Resolution: Evan Warner Book 1 by Shawn Underhill, Nick Adams

tell.”
    “That’s debatable.”
    Laney looked a little confused but said nothing. She’s accustomed to my dry remarks.
    “Ah, humility,” the guy said. “I get it now. Dependability and humility. Very admirable. We need more guys like you around.”
    “Yeah, listen, I gotta go,” I told him.
    “I get it, man. Fighting crime must work up a hell of an appetite.”
    I said, “Sure.”
    He thanked me again and slapped my shoulder before retaking his chair.
    I really don’t enjoy being touched by strange people. Touched or breathed all over. Having my personal space invaded by close-talkers. But I let it go and started following Laney again.
    People seated along the long counter were turning around to face us. I looked over to my left. The majority of the room was staring at me. I slowed to a stop. Felt like the room was closing in on me. Laney made it to the counter before she realized that I’d stopped again. She looked at me with a questioning expression. I started walking again. Built up some speed and brushed right by her. Went through the kitchen. Past the grill and some storage shelves, where Karla, Laney’s mom, was hard at work on something.
    “Evan!” she said. “We heard the most amazing story about you.”
    “Evening, Karla,” I said as I moved on past her to the heavy back door. Gave it a shove and it popped open wide. Stepped outside and took a long breath. The door thumped shut behind me. Aside from the kitchen’s exhaust fan, it was much quieter outside.
    Laney popped out a few seconds behind me. Before the door closed again I could just hear Karla saying something. Laney was answering on her way out.
    “I don’t know, Mom. He’s just being Evan, I guess.”
    I turned around to face her.
    “What’s the matter with you?” she asked.
    “Seriously?”
    “That man was just trying to be nice.”
    “Sure, he’s nice. But he was talking with his mouth full. And he stepped between me and you. And between me and lasagna.”
    “Okay, you’re being extra weird,” she said. “What exactly happened?”
    “Nothing heroic. Frank knocked one guy down. Then I beat the hell out of the other one after Dad scared him shitless with a shotgun.”
    “You should be in a great mood,” she said. “You stopped a tragedy and got into a fight. Isn’t that a great day to you?”
    “The fight was sort of fun,” I admitted. “But the rest was a joke. That kid they were trying to take … I didn’t do him any favors. His mother is a drama queen POS. If anything I just made his life worse.”
    “Maybe she was just upset. You know, a little stressed under the circumstances.”
    “Maybe. But you weren’t there.”
    “Okay, maybe she’s an evil witch.”
    “Probably one of Miss Havisham’s disciples.”
    “That’s all beside the point, Evan. You did your best to help under the circumstances. You did what most people wouldn’t dare to do.”
    “Call me Batman from now on.”
    “You stopped a kidnapping. To all these people you do look a little like Batman.”
    I laughed. It really was absurd. I was like an entertainer for all these vacationers. My parents provide the land. I provide the action sequences.
    “What’s the real problem?” Laney asked. She looked at me hard for a few seconds before guessing it. “Are you thinking about the little girl again?”
    “Lucy Kurtz.”
    “Evan, whatever that was, it wasn’t your fault. You’re not a guard on a military base. It’s a family campground.”
    “That just makes it all the worse. And she is in fact still missing.”
    We were quiet a moment. Laney looked tired. Tired from the hectic restaurant. Probably more tired of dealing with me. She just wanted to get the day over with. Get home and tend to her horses. Have a shower and crash.
    “I’ll get going,” I said. “You’re swamped here.”
    “How are your wolf books doing?” she asked.
    I write fantasy stories about a family of seemingly average people who transform into wolves. They