Hidden Talents

“Especially at this time of year. Too damn cold.”
    “We get all kinds here.” Caleb listened to the sentence as it echoed in his mind. We get all kinds here .
    We .
    For the first time he realized he had started to think of this bizarre community as home. Home was where a man settled down. Got married. Raised a family of his own.
    I'm in training to have a baby. It's time .
    “Well, son? What do you think?” Roland asked.
    “I think it's time,” Caleb said softly.
    Blade stirred amid the branches of his tree. “Want me to send the dogs in first?”
    “No,” Caleb said. “Not until we know what's going on. The last thing we need is a lawsuit filed against us for a malicious dog attack.”
    “Won't be no lawsuit if we get rid of the body,” Blade said helpfully.
    “You're right,” Caleb said, trying to be patient. “But it'll be a lot cleaner if we handle this one officially, the way we did the last one.”
    Roland's head swiveled around in the shadows. “What last one?”
    “It's a long story,” Caleb said. “I'll tell you about it later. Right now we've got other things to do. Follow me, gentlemen.”
    “We going to break down the door?” Blade asked.
    “Not right away.” Caleb led the way through the trees, circling the cabin. “First we're going to see if there's a car parked in the driveway.”
    “Good idea.” Roland held the revolver pointed toward the ground as he fell into step beside Caleb.
    “There's a car in the drive,” Blade said. “Saw it earlier. Guy came in undercover.”
    Caleb saw the familiar silhouette of a sports car as soon as he rounded the corner of the cabin. In the shadows it was impossible to discern the color, but he was fairly certain it would prove to be red.
    “Forget the invasion.” Caleb came to a halt. “That's Radburn's car.”
    “The professor?” Blade sounded disappointed. “The one who's been botherin' Serenity?”
    “I'm afraid so,” Caleb said. “I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Jessie's real estate agent rented the cabin to Radburn. Looks like he's decided to take an aggressive approach to his research.”
    “Does this mean the excitement is over for the night?” Roland asked. He sounded almost disappointed.
    Caleb smiled slowly. “Not necessarily. Blade, why don't you take the dogs and go knock on the front door?”
    Blade's teeth flashed briefly. “I get it. You want me to be the welcoming committee, is that it?”
    “Something like that,” Caleb agreed. “Don't forget to warn him that he's living in a high-risk zone. Could be an invasion any day.”
    “I'll tell him all about it,” Blade said. He motioned to Styx and Charon, who fell in happily at his heels.
    Roland watched Blade and the dogs head toward the front door of the cabin. “This should be interesting.”
    “It usually is,” Caleb said.

    Caleb was still laughing half an hour later when he walked into the warmth of the cottage. Roland followed him through the door, chuckling. Serenity eyed both men warily as she closed the door.
    “What's going on here?” she demanded. “Where's Blade? What happened?”
    “Don't worry,” Caleb said. He shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on a brass hook. “Situation's under control. The invasion has been put off indefinitely.”
    Roland grinned as he took off his jacket. “Your friend Blade is back out on regular sentry duty.”
    “But what have you been doing?” Serenity hastened after Caleb and Roland as they crossed the room to warm themselves near the wood stove.
    “Performing my mayoral duties. I and my companions have been busy welcoming a new citizen to Witt's End.” Caleb held his hands out to the heat. He caught his grandfather's amused gaze and winked.
    “What new citizen?” Serenity asked.
    “Lloyd Radburn, distinguished professor of Sociology.” Caleb grinned. “Jessie's real estate agent rented him the Asterley cabin.”
    “Oh, no.” Serenity looked thoroughly disgusted. “I was so hoping he'd give up his stupid research project.”
    “He's probably considering doing just that about now,” Roland said with suspicious blandness.
    Serenity frowned. “Wait a minute. What have you two been up to out there? I hope you haven't done anything that's going to cause trouble.”
    “We haven't done a damn thing except welcome the guy to town,” Caleb said.
    Serenity put her hands on her hips and regarded both men with narrowed eyes. “And just how did you go about doing that?”
    “We sent