by Robin Roseau
"Are you firing me from the school?" I asked. "How am I supposed to attend college full time while teaching?"
She smiled. "Like I said: scheduling. Your classes would be Tuesday and Thursday afternoons beginning at one-thirty. You can leave at noon and easily arrive, even if you have to drive."
I looked at her. "What else?"
"That's it," she said. "You'll earn a proper degree." She paused. "And Griffon has a small but respected business school, so you can earn an MBA once you finish your undergrad, if you want."
"Who is going to teach my Tuesday afternoon classes?" I asked. "That's when I do labs."
"You'll have to adjust your teaching schedule," she said. "Did you know that Carrie Bent has a teaching degree?"
Carrie was the sister of James Bent, one of the council members. She'd been helping out with my summer program, and she'd been really good.
Lara paused. "Honey, you don't have to do it this way. You can attend Madison in the evenings the way you had planned. If it takes six or seven years, so be it. I am not making choices for you. I am only offering an alternative."
"You want me to go to Griffon."
She nodded. "And James Bent asked a favor for Carrie. She's happy with part time for now, but if we expand again, she wants to be the first in consideration."
"Do Serena and Elisabeth know about this?"
"I swore them to secrecy. Don't be angry with them."
"Lara, I'm not mad at anyone," I told her. "If you pressure me, I might get mad, but if you're honest that it's my decision, that's okay." I wasn't sure she believed me. "Did Serena receive a letter like this one?"
"Yes."
I studied my mate for a moment. "Make an appointment. I want to tour the school."
Lara smiled. "Is tomorrow at four too soon?"
"Awfully sure of yourself," I muttered.
"Michaela," she said, "I ask you to give it honest consideration. That's all."
And so, we visited the school. I'd fallen in love. The college president met with us herself, and we also met with a few of the department heads. We finished talking, and I asked for a few minutes to wander alone.
"Wander alone," meant with Serena at my side and the other wolves giving us somewhat more room.
"What do you think?" I asked her. "We talked about attending Madison, not here."
"It's a good school," she said noncommittally.
"Serena, I interpret the terms of a wager you won as meaning you have as much to say about this decision as I do. Please speak frankly."
She looked away, and I knew she didn't want to tell me.
"I'll tell Lara we'll go to Madison," I said after a minute. "We both need to be comfortable."
"No!" she said firmly. "Um."
"The truth, Serena. It's your degree, too. Where do you want to attend?"
"Here," she said. But she looked away again. I grabbed her arm and turned her to face me, which really meant I pulled myself around until I was standing in front of her again.
"Tell me," I said quietly. "Please, Serena."
"For years," she said quietly, "I vowed I'd get a degree. When I graduated from high school, I couldn't afford it. Instead, I became an enforcer, and back then it was one emergency after another. Things calmed down a little, so Emanuel and I married, and then Alan and Jeremy came along. They got a little older, things were quiet, and I thought maybe I'd find time, but then I became pregnant with Kaylee. Then we had more emergencies in the pack, and we're still short handed." She paused. "This is the only way I'll ever go to college, if I go with you."
"Oh Serena," I said. I hugged her. "But which school?"
"This one. Michaela, this one."
"Griffon it is."
All that was last year. I'd been working my ass off, but with help, I was keeping up with all my duties.
Sleep was overrated.
* * * *
"Clear!" I said out the helicopter window. I looked around once more, flipped a few switches, then hit the starter switch. Two minutes later, I lifted the aircraft into the air. "Wolf Run area traffic," I said over the common frequency used at our private airport, "Robinson five-five-nine fox-wolf is skids up at the heliport, north departure." The call out wasn't necessary, as there wasn't any traffic, but it was a good habit to apprise any other aircraft using our little airport.
I actually departed first to the south, using the road leading into the compound as a mini runway for the helicopter. While the aircraft could take off and land vertically, it wasn't entirely safe. If something happened to the engine, forward momentum could be used to ensure a safe landing in a maneuver referred to as an auto-rotation. In other words, it was safest to remain near the ground until we had more airspeed. The road was private, and Lara had cleared trees away from it, making it safer to use this way. But soon I pulled back on the collective, and the helicopter climbed into the sky.
Serena and Portia were both quiet. I glanced back at Portia in the back seat. "Do you wish you were at the controls?" I asked her. She earned her pilot's license at the same time I earned my helicopter license, but she didn't have a lot of time, and she hadn't begun flying the helicopter yet. She smiled but didn't answer.
