Chapter 26 - Collin

The streets are mostly sleepy even though it's a little after eleven by the time we enter downtown.

Amon must notice too, because he says, "Everything's closed on Mondays, right? Is that how it works?"

"I don't know. You'd know better than I do. I never came here much when we were kids."

"I can't really remember it being a thing, but it makes sense. Weekends are big here. Lots of partyin', ya know. Sure looks deserted though, don't it?"

"Yeah," I agree. "Maybe this is a big waste of time."

"Well, we're here, so we might as well check it out." He points to a building about halfway down the street. "Let's try McGills. Back in the day, that's where I used to go."

McGills is a tavern and it's got a sign on the door that says ‘open,' so what the hell. We head that way and when we get there, Amon just pulls the door open and walks in.

There are a handful of customers inside. Two sittin' on opposite ends of the bar, one fucking with the jukebox, and two more playing pool.

There's also a bartender. Girl, maybe twenty-one. Blonde hair pulled back, black t-shirt that says ‘McGills' on it in white letters, and very big blue eyes. Amon walks up to her and says, "We're lookin' for Lucas. Can ya help us?"

She eyeballs him. Then me. Then back to him. "Depends on who's askin'."

"Amon Parrish and Collin Creed. We're from Disciple."

"Lucas is my cousin," I add. "He told me to come by and visit. I just got back into town."

"Hmmmph." That's all she says. But she turns, walks away, and disappears behind a swinging door.

"Why do I feel like we walked into something here, Amon?"

"Keep cool. It's typical paranoia." He turns to smile at me. "You just forgot how it was."

"Maybe." I sigh. But of course, I did get threatened by mountain men just an hour ago, so maybe I just never understood how complicated the fuckin' Trinity is and today is my day to be schooled.

A moment later the girl is back. "He's down on A Street. Go out here, take a left, then your first right. That's A. He's the second house on the right. It's big and white, ya can't miss it."

"Thank ya very much," Amon says, tipping an imaginary hat at her.

But she's already turned her back to us. So I just do the same and head out the door.

"We should just go," I say, once Amon has caught up outside.

"Why? We're here to fuckin' visit. It's not a big deal. We just come off as outsiders, that's all. Once we set them all straight, it'll go better."

"Well, I don't really have anything to say to Lucas. I was just coming by to be polite."

"So be polite."

We find the house easy enough. It's massive. One of the stately ones, not simply big. We climb the stairs to the significant front porch and Amon knocks on the door.

Both of us lean in, trying to hear something. A few seconds later, we hear footsteps thudding across a wooden floor. The door opens and?—

"What the fuck?" Amon laughs. "What the hell are you doin' here, Grimm?"

Grimm doesn't answer Amon. He looks straight at me. "I was coming here to talk to Lasher about you and Lowyn."

I fuckin' knew it. I fuckin' knew it. Something is going on here.

Amon is confused. "What the hell are you talkin' about, Grimm?"

The door opens wider and then another man appears. Very tall, maybe six-two—six-three. Muscular, a little bit older than me, long blond hair and a beard to match. He looks even more like a Viking than Lucas. I vaguely remember him, but only because Grimm just used his name a few seconds ago. "Lasher," I say. He's my… step-uncle? Lucas's step-father? My mother's one-time brother-in-law? Kinda?

It's… complicated. As relations tend to be when towns are this small and people change their minds about marriage.

"Long time, Collin," Lasher says. "I think you might want to come inside and take a seat. Because Grimm here has something very important to tell you about the woman you seem to be fallin' in love with."

Amon looks at me and I just look back at him. I don't really wanna go inside, but whatever this is, it's been chasing me all morning and I'd rather just get it over with.

I go first, Mercy at my knee, and Amon follows. Lasher leads us through a very fancy foyer with the biggest crystal chandelier I've ever seen, down a hallway, and into a… maybe a library, maybe an office. At any rate, he points to a group of four wingback leather chairs. "Have a seat. I'll get us a drink."

I put up a hand. "I don't need a drink."

Lasher shoots me a look from over his shoulder, already reaching for a whiskey decanter on the bar. "You're gonna want this drink, Collin. Take my word on that."

"OK, what the fuck?" Amon hates riddles and this day is turning into a beauty of a mystery right before our eyes. "You guys need to explain what the hell is going on. I can't take this fuckin' tension!"

"Sit down, Amon." Lasher hands him a drink. "You're here for moral support."

Amon, not typically one to take orders from anyone but me, decides he will take the drink and the seat. He sits and I take the chair next to him.

Grimm settles in the one across from me, but he doesn't sit back. He leans forward with his elbows on his knees.

Lasher offers me the drink and I take it. Just to have something to hold.

Lasher sits across from Amon and he doesn't sit back either. I notice he didn't pour himself a drink. Or Grimm, for that matter. Even though Grimm is the only one in the room who really does look like he needs one.

Grimm starts. "Collin, you and I were friends. You remember that? And it wasn't just some casual relationship, either. We did everything together as kids."

"Sure," I say. "Eagle Scouts. Football."

"Well… just… keep that in mind?—"

"Spit it out, Grimm. Just… fuckin' spit it out."

He shrugs and sighs. "Lowyn, Collin. She's… married."

I just blink at him. Like these words do not make sense.

"Not just married," Lasher says. I look over at him. "She's married to Ike Monroe."

"Who the fuck is Ike Monroe?" Amon asks. Because I don't seem to be able to talk.

Lasher looks Amon right in the eyes. "My twin brother. He runs Blackberry Hill." Amon and I both must have blank looks on our faces because Lasher kinda laughs. "Oh. Shit. I forgot. I guess I didn't realize that the two of you left town before you could be told."

"Told what?" Amon asks.

"About how there's a fourth town in the Trinity contract. And Lowyn McBride married the man who runs that town nine years ago when she was just twenty years old."