Chapter Nine

Joe’s sense of calm deserted him as he escorted an indignant Hargraves the two-block walk to the sheriff’s building. All those hurtful things Hargraves said. Is that what the townspeople think? Do they think I killed someone in cold blood? Are they all whispering about how I suck cock, or give up my ass to keep my job? He didn’t think the last part was true. The town had been very vocal about having the other Quincys removed from town and their assets sold. A lot of townsfolk benefitted from it as all the money from the sale was given to those who’d been impacted by the pub raid. Then there was the fact Joe had worked for his uncle for years. If the town had an issue with him still being in town, they’d have made their opposition known at the last meeting about the Quincy situation ages ago.

Like all shifters, Joe could smell a lie and Hargraves reeked of deceit. But when his Uncle Harold rang earlier that morning, Doc didn’t tell him Robert was dead and Harold acted scared, as if worried Robert would come back. So why was a human lawyer in town just hours later, claiming to work for my uncles? None of it added up in Joe’s opinion, and he was happier when he pushed open the door to the building and ushered Hargraves inside. As usual, Mal was manning the desk and Rocky’s office door was closed. He was probably napping.

“Joe, I didn’t expect to see you here today, but you look a hell of a lot better.” Mal flicked a glance at Hargraves.

“Mal, this is Justin J. Hargraves, a lawyer from Jackson, working on behalf of the Quincy family.” Joe threw the man’s card on Mal’s desk. “Apparently, they, or rather Hargraves here, claims I shot my uncle in cold blood, and didn’t give him the time to shift and verbally defend himself. If you could take his complaint, I need to see the Sheriff. Is he in?”

“Yeah, sure. Go on in. Mr. Hargraves, if you would like to take a seat?”

“Now look here. If anyone should be seeing the Sheriff, it’s me.” Hargraves puffed out his chest, which had the unfortunate consequence of straining the buttons on his shirt. “I have important business here. I won’t have this boy scurrying in there and undermining my position or working out deals behind my back. He can give the Sheriff a blow job on his own time.”

“Oh.” Mal drew the word out as he raised his eyebrows. “It’s like that, is it?”

Joe nodded unhappily while Hargraves gloated. “Ah, I see you didn’t know anything about that? Well, let me tell you….”

“Mr. Hargraves sit down! I won’t tell you again.” Although Mal was physically small, he packed a lot of power in his voice, probably from years of dealing with Rocky. “Joe, go on through. Rocky will be pleased to see you.” He gave Joe a sideways glance. “So, is there any chance congratulations are in order?”

Fuck, is there anyone who doesn’t know about me and Doc? “Sorry, Mal, you and the guys would’ve been the first ones I told, if I’d had the chance. Yes, it’s official. Doc and I are mated.”

“Yes!” Mal held up his hand for a high-five and Joe wasn’t the type to leave him hanging. “Rocky owes me twenty bucks. I knew there was something beyond professional interest when the Doc stormed in here yesterday. Go, go, see Rocky. I’ll call Liam in as well. Looks like we have a situation on our hands.” The look he gave Hargraves was not friendly.

“You have no idea.” Striding through the office, Joe kept his spine straight. Knocking once on Rocky’s door, he opened it, not surprised to see the big wolf shifter splayed back in his chair, his head back, his huge boots resting on the desk.

“I’m working, I’m working.” Rocky dropped his feet and fell forward. There was a mass of papers on his desk. “Oh, it’s you. I thought it was Mal coming in to bust my balls for not submitting the monthly budget forms. Come in. Sit down. How you feeling? Seth mentioned he and Ra were over at your place last night and you weren’t looking too good.”

“I’m completely healed now, thanks.” Closing the office door, Joe sat in front of Rocky’s desk. Rocky was a typical alpha wolf, but since being voted in as Sheriff, he kept his long hair tied back and his model-handsome features freshly shaved. He still clung to his jeans and leather jacket though. “Seth was a lifesaver in all honesty. Apparently, someone coated my uncle’s horn with some poison or magic or something which was stopping me from healing. By the way, Mal says you owe him twenty bucks.”

