Wild Keepers

by Dee Bridgnorth

  With difficulty, he turned his head to the other person in the room. A man named David Waters. He had been seconded to this facility from a university in the east. A well-meaning researcher who undoubtedly was good in the lab but had no people skills. Caleb could picture him bending over a microscope, but the guy looked out of place in this room. He could see why Dr. Morgan had decided that Allie should present this, despite her inexperience.

  The woman who had fallen ill that day was missing, of course. Her name was Frances McLean. Senior research leader. He would have to wait to form his impressions of her.

  “Thank you, Allie,” said Dr. Morgan. “Very concise. Well done.”

  Allie smiled slightly, lowering her eyes to her paper. She didn’t seem to know how to respond to praise.

  “But the situation is this,” the doctor continued, turning to them all, “Whatever we are dealing with is still unidentified. Allie has brought up the possibility of environmental toxin, and we must keep our minds open to the possibility.” He paused. “We are under pressure now. The numbers of people who are presenting with these symptoms in the ER have increased dramatically today.”

  “An epidemic?” said Caleb, leaning forward in his chair.

  “The health department shies away from such a label, Mr. Stone,” he replied, slowly. “If word got out that we are dealing with an epidemic, there would be panic. People fleeing the city. Pressure on our public transport services and roads. So we have to be very careful how we approach this.”

  Allie blanched. “It would seem that public relations should be the last thing on the mind of the city at this point,” she said, crisply. “Not if there is a real public health crisis on our hands. The job of the city is to inform and protect its citizens, after all.”

  Caleb stared at her admiringly. “I totally agree. That shouldn’t even have come up, at this point.”

  “Nevertheless,” said Dr. Morgan, taking off his glasses and wiping them wearily. “It has. Any bureaucracy needs to protect its image as well.”

  “Not at the expense of its citizens,” said Allie, frowning.

  “It doesn’t have to come to that,” said Dr. Morgan. “I have seen this repeatedly over the years. And sometimes I can see their point. The press gets hold of the crisis and sensationalises it. The city is put under pressure to respond, or told it is not responding quickly enough, or appropriately. It complicates things.”

  “I see that point,” said Allie, nodding. “So, we are not calling this an epidemic—at least not officially.”

  Dr. Morgan nodded. “The numbers are increasing, as I said. We haven’t been able to find any causal link between the people who have come down with it. They haven’t all worked in the same office complex, for example. They are from different walks of life.”

  “Various ages?” said Caleb, looking down at the report.

  “Yes,” said Allie. “Ranging from children to seniors. There are no commonalities there.”

  Caleb nodded. “Do we have the data yet from the people who have been admitted today?”

  Dr. Morgan shook his head. “Too early. And we haven’t analysed the autopsies of those that have died yet either.”

  “That should be a priority,” said Caleb. “As Miss Holloway has explained, there could be other reasons for this than pathogens. Environmental toxins, or fungus, or parasites…”

  “Allergens,” said Allie, nodding. “Although none of the symptoms present like an allergic reaction.”

  Caleb nodded, too. “Unlikely, but we can’t rule it out,” he said. “We will need tissue samples from the deceased, and I will need to read their full autopsy reports.”

  “Why don’t you head there now?” said Dr. Morgan, looking at him. “I could call the city coroner’s office and tell them you are on your way. It should probably be done tonight. I already feel that this is getting away from us, somewhat.”

  Caleb nodded. “Good plan, Dr. Morgan. Is there anything else I need to be briefed on before the meeting is over?”

  Allie shook her head. “I don’t have anything more for now.”

  “I will head off then.” He stared at her. “Thank you for your report, Miss Holloway. As Dr. Morgan said, it was very concise.”

  “My pleasure,” said Allie. “I hope it was adequate. It was my first time preparing a report like that, but it was very interesting to do it. A great learning experience.”

  Dr. Morgan put his glasses back on, staring at her. “Why don’t you accompany Mr. Stone to the coroner’s, Allie? It would be an excellent opportunity to learn some more. That is if you have no other plans for the evening, of course.”

  Allie hesitated, glancing at Caleb. “I suppose…if Mr. Stone doesn’t have any objections to me tagging along.”

  Caleb stared at her intently. “None at all, Miss Holloway. I’m a firm believer in hands-on learning, and you won’t get a much better hands on experience than this.” He paused. “Matching theory to practise. But you might have to call me Caleb. Mr. Stone sounds like my father.”

  Allie blushed slightly. “Of course. And I’m Allie.”

  “See you at the coroner’s then, Allie?” he said, standing up, and gathering his things.

  She nodded. Why hadn’t she made an excuse and said that she was going out tonight? That as much as she would like to accompany him, she really couldn’t? But it was too late now.

  The point was, she really did want to go. She was passionate about her work, and it was a good opportunity. She had meant it when she had told Dr. Morgan that she had no objections to late hours or overtime. She wanted to progress in her career. So why the hesitation?

  She knew why. Caleb Stone. The man had a name. He was an expert, apparently, in pathogens, although she had never heard of him before. Where he had come from was a mystery, too. She hadn’t had an opportunity to ask Dr. Morgan or Davey prior to the meeting, and he hadn’t offered the information when he had introduced himself.

