Chapter 8

 

Reece was sitting at the dining room table, sipping coffee and reading newspaper headlines, when Damian landed on the balcony. She hadn't slept well. Thoughts of strong arms and hard muscles kept jumbling through her mind, but there was no time for that right now. The morning newspaper changed everything.

The sky was overcast. Rain threatened. Wind knocked over a patio chair outside. By the time Damian joined her, she'd poured a mug of hot coffee and pushed it across the table to him.

"Thanks." He was careful to avoid her touch.

She'd wondered how this morning would go, if it would be awkward, and decided to take her cue from him. He obviously wanted to establish a working relationship again. Probably the wisest way to go. For her too. She hadn't felt this kind of attraction for a man, ever, so it had caught her off guard. That's all. But where could it go? Nowhere.

She waited for him to swallow his first gulp of steaming liquid before asking, "Any luck?"

"Some. The two male Weres returned to the condo last night. Our girl didn't show for a long time. More wolves straggled in after that."

"How many?"

His shoulders relaxed. They were on safe footing once more. "We couldn't tell. They came in a van that parked by the backdoor. No light. The man who drove them changed to wolf form before he went inside."

"So it was quick and easy for him?"

"No, it took him a while, but he managed."

Reece pushed the newspaper to him, waiting for his reaction. She watched his eyes widen when he looked at the photo of a pure white wolf with blue eyes snarling on the front page. Large letters asked, Wolves Among Us? Under the caption, the article read, Not a full moon, or cops would be chasing werewolves. Like they weren't already, but the reporter wouldn't know that. "Paul's photogenic, don't you think?"

"Who took it?" Damian asked. "How did someone get it?"

"Read on. A man was attacked in his house last night. His neighbors heard the commotion and called the police. According to the article, a neighbor grabbed his digital camera and got that picture."

"Attacked? Not killed?"

"The neighbor came running. The wolf took off. A huge wolf, judging by the paw marks. This guy lives on the water. Big bucks. When the police got there, he let the EMS techs treat his scratches, but swore he was fine."

"He was afraid to go to the hospital."

"Wouldn't you be? What's a werewolf's DNA like?"

Damian frowned. "One man wouldn't scare off a Were."

"And it sure wouldn't pose for a picture."

Damian studied the paper more closely. "There's no credit for the photo. Who was this neighbor? Do they give a name?"

"He preferred to remain anonymous."

"Paul didn't attack this guy. He couldn't have. We watched him at the warehouse all night."

"So who did it? The girl?"

"She's the one who came late."

Reece shook her head and went for another cup of coffee. "If the girl attacked him, why is Paul's picture in the paper?"

"Good question." Damian's cell phone rang, interrupting them. "Yes?" He listened silently. When he hung up, he shot Reece a worried look. "That was Wedge Durrow. He canceled our meeting tonight."

"Because of the newspaper headlines?"

"He told me that his first allegiance is to his pack."

"What does that mean?"

"It means blackmail. If Wedge or his pack helps us, there'll be another picture and news article. Then there'll be a wolf hunt."

"You mean a Were hunt."

"Exactly."

Reece frowned. "So what are you saying? Do you think the girl took the picture of Paul and sent it to the papers?"

"The girl or the guy you think might be their alpha. What do the rogues care if werewolves are hunted in Bay City? They're new to town. They'll just move on, but Wedge and his pack have jobs here as humans. They have homes, families, and friends."

Reece had never considered the fact that there were good werewolves, and that their very goodness might work against them. "I still don't get it. What do the rogues hope to gain?"

"That's something I want to find out. Not a guess, but a for sure."

"So what do we do?"

"We keep looking into it ourselves."

Reece was losing patience. "How do we do that?"

"We have the name of the man who was killed last night, and we have the name of the man who was attacked. I think it's time to look at the victims, to see if they're chosen for a reason."

"That's smart."

Damian lifted an eyebrow. "You don't have to say that so grudgingly."

"At least I said it."

He grinned. "I'll try not to let it go to my head. I'll keep my ego in check."

"Do you even have an ego?" She couldn't sit across from him and make breakfast banter. His grin was too infectious. She pushed herself to her feet and went to the kitchen. "I'm hungry. How about you?"

"When do you teach today?"

"I have a class at eleven thirty—office workers on their lunch break."

"Then eat fast. I want you to visit the swanky guy on the water. He's probably sick right now, but he doesn't want anyone to know what really happened. You need to find out why."

"And then what?" She needed to get out of here, get away from him. This was as good a reason as any

He pushed himself to his feet too. "I, unlike you, have faith in my partner's mental capacities. Play it by ear."

"You might not have an ego, but you sure as hell have attitude." It was safer verbally sparring with him than sitting around like a moonstruck dunce. She grabbed some deli meat and slapped it between two slices of bread. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I bet you give me grief the minute you think I don't handle this right."

"Then don't disappoint me." He handed her her jacket. "It's cold and damp today. You can eat on the way."

She grumbled as she slid her arms into the warm leather. "And what are you going to do?"

"Research. I'm looking up every person we know who's been killed or attacked." Damian sat in front of her computer. "The guy last night is Andre Viscot. Give him a good sales pitch."

"Do I look like a sales girl to you?" Charm was not one of her attributes. He should know that by now. She stomped out of the apartment. Sure, send the new girl to meet the guy who'd just been clawed and bit. That's what happened when you were half naked with big wings. You had to stay inside where you didn't scare people. But she was grateful to be driving toward town. Relieved to get away from Damian. She played with what in the world she'd say to a sick man who opened his door after a werewolf attack. "Hello. You don't know me, but I know the girl who chewed on your neck and arm."

Maybe not. She'd think of something once she got there.