The Eagle and the Fox (A Snowy Range Mystery, #1) by Nya Rawlyns Page B

suggested, “Well, then, how about Mr. Josh? Would that work better?”
    “Yes sir, yes it would.”
    “Okay, Mr. Josh it is.”
    When Marcus returned to his kitchen area they were solemnly shaking hands. After drying and stacking the bowls on the shelf, he took the seat opposite the couch. He exchanged a glance with Josh, who blinked and tucked his chin enough Marcus knew it was time for them to get Petilune talking about what had happened at the parking lot. And how she’d ended up in Josh’s truck.
    Somehow Josh guessed Marcus might be a little hesitant to lose his new special status in the girl’s eyes, so he took point on asking Petilune what had happened.
    “Sweetie, I know you’re tired and everything, but would you mind if I asked you a couple questions?” He paused, assessing the girl’s body language. She was still curled into a tight ball, but her head was cocked in his direction. He assured her, “If you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to. Do you understand?”
    She mumbled, “Yes, sir, Mr. Josh.”
    “Did you know those boys, the ones who beat up Will Barnes?” She shook her head no, but her eyes were downcast.
    Marcus said, “We were worried they’d hurt you. Did somebody hurt you?” She cringed.
    One possibility he and Josh had probably thought about and discarded was the off chance Will Barnes had been hitting on Pet. As unlikely as that seemed, Marcus asked, “Did Will do something to scare you? Because if he did...”
    “N-n-no, sir. He didn’t do nothing.”
    He and Josh both sucked air. If Will had been at fault, they’d have taken turns in the woodshed before turning the boy’s ass over to his father.
    Josh asked, “Do you know why he was there?” Petilune pursed her lips, unsure how to answer. “Did he help you?” That got a yes.
    Marcus realized they had to be very specific about how they directed the questioning. “Can you remember what he did to help?”
    Josh had moved away, giving the girl some space. Marcus took his cue and forced himself to relax. Without meaning to, they’d been hovering over the girl like vultures, probably scaring her worse than she already was.
    She stuttered, “I-I d-didn’t mean no harm. It was just...”
    Josh extended his hand, laying it on the couch, palm up. He muttered, “It’s okay, take your time,” and took a deep breath when the girl put her hand in his.
    In a weak, thready voice, she continued. “Ma and Jackie, they was done eating and wanted to git on home. Joey was off doing something. He said for them to wait, but they didn’t wanna so they sent me to look for him.”
    “Joey’s the youngest, right?” She nodded. Marcus encouraged her to continue. “So what happened then?”
    Her cheeks pinked up again, as she muttered, “Nothing,” and stared at her lap, clearly avoiding any topic that might get her into trouble.
    Marcus had a feeling the “nothing” that happened had everything to do with the strange boy they’d seen at the service, the mysterious boyfriend who now had a name—Kit Golden Eagle. But it wasn’t yet time to bring him up.
    Josh said, “You were in the reverend’s car,” giving the girl a chance to make the leap past what she wasn’t willing to admit to and put her at the place where they’d discovered her.
    Petilune took the bait. “Will come up behind me. He musta heard what Ma said, ’cause he said he’d help me and when I said I was fine and not to bother, he said it wasn’t a bother, that it might not be good to be looking on my own.” She took a breath and smiled sweetly. “Will’s nice to me at school. Says howdy.” She repeated, “He’s nice,” making it sound like it was an unusual thing.
    Josh remarked, “Will sounds like a good friend. So, did you find your brother?”
    Undeterred from telling the story at her own pace, Petilune said, “Joey likes barbeque, you know? So we looked there and all around the tables but he wasn’t nowhere. I wanted to try the parking