  The man made her nervous. And the thought of being alone with him even more so. She was being stupid, of course. And very unprofessional. She couldn’t run a mile every time she had to work with a sexy guy, after all. Not that they were a dime a dozen in this field, though.

  She shivered, standing up. “I’ll get my coat and bag.”

  ***

  Allie pulled into a parking spot outside of the city coroner’s office, trying to ignore the grumbling of her stomach.

  Caleb was already there, waiting for her on the front steps. He watched her running across the road, trying to dodge raindrops that had just started falling from the sky by pulling her coat over her head.

  “You need an umbrella in this city,” he remarked, staring at her. “Have you lived here long?”

  She shook drops from her hair, feeling a little like a dog shaking itself. “I’ve just moved here,” she said. “First job after graduating.”

  He nodded. “I thought so. You don’t look like a city slicker. Let me guess…small town? Lived there your whole life?”

  “You make me sound like a cliché,” she said, smiling slightly. “Small town starry-eyed girl loose in the big city. The old story.”

  “I don’t think you’re a cliché,” he said slowly. Those impossible green eyes raked over her, from the top of her head to the tips of her shoes. “Very far from it.”

  Allie started blushing again. What was it about him?

  “I hope you’re being careful in the city,” he said, sensing her discomfort. “Covenester is besieged by crime at the moment. It’s not safe on the streets on your own. Even in a large group I would still be careful.”

  “You live here?” she said, staring at him. “I guess I just assumed you flew in from somewhere else. Where do you work in the city?”

  “I don’t,” he said, shortly. “Work here, that is. But I do live here. I lecture at a university, about fifty miles away. I also go on field trips when I want to.” At least, that was the background that Thad had given him.

  He always felt it was bet
ter to just stick to basic facts when he was working undercover and try to veer the conversation away from it as much as possible. The more you talked about it, the more complicated it became. Allie might ask him next what university, and for all he knew, she might have studied there herself. And then question marks would come up over who he was.

  “Shall we?” he said, shortly, indicating the door to the coroner’s office.

  Allie jumped just a little. It was very obvious he didn’t want to talk to her any further.

  “Of course,” she said, trying not to look at him as he held the door open for her to pass through.

  It was cold and a little dark in the office. It was also almost deserted. Obviously, everyone had finished for the day and gone home. Allie felt a pang at the thought. People with real lives, with families waiting for them. Partners. People who didn’t always want to work overtime because they actually had a life outside work.

  People unlike her, of course. What about Caleb Stone? Did he have a life outside work? A girlfriend, or wife and children, at home?

  She had to stop thinking about him in this way. He was a colleague, for goodness sake! And even though he was handsome as hell, it was obvious he wasn’t that attracted to her. Why else would he have cut off their conversation on the steps so abruptly the minute it had started to veer into personal territory?

  Because he didn’t want to know about her, and he didn’t want her to know about him. That’s why. He wanted to keep things professional between them, and that was fine by her. She had only just met the man, after all. It was beyond her why she was getting carried away like this. She should really stop, right now.

  And yet, she couldn’t help her eyes straying to his hands. Large hands with strong fingers. And there wasn’t a ring on the finger that indicated whether he was married or not. It was bare.

  So…he wasn’t married, then. Or if he was, he was hiding it. Allie scolded herself again. Her mind was really getting carried away with this. This was hardly a nightclub. Why would Caleb Stone bother taking off his wedding ring when he went to work? That is, if he were married at all?

  As he held open another door for her to pass through, she smiled, but didn’t make eye contact with him. You are in work mode now, Allie, she told herself. Don’t blow this.

  ***

  Caleb hesitated, on the steps of the office, gazing at her. He should really say goodbye to her and call it a night.

  They had got the information they wanted from the coroner’s office. He had read through the autopsy reports, showing her what he was looking for. She had been polite, and obviously interested, but distant. He had a feeling he had offended her, just a little bit, when he had stopped her asking any more questions about his background.

  He had watched her reading through the reports. When she was concentrating, a small pucker appeared in-between her eyebrows. It was endearing, and he could barely stop himself from leaning over and caressing it with one of his fingers.

  And then, she would look up at him and ask him a question. He would have to shake it off and return quickly to what they were supposed to be investigating. She had eyes the colour of the sea on a choppy day—changing from blue, to a murky green, and then almost grey. But mostly blue, he thought. A man could get lost in the depths of those eyes, if he wasn’t careful.

  They had requested the samples they required to be delivered to the lab the next day. And then they had left. He couldn’t find anything in the reports that linked the victims, and neither could Allie. All had been relatively healthy prior to dying so suddenly.

  This was going to be a tougher case than he had anticipated.

  “Well…thank you,” she said now, turning to him. “That was really interesting. A pity we couldn’t find anything to link the casualties, though.” She sighed. “It’s turning into a real mystery, isn’t it?”

  He nodded. “It’s going to take some investigation, but we’ll get there.” He hesitated, staring at her. “Good night, then. I guess I will see you tomorrow, bright and early.”