“You didn’t.” Rocky groaned and banged his head on the desk. “Do you know how insufferable Mal is when he’s right? And you just had to go banging the Doc of all people? I thought you two hated each other?”

“I’ve known Doc was my fated mate for two years.” Joe shrugged. “He had some personal issues that prevented him from claiming me, but we’ve worked through those problems now. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. My uncle Harold phoned me at the crack of dawn this morning.”

“The ex-mayor?” Rocky could be serious when he needed to be. “I bet he didn’t have anything positive to say.”

“That’s a bet you would win.” Joe went on to explain about how Harold apparently knew about Robert coming to town and how there were more threats coming. “Doc didn’t tell my uncle Harold about Robert’s death, but Doc and I were in the diner not half an hour ago and some human lawyer, Hargraves, came in spouting a lot of lies and bullshit in front of everyone. He’s sitting with Mal now, waiting for me to finish giving you a blow job and he’s not happy about me full stop.”

“Wait. What? A blow job?” Rocky shook his head, his eyes wide. “Hey, you’re a hunk and all that, and I’d flop my cock out for you anytime, but you just got mated and Mal tells me it’s not good practice to fuck where you work.”

“Mal’s right, but apparently that’s the only reason I kept my job when the other members of my family were booted out of town. At least that’s what Hargraves was telling everyone. Apparently, he’s done his homework on me and that’s what he’s come up with.” Joe was still pissed anyone could think he got and held his job for any reason other than the hard work he put in. He’d worked seven days a week, sometimes sixteen-hour days when Rocky first took over as Sheriff and the Quincys were banished. Things eased when Liam was made a deputy too, but then he had problems with his mates, and Joe took up the slack again.

“That insulting piece of shit.” Rocky flew out of his chair and stormed out of the office, fur sprouting on his arms. Joe hurriedly followed him. Rocky could be headstrong at times and Mal wasn’t always able to hold him back.

“Who the hell are you to come in here, insulting my deputies and this department?” Rocky loomed over Hargraves who shrank in his chair.

“You can’t touch me. I’m a lawyer.”

“I’m not going to touch you,” Rocky sneered. “There is no way in hell you’re my type and unlike you, I know how to act like a professional. I want to see your proof, asshole. If you’ve done your homework on Deputy Joe, then share with the rest of the class, because apparently there’s a whole stack of shit going on, I don’t know about.”

“Is there somewhere we can speak privately?” Hargraves eyed Rocky’s office and Joe’s buffalo went on alert. But it seems Rocky’s wolf was just as canny.

“I trust these men with my life. It’s a shifter thing, you’re probably not conscious of. But you can speak freely out here. Deputy Joe has a right to hear the accusations against him and the proof you have. Joe, I don’t want you making this man feel uncomfortable, so you can sit over there.” Rocky perched himself on the edge of Mal’s desk and after pointing at the spare seat at the desk next to it which Joe took, folded his arms and waited expectantly.

“Ah, yes. Well.” Hargraves didn’t look so confident, faced with three shifters. Humans didn’t have the same ability to scent like shifters did, but their sixth sense was brilliant at letting them know when a predator was near. Rocky was a powerful alpha and if Hargraves thought Mal was a problem, he was in for a shock with Rocky.

“It’s quite simple really,” Hargraves said, once he realized no one was going to say anything. “I’ve worked for the Quincy family, that’s Harold and Robert Quincy since they were ousted from Arrowtown on trumped up charges of fraud, creating public endangerment, and embezzlement.”

Rocky held up his hand. “Stop right there. The charges against Harold and Robert Quincy were proven with extensive records, eye witness testimony, and bank statements. That proof was accepted by the shifter council who rules on these things and a town meeting was held to determine their punishment, again as prescribed by shifter law. They were lucky all that happened was they had their assets forfeited and they were banished. Some of the other options presented by some of the people in the town would have left you with no one to pay your bill. None of those charges were trumped up as you called them, and this is not a court room. I want to hear your proof.”

“Yes, but you see, there was no right of appeal.”

