by Geonn Cannon
“She was shot. Twice. In the chest. But she was wearing her vest. She’s fine.”
“You’re positive?”
“I was there,” Dale said. “I saw it all happen. She’s hurt, but she’s... it’s not... she was conscious and she told me to come tell you in person.”
Lucy had started to silently cry. She loosened her grip on Dale’s shoulder. “I’ll get my keys. Come in. Tell me everything while I’m figuring out where they took her.”
Dale allowed herself to be ushered into the house. As awful as it sounded, she was grateful to deal with someone else’s trauma for a little while. The truly attractive thing about it was that this story, no matter how scary it might be to tell or hear, had a definitely happy ending. That gave her hope that Ari’s situation would have an equally happy conclusion.
It didn’t hurt to hope, anyway.
#
Ari’s morning was filled with more routine. Wake up. Get counted. Breakfast. Go to work. She felt like an extra in a dystopian movie about conformity. It was easy to see why some of the inmates who had been incarcerated for years had such a defeated look in their eyes. She didn’t mind working in the library. There were far worse assignments she could have gotten, and Gladys was a great companion. But finding things to appreciate in her situation didn’t equal enjoyment or anything close to happiness. She wanted a boring day at the office. She wanted to sit in a hot car for the chance to take a picture of a cheater leaving a house they weren’t supposed to be visiting. She wanted her perfect life, with all its imperfections.
At a quarter past ten, halfway between the start of work and lunch, Ari decided it was time to take a break. She headed out, passing by Gladys’ office on the way.
“Bathroom.”
“Why don’t you go in the morning like a normal person?”
“Shy bladder.”
Gladys said, “You’re gonna have to get over that real quick, honey.”
Ari hoped that wasn’t true, but said, “I’m working on it.”
She went to the bathroom that was closest to their cellblock, since it was the one furthest from most work areas and therefore likely to be less occupied. She was fortunate enough to find a stall with an actual closing door and took advantage of it. When she finished, she turned around and used her foot to press the plunger so it could flush. She wondered why prisons hadn’t taken advantage of automated toilets and faucets. Less water usage would probably look good on their budgets. Then again, a lack of funds was probably the reason they couldn’t--
Something dropped over her head and settled around her neck. When she looked down and was bringing her hand up to see what it was, it tightened and jerked her back until she slammed into the stall door. The loop of cloth around her neck pulled even tighter and she was lifted off her feet, her shoulders sliding up the metal until they were almost at the top of the door. She grabbed at the noose and kicked her heels against the door.
Her instinct was to surrender to the wolf. But the wolf was gone, which threw her into a panic. The door opened inward, which meant the hinges were working in her attacker’s favor. She couldn’t get her fingers beneath the noose. She reached back and slapped her fingers against the knot, hoping she could loosen it enough to let her weight pull her free, but it was too tight. Her lips parted in a futile gasp for air.
She could guess exactly how it was going to end. Once she stopped fighting, she would be dragged to her cell and strung up from a convenient high point. Cecily Parrish would probably push the story that she’d killed herself out of guilt. The case would be closed and that would be the end of her story. After everything she’d survived, she was going to die in a toilet stall.
The hell I am.
Whoever was hanging her had to be using her own weight as an anchor. That meant they were just as vulnerable as she was. She just needed to get better leverage, and take the pressure off her throat. She twisted so she was facing the door, the noose burning her neck as she moved. She planted her feet against the door and shoved backward as hard as she could. The pressure immediately let up, and the person on the other side was knocked off balance. She hit the door hard enough to shake the entire stall, and the sheet slithered over onto Ari’s side like a long white snake.
Ari’s freedom meant that she fell hard, bouncing off the edge of the toilet and fortunately falling onto the ground beside it instead of into it. The unfortunate part was that it took her a precious few seconds to extricate herself from the awkward position, coughing hard enough that her chest hurt. While she was down, she caught a glimpse of her attacker’s feet in a pair of blue slip-on shoes as she fled.
