“Sure. Drive slow. The dogs are out.”
“Roger that.” The gate swung open with a hiss, and Xander drove the Explorer through, careful to put up his window. The “dogs” were an attack squad of Dobermans, highly trained and battle ready. Beautiful animals, well maintained—they had a roomy doghouse that was heated and had running water, and they dined on raw steak, oats and vegetables. They lived better than some soldiers, and were twice as mean.
The drive was a mile long, dirt and gravel, which meant the vehicle had to go slow or risk sliding off the edges into the ditches on either side. Well defensible. It took five minutes to make the trek up to the house, a two-story A-frame similar to Xander’s parents’ place. Crawford was waiting in the turnabout with the advertised Remington on his shoulder and one of the Dobermans, a red bitch, quivering at his side.
“Good grief. Man looks like he’s ready to go to war. This is Colorado, not Afghanistan.”
“Once a soldier,” Xander said. “You want to talk first?”
“That might be best.”
They exited the vehicle slowly, so as not to excite either the dog or Crawford too much.
“Stu. Moonbeam was in town, wanted to pay you a visit. You mind putting the gun away?”
Crawford regarded them shrewdly, head cocked to the side. Once he’d assessed the situation, confirmed that his visitors were who they said they were, were unaccompanied and unarmed, he welcomed them with open arms.
“Come on in. Mi casa, and all that.”
Chapter 22
They settled at the kitchen table with coffee, and shot the shit for a few minutes before Xander felt it was time to get down to business.
“Sir, I was wondering if you’d seen your son Will lately.”
“Well, that’s a strange as hell coincidence. He’s here for a visit. Out hunting right now, turkey. Should be back before dark. Why do you need him?”
“It’s about a website I think he may run. We had a situation down near where I live and the site went dark right after. I wanted to ask him about it.”
“A situation? You’re talking about that damn fool who attacked the subway in the viper’s den? Not sure that’s a bad thing, that son of a bitch Leighton got caught up in it. Glad to see him go.”
Xander left that alone. “Yes, that’s what it’s about. I just need to chat with Will about someone who’d been on the site. I assume he took it down because he and I are both thinking the same thing.”
“Now, you don’t be dragging my boy into any messes, Moon. I remember the trouble the two of you used to get in.”
“Goodness, no, sir. I’m a grown-up now. The only trouble I get into is all good clean fun.”
The dogs started to bark, and a moment later the door opened from the deck and William Crawford stalked into the room. He was taller and heavier than Xander remembered, but muscled, his shoulders straining against his hunting camo. He was still towheaded, the hair on his scalp thinned to show the pinkness underneath. He saw Xander and Roth and did a double take. Xander caught the alarm on his face, knew at once his theory was correct. Will did know something.
The younger Crawford collected himself quickly, started in with a swagger.
“Well, well, well. Why are you here, Xander Moon?”
“Now, Will, is that any way to greet an old friend?” his father chided.
Xander showed Will his palms, happy that at least someone was using a part of his preferred name. When he’d declared he wanted to be called Xander, the girls in his circle seized upon the nickname Xander Moon, and that stuck.
“I come in peace. The site went down, I was worried about you.”
Will’s florid face stayed carefully neutral. “So worried that you flew two thousand miles to check up on me? That’s awful sweet of you. And not necessary, as you can see. I’m just fine.”
“Can we speak in private, Will?”
He shrugged and sat on the couch next to his father. Helped himself to some coffee.
“Nothing you have to say needs hid. What bee got in your bonnet?”
“All right. Before you went dark, there was chatter that a stranger was talking about cooking something to release in the subway.”
“That’s true. We sussed him out and deactivated his account immediately.”
“Did you keep his information?”
Will sat back and regarded Xander for a minute before answering. “Moon, this ain’t your fight. Why are you really here?”
“I’m just looking out for a friend,” he said lightly.
“That’s mighty kind of you. But you don’t need to worry about little ol’ me. I’m taking care of things. That’s why I came down here for a visit, just to be extra cautious. We’ll get the site up again in a day or two. Different host, that sort of thing. Just in case people who aren’t our friends go talking to the wrong sort. Know what I mean?”