Sleuth

Letter

"Is there any left?"Jarren asked as he stretched in his chair and rubbed his stomach.

"No" Kaddian said as he loaded the remaining grilled fish and asparagus into a to-go container.

"But I see it right there, in your hand!" Jarren called his bluff.

"You already had three filets" Kyrrian said, clearing her plate from the table.

"What can I say, I'm a bear, I love fish" he retorted.

"We're all bears" Sarai contradicted incredulously staring at Jarren.

"Nuance" Jarren said with a wave of his hand.

"Where are you headed Jack?" Rory asked as Jacklynn placed her dish in the sink and headed towards the back door.

"I always run in the evening" she said, continuing with a snide "being here isn't going to change that".

"No need to get your knickers in a knot, he was just checking" Chance added, finishing the last of his fifth beer.

Jacklynn stared at him in disgust before turning to Scottlin, "I'll be back" and exiting.

He nodded and leaned back in his chair, appearing to listen to the argument betwen Sarai, Jarren, and BB, however his eyes stayed focused on one target, Kyrrian, as she washed dishes. He continued to watch as Rory stood up and proceeded to take his plate to the sink.

Kyrrian held out a soapy hand for his dish, but he refused to relinquish it.

"What were your words again, 'I am perfectly capable'?" Rory replied, before pushing her over with the tap of his hip and joining his hands into the frothy water.

"I don't like you" Kyrrian said through narrowed eyes.

"Of course you do, everyone does" was his answer joined with a laugh as he scrubbed his plate.

"Are you done yet?" she asked, pulling her hands from the water when their fingers brushed each other.

"I still have to rinse. And wash my silverware" Kyrrian merely glared at him but returned to the dish she was working on, using only the very corner of the sink.

Alpha Kaddian stood in the doorway, watching the loud, raucous group with caution, before placing a hand on Porter's shoulder.

"I will be back. Keep an eye on everyone" Kaddian whispered to the dark haired man. Porter nodded solemnly and reached for his glass of tea, never one for an alcoholic beverage.

Kaddian made it to his SUV before Jarren caught up with him.

"Tell Lauren hey for me" he said with a smirk and a quirked eyebrow.

"Jarren" Kaddian said in a low tone, "I could break you".

"I'm just saying. But hey, honestly, she could a use a visitor. I think she gets lonely. She's always working at the station or home alone... working" Jarren added with honesty. Kaddian stared at him for a few seconds before grunting and getting into the vehicle. He was about to drive off when he remembered something.

He rolled the window down and said, "Jarren". The blond bear came to the window in curiosity. "Does you nose work?"

"What?" Jarren said, looking nervous.

"Your nose, does it work?"

"I-... no actually" he said.

"What?" Kaddian's grimace was strong as ever.

"I'll explain it to you sometime. But no, I have no sense of smell. I'm surprised it took you that long to notice. Why do you want to know?" Jarren said, a sudden seriousness on his face.