Ghost Canyon (The John Decker Supernatural Thriller Series Book 7) by Anthony Strong (ebooks that read to you .TXT) 📕

to blend more fully into the surroundings. A mild odor of fresh paint and sawn wood hung in the air. The sheets on the bed looked crisp and new.

Decker set his bags on the floor and turned back to Robyn. “This is better than I expected.”

“I’m pleased to hear that,” Robyn replied. She offered Decker the room key. “Once you’ve freshened up, you can head down to the kitchen and I’ll make you something to eat, if you’d like.”

“That would be fantastic,” Decker said. He’d eaten on the plane, but that was hours ago. He was getting hungry again. “I’ll be right down.”

“Whenever you’re ready.” Robyn retreated to the doorway. “I’m a night owl, so I’ll be up late.”

“Understood.”

Robyn nodded toward a closed door to her left. “The en-suite is through there. Originally these rooms would’ve had chamber pots, but we thought we’d go a little more civilized.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Decker said.

“Back in pioneer days, if you wanted an actual toilet, you would need to venture beyond the hotel to the outhouse.”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t get too authentic,” Decker replied. “That doesn’t sound like much fun.”

“Especially when you consider your toilet paper would be corn husks. Not the kind of feature a modern bride wants for her wedding.” Robyn smiled. “Anyway, I’ll see you downstairs soon.”

Decker nodded and watched her leave. He closed the door and took another glance around the room before picking up his travel bag and putting it on the bed. As he unzipped it, a sound drifted from the darkness beyond the bedroom window. A lonely warbling howl. Probably a coyote. He went to the window and peered out but saw no sign of the animal. He could hear it yipping though, most likely up in the mountains. Something had agitated the beast. Decker wondered if it was responding to a mundane threat, like another alpha-male in its territory, or if it could sense the creature lurking in the dark mine tunnels beneath its feet, hungry for a new victim.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Harlan Biggs paced back and forth while he waited for the phone to connect. When it finally did, a gruff voice came on the line.

“What do you want?”

“Sergeant Lawson, it’s Harlan Biggs.”

“I know who the hell it is. I have you listed in my contacts as never again.”

“Cute. If you’d kept your gambling habit under control in the first place, I wouldn’t be in your contacts at all.”

“Yeah, well, it’s a little late for that now. Still doesn’t mean I want to talk to you.”

“Trust me, the feeling is mutual.”

“If you’re calling for a favor, forget it. I made that speeding ticket go away back in February, and I smoothed it over when your pit boss got a little handsy with one of the customers.”

“That guy was counting cards. My floormen had every right to ask him to leave. Wasn’t our fault he got belligerent.”

“Harlan, your boy was heavy-handed, and you know it. Besides, there was no proof the guy was cheating outside of the fact that he’d won a butt load of money and you didn’t like it. You’re lucky he didn’t sue your ass.”

“Hasn’t happened since, has it?” Harlan was growing impatient. “Can we get down to business?”

“I’ve already told you, there is no business. I’m done doing favors for you. Go find someone else to bother.”

“Okay. I can do that,” Harlan said. “Just a quick question, though, are Internal Affairs still on the same number?”

“Dammit, Harlan. You don’t want to do that. It will only draw attention to you.”

“Never said I was going to give them my name. What is their stance on cops being indebted to casinos, anyway? I can’t imagine they look favorably upon it.”

“All right, you win.” There was an audible sigh on the other end of the line. “Tell me what this is about so I can get rid of you.”

“That’s more like it.” Harlan stopped pacing and went to the window. The air conditioner unit was chugging away loudly. The noise was distracting, but he liked to stand close to the unit anyway when he was doing shady business. It was unlikely that he was under surveillance, but you could never tell, and the sound would make it harder for bugs to record him. At least, that was what he hoped. “I need some information from you about an incident up at the Ghost Canyon Mine yesterday.”

“Yeah, I heard about it. Caused quite a stir.”

“Tell me,” Harlan said. "I'm listening."

“Well, I’m not part of the investigation and I haven’t seen the report, but apparently three people went and got themselves killed inside the mine. We had two of our own up there, and one of them witnessed the third death. The rest of the search team barely escaped with their lives. Then a couple of Feds showed up and closed us down.”

“FBI?”

“Yeah. Pair of stiffs from the Vegas field office. Took charge and sent everyone away. Didn’t care that they were stepping on toes.”

“Tell me more.” Harlan felt a tingle of anticipation. “How did the victims die?”

“Some kind of animal attack by all accounts. Beyond that, everyone’s keeping it pretty close to the vest.”

“Dammit,” Harlan cursed. “You haven’t told me much more than I got from the local news.”

“That’s all I know. I wasn’t at the scene. Sorry.”

“Not good enough.”

“It’ll have to be. Like I said, I haven’t seen the report.”

“Okay. Fine, I believe you.” Harlan let out a frustrated sigh. “Can you find out more?”

“Maybe. But if I do, we’re even. Deal?”

“I’ll decide when we’re even. But if you get me that report, it will go a long way toward it.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“And you might hear it again,” Harlan replied. “Or you might not, if you help me out on this.”

“I’ll do what I can.” Lawson didn’t sound happy.

“Perfect.” Harlan stared out the window. He looked down toward the neighboring building, a burger restaurant. He could smell the meat grilling and it made him hungry. “Can you get it to me by