Thad frowned. “You’re not disturbing us. Well, you are a bit…let me explain. Come and sit with us. I just made a pot of coffee.” He walked through to the kitchenette, gesturing that they should both follow him.
Zach did as he was told. It was already beyond awkward, anyway. He might as well play along with Thad and gulp down a quick cup of coffee before leaving them to it.
They all sat at the table, and Thad poured cups of coffee, handing them out. Julia swirled cream through hers and heaped two teaspoons of sugar into it, stirring it vigorously. Zach took his and sipped it, trying not to scald his tongue. Thad always made it too hot.
Thad took a deep breath. “You are probably wondering why Julia is here, Zach.”
Zach cautiously nodded. The situation was already so far removed from anything that had happened here before he wasn’t even sure how to proceed.
He sat back, staring at them both. Now this was going to be interesting.
“Julia is an old friend,” Thad began. “We grew up together. She knows everything about me.” He paused, staring at Zach. “Everything.”
Zach nodded again, mystified.
“Oh, Thad,” said Julia, throwing her head back in laughter. “Just get to the point! The poor guy is looking like he’s about to choke on his confusion.” She turned to Zach, fixing him with her gaze. “What Thad is trying to say is that I know he’s a wolf.”
Zach stared at her hard, his eyes widening. “You know?”
Julia nodded. “I’ve always known. We were good friends, and I’ve seen him change. Our lives have gone in different directions since, but I’ve always kept the secret.”
Zach turned to stare at Thad, who was watching Julia carefully. He looked wary, but calm.
Zach frowned. Even if this Julia woman knew that Thad was a wolf shapeshifter—and she obviously did—it still didn’t explain why she was here. All of them had family, and some friends, who knew what they really were. But none of them had ever visited the warehouse.
“Don’t blame Thad,” said Julia quickly, staring at Zach pleadingly. “This was a surprise visit. He wasn’t expecting me.” She took a deep breath. “And he was a bit angry when I turned up.”
Zach raised his eyebrows. “How did you know where we live?”
Julia hesitated. “I followed Thad,” she said. Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. “He’s explained that I shouldn’t be here, and I’m sorry. But I was desperate.”
To Zach’s surprise, her face suddenly crumpled, and a few tears fell down her face. She sniffled loudly, trying to smile through her distress.
“Julia,” said Thad, reaching out a hand to caress the woman’s arm. “It’s alright. I said that we would help you, and I meant it.” He looked over at Zach, shrugging helplessly.
Zach stood up, picking up a box of tissues from a side table. Then he placed the box in front of the woman. Julia smiled gratefully, taking one, and blowing her nose noisily. Zach sat back down, staring at her. He was used to comforting distressed people; it was all part of his job. Sometimes he thought the role of a Wild Keeper was as much counsellor as it was warrior or detective.
They worked cases involving the Vilgath wherever it took them around the city of Covenester. And that usually meant going undercover, trying to find out what the demons were intending and stopping them before they succeeded. Most of the job was investigating what was afoot; what the demons planned, and how they were playing their game. Until they flushed them out, the wolf stayed hidden in the background.
It was more about brains than brawn, thought Zach, still staring at his alpha leader’s friend. And sometimes, it was about heart.
“Julia,” said Thad gently. “Maybe you should explain what’s happened to Zach.”
Julia clutched her sodden tissue. “Why? You are the only person I needed to tell.” She stared at him, her eyes wide. “You are going to help me, aren’t you? I have no one else I can turn to.”
Thad nodded. “Of course I am, but you’ve caught me at a bad time. I’m in the middle of working a big case, and I don’t think that I can take this on.”
“What?” Julia had paled. She stood up, quickly. “I shouldn’t have bothered you. I had this ridiculous idea that because we were once friends, you might still have some feeling for me. But I can see that you are just like all the rest. Judging me.”
“Whoa,” said Thad, standing up too. “I’m not judging you. You have a right to live your life the way that you want to. And just because I said I’m busy doesn’t mean that I’m not going to help you.” He swivelled around to Zach. “That’s where Zach comes in. He couldn’t have interrupted at a better time, now that I think about it.”