“Shifters can smell deceit, Mr. Hargraves,” Mal said softly. “On all paranormal and non-paranormal species.” The warning was implied, and Hargraves swallowed hard. “Shifters don’t need an appeal process because it’s impossible to lie to them. The Shifter Council judgements are final as are those arising from full town meetings in a shifter town like ours. I’m sure the Quincys showed you documents of the transcripts of the interviews held with them by the Council.”

“They could be in my files. Look, Sherriff, there’s still the matter of why your deputy, Harold’s and Robert’s nephew, is still in his position when the rest of the family – mates, children and all – were banished.”

“Deputy Joe has worked for this department for five years. His record during that time has been exemplary. He was investigated as part of a department wide inquiry and exonerated. I believe you have proof he used sexual favors to retain his position?” Rocky’s glare was enough to make anyone crumble.

“Not proof exactly, no. I am in town conducting my own research into the situation after Robert’s shocking demise. But just look at him. He’s not even in uniform. He’s dressed as if he’s trolling for a pickup.”

Joe fisted his hands under the desk but stayed mute. He trusted the people he worked with, and Mal didn’t disappoint. “I’d watch what you say, Mr. Hargraves,” Mal warned, his soft voice holding a definite edge. “I’m more interested in how you came by the knowledge that Robert Quincy was shot in cold blood, by Deputy Joe, and given no chance to shift and explain why he was on old man Forest’s property causing havoc with his sheep. Where did you hear that ridiculous fiction?”

“There was an eye-witness.” Hargraves’s smug look was back. “I took his statement an hour ago and have it signed legally.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. Rocky held his hand out and Hargraves let it go. “I’ve got copies,” he added as though afraid Rocky would eat the paper or pee on it.

Mal leaned out of his seat to read over Rocky’s shoulder. Rocky handed the paper to Joe as both men started laughing. Frowning, Joe scanned the scrawled writing.

I hereby certify was me that saw Joe with a big-assed gun shoot that asshole Robert Quincy. My shifter eyes confirmed everything the sleazy lawyer said. I was there and saw everything.

It was signed with another scrawl and Joe’s lip twitched as he made out the letters.

D.G.AF.

“Did you meet Mr….Er..Mr. Af anywhere in particular?” Joe asked, looking up from the confession. “Outside a bar called Cam’s by any chance?”

“As a matter of fact, I did. There were a group of men gossiping about poor Robert’s death while they were waiting for the establishment to open for business.” Hargraves fiddled with the hem on his jacket. “But the eye-witness testimony still stands. Mr. Af signed the paper before the pub was open.”

“It’s rather sparse on details.” Joe couldn’t look at Rocky because he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face. “There’s no mention of the time of day, the date, or where the witness was when he saw these alleged incidences. It doesn’t even mention where the incident took place. As testimony, it’s very thin.”

“The bar was in the process of opening. Mr. Af told me he had an urgent appointment inside. But he gave me enough for me to insist you instigate an investigation.” Hargraves was looking between Rocky and Mal, probably wondering what was going on. It didn’t help when Rocky roared with laughter again, slapping his leg and making Hargraves jump.

“I bet I know who his appointment was with,” Rocky spluttered.

“This Mr. Af,” Joe bit his lip to stop his own chuckles. “I assume he’s a local in town? Can you give me a brief description of him please? Just the basics. Rocky, of course, will need to interview him as part of any investigation.”

“I may have to call in the shifter council, if this serious matter can’t be treated with more respect,” Hargraves said tersely. Rocky was leaning on Mal’s shoulder and Mal was trying to calm him down. “However, it’s of no consequence. All the details will come out during the court case. The witness was a rather short, portly gentleman. He had black curly hair that looked as though he didn’t own a hair brush. Black moustache and a gray flecked black beard. His friends called him Dave.”

Joe knew exactly who Hargraves was talking about. “And I imagine you gave him money for being so forthcoming? Expenses. Nothing illegal, but a man has to be paid for his time, right?”

Hargraves shrugged. “It’s not uncommon in legal circles to reimburse informants for important testimony.”

“How much did you give him?” Joe reached for his phone.

“Fifty dollars.” Hargraves looked him in the eye as if daring him to say something about the amount.

