A Trick of the Moon by Melinda Barron Page B

running fingers along a ridge in the dirt. “Did you find something?”
    “I thought I might have found the outline of a wall, but now that I've got my fingers in deeper, I think I'm wrong; it's just a little groove in the dirt.”
    Declan clapped his hand together, sending clouds of dust drifting into the air.
    “You thinking about last night, huh? I've been thinking about it too.”
    Dario clicked his teeth together. “Are you pissed I butted in?”
    “Surprisingly enough, no. I thought I would be, but it was…natural.”
    Declan sounded more than a little surprised.
    “Right time, right place, huh? I was a little worried. I know how you feel about her.”

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    Melinda Barron

    He watched Declan consider his words and was very surprised by his friend's grin, which was much like that of a kid in love for the first time. “There was nothing wrong with what happened. She loved it, and so did we.”
    Dario was happy to hear him say that. His friendship with Declan meant the world to him, and if he'd done anything to damage it, it would crush him.
    “I'm glad you feel that way. But maybe we should set up another tent for tonight in case the two of you want to be alone.” Declan shook his head.
    “I think we should let Maura make the decision.”
    Dario plopped down next to him. “And how do you propose to ask her?
    'Hey, sweets, do you want another ménage tonight?' She may not take that too kindly. Although, I have to admit I'm surprised she hasn't brought it up today.”
    “We've been busy. Plus, she's a lawyer, a professional woman who handles things that come her way. I'm sure if she had a problem with it, she would have let me know.” Declan glanced down to where his finger still traced a line in the dirt. “Or at least I think she would have.”
    Dario picked up a few round pebbles, then tossed them back to the ground one by one. “I thought she would have mentioned the rude awakening we got, at least. That guy was an ass. But…”
    “But what?” Declan stopped playing in the soil, fastening his gaze on Dario.
    “It was a little over the top, don't you think?” Dario stretched out his legs and leaned back on his elbows. The dirt bit into him, but he didn't care. He'd always loved the outdoors, just as much as Declan did. He just didn't have a job playing in it. “I've been thinking about it all day long. He wanted to piss us off, see if he could run us off. I have to ask myself why.”
    They exchanged a long glance, and then Declan reached into his bag, took out a long, slender tool. “I see the cop is doing his job. Want to borrow this to go interrogate the guy?”

    A Trick of the Moon
    81

    “Tempting…but no.” Dario stood and began examining the area again. “Do you think I'm wrong?”
    “No.” Declan's voice drifted to him as he walked farther away. “Now that I'm thinking about it, you're probably right. Why would he use racial slurs, especially when Maura said it wasn't like him?”
    Dario went to the tent, retrieved a plastic chair from inside. He set it next to Declan, then made himself at home. “He knows why we're here, and he doesn't want us here. I'd like to talk with him, just for a little while.”
    “After your reaction this morning, he would probably think you would try to kick his ass.”
    “Good.” Dario laced his fingers together, placing them on top of his stomach as he lay back. “Hey, I have a question. You take this chair out on dig sites you have to hike to? It seems to me it would be a little too big for a long trek.”
    Declan laughed, then stood. “You're right, it's not one I normally bring with me. But it does stay in the back of the SUV in case I need it. I didn't bring that much equipment, really, because I wasn't sure what I would find.”
    He strode toward the SUV, then pulled open the door. Declan picked up the camera and examined every piece of it before turning it on.
    The sound of its whir filled the area, and Declan depressed the shutter, the click