by Terry Spear
“All right, Darien. Out here.” So that Jenna knew all the players Darien was talking about, Sarandon told her, “Darien and Lelandi are our pack leaders. CJ’s my youngest quadruplet brother, and he’s a deputy sheriff. Peter Jorgenson is the sheriff.”
“I still can’t believe your whole town’s wolf-run.”
“Including our judge.”
“Oh, okay. So, you’re telling me you have a judge to back you.” Jenna sounded like she realized taking him in was a lost cause.
“No. I’m just saying we have a judge in case we need one—not for our kind. We take care of our own. For humans who cause trouble in our jurisdiction, we needed a judge.”
“I suspect if you needed his help, he’d back you up in this case. You’re still going to have to return with me. To clear your name. You can’t hide in your wolf pack in this town forever for protection.”
“Hide?” Sarandon shook his head. “Hell, Jenna, I live here. And I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m not hiding from anyone.”
“Okay, so you say, and I’m sure half your pack or more would give you alibis for the time frame.”
He couldn’t believe she still thought he could be guilty of identity theft. “In other words, I’m guilty until proven innocent.”
“You’ve already been arrested for the crimes, so yeah.”
“And I’ve told you it wasn’t me. Wait. You must have seen a picture of the guy.”
“Yep. Your driver’s license. Mine looks like crap. Yours is the perfect likeness of you.”
“Hot, huh?” He smiled at her. He knew she was interested in him. “What about his booking photo?”
Jenna let out her breath. “Just a minute.” She made another phone call. “Mom? It’s me again. Jenna. Did you get a look at Sarandon’s mug shot?”
Sarandon pulled into the pack leader’s long country drive.
“You’ve got a copy of his driver’s license. See if you can get a copy of his mug shot and determine how well they match. Then email it to me. If it’s not really Sarandon, I need to find the right guy, and who knows what his name really is or where he’s run off to.” She glanced at Sarandon. “We’re meeting at the pack leader’s house. You know they’ll cover for him, even if he’s guilty.”
Sarandon parked the SUV.
“Right. I don’t know how big the pack is, but they run all of Silver Town. I know. Big surprise. They even have a judge. Exactly… Yes, I’ll be careful… Okay, talk later.” She ended the call. “Nope. She only has your driver’s license, and it’s the same as the one you have now. So, who could have stolen your credit card and your driver’s license without you knowing it? And has anyone else in the community been targeted?”
“Not that I know of. Then again, I didn’t know I had been either. Like I said, I only have the one credit card I showed you.”
“Do you get credit card offers in the mail?”
“Hell yeah. All the time.”
“Do you shred them?”
“No. We live in a wolf community. No one would pull crap like that here.”
“The trash goes to a public dump site? That means anyone could go there and search for anything that would aid them in committing financial fraud.”
“Okay, I’ll have to admit you’re right. What about my driver’s license?”
“Did you renew it online? And did you shred the old one?”
“It was expired. It wouldn’t be good to anyone.”
Jenna cocked her head to the side a little, telling him his driver’s license had worked for someone.
“Except for whoever needed to show an ID to get my credit card. Gotcha. Come on. Let’s go inside and meet with Lelandi until Darien and CJ get here.”
Jake pulled up behind them, and they all went to the front door. Opening the door before they had a chance to knock, Lelandi smiled at Jenna. She was a red wolf, unlike the Silver brothers and cousins who were gray wolves. She must have just had her hair cut, because she was wearing a short bob that framed her face instead of her usual long, red curls. Her green eyes were smiling as she greeted Jenna, while barely taking notice of Sarandon or Jake. “You must be Jenna St. James. How exciting that you’re a bounty hunter! Come in and tell us all about yourself. Jake’s wife is one too. She’s on her way over.”
Sarandon should have warned Jenna that Lelandi was always into matchmaking. Then again, Jenna was more interested in arresting him than mating him, so he knew that despite her psychology training, Lelandi wouldn’t have any effect on Jenna. He suspected Jenna would be suspicious of Alicia joining them, as if she could convince a fellow bounty hunter that Sarandon was innocent of any charges.
