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“Okay,” she answers. “Where in the Banks does he live?”
“We don’t know that either,” Micah answers.
“We were just hoping to drive the length of the Banks and ask the locals if they’ve for information,” Thorne adds.
Brittney turns toward the vampire in her front seat. “That’s your plan?”
“Aye,” he answers, turning on the charm.
“You’re in luck.” Brittney smiles as she speaks. “My family has been here since people first started coming here. I know just who to ask.” She pulls out of the parking lot, throwing the three of us backward in our seats.
The drive along the Outer Banks is beautiful. The sun setting over the Atlantic is the perfect backdrop for a minivan ride. Brittney has resorted to sharing stories from the Outlander series she’s watched, and Thorne is pretending to listen.
I’m not sure how long we’ve traveled before she turns off the main road onto one covered with sand and gravel. “We’re here,” she says in a singsong voice. She pulls the van to a stop in front of a home high on stilts. Bright headlights shine off of the wooden facade. “Let me go in first.”
We watch as the chipper woman climbs two flights of stairs and knocks on the front door. “This feels like the beginning of a horror movie,” Micah says beside me.
Brittney disappears into the cabin as soon as the door opens. Several minutes pass before she reappears. She bounces down the stairs with a smile on her face. “Come on in,” she says, opening the driver’s side door.
The three of us follow her to the door of the cabin. “Now, I need to warn you. He can be a bit cantankerous at times.” She opens the door wide. “Papaw? These are the people I was telling you about.”
“Hello, sir.” Thorne takes the lead. “Thank you for allowing us into your home.”
An older man stands from a chair in the corner of the dark room. Deer heads, large fish, and other animals adorn the wooden paneled walls. “What do you want?” he asks.
“We’re looking for information on someone who lived in the Banks many years ago,” I answer.
“Why not use one of them fancy new computers they have now? I’ve heard tell you can find anythin’ from pussy to flowers.”
“Papaw,” Brittney reprimands. “Behave.”
“I am behavin’.” He moves closer toward us. “Who ya’ lookin’ for?”
“A man named Kragen. He would be around my age with dark hair and eyes,” Thorne answers.
“Kragen, you say?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I don’t recollect anyone named Kragen in the Banks. Now, there is a man with the last name Kraverthat kind of fits your description.” Bumps cover my skin at the mention of the name. That has to be him.
“Do you know where we could find him?” Micah asks.
The old man huffs a laugh. “Hell, he used to hang out at the Minnow Bucket years ago. I heard tell that he still comes around every now and again.”
“The Minnow Bucket?” I ask.
“It’s a bar not too far from here,” Brittney fills in the blanks.
“Weird thing though,” the man continues. “I thought I seen him not too long ago. Been near thirty years since I seent him last. If it were him, he ain’t aged a damn day.” He makes a strange face. “Must have some strong genes to produce a kid that looks that much like him.”
“Can you take us to the bar?” Thorne asks.
Brittney shrugs. “Sure.” She turns toward the old man. “Thank you, Papaw. I’ll bring you some gumbo tomorrow.”
“I’d like that,” he answers, moving back to his chair in the corner. “Bring me some of that cornbread when you do. It reminds me of your Mamaw’s.”
Brittney kisses the man on the forehead before leading us out the front door and back to the awaiting van. “Ready to go to a bar?” she asks, winking at Thorne.