  “Good night,” she said with a tight smile. She pulled her coat over her head and walked away, about to dash across the road to where her car was parked.

  “Allie,” he called suddenly.

  She turned, staring at him quizzically. He could see raindrops falling on her coat, dissipating into the material almost as soon as they hit it.

  “There’s a diner near here,” he said slowly. “Not the best food in the world, but okay. I haven’t had a chance to eat tonight, and I know that you haven’t, either. We could grab something if you like.”

  Allie hesitated, her blue green eyes wide.

  “I’d like that,” she said, turning back to him.

  They walked the short distance to the diner in silence, rain drizzling down on them. Allie was conscious of his tall figure beside her, shrouded in his dark coat.

  The diner was lit up, but few people were in there. They sank into a booth near the door, and the waitress took their order. Allie stared at the salt and pepper shakers on the table, wondering why she had said yes to coming here with him.

  Sure, she had to eat, but she was tired, and there was only so much exposure she could take to being next to the mysterious Caleb Stone. He rattled her—there was no denying it.

  Their food came, and Allie welcomed the diversion. There was little conversation as they devoured their meals.

  “You did well tonight,” he said suddenly, swallowing the last bite of his burger. “At the coroner’s but also in the meeting. I have a feeling you aren’t used to making presentations.”

  Allie smiled slightly. “I’m new at all this,” she said. “It’s been a pretty intense week. Frances falling ill, and having to step up, and the mugging…” she trailed off, blushing. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned that. I wasn’t intending to.”

  Caleb stilled, watching her. “You were mugged?”

  She nodded slowly. “After my very first day at work,” she said ruefully. “I was only walking a few blocks down my street. I just wanted some Chinese takeout. But it was dark, and I should have known better, I guess." She took a deep breath. “I’m not used to city living, I’m afraid. Still adjusting to it all.”

  “What happened?” He held his breath as he waited for her answer.

  “It was so strange,” she replied, picking at the last french fry on her plate. “A man just came out of the blue, from behind. He wrestled me to the ground and grabbed my bag. But then…”

  “Then?” He stared at her.

  “This large dog appeared,” she said slowly. “It lunged at the man, pinning him to the ground. I thought the dog was going to kill him. The man managed to escape, but he left my bag behind. The dog picked it up, in its teeth, and brought it back to me. Laid it on the ground where I lay, then ran off into the night.”

  “That is odd,” he said slowly. Inside, he was stunned. He couldn’t remember any of this; he certainly had no idea that the wolf inside was capable of doing such a thing. Attack, yes; but to have the thought to retrieve her bag for her…well, it threw him, if he were being honest.

  He had not thought that the wolf—he still didn’t think of it as him—was capable of such a thing. It showed that the wolf felt something other than primal anger, especially in such a charged situation. He would have thought that the wolf would have pursued the man. Instead, its primary focus had been the woman lying on the ground.

  He felt a surge of hope ripping through his chest. He had always struggled with what he was; the beast side of himself. He knew that most of the others in the pack were not conflicted in the same way—they accepted their wolf and were proud of it. It probably had something to do with the fact that he prided himself on his human brain and how well it worked. To fully accept he had an instinctive, bestial side appalled him, deep down. The side that could overtake his rational mind completely and make him act in ways that he didn’t remember.

  But this…it gave him hope. That the wolf wasn’t completely a beast. O
r that perhaps his human mind—who he was—still glimmered within it, even when it was on the attack.

  Had it been the woman sitting across from him that had awakened that side of the wolf?

  Allie was stirring sugar into her coffee. She bit her lip, thinking.

  “I know that it sounds imagined,” she said, taking a long sip. “And to tell you the truth, I questioned myself afterwards. Did I really see it? Did it really happen? But I know it was true. I can’t explain it.”

  “What type of dog was it?” he asked, his green eyes narrowed.

  “I’ve no idea,” she said, shaking her head. “Large with a furry black coat. Terrifying, really. Almost like a wolf, although I know that is ridiculous. Imagine a wolf roaming the city streets! It had fangs, and the most intense coloured eyes…” she stopped, staring at him.

  His skin prickled, slightly. He had never seen himself in his wolf form, obviously, but he had seen the others. And he knew that they retained similar hair colour and eye colour when they changed into their wolves. He also knew that his own eyes were a very distinct colour. She wasn’t putting two and two together, was she?

  He let out a long breath. Relax, he told himself. Even if her mind was sparking in that direction, she is a scientist. There is no way on earth she would ever assume a connection between the animal she had seen and Caleb Stone, professional man. Her mind wouldn’t even go there; it was so preposterous as to be laughable to most fully human people. Most had heard the folklore or seen the movies about werewolves and accepted that they were made up. Myths.

  It hadn’t always been that way, of course. In times gone by, he knew that his forefathers had been persecuted. People did believe in those days. They accepted that there was more to life than what they experienced; they were open to the idea of humans who changed into wolves. But not in the modern world.

  His secret was still safe. But he realised, forcefully, the risk he had taken when he had changed into the wolf to protect her.

  He had to keep safe. He had to control his urges.