Lelandi escorted Jenna into the high-ceilinged living room where twenty or more pack members could comfortably sit and visit on the velour couches and chairs. Lelandi offered to take Jenna’s jacket.
“Thanks, I’ll keep it.” Jenna pulled it off and carried it over her arm.
Lelandi suddenly turned to Sarandon. “I guess this kind of messes up your vacation plans.”
“For the moment, yeah.” Sarandon had a tour group booked for a wildflower hike after his two-week vacation, so if he didn’t get this straightened out pronto, he might waste his whole vacation trying to clear his name.
“Tell us about your pack,” Lelandi said, seating Jenna next to her on a sofa, as if to show she would protect Jenna from all the men when they gathered. Lelandi was usually really good at making people feel comfortable around her.
Sarandon was glad for that, because Jenna was definitely uncomfortable. Her stiff posture and the way she was trying to put more distance between her and Lelandi indicated she didn’t want to be influenced by the she-wolf leader.
“We don’t belong to a pack,” Jenna said. “My mother runs the bail bond office. My dad and my two sisters and I work for her as fugitive recovery agents.” She glanced in Sarandon’s direction as if to say he was currently her job.
“Oh my, I’m sure you have quite a few stories to share,” Lelandi said.
Sarandon fought to keep from smiling at her, not sure Jenna was falling for the welcome-to-the-pack routine.
* * *
“Like Alicia does?” Jenna just smiled. She did have lots of fascinating stories to tell, but this wasn’t the time to share them. She felt claustrophobic. The room was huge and comfortable for pack gatherings, but she felt like she was the center of all the wolf scrutiny, when Sarandon should have been instead.
They heard two cars pull up, and Jenna wondered what Darien would be like. A hard-nosed pack leader? Or more like Lelandi? Jenna didn’t altogether trust her. She knew Lelandi was trying to make her feel welcome, part of the pack, as if she should have no reason to suspect Sarandon had done anything wrong.
“That’s Darien’s car and CJ’s. Darien will have picked up Alicia. So, it looks like everyone’s here.” Lelandi smiled at Sarandon.
“I’ll get everyone something to drink,” Jake said. “What would you like, Jenna?”
“Water would be fine. Thank you.”
“Tea, Jake, if you don’t mind,” Lelandi said.
“I’ll take a beer,” a sable-haired man said as he and another man headed into the living room to join them. “I’m Darien.” He offered his hand to Jenna, and she stood and shook it, then sat back down. His dark-brown eyes studied her for a moment like a pack leader would, determining her strengths and weaknesses, seeing if she was easily intimidated. Which she wasn’t. “And this is CJ.”
CJ removed his deputy cowboy-style gray hat. He was wearing a denim jacket and cowboy boots and had a badge affixed to his belt. His hair was as dark brown as Sarandon’s, but less wavy. His eyes were a lighter brown, but there was an obvious similarity between the two brothers. And Jake and Darien, for that matter.
Like Darien, CJ was unsmiling, but unlike the pack leader, CJ didn’t offer to s
hake Jenna’s hand. She suspected CJ was looking out for his older brother, and as far as the deputy was concerned, she was the enemy wolf, ready to arrest Sarandon. CJ wasn’t going to pretend friendship, which she appreciated. She much preferred meeting everyone at face value. Otherwise, she felt like she’d stepped into a Stepford Wolves town.
Alicia hurried into the living room wearing jeans and a T-shirt and sandals. She had dark-brown curls hanging to her shoulders, and her dark-brown eyes widened when she saw Jenna. “Sorry, I had to take a call from the sitter. It’s so good to see you again, Jenna. I’m Alicia, now Jake’s mate.”