Joe didn’t say anything, at least not to Hargraves. Pressing a contact in his phone, he waited for the call to be answered. “Mrs. Hooper, how are you this fine morning?...I’m a lot better, thank you…I will…I promise…Ma’am, I thought you should know that a lawyer in town…yes, that’s the one…he gave Dave fifty dollars about an hour ago. You might want to…yes, your boys can handle it…he’s at Cam’s. Thank you, Ma’am, I thought you had a right to know. I’ll let you take care of it. Thank you very much, Ma’am. You have a lovely day. Goodbye.”

“Who’s this Mrs. Hooper and what’s she going to do to my witness?” Hargraves glared, which Joe ignored.

“Mrs. Hooper’s boys will pull Dave out of the pub before the lunchtime rush. She’s not happy, but she’d rather do that than pay for damages at Cam’s.” Joe looked at Rocky.

“The best call to make, this time of the morning.” Rocky grinned. “I’m glad I don’t have to go and get him.”

“Sheriff, I demand to know what’s going on with my witness.” Hargraves stood up but a glare from Rocky had him falling back in his seat again.

“You don’t have a witness,” Rocky explained. “You’ve been conned. I imagine you were walking along and heard the regulars outside Cam’s gossiping about your client’s death and Joe’s heroism that night. Knowing that crowd, you had to flash a bit of money to get someone to talk to you. After all, you’re not a local, but money talks in any language, right?”

Hargraves started to look uncomfortable. “Dave is a town icon, I suppose you can call it. Everyone knows him,” Mal took up the story. “He’s well over three hundred years old and remembers a time well before shifter towns were created. He’s also known to go on a bender once in a while and usually causes a lot of damages especially if he shifts. Which is why his long-suffering niece, a powerful woman in her own right, makes sure he has a limited amount of money to spend in the pub every day. I’ll bet you that fifty and double it, that if we went to Cam’s right now, he’ll be sitting holding court with his friends, laughing about how they all got one over on the human lawyer with more money than sense.”

“How do I know you’re not lying to me?” Hargraves’s eyes narrowed.

“The signature and the description, for a start,” Joe said, pointing at the scrawl at the bottom of the page. “Your Mr. Af is Dave Hooper, known to us and the shifter council as a bit of a rogue who never does any harm unless he’s had too much honey dew beer. Then, you don’t want to get in his path. He’s a Texas Longhorn shifter with wicked horns.”

“But…his name is Dave. Why sign his testimony as Mr. Af?”

“Don’t Give A Fuck.” Rocky chuckled.

“I beg your pardon.”

Joe pointed to the signature again. “It’s Dave’s customary signature if you ask him to sign or verify anything that he thinks is a pile of shit. D.G. Af. It stands for Don’t Give A Fuck.” Opening the desk drawer, Joe hunted through the papers, looking for Dave’s last arrest form. “Here, you see? Is that the man who gave this testimony?” He pointed to the photo at the top of the form.

Hargraves nodded, his cheeks going bright red. Dave’s arrest photos always had him flipping the bird at the camera. “And this is his signature at the bottom of the form. See, they are exactly the same.”

“I want that man arrested!” Hargraves jumped to his feet. “He stole from me. He’s nothing but a bald-faced liar and a thief.”

“Dave didn’t steal anything from you.” Rocky got to his feet as well. He was at least a foot taller than the lawyer. “It says in his testimony that he was confirming what you told him to say. You paid him for that. In this town we call that a fair exchange. Now, that’s out of the way, I demand to see the proof you have regarding Deputy Joe’s use of sexual favors to keep his job.” All signs of humor had left Rocky’s face. “That is a serious accusation and one that reflects badly on everyone in this department.”

“No,” Hargraves blustered. “What is a serious matter is Joe Quincy killing his uncle in cold blood. Shifters don’t use guns – you all consider that a sign of weakness. Well, that’s what Joe Quincy did, and Harold Quincy and Robert’s sons are calling for restitution as defined by shifter law.”

