Chapter 31: Detente

DEACON

I stopped home quickly to change and to grab a microwaved burrito, mostly so my stomach didn't growl and interrupt the apology I was planning to make. I didn't linger long, but the sun was setting as my truck bumped over the dirt road that my navigation app claimed was taking me to Emma's house. I had my doubts. As far as I was aware, this area was completely undeveloped. I was all too familiar with the fields out this way. Unless she'd built a cabin in the woods that no one knew about, I would've heard some kind of buzz about a house going up out here.

But I didn't see anything . . . except, off to the east, an old trailer was set up among the weeds and grass. That couldn't be it. Or could it? Squinting, I spied a blue sedan parked alongside the mobile home. There was definitely someone living there. It might be our naturopath . . . or it might be an anarchist with an arsenal who didn't want to be disturbed. I figured I was going to have to take my chances.

I drove clos