Still coughing, Ari burst out of the stall and ran out of the bathroom. The corridor was empty. She saw a few prisoners at the far end of the hallway, but neither of them seemed to be paying attention to her. A quick glance down revealed they were both wearing white shoes. Ari tugged at the noose until she was able to pull it over her head. It dangled from her fingers as she coughed, her heart still racing and her breathing irregular.
“Okay, Cecily,” she said, her voice rough. “You want to play, we can play.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dale explained to Lucy what happened on their way to the hospital. The lieutenant Lucy got on the phone assured them both that Diana was just being examined as a precaution. Both bullets hit her vest, leaving her bruised but completely intact. Lucy let that news calm her nerves but she refused to completely relax until she saw Diana with her own eyes to confirm she was in one piece. Dale also learned that Hector Cook also survived the shooting, unsurprising since Diana had taken care to ensure his wounds weren’t life-threatening but still enough to eliminate him as a threat.
Dale stayed behind in the waiting room to give them privacy for their reunion. That was where Gwen found her, swooping in to gather her into a hug before Dale had even realized she was there.
“Oh. Hey.”
“Are you all right?” Gwen asked as she took the seat next to her. “I can’t imagine how terrified you must have been.”
Dale said, “I’m... I was, at first, but then I had to tell Lucy. I had to take care of Lucy. So I haven’t really had a chance to process all of it.”
Gwen took Dale’s hand in both of hers. “Take as much time as you need.”
“I just feel like this is the end. This is already the end, and we’ve barely even started.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, after this, we don’t have Diana working the case on the official side. And in a few days, Milo’s pack is going back to their real lives. We had all these people backing us up and we didn’t even make a dent, and Cecily Parrish is still going strong. Do we even really stand a chance against her?”
Gwen said, “Of course we do, Dale. We have the lawyer Diana found for us.”
“He won’t do us any good if Ari doesn’t survive to see a courtroom. This Hector Cook guy felt like a lead, but tracking him down just cost us one of our strongest allies. We didn’t even learn anything from him in return. And right now, Ari is probably in immense danger, and we aren’t able to warn her or do anything at all to protect her. It just feels hopeless.”
“That doesn’t sound like the Dale Frye I’ve come to know.”
Dale closed her eyes. “That Dale is very tired, Mom.”
Gwen raised an eyebrow at that, but didn’t say anything. Either it was a mistake or it wasn’t, and at the moment it didn’t matter which. She guided Dale’s head to her shoulder and stroked her hair.
“We are losing some of our allies,” Gwen admitted, “and I’m scared. I might be more scared than I’ve ever been. But one thing I’m sure of, and it’s something Ariadne knows with all her heart: you and I are never going to stop fighting for her.”
Dale smiled. “That does make me feel a little better.”
“Good.”
Dale closed her eyes and let Gwen stroke her hair. It wouldn’t solve any problems, but it was doing wonders for her anxiety. She didn’t like
to think about what her life would be like without Ari in it, didn’t want to think about how she was starting to get used to waking up in an empty bed, so instead she focused on memories. She thought about a day not long after they started working together. It was a few months into her tenure, and Ari was out on a case.
Ari announced her return by pawing at the door. She did it softly so her claws wouldn’t leave permanent scratches on the wood, but Dale was already attuned to the sound. She got up, let Ari in, and shut the door behind. Ari’s fur was wet with mud, so Dale followed Ari into the inner office to get a towel for her. Ari stopped in front of the couch, hunched her back, and began to transform.
“Wait, I’m still in the--”
It was too late. Dale cringed at the first sound of bones snapping. She tried so hard to be out of the room when Ari changed. Muscles pulled her shoulders back, broadening her torso, as her legs snapped and extended. Her shoulders popped and repositioned themselves, her feet and hands became flatter, and her hips shifted back to where they should have been. The dark brown fur that covered her body withdrew and exposed a pale grey pelt that faded into slightly tanned flesh.
