2031
It was only a moment and then Jill pulled the plastic menu from the holder. Jacinda felt vaguely embarrassed. Yeah, the hang-over, definitely. She listened to the clink of silverware on plates, the quiet hum of conversation. Along the diner bar were stools that regulars sat at, chatting away with the staff like old friends.
No one looked at them sideways or gave them strange glances. More than likely, if anything strange had happened- a missing person or a body found- well, strangers were always the first to be looked at suspiciously. Especially if the skinwalker was still concentrating on the reservation. The native locals would be giving her and Jill all kinds of vibes.
Still, this wasn't the only place. She pulled her phone out and pulled up the map, looking for the nearest towns. Leechee. Greenhaven. Kaibeto. Bitter Springs. Those last two were probably as far as it might have gotten. She started pulling up the local blotters. Not that they would be exhaustive. But surprisingly, these small towns did a pretty good job of recording local police activity. She never understood why, but she always appreciated it.
Jill looked up, curious and leaned forward. "Did you find something?" Jacinda turned the phone so that both of them could see.
"Nothing yet. Obviously, we won't see anything big in the papers. And maybe no one at this place has noticed anything. But maybe somewhere near here. On the outskirts. Here, tell me if anything jumps out at you."
Jill scrolled through each one. Some were typical. Cattle on the road. A fire. Car accidents. She commented absently as she read. "89 is pretty infamous. There's a saying. Pray for me and mine. I drive US 89." Her smile was weak. "On the way to Bitter Springs or Flag, you take 89 south through the Cut. The road winds and there aren't really guard rails. Pretty easy to go off the edge if you aren't paying attention. Or have been drinking."
They talked back and forth, pausing only briefly when Sasha returned with the drinks. Not ready to order and obviously in the middle of something, she left them alone. So...a few were possiblities. The fire in Leechee killed a family. No word on bodies. If the skinwalker wanted to cover its tracks- or make things more challenging- starting a fire would very easily hide things until it was too late. Ditto with an accident.
She thought about the guy at the sheep camp. She had taken a picture. But unless the thing walked passed them wearing his face, it didn't help.
Her stomach rumbled and Jill laughed. As if by magic Sasha was there. Jill knew what she wanted and ordered immediately. Jacinda put the phone away. "Alright. Let me see," she said, pulling out the menu.
Everything looked good. The pictures didn't help. Nor did Sasha and Jill's conversation, to be honest. She tried to ignore it, feeling dumb for some reason.
"...Yeah, Burning Man. Gonna be at Lake Havesu this summer on the Chemehuevi Reservation. Did you..."
Bacon and eggs with hashbrowns and pancakes.
"....the water was so cold, I couldn't believe it...."
Southwestern skillet with egg, sausage, potato, hatch chiles and gravy.
"....shipped over brick by brick and rebuilt. So London Bridge..."
Chicken fried steak and eggs with biscuits and gravy.
It was all harmless, she told herself. Jacinda looked up and took a sip of her coffee giving both women a smile. Sasha looked at her suddenly. "I'm so sorry. What can I get you." She really was a sweet girl. Just trying to be friendly.
She went with the skillet, eggs over easy.
"Maybe after this, we can head down to...Kaibeto, right? The accident? Talk to some people." Jill nodded.
"We need a cover, though."
"Already got one. Investigators. Hired by a guy looking for his daughter. Same make and model of the vehicle. Just following up every lead. The local LEO's will probably let on the casualties and what they were. Their mood will tell if something was odd."
An approving smile slowly spread on Jill's face and she raised an eyebrow, as if impressed. And Jacinda felt all warm and fuzzy inside. She laughed and then remembered Jill's impressions of teens at the 7-2-11. Doing her best (and most terrible) version of it, she made herself look like a love sick boy, expressing himself. "Ahh sh'heart. You make me feel all somehow."
Jill laughed and slapped at her arm playfully.
Sasha returned, arms laden with plates. Quickly enough, the food sat in front of them. "Anything else?"
"Tabasco, please," at the same time Jacinda said, "Some tabasco."
Sasha laughed. "One of you owes the other a coke." Jacinda looked at Jill with raised eyebrows, as if to say, well?
Soon enough, they fell to eating and planning. The food was warm and wonderful and her stomach thanked her profusely.
So, Kaibeto. Then another place to eat and feel out. Then Lechee. They'd need a different ruse for the fire. Then Bitter Springs.
Sasha cleared their plates away. Jacinda watched her leave and then gave Jill a teasing look. "And I'm sure you'll wanna have breakfast here each day, too."
Jill blushed and said "No!" but the smile she tried to fight said she wasn't wrong.
Good for her, she thought. Good for her. But suddenly she felt a little tired, like some of the energy had drained out of her.
That happened sometimes when you ate too much.
Jacinda went to the cashier and paid the bill, not looking back to see if they were talking again. They had work to do anyway. That would help. Wake her up a little.
The hunt was always energizing.