“I knew this would be about money,” Joe sighed. He wished Doc was with him. Being away from a mate wasn’t easy for any shifter, and Joe hadn’t had his three days with Doc as was allowed for a new mating. “Mr. Hargraves, exactly how did you come to the conclusion that Robert Quincy died from a gunshot wound? I understand how you came to find out I was the one responsible for my uncle’s death – everyone’s talking about it. But what made you think guns were involved?”

“I…er…it’d have to be a gun. Deputy Joe doesn’t have a mark on him.” The scent of nervousness filled the air and Hargraves gulped.

“Shifters heal quickly as a rule. If Joe got scratched up or injured in a head to head fight, then he’d be already healed – unless there was something on Robert’s horns that prevented him from healing. You know something about this!” Rocky smacked his hand on the arm of Hargraves’ chair. “You knew about the magic used to try and kill my deputy.”

“No. No.” Hargraves was pulled back in his chair, but he had nowhere to move and the stink of his deceit filled the room.

“Don’t you lie to me, you piece of shit,” Rocky snarled, showing his fangs. “Four nights ago, the Arrowtown sheriff’s department responded to a call from Forest who said a buffalo shifter was on his land, terrorizing his prized sheep. Deputy Joe works nights, something Robert Quincy knew. When Robert wouldn’t shift, despite repeated calls for him to do so, as witnessed by three other individuals, Joe – the only one capable of running him off – shifted and Robert attacked him. All Joe was doing was trying to get Robert to run off, but Robert decided to pick on someone else, smaller than himself and Joe. Joe, at great personal cost to himself, made the killing blow to save that other person’s life. During the course of the fight Joe sustained a major injury – an injury that until last night brought him close to death.”

“I’ll need to speak to those witnesses,” Hargraves bluffed.

“You’re speaking to them.” Rocky pointed to himself and Mal. “And if you’re sleazy mind thinks this is a conspiracy, go and talk to Forest yourself, or Seth the half Fae who saved Joe when nothing else would work. They’ll gladly talk to you when you get out of jail, that is.”

“Jail?” Hargraves squeaked. “I’m a lawyer, you’ve got no cause to hold me.”

“At approximately 5:52 this morning, Harold Quincy called me.” Joe leaned over the desk and fixed Hargraves with his glare. “I didn’t answer the call, my mate did, but thanks to shifter hearing, we both heard the entire conversation. Harold thought I was dying. My mate’s a doctor, so it was a fair enough assumption. Harold knew about the poison. Yet you came to the diner to find me. Harold said Robert was crackers and planning to take over this town by force if necessary. He didn’t know, at 5:52 this morning that Robert was dead. Three hours later and you’re in town discrediting me and spouting lies in front of dozens of witnesses who could all smell your deceit.”

Standing up, Joe flexed his arms and shoulders and then rotated his neck. “My mate will be wondering where I am,” he said to Rocky, ignoring Hargraves completely. “This shit interrupted our first breakfast together. If it’s all right with you, I’m going to make it up to him by taking him lunch. My recommendation, as a humble deputy, is that Justin J. Hargraves be held for further questioning and possible interrogation by the shifter council investigators. There’re severe punishments for humans who involve themselves in shifter affairs and his behavior in the diner - defamation of a public official in front of a dozen witnesses - should be enough to hold him until the council gets here.”

“There’s nothing humble about your legal knowledge, Deputy Joe,” Rocky laughed. “Go, spend time with your new mate. I think I might give Simon a call.”

“Simon? Darwin’s Simon?” Joe tilted his head, thinking about the snake shifter. Then he remembered Simon was the only lawyer in Arrowtown and his shifted form was both impressive and lethal. “That’s an excellent idea, boss. Far be it for us to deny our prisoner legal representation. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Nodding at Mal who was grinning wildly, he headed for the door, stopping just before opening it.

“By the way,” he said over his shoulder. “If Simon finds out, in the course of his investigation, who has been spreading it around town that I give up my ass to keep my job, let me know will you? I think that particular crime is one handled personally, don’t you think?”

“Let me know when and where, my friend, and I’ll bring the shovel.” Rocky grinned but when he turned back to Hargraves his grin was feral. Smiling, Joe headed outside, more than happy to let Rocky and Simon handle that piece of shit Hargraves. He was desperate for some alone time with his mate.