A naked human woman now crouched on the floor in front of the couch. She was shuddering, so Dale overcame her revulsion at the process to drape the towel over her. She was close enough to see how tightly Ari’s eyes were squeezed shut, and to see the tremors still running through her body. She was sweating and making an almost inaudible mewling sound.
“Are you okay?”
Ari’s shoulders were hunched up by her ears. “I’ll b-be f-f-fine. Hurts.”
“You said it always hurts.”
“Bad day,” Ari said, baring her teeth and hugging herself against a new wave of pain.
“Is there anything I can do?”
Ari shook her head and slumped against the couch. “No. It passes.”
Dale said, “Really? Because you look like you’re in a lot of pain. Let me get you an aspirin or ice pack? I could give you a massage...”
The reaction was minor but still noticeable. “That’s n-not in your job description.”
“What? A massage? If you think it will help, I’m willing.”
Ari closed her eyes and shook her head. “No, it’s f-fine.”
“Get on the couch.”
“I--”
“On the couch, Ariadne!”
Ari started to straighten her back, but she cried out and fell against the cushions. Dale ignored her boss’ nudity and helped her get up onto the cushions. Ari groaned as she settled onto the soft cushions, her arms by her sides. Dale stood up and took a moment to debate the best logistical position for her. Nice ass, Miss Willow, she thought, then mentally slapped herself. Your friend needs help, Dale Elizabeth. Focus.
She straddled Ari’s waist. Her hands hovered briefly above Ari’s shoulders before she dropped them to the clammy skin. She applied pressure with her thumbs while she gently squeezed the muscles leading to Ari’s neck. The tension was unbelievable at first, almost as if Ari had been frozen solid, but after a few seconds she could feel it begin to release. Ari sighed loudly and pressed her forehead against the arm of the couch.
“God, that feels amazing.”
Dale moved her thumbs in wide circles on either side of Ari’s spine. As she worked her way south, she could feel Ari becoming more relaxed.
“Okay?” Dale asked.
“Amazing,” Ari said again. She managed to bring her arms up and used them to pillow her head. “How much do I have to bump your pay to make this a regular thing?”
Dale smiled. “Well, I’m not opposed to a raise. But if it helps, I’m happy to do it. Do all canidae have someone to do this for them?”
“I’m not like other wolves,” Ari said.
“Is that like the bullshit ‘not like other girls’ thing?”
“No,” Ari said. “It means I’m wrong. Broken.”
Dale’s smile faded. “Oh. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s okay. Just keep going, please.”
“Sure.”
Dale opened her eyes and sat up. Gwen looked at her. “Hi there.”
“Did I fall asleep?” She wiped her hand over her eyes.
“For a little bit. I figured you needed it.”
Dale stretched and stood up. “Stay here.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m channeling my inner Ari. I’ll be right back.”
She walked toward the elevators. She moved with purpose, as if she knew exactly where she wanted to be, and hoped that confidence kept anyone from asking what she was up to. She could see the waiting area from the second floor landing and waved to Gwen, who looked concerned. Dale hoped that concern was unfounded but given that she had no real plan, it was probably was.
It didn’t take her long to find Hector Cook’s room. A uniformed officer was stationed by the door. He looked up when he noticed Dale was walking toward him and locked his gaze on her.
“Sorry, ma’am, you can’t go in.”
She looked up at him; he was a good six inches taller than her. “Officer Sheehan, I was going to trick you. Maybe steal a set of scrubs, tell a lie to make you abandon your post, maybe get you in trouble with the boss, but I don’t want to do that. I just want to go in there and talk to the motherfucker who shot our friend. Do you know Diana?”
He said, “Not personally.” After a moment, his steely exterior cracked and he added, “I know her reputation, though. She’s a good cop.”
“Yeah, she is. I watched the asshole in this room shoot her today. I didn’t know she was wearing her vest. I know her wife, man. I had to tell Lucy that this guy shot Diana today. All I want to do is go in the room for five minutes and ask the questions Diana was going to ask him at his apartment. I don’t want her to have been shot for nothing.”