Zach stared at them both. What was Thad actually saying? What did any of this have to do with him?
“Sit down, Julia,” said Thad. “We can work it out.”
She sat back down, staring at him warily. “I don’t want to involve anyone else. Just you. It’s you that I trust.”
Thad took a deep breath. “Zach is as trustworthy as me. He’s a Wild Keeper, sworn to protect the city, just as I am. You can trust him, Julia.”
Julia stared at Zach, considering. Then she nodded. “Okay. I’ll do what you ask.”
“Good,” Thad breathed. “Zach will need to know everything from the beginning.”
“Okay.” Julia took a deep breath, still staring at Zach. “It’s about a woman. A dear friend of mine. She’s missing, and I’m worried about her.”
She suddenly fell silent as she stared at him. Zach nodded encouragingly.
“Her name is Sienna. Sienna Carter. A few weeks ago, she disappeared, and no one has seen her since.”
Zach nodded, again. “Tell me more about Sienna.”
Julia hesitated. “Sienna is…different,” she said slowly. “Troubled. But the sweetest girl you have ever met. She’s like a little sister to me.” She stared down at the table. “I looked after her when I found her, many years ago now. I took her in and let her live with me. And the others.”
There was a pointed silence. Zach shifted uncomfortably. He wished that Julia would just come out and say what she was, and where she lived. He had a fair idea, but it was like the elephant was trumpeting and crashing through the warehouse and they were all studiously ignoring it.
“Julia is a working girl,” said Thad.
Julia’s eyes flashed. “I’m more than a working girl,” she said, raising her chin. “I run the most exclusive and discreet gentlemen’s club in Covenester.” She whipped her head around, glaring at Thad. “I’m a wealthy woman now, Thad. I’ve been smart. I’ve saved it all.”
Thad nodded. “I’m not judging you,” he said. “I’ve already told you that. You were always a smart and resourceful girl, and you are showing me that you are now a smart and resourceful woman. But Zach needs to know everything if he’s going to try to find your Sienna.”
Zach stared at Thad, dumbfounded. So, this was what it was all about. Thad wanted him to act as a private eye, searching for a missing woman. A woman who was a working girl as much as this Julia was, by the sound of it. As a favour of sorts to Julia, who used to be a friend.
Zach frowned. What was his illustrious leader thinking?
“Anyway,” sniffed Julia, gaining her composure. “That is the truth. Do you have a problem with that?”
She glared at Zach as if challenging him.
Zach shook his head. “No, I don’t have a problem with it,” he replied carefully. “As Thad said, what you do with your life is your own business. And I’m not judging it. I don’t even know you, Julia.”
Julia relaxed slightly, tossing back her hair. “Good. Because it is none of your business. And my money is as good as anyone else’s.”
Thad gazed at her. “You don’t have to pay us, Julia.”
“No, I want to,” said Julia, gazing at him. “I know I’ve taken you by surprise, and you don’t usually do things like this.” She eyed Zach. “If he was to search for Sienna, he wouldn’t be
working on one of your usual cases. I’m a business woman, and I know how it works. One man down, as they say. You should be recompensed.”
Thad sighed. “We can talk about that later. But if Zach is to search for her, he needs more information.”
Julia nodded decisively. “Yeah, of course.” She stared at Zach. “What do you need to know?”
Zach let out a deep breath. “Well, for starters, where was she when she disappeared?”
Julia shook her head. “I don’t know. She doesn’t live with us anymore.” She sighed deeply. “Sienna abruptly left us two years ago. I didn’t want her to go, but she got an offer she couldn’t refuse. A powerful man wanted her exclusive services and keeps her hidden away.”
Zach frowned again. “How do you know she is missing, then?”
“Word gets around.” Julia gestured vaguely. “It started filtering back that she’d run away from him, and that he’s searching for her. She’s gone underground, obviously.”