“And a wolf.” Jenna didn’t know Alicia well, although she’d heard rumors the bounty hunter was going after a mob boss single-handedly. Jenna’s family had talked about how they’d never take on a mob boss. They’d thought Alicia was either the bravest woman in the business or a little bit crazy. Jenna had met her at the El Paso County Jail and Criminal Justice Center in Colorado Springs when they were bringing in a couple of bail jumpers, but Alicia had been human then.
“Yeah, big changes in my life. I never suspected you were a wolf either.”
“I was born a wolf.” Jenna couldn’t imagine how difficult it would be to not only have the issues with shifting while raising kids, but also those related to working a job. She could see the benefits of living in a wolf-run town if the wolf was newly turned.
“Don’t you find that makes you see someone differently? When you learn the person you’re talking to is a wolf and not just human? Like you have a secret you can share with him that you can’t with others?” Alicia asked.
Jenna glanced at Sarandon. He smiled a little. “Yeah, but not as far as doing my job.” She returned his smile.
His smile only grew. He was so cocky.
In truth, Alicia was right. Knowing he was a wolf made a lot of difference—but only because of the way he’d pinned her down and the physical interest they’d shown in each other. She was beginning to think he was innocent, and that meant she was even more intrigued with him.
“Honey, what would you like to drink?” Jake asked his mate.
“I’ll have what Lelandi’s drinking,” Alicia said.
“I’m good,” CJ said to Jake as he brought in the other drinks.
“Sarandon?”
“A beer.”
Jake smiled at Sarandon. “Yeah, me too.”
After Jake finished getting drinks for everyone, they all took their seats, except for CJ. He stood near the fireplace, arms folded across his chest, looking like he was ready to arrest her! He towered over everyone who was sitting, making him king of the forum. It was an act of intimidation any good deputy sheriff would use to ensure he had the upper hand. If he’d wanted to give the impression he was treating Jenna as an equal, he would have joined them on one of the couches.
From what she could tell, Lelandi was the easygoing pack leader, and Darien played the role of the tough pack leader.
She wondered if Lelandi was a family physician, since she had canceled on her patients. Jenna guessed none of the cases needed immediate care, or Lelandi would have taken care of them. It went to show how important Sarandon was to her. Jenna couldn’t help but admire the pack for that.
“Okay, so what makes you think Sarandon has committed any crime?” Darien asked, getting the matter on the table.
To CJ’s credit, he pulled out a notepad and began taking notes. Jenna had thought he might be totally arrogant and dismiss her concern completely, as if she had no say in any of it and they would take care of it.
She pulled her phone from her jacket pocket and began listing all the acts of fraud the perp had committed.
“So, let me get this straight,” CJ said.
She knew he was going to be a hard-ass. Mostly because he was Sarandon’s brother, but also because he was the law. And this was his jurisdiction. “Ask away.”
“An identity thief uses one of the identities he has on him, and everyone believes that’s his true identity. Why?”
“That’s all the police have to go by until they can prove otherwise.” She got a wolf’s howl on her cell—letting her know her mother was calling—and pulled out her phone, noticing a few smiles. Her mother had insisted Jenna and her sisters use the wolf howl sound for her calls so they’d know the call was important. Their mom normally wasn’t one to call just to chitchat. “Okay, my mom’s sending the mug shot of the guy they’ve taken into custody.” Since Jenna had already told Sarandon that her mom was the bondswoman, she didn’t need to keep it secret from the rest of them. Being wolves and family-oriented, she assumed they understood why hers was a family-run business.
Jenna studied the picture while everyone was quiet in the room, waiting for her to share the photo.
“The suspense is killing me,” Sarandon said, sounding annoyed. “Either he looks like me, or he doesn’t.”
“He’s wearing a beard, so that makes him look different. He’s got the same eye and hair color as you.”
Sarandon got up from his chair and came over to look at the picture on her phone. “Well, hell, of course that’s not me. My beard comes in red. And I’m a lot hotter than this guy. And I’m a wolf. I bet he’s not.”
Jenna fought chuckling at Sarandon. He was right. He was hot. And completely self-assured. The mug shot was too similar to dismiss though. The shape of the suspect’s eyes and nose were similar, and the beard hid his jawline.
