Scent of Dragons: Can You Smell Dragon's Breath by Cal Hayes

Author:Cal Hayes [Hayes, Cal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

The Cabin in Tarrance

Rubin’s head hit the pillow at 0200 hours, local time. The next morning, he stumbled to the kitchen and was soon sitting in his dad’s rocker on the front porch, a thin drizzle pattering in the predawn darkness. Of all the places on Earth, this was his favorite, near to all the loves he could hold in his heart, all the ghosts that haunt it. He slipped his glasses on, but Corbin kept his distance, as did Maggie. It wasn’t long before Izzy appeared. Stone’s dog no doubt knew someone was here, and came to investigate. After a greeting and ear scratch, she settled down near him, content with her world.

What would it take for me to have that contentment?

At 0600 local, he called Izzy to the cabin’s old truck. The motor turned over with a groan, then caught and coughed as the oil returned to places it should be. He drove the gravel drive and turned back toward Terrance, headed for some bacon and egg biscuits. He bought three with three cups of coffee and turned back toward Stone and Sarah’s cabin. The drizzle had ended, leaving dripping leaves and high humidity in its wake. He ate half the first biscuit and gave the other half to Izzy, being sure she understood it was a secret to be kept. The dog agreed, of course.

At 0730 hours he drove up to Stone’s cabin, much to their surprise and delight. Stone came out to greet them, but Sarah remained inside, grinning and waving from the door.

“Son-of-a-gun, Rubin, I sure didn’t anticipate you being here this early. It’s a sight for sore eyes, I tell you.”

They shook hands and walked back to the porch, Rubin holding the sack with coffee and biscuits. He offered one to Sarah, but she refused, like she always did. He found he was glad he had predicted correctly, meaning he got to have another.

Izzy greeted Stone politely. Stone said, “Izzy, I think I smell bacon on your breath.” Of course, the dog looked guilty as sin as soon as he said it. Stone laughed and scratched her head. Sensing she was forgiven, she began to ask for his biscuit.

As soon as they had opened the coffee and had the first bites, the conversation began.

“So, what’s up with the investigation into Luke’s murder?” Rubin said.

“Okay, we backtracked along the old trail from the spring to an old fire road. A vehicle had been driven up the fire road recently—fits the timeframe. The tracks Emily drew into her sketch match the ones at Luke’s campsite. There was a second set of prints at the campsite, but only one at the spring and along the trail. The tire prints on the old fire trail could be any one of a bloody million vehicles, but the width of the axel and the distance between the axels is consistent with a small pickup, which would cut you back to only a semi-bloody million vehicles.”

“So, if I am hearing what

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