Zach stared at her, hard. “If she doesn’t want to be found, why are you searching for her? It sounds like she wants to stay off the radar.”
Julia shuddered. “Because she’s like a sister to me! I need to know that she’s okay. I want you to bring her to me. Tell her I’ll take care of her, just like I used to.” She hung her head, crying softly.
Thad pushed the box of tissues closer to her. She reached for another and wiped her eyes, again. Then she turned to Zach, her eyes pleading.
“Can you do it?” she asked softly. “Can you find her?”
Zach stared at Thad, who shrugged his shoulders imperceptibly. His leader obviously didn’t think that there was much hope of finding this missing woman, either. It was going to be a lost cause. In Zach’s experience, if someone wanted to disappear, it wasn’t easy to find them.
And even if against the odds he did manage to find this Sienna, she wouldn’t be pleased to see him. She wouldn’t want to go with him to Julia. If she did, she would have gone to her to start with. No, this woman wanted to stay missing. And really, she had a right to live her life as she pleased. If she needed to re-invent her life somewhere else, that was her choice entirely.
Zach sighed, gazing at Julia, who was staring at him with shining eyes, as if all her hopes were tied up in him. What could he say to her? Should he be brutally honest, and tell her that her friend probably didn’t want to be found? She wouldn’t like it, obviously, but perhaps it would be kinder in the long run.
He was about to open his mouth and say just that when Thad stood up, suddenly.
“Zach, can I speak to you alone a minute?” he said, staring pointedly at him. “We won’t be long, Julia.”
They went into the small kitchenette, leaning against the counter. Zach could see Julia had reefed another tissue out of the box and was weeping quietly, dabbing her eyes.
Thad followed his gaze, his eyes softening. “I want you to do it.”
Zach sighed. “You know as well as I do that if someone wants to stay missing, they will. Julia’s your friend, Thad. You should tell her that and let her get on with her grieving. She has to let go.”
Thad nodded. “I know, but I can’t.” He took a deep breath. “I feel protective of her, even though I haven’t seen her in years. She was always a wild one, and we drifted apart, but I still care for her. I should do her this favour.”
“Why?” whispered Zach, frowning. “As she said, I will be tied up with this, and if a real case comes along then I won’t be available. It affects us too, Thad.”
Thad blinked rapidly. “Look, let’s just humour her, okay? You can make some enquiries and will probably get nowhere. We can tell her that we at least tried to find her friend. It will make her feel better that she’s done something at least. Then she might be able to let go.”
Zach sighed but nodded. “Okay. You are a real softie, you know? Underneath that tough leader act you pull with us all the time. Who would have thought that Thad Cameron, pack alpha leader, could be swayed by a crying woman?”
Thad grinned. “If you tell anyone I’ll have to kill you.” He sighed, too, staring at Julia. “But seriously, if I can’t help a friend in need, what kind of a person does that make me? And sometimes it’s kinder to not tell the truth…or not all of it, anyway.”
Zach sighed again. “Let’s do it, then.”
They returned to the table, sitting down. Julia stared at them both. “Well? Will you do this for me?”
Zach nodded. “I’ll do it. But you need to tell me a bit more about Sienna’s life, and where she might be hiding out. It’s all a bit vague, and it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
Julia nodded in turn. “Okay. But I don’t know much.”
“Who was the man she was working for?” asked Zach.
“I don’t know,” she said. “Sienna never told me. She only said he was rich and powerful and could take care of her.”
Zach frowned. Considering Julia’s line of work, it seemed unlikely she wouldn’t have any idea of who the man might be. How had this Sienna met him, after all? It would seem likely that if she had been working at Julia’s establishment prior to her new job it would be there.
“No idea at all?” he pressed, staring at her. “Surely you would have an inkling? You said word filtered back to you that Sienna was missing. Who from?”
“The girls,” she replied. “Clients talking to them. They told them that one of the inner circle was searching for his pet. Tearing the city apart trying to find her.”
“The inner circle?”
