“They’ve got a face like a California condor after an accident with a cheese grater,” Carl said matter-of-factly, and Michael nodded. “You got Mandy the supplies, right? And the things Michael’s going to need to trick out the Cherokee?”
Chuck nodded. “Yeah. I figure you two drop the bird off at the Aerie this afternoon. Then Michael and I can go back this evening and spend tonight and tomorrow getting that thing ready to roll. We’ll put extra parts and tools in the back, so if it breaks down on the way down the mountain, we can maybe fix it without killing ourselves.” He paused as though realizing this was a new bit of plan. “You good with that?” he asked Carl.
“As long as we’re good to check in tomorrow at three,” Carl said. “I mean, I can probably check us both in by myself and say he got hung up in travel or something, but, you know, we’re doing a romantic getaway thing. Gotta sell it.”
Grace, Hunter, and Chuck all turned to Michael like their heads were on swivels.
“What?” Michael asked, feeling singled out.
“That’s it,” Grace said in wonder.
“I think you’re right,” Chuck agreed.
“What?” Carl asked, staring at him, but friendly-like so Michael didn’t flinch. “What’s wrong with him?”
“He looks all lit up inside,” Grace told him happily. “Like someone shoved a lightbulb up his ass.”
Michael’s face went hot. “Well,” he said with dignity, “it was a little bigger than a lightbulb.”
A shocked silence washed over the table, and Carl covered his eyes with his palm.
“Hey!” came the cheery voice of the dapper, handsome Torrance Grayson as he stepped through the patio gate. “What’d I miss?”
He had to wait a long time—and wade through a lot of laughter—before he got an answer to that question.
FINALLY THE laughter died down, and by the time they all had their food, they’d brought Torrance up to speed.
He lingered thoughtfully over his chicken and vegetables, asking them all questions and more questions, eking out details and making notes in a legal pad he’d brought with him.
“Wow,” he muttered, pushing his plate back and leaning his elbows on the table. “You guys have the most interesting games. So as far as I can tell, we need to do three things.” He drew a big one on his pad. “One, we need to find out who killed Matteo—who was driving the monster truck and the vehicle behind him, but most importantly, who was giving the orders.”
“We’re on that,” Carl said, nodding with Hunter. “We’re checking into the vineyard hotel tomorrow, and we’ve pretty much narrowed it down as the one we think is responsible.”
“I’m working for the monster-truck outfit,” Molly said, checking her phone. “In fact, I’ve got to leave in about five minutes. Anyway, I’ve got three drivers in my sights who have a direct link to the Aerie. One has a girlfriend who works there—I’m thinking no because he’s a total sweetheart and super smart, so not the type. One’s got a grudge against Jesses and Jewels, and he’s just generally an asshole. And the third is decent enough, but he’s the grandson of the owner of the Aerie. I’m thinking if he was ordered to do something, he’d probably do it. I know in the pictures that family is all happy and functional, but you can smell the dis in the function if you know where to look.”
Torrance Grayson looked up from his pad. “Elaborate?”
Molly grimaced and shook back the hair cascading from the half ponytail drawn up on the top of her head. She was dressed in skintight jeans and a white T-shirt that showed off her cleavage, and Michael had to admit she looked exactly like the NASCAR groupies he’d grown up with. She’d even done her makeup super bold, with bright blue shadow to make the illusion complete. “Can’t. We need to catch up for dinner, sweetness,” she said. “I’ve got to go or I’m gonna get fired, and there goes our connection.”
She blew them all a kiss and said, “Seeya! Stirling, fight for the check for me!” before running out the gate.
All eyes turned to Stirling, and Lucius gave a feline half smile. “Feeling lucky today, young man?”
“No,” Stirling said, clearly assessing his odds. “But don’t worry. I’ll get in there when you’re not looking.”
“Good choice,” Chuck said, laughing. “Particularly since a lot of us ordered alcohol and you’re not twenty-one.”
Stirling’s mouth twitched up at the corners, and Michael knew the young man had something planned that would probably take Lucius by surprise. He realized he liked this game, seeing who could pay for the check first; it was a good-natured sort of thing, unlike his brothers’ naked attempts to fleece their victims for as much as they could.
“Okay,” Torrance said, writing furiously. “At least we have leads. We also need proof that the birds are illegal hy—” His phone pinged, and Chuck looked up from texting him pictures he’d probably taken that morning. “Oh dear God,” he said weakly, taking in the enormity of what the birds were.
“Yup,” Carl said.
“That’s terrifying. It looks photoshopped.”
“We’ve got an ice chest full of monster meat on its way to a crime lab that says different,” Chuck said.
Michael looked at him in surprise. “I didn’t even think of that,” he said with admiration. “How long will it take to look at the DNA?”
“We had Felix make the call and fill out the request,” Chuck said. “The lab was in Bakersfield. While you guys were—” His eyes narrowed. “—stuffing lightbulbs, we flew to Bakersfield, dropped off the chest, and flew back. Since it’s under Salinger and has no connection to Napa or the conservancy, I think it’s safe.”
“What did you say it was?” Carl asked.
“Said it was a bird that was harassing my livestock,” Chuck said, “and that it looked fishy to me. I asked Mandy, and she said she hadn’t dressed the birds, just broken them down so they’d fit in the freezer and wrapped them in butcher paper, mostly for this reason. It was one of Mandy’s secret weapons in case somebody threatened her or her proof escaped. Murder-bird meat in the freezer.”
“God,” Carl muttered, shaking his head. “She had better not be in danger.”
“I hear you,” Chuck said. “And now that I’ve met her and seen her situation, I can understand why you were so worried. It’s one of the reasons I told her I’d return with Michael. I want to see what we can do to tighten security.”
“Good deal,” Carl said. “I can come back with you and help—”
Chuck shook his head. “No you can’t. Torrance, tell him why.”
“Because we need data mining,” Torrance said. “We need to look at things like bird attacks on livestock and the effect they have on endangered species populations. Before we call your contact at the DOI, we need to make a case for these things being the monsters they are. If we’re going to have this done by the time you find the missing pieces—who killed Matteo, who ordered it, why—I’m going to need some help.” His gaze flickered to Grace and Hunter. “You guys—”