“Okay, have you got any pictures of yourself when you have a beard?” She wasn’t going to take Sarandon’s word that he had a red beard when it grew in. The rest of his hair wasn’t red.
“He’s right,” CJ said, moving in to look at the mug shot. “This isn’t him. And yeah, he has a red beard.”
Darien took a look at the mug shot and agreed with them. “Similar, but not Sarandon.”
Jake moved in to get a closer look. “I agree with everyone else.”
“That he looks similar?” Jenna said, which was making her think of other possibilities. Was the man related to Sarandon? One of the men in the wolf pack living here even? That would be good news. The pack could help her take him in, if they would.
Lelandi looked at the mug shot. Her eyes widened. “He’s a wolf.”
“You know him?” Darien asked, sounding shocked.
“Well, not his name. I saw him in the tavern once. At first glance, I thought he was Sarandon. I didn’t recognize the man he was with or him, once I really studied him. They are wolves because the tavern is only open to wolves,” she added for Jenna’s benefit.
“Great. More wolves.” None of her family had had to deal with wolves in going after a bail jumper. She’d assumed that if Sarandon wasn’t the suspect, the guy who was wouldn’t be a wolf, unless he was related. It was good that she had a new possible suspect. Bad that no one seemed to know who he was.
“I’ll get with Peter to see if we can learn anything about this man. If you can send the mug shot to me, I’ll print up flyers and spread them around to the pack,” CJ said.
“That would be great. Thank you.” Jenna couldn’t believe he’d want to help, but then again, if it got his brother off the hook, she guessed he would.
“In the meantime, you can stay with us until we get this straightened out,” Lelandi offered, motioning to her and Darien’s house.
“I’m sticking with Sarandon. He’s the one I need to take back to Colorado Springs.” When everyone looked growly because she was still sticking to the plan, Jenna added, “To prove he’s a victim in this case.” She had to agree the man in the mug shot didn’t look enough like Sarandon to be him, as far as she could tell. But the police had been convinced enough to make a case against Sarandon. She still wanted to see a picture of him wearing a beard, but his fingerprints should eliminate him as the thief.
“I might have some photos at my house. I’m not big into picture taking, but
as a professional photographer, Jake is, and he took some of me with my brothers.”
“If your pictures look way different from the mug shot, we can use that to help prove your innocence,” Jenna said. Though pictures could be touched up, so she wasn’t sure the police would buy that.
“I can’t believe a wolf would come to our town and steal the identity of one of our people,” Jake said. “We need to catch him, but what do we do after that? If the guy who really did this is a wolf, we’ll have to take care of him ourselves. We can’t turn him over to the police.”
“But we need to turn him over so he can clear Sarandon’s name,” CJ said.
“If he’s not newly turned.” Sarandon looked at Lelandi. “When did you see him?”
“Six months ago.”
“Do you recall when exactly?”
“Around the first of the month. It was a Monday, because Sam was having a special on his fabulous roast beef sandwiches, but that’s all I recall for sure.”
“We could check out the moon phases for that date. It wouldn’t tell us anything unless someone recognized his scent and saw him running as a wolf during the new moon,” CJ said. Since only royals could run as wolves then, they’d know he wouldn’t have any trouble being jailed in a human jail.
“We’d have to know what he looked like as a wolf first,” Lelandi said.
“True,” CJ conceded.
“My fingerprints can prove I’m not him,” Sarandon reminded them.
Chapter 4
Once Jenna had shared all she knew, CJ and the rest of the men talked and handed out jobs to clear Sarandon. They wanted more evidence than just the suspect’s fingerprints though, so they could get the bastard who had done this.
Alicia and Lelandi talked with Jenna. “The last I knew, you were trying to run down that mob boss. I can’t believe you didn’t get yourself killed,” Jenna said, sounding impressed.
“Yeah, we took him and his cohorts down. He was a wolf.”