“You know.” Julia shrugged. “The elite. The rich and powerful men who run this city. They are like a club.” She blinked rapidly then stared down at the table.
Zach’s frown deepened. There was almost literally nothing to go on. A woman who had run away from her mysterious, powerful employer. If he didn’t know who the man was, how could he trace her?
He stared at Julia. She was tight lipped now, as if she didn’t want to talk about this man any further. Didn’t want to, or couldn’t? Did Julia know something but was frightened to speak about him?
“Okay,” he said slowly, letting it go for now. “Would you at least have any idea of where she might have gone?”
Julia nodded. “I think she is hiding in the city, as I said. Lying low. It’s the only life she’s ever known. And she doesn’t have family to go to. No hometown to run back to.”
Thad stared at her. “Tell us about Sienna. What’s her background?”
“An orphan,” said Julia, wiping her eyes again. “She never knew her real parents. She lived in a series of foster homes in the city before running away when she was sixteen. That’s when I found her and took her in.”
Zach sighed. A troubled woman, obviously. And that kind of explained why she had fallen into the line of work she had.
“I know what you are thinking,” Julia said stiffly. “But you promised not to judge. Sienna has had a tough life. That doesn’t mean that she’s not worthy of a better one.”
“I never said that.” Zach sighed, leaning forward across the table. “Do you know anything more about her?”
Julia hesitated. “She’s…different, like I said. A bit frail, mentally.” She took a deep breath, then started whispering. “She has visions. They come on her like an epileptic fit, and they consume her. I was always telling her that she should see a doctor and get some medication, try to control it. But she would just get angry with me and refuse to talk about it.”
Zach and Thad stared at each other, both thinking the same thing. This complicated things again. Not only would Zach be searching for a woman who didn’t want to be found, but she was mentally unstable as well. A volatile combination.
“Is she violent?” asked Zach gently.
Julia’s eyes widened. She shook her head vigorously. “No, no! Sienna is the sweetest girl in the world. She would never hurt anyone.” She frowned. “It’s only herself she hurts. She doesn’t like herself very much. Calls herself a freak.”
<
br /> There was silence for a little while, broken only by the sound of traffic on the streets beyond.
“Please,” said Julia, her eyes wide. “Find her. She’s lost and alone. I’m scared for her. Bring her back to me.”
She suddenly started fishing through her handbag, extracting a photo. She tossed it onto the table, in front of Zach. He picked it up, staring at it.
“That’s her,” said Julia, in a tremulous voice. “It’s a bit old. But it’s better than nothing.”
She stood up, gazing down at them. “I have to go. I’ve been too long already.” She fished in her bag again then took out a business card, handing it to Zach. “If you find her, this is where I am.”
The two shifters stood up.
“Take care, Julia,” said Thad, embracing her. “We’ll be in touch about Sienna. Try not to worry too much.”
Julia flashed a brilliant smile. “Oh, don’t worry about me! I know how to put on a show. It will be business as usual.” She stared at Zach. “Try Mission Street, to start with. And thereabouts. That’s the area that she knows. You’ll be more likely to find her there, I think.”
Zach nodded. “I’ll be in touch.”
He watched Thad walk the woman out, steering her towards the door. Then he sat down, alternately staring at the photo and the business card that Julia had given him. Her establishment was just off Mission Street. One of the shadiest areas in the city, and one that he tried to avoid as much as possible.
Zach sighed. It was going to be a tough ask, getting any information in that district. People were understandably wary. But he had to try. They had promised her, and Zach was a man of his word.
***
Zach leaned back on his bed, staring through the skylight. It was a dark night. The moon was only half full, and clouds were obscuring it. He sighed, turning over, and picked up the photo, staring at it hard.
Sienna Carter. She was sitting on a sofa and didn’t look pleased that her photo was being taken. It appeared as if she had turned suddenly and discovered the camera in her face. She was frowning slightly, and her mouth was open as if she was telling the photographer to back off. But even the surly look on her face couldn’t obscure her beauty.
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