Page 34 of Hammer and Hops

“I don’t believe in coincidences, but Sheriff Clay may not say the same.” She shrugged. “What I can do is research this joker and see what else I can find out. And I’ll pass that all up to the Sheriff.”

“I’d appreciate it.”

“Sure. Maybe now go home and keep your head down.”

“Uh, yeah…” I still didn’t get my grocery order, but maybe I could get Cameron to bring something over. Although the thought of going home alone had me shaking. Maybe it would be better to go to Cameron’s house?

Chapter twenty-eight

Helping Again – Cameron

It had the day off, but I had promised my brother, Jay, that I’d help him with a side job. I met him at Mosby Leslie’s place. He was a famous painter who lived up in the hills, and Jay had agreed to build a new storage shed for him. “Jay, hey! ‘Sup bro?”

“My man, Cam!” We did the bro hug thing. “Where’ve you been lately? And don’t say you’ve been busy.”

“Well, I have been. I mean, between finding work and Everett.”

“Wait. Who’s Everett?”

“Hopefully, my new boyfriend.” I filled him in on everything. Particularly the fact that Clay West was looking at me for all his shit.

“I don’t think he’s serious about that. He’s probably just going through the motions or something. You know, like you have to talk to everyone to clear out who isn’t responsible.”

“Either way, do I still keep wooing Everett or walk away?” I was wondering if it was all worth the trouble. Operation Get Everett to Relax had been derailed since this shit started happening, and he was angrier than ever and that was potentially directed at me.

“Wooing? I know you’re older than me, but for real, dude?”

“Fuck off. You know what I mean.”

He dropped his toolbox near the side of the house where we were building the shed. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“I don’t like that he accused me of this for just trying to help him. For caring about him.” I’d been able to blow it off before, but I wasn’t so sure now. Sheriff did say Everett didn’t think it was me, but it didn’t start out that way, and it was being brought up again. I couldn't keep denying it hurt.

“Did you call Justin?”

“Of course. He said I should stay away from Everett until this situation resolves. I don’t know if I can.”

“You know what you can do?”

“What?”

“Help me get these boards.”

“Fucker.” We dropped the conversation and got to work, but I still didn’t know what to do.

Until the phone rang, and Everett’s number popped up.

“Everett! Hi. How’s it going?”

“Just finished up at the Sheriff’s.”

“Again? What’s going on?” I was worried, but maybe he should have been too. I didn’t think he was taking this threat seriously enough.

“I, uh, saw someone here in Foggy Basin who shouldn’t be here, and I’m kind of shook up.”

“Did they hurt you?” That was the angriest I’d been since we met, but not at him. Who was this person?

“No, no. Nothing like that. It’s just with everything going on, this guy could be behind it, and I, uh, I don’t think I want to be alone.”