Page 27 of Crow’s Shadow

Loco’s jaw tightens.

That is all.

I light the torch. The hiss shuts the man up. Blue flame jumps between us.

His eyes drop to it, then back to me.

“Jesus Christ.”

I step closer. “Lash.”

“What?”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t—” I lower the torch and his whole body jerks against the chair. “All right. Fuck. All right.”

Behind me, boots cross the threshold from the dock and hit concrete.

I glance over.

Buck. Alone. Colt’s blood slick on his hands. He looks at the man in the chair, then comes to stand beside Loco. Neither of them says a fucking word.

After that, he talks, but none of it comes easy..

Some of it comes between screams. Some between promises. Some through teeth clenched so hard I hear one crack.

Grim stays close.

Loco watches.

Buck does too, Colt’s blood drying black across his hands.

Nobody tells me to stop.

Once, Grim says, “Crow.”

I look at him. His eyes flick toward the man. Who is still breathing.

I turn back. “Lash.”

“He was here.” The words spill out of him. “Last night. He came through last night.”

“Where is he now?”

“Mountain.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know. I swear to fucking God, I don’t know. Renner’s got a place up there. Lash took the road out past the old mill and went north. That’s all I know.”

The torch hisses between us.

“What else?”

“Cannery.”

My hand stops. “What about it?”