He continued staring forward. Dale tried to think of a new tactic before she noticed his posture relax slightly.
“Ma’am, did you threaten to steal scrubs?”
“I... I didn’t...”
“Ma’am, that’s a serious security threat. I have to inform hospital security.”
Sheehan half-turned and put a hand to his radio, but he didn’t say anything into it. Dale brushed past him and stepped into Hector’s room. He was propped up in bed, his chest looking oddly puffed-up by bandages. He was paler than he’d been in the street, but he was conscious. He opened his eyes but didn’t turn his head when she came into the room.
“You’re not a nurse.”
“No.”
He lifted his head slightly. “Hey, wait. I saw you. You’re the bitch in the car.”
Dale said, “I’m the bitch you were trying to kill when Detective Macallan saved you from becoming a murderer.”
His smile was lopsided. “Lady, I’ve killed people before.”
“Bully for you,” Dale said. “The point is, you aimed a gun at me and it didn’t work out well. You lost. So now you’re going to answer my questions.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s the way this works, asshole!” Dale snapped. “You’re a nobody hoodlum who has one of the most expensive firms in Seattle bailing him out of prison. Why? What does GG&M get out of helping save your ass?”
He glared at her without speaking. Dale pushed down her anger and tried to think rationally. She tried to look at it as a puzzle Ari had given her. “Babe, I’m having trouble with this case. Can I run the facts by you real quick?” She walked to the foot of his bed and rested her hands on the metal frame. She returned his stare. He was a car thief. A common criminal. And yet, whenever he was in trouble, GG&M and Cecily Parrish came to his rescue. What was their interest in him?
“Are you special?” she asked.
His lip curled in a sneer. “Come closer, baby, I’ll show you how I’m special.”
Dale grimaced at him. He didn’t have the right build to be a wolf. He might have been a different breed of shifter, but she doubted it. What could he possibly have to offe
r the firm that would justify the expense they’d wasted on him? It came to her in a flash.
“It was for this,” she said.
“What?”
“You’re their redshirt.” She stood up straighter. “They kept you out of jail all these years and let you run wild because you made a deal with them that you’d take the fall later. This is just the bill coming due. Let me guess, you’re going to ask for a deal with the cops. You were just the getaway driver, but you can give them the name of the killer.”
He smiled. “Ariadne Willow.”
Dale wanted to murder him. She was legitimately, unapologetically homicidal in that moment. She was grateful she didn’t have any weapons on her.
“Just between you and me, I never met the broad,” Hector said. “But my baby and his mama are going to be set for life, so I figure it’s a fair trade. I was gonna end up in jail anyway eventually. At least this way, my people get something out of it. They get a chance at a better life.”
“An innocent woman died, and another innocent woman is going to jail for it. How many people’s lives are you willing to ruin for a lie?”
“We look out for our own,” Hector said. “That’s what you’re doing, right? Who is this Willow chick to you? Sister? Boss? Doesn’t matter, don’t care. All I care about is the deal I made, and the money that’s going to get my girl into a good neighborhood with a good school. That’s what I’m concerned about.”
“Congratulations,” Dale said, her voice emotionless. “I hope it’s a fucking fantastic school with great teachers, because god knows she’s not going to have a father worth looking up to.”
She turned and went to the door.
“Hey.”
She looked back at him, and he aimed a finger-gun at her.
“I shouldn’t have wasted my second bullet on that cop. Should’ve blown your fucking head off. That might have been worth getting shot for.”
Dale left the room before he could see her shudder.
Chapter Twenty-Four
There were at least seven women in the cellblock wearing blue shoes, and none of them seemed particularly out of breath. Her attacker also had thin legs, which helped narrow it down but not enough for her to name any suspects. She bypassed the library and went directly to the infirmary. Val was in her office, a small windowless closet next to the treatment room.