Libby looks to me and I nod my head. “Yes, Gray and I appreciate you setting aside time to listen to our presentation, and we look forward to your response. Let us know if you need any further information or clarification from us. And if this is given the go-ahead, we have several people interested in being beta testers. Thank you.”
The puppies and I make it home a little earlier than our usual time. The meeting with Imital and her people didn’t take as long as we thought, so I headed home early from the office. I prepare our food, crockpot stew for me and chicken and rice for them. I know, I said Sunday, but they deserve some warm food from being carted around in that small, semi-open space that is the MacGillivray’s hybrid trunk/bed. I’m placing the food in their bowls when the phone rings.
“Hey, Kai. How’s it going?”
“Listen now, second telling.”
“Gray, I see a looming threat. Shroud thyself lest thee be seen. Markings can confuse the senses. Usher a learned to the void and brightness shall dawn. Prepare to touch.” Then Tommie repeated the words once more, finishing her three-peat prophecy.
“Sorry, Gray. I wanted to make sure you heard her fully. Did you get everything?”
“Yes, Kai. Is Tommie resting now? Thank her for the warning and you for reacting so quickly. I have a meeting tomorrow and I think she’s telling me to come prepared. It’s fine, have a good night.” Well, crap, looks like I have some plans to make.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Friday morning is relatively calm compared to the rest of the week. The meeting with Dio and me plus Kyle and Soon Yee goes well. Their foundation is solid so hopefully our insight just enhances their modus. After that, Dio and I get down to business and crank out a few responses including Mr. Langdon’s, plus we review upcoming petitions for the Council. Normally, Miss Sonia doesn’t send the tentative agenda out until 5pm, but I asked for it a little earlier this week due to my packed weekend schedule. Taking care of it today leaves one less thing on my weekend plate.
I eat an earlier lunch as Sully will be picking me up at noon. Echo and Shotzie have been in the dog run all morning, I want to make sure they’re mellow while we’re at police headquarters. However, they accompany me to my office as I complete my preparation.
My brown hair is in a French-braided coronet and I’m wearing my usual jeans with boots. However, my top is two pieces, which is a bit fancier than normal. I have a loose turquoise racerback tank top underneath a brown cropped button-up long-sleeved cardigan. My hands are incased in wrist-length grip tip gloves plus my neck is wrapped in a thick scarf, both in turquoise. Hey, I like to match colors sometimes. The scarf protected me on my morning bike ride to work as a cold front arrived overnight. Wouldn’t want to mess up my awesome hair with a hat. I wash my hands and check my appearance in the mirror, but the hair has held up well this morning and no adjustments are needed. I return my office RAMI and shotgun to the gun safe then grab my mouse gun and inside the waistband holster and fit them in their proper place. The puppies’ supplies are thrown into the canvas tote that Wendy made them, and we head out the office, waving goodbye to Dani as I won’t return to the office today.
I am greeted by the sight of over six feet of Sheriff Helki leaning against the hood of his truck. His black hair is parted in the middle with two full-length braids pulled forward over his shoulders. The braids make visible his ears pierced with silver and bone hoop earrings and the braids also highlight his wood necklace which flows into a bison bone chest plate. His jeans are tucked into custom-made deerskin moccasins with leather cords wrapped around the calf-length top and his gun lies in the thigh holster strapped to his right leg. His dark grey eyes track Echo walking up to him for a quick greeting while Shotzie stays leaning against my leg.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Offer to help me get my bike and the pet trailer into your bed. And this is Shotzie, she’s shier than Echo. Shotzie, come on, let’s go say ‘hi’ to Sheriff Helki. He’s not so bad.”
I’m going to kill Sully. This is the second time he’s arranged for Sheriff Helki to transport me without warning me. No matter, we get everything settled in the truck bed and Echo and Shotzie hop up into the backseat area. Sheriff Helki thoughtfully put the seats up so the puppies can lay out on their mats on the floorboards. I buckle up in the passenger seat and he begins the fifteen-minute drive to police headquarters.
“So, you don’t seem thrilled to see me, Gray.”
“Have I ever been thrilled to see you, Sheriff Helki? If so, you’ll have to remind me. I’m just teasing. I was expecting Sully, but you instead are fine. I appreciate the ride, especially since I asked kinda last minute. I dropped the ball, just too much going on this week, I guess.”
“Sully was expecting to, but Chief Yanaba staying an extra two days
