Parker couldn’t blame Cohen. After all, there had just been trouble with panthers in Half Moon Key. That’s why Parker was here.
“Sheriff,” Parker said. “A moment of your time is all I need.”
The sheriff nodded and nudged his chin toward his office. “You got sixty seconds,” Sheriff Pierce warned as he led Parker down the hall.
As soon as the office door was closed behind them, Parker started. “Look, I heard there were panthers in town that caused some trouble.”
If Cohen was surprised that this information had made the rounds, he didn’t let on. Parker had no choice but to continue.
“I just want to make sure thatyouknow I am not affiliated with them in any way. I have nothing to do with the Stevens pack. They aren’t my people, and I do not condone what they did.”
Cohen leaned back on his desk, keeping his arms crossed. “That’s good information to have.” His voice was bored, but it was clearly a very well-perfected act. Parker recognized it immediately.
“I figured I would just clear the air so that you and your brother aren’t always looking over your shoulder, thinking I’m gonna attack or anything.”
“You have a pack?”
Parker tried hard not to react, but his throat bobbed with memories. All he could do was shake his head. “No. No pack,” he answered truthfully. It didn’t make it any less painful.
Cohen was silent for a little bit, studying Parker carefully. He had an image in his head of the wolf and panther sniffing around each other while they figured out if the other was friend or foe. “That’s a little weird, isn’t it? A shifter without a pack?”
“Is it? I prefer a quiet life. Alone. No fuss.”
“Hmm.” Cohen continued to scrutinize Parker.
“You’re a wolf. I’m a panther. This is all very Tom and Jerry, I realize that. I came to live here because I heard it was quiet and peaceful. I don’t want any trouble, any drama.”
“Noted. And what is it you do in our town, Mr. Dawson?”
Parker took a second to find the right words to explain his situation. He came up short. “I’m retired,” he finally blurted the truth. Or as true as he could be under the circumstances.
“Retired,” Cohen repeated the word, completely disbelieving. “No offense, but you’re way too young to be retired.”
“Maybe, but I had a company and sold it. Now, I wanna live in my cabin by the lake and chill. I’ve earned an easy and quiet life. That’s all I want here in Half Moon Key.”
Cohen was silent and motionless for so long that Parker started to feel uncomfortable. “You’ve really got the brooding sheriff thing down,” he commented. “It must keep the shifters and humans in line.”
The sheriff gave him a half-smile. “I’m gonna take that as a compliment.”
“Sure,” Parker shot back. “It was meant as one.”
“So a retired guy living in Half Moon Key who wants to see the sheriff to tell him he isn’t trouble. Sounds like you wanna make sure nothing gets back to you.”
“I just want to live my life. I wanted to clear the air and make sure you know I’m not associated with the Stevens pack. If you want me to say I have nothing to do with any other shifters, I can. I’m a lone panther.”
Cohen shrugged. “If you say so, Mr. Dawson. I guess we’ll see how things turn out for you in town, won’t we?”
“Is that your not-so-subtle way of telling me you’re gonna keep an eye on me?”
Cohen smiled. “Yup. You catch on quick. What kind of company did you say you sold?”
Parker shook his head. “I didn’t say.”
The sheriff waited a few moments in silence to see if Parker would elaborate, but they both knew he wouldn’t be divulging any more details than was strictly necessary.
“Well,” Parker finally said. “Thanks for your time, Sheriff Pierce. I’ll see you around town.”
“You fish, Mr. Dawson?” the sheriff asked as he rose from his perch on the corner of his desk.