Sandy busied herself in the kitchen, making herself and the detective a cup of coffee.
"What did Von Barke say to you?" Shadow asked, thanking her as she set the cup of coffee in front of him.
Sandy swallowed, pressing her hands into the mug she was holding. Hoping the warmth of it would fight off the chill she still had. Randy was upstairs with the girls, resting. Everything was fine.
"Nothin', jus' that he'd be back, that's all."
Shadow scoffed, taking a sip from his mug. He wished he knew what made a man like that so damn brazen. He reached for Sandy's hand then thought of it, cupping his mug with both hands. "He won't. Not if I have anything to do about it."
Sandy nodded, surprised as tears rolled down her face. "Thank you, Detective," she said, voice watery. She sniffled as Laila came downstairs and Shadow handed her a tissue.
Laila looked between the two before pouring herself a cup of coffee and taking a seat at the table.
"Detective," she started, taking Shadow's hand in hers. "Thank you for bringing my husband back home," she said, voice cracking at the end.
"It's no trouble, ma'am," Shadow replied, looking at Sandy as she gathered herself together. "I just have a few more things to ask Miss Cheeks and I'll be out of your hair."
Laila nodded, finishing off her coffee and heading back upstairs.
Shadow kept his eyes on Sandy, asking, "What did he tell you?"
Sandy took in a breath, shakily letting it out. "He ain't done with us, and. . .n I know why."
Shadow waited for her to continue, watching as she got up from the table and went into the living room, coming back with a photo album.
"My pa n him used to work together, tending to the farm back home." She said, opening the album and pointing to an old photo of a young squirrel and a wolf. "Right 'fore the economy surged, Von Barke was running an opium district n Pa didn't want anything to do with it so. . ." she trailed off, swallowing hard.
"I'm sorry that happened," Shadow replied, taking Sandy's hand in his. "I almost. . .if it wasn't the McClouds, I'm not sure I'd be doing this."
Sandy looked at him then, closing the album and putting it back in the living room.
"I'll help as much as I can," he continued. "Wouldn't want you or Randy to end up like your. . ." he trailed off, clearing his throat and standing.
He left the Cheeks' residence, heading to the station and to the cell that held Von Barke. He sighed, regarding the man in front of him.
Von Barke cut an imposing figure even behind bars.
"Why them?"
Von Barke smiled all sharp teeth and no mirth. "They owe me, both of them. For their father's sins, I'd say. Man wasn't built for the distract, but the girl. . .smart as a whip. Maybe she could whip my successor into shape. Lord knows he needs it." he said, almost mournfully.
Shadow frowned.
"When Kenneth's business went belly up, I offered to help him, but poor sap didn't know a good deal if it hit him in the face." Von Barke continued, a spark of a lighter briefly showing his brown eyes.
"Take me instead," Shadow interrupted, meeting Von Barke's gaze.
"Oh, no, no, you had your chance." the wolf said, grinning.
Shadow swallowed, heading back to the residence as quickly as he could. When he got there, the door was wide open, both twins gone from the home.