.”

“That is—”

“True,” Dalton says. “One hundred perfect true. You’ve got the gun, so you yank it out, with no idea what that means. You’re going to get yourself shot. Give it to Casey. We’ll lock it up.”

Phil slips the gun under his jacket. “No.”

“Is that in your waistband?” I say. “Please tell me you are not carrying a loaded gun in your waistband.”

“The gun is mine, Detective, to do with as I like.”

“And you like shooting your balls off?” Dalton looks at me. “It would be wrong to make a crack about him not having any to shoot, wouldn’t it?”

“Totally wrong. Phil, I’m giving you one last chance to hand over the gun. It is against town rules for anyone other than law enforcement to possess a firearm. In light of what happened with Val, I would strongly suggest this is not a rule you want to break.”

“The gun is for my personal protection, Detective, and as you’ve pointed out, I have no official role in this town. Therefore, I will continue to carry it.”

“That makes no fucking sense,” Dalton says. “Unless you’re arguing that you aren’t a member of this town at all, in which case . . .” He points. “The forest is that way. Hope you’ve got a knife to go with that gun, or you’ll be ripping dinner apart with your teeth.”

“Forget it,” I say. “We’ve got more important things to do. We’ll take this up with the council. You’re dismissed, Phil. April? We need to discuss who I call and what I say. I’ve got a notebook in my bag. Just let me grab that.”