Serena and I spent the flight talking about class. We were taking all our classes together, which had actually been a lot of fun. We even studied together. It had worked well. A half-hour after lifting off from home, we approached Griffon. I circled the school once to get a good look at the landing site, but it was free of obstruction. I called in, anyway, then set up my approach. A minute later, we were skids down, and I began the shut down procedures. Once the helicopter drew quiet, I turned to Serena. We grinned at each other.
"I am so spoiled," I announced.
"I know," she replied. "We were going to talk to you about that."
I laughed, and we headed to class, Portia following along.
All was right with the world.
Phone Calls
"Lara, I have a little work at the office," I said.
"Take an escort."
"It's twenty steps."
She turned to me and stared me down.
"Yes, Alpha," I said meekly. I pulled out my phone and hit the speed dial. "Elisabeth, I need an escort."
"Why aren't you calling your head of security?"
"Because my head of security has a date with her husband," I replied. "And I am not going to bother her because I need to spend a half hour in my office."
"I'll send someone over. Stay where you are until someone arrives."
I sighed. Ten minutes later, Elisabeth stepped into the house, announcing herself.
"Auntie Lisbeth!" said Rebecca from her place on the floor. She and Celeste were coloring. She held up the picture. "Look what I painted!"
"Very pretty, Rebecca," Elisabeth replied, moving closer. She gave each girl a quick kiss on the forehead, but they were both engrossed in their coloring and returned their focus to the critical task. Elisabeth turned to me. "Ready?
"I didn't mean you," I told her.
"I was free," she replied.
"Thank you," I replied, heading for the door. I waited for her to step out in front of me, but then we walked side-by-side to the school. We made our way to my office. She checked briefly to ensure it was empty, then held the door for me. But I stopped in the doorway, facing my sister-in-law.
"Elisabeth?"
"Michaela?"
"Have you ever met any other werefoxes?"
"No, Michaela," she said. "Just you."
"Have you met other weres, other than wolves?"
"Of course. I've talked to the other weres living in Wisconsin," she said. Other than the wolves, there weren't many weres. There was a family of were beavers an hour from the compound, and there was a werecat pair living in Door County, although that was technically out of Lara's territory. I'd never met the werecats, but I'd once introduced myself to the beavers. "I met a weretiger once, and when I was growing up, there was a bear living near Superior, but we
haven't heard anything from him in years. It's unclear whether he moved on or died."
"Have you heard of other foxes?"
"Other than the ones you've talked about, I've heard of them, but just in general terms, nothing specific. Why are you asking?"
"I was just curious," I said. "I haven't seen another fox since I left that group when I was nineteen." I looked away before asking quietly, "Do you think I'm the last, Elisabeth?"
"Oh honey," she said. "I'm sure there are others. They're just shy. You understand. They're not going to let me know about them, after all."
"No, I suppose not." I paused. "I won't be long, but I want privacy. No listening at keyholes."
She frowned but nodded. I stepped into my office, closed the door, then used my ears to track Elisabeth's progress as she moved down the hallway, close enough to come if she were needed, but not close enough to overhear what I was about to do.
I sat down at my desk, took a breath, then pulled out my phone and called a number I hadn't called in several years. I waited for the machine to answer then said clearly, "Michaela Burns," and rattled off a series of numbers. Then I held, waiting for the machine to decide what it was going to do.
There was a series of clicks, and then a woman said, "Ms. Burns, this is Doris." I was sure that was a fake name. "What can Lima do for you?"
"I would like a conversation with Greg Freund. It is not an emergency, but I wish discretion."
"Of course, Ms. Burns," said 'Doris'. She paused. "You're in luck. Mr. Freund is available. I'll patch you through."
"Thank you, Doris," I replied.
There were more clicks, and about a minute later, Greg picked up his phone. "Michaela."
"Greg," I said. "How are things there?"
"Good," he said. "You just barely caught me."
Neither of us was interested in small talk, so I said, "Greg, I have a question for you. I don't want Lara to know I asked."
He paused. Technically, I wasn't a client. Lara was. I'd been, briefly, an employee, but that wouldn't carry any weight. Finally he said, "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that, Michaela."
"I thought perhaps I could ask the question. You aren't under any obligation to answer, but I'm not going to ask if you're going to tell Lara."
He paused again. "All right," he replied. "You may ask."
"You once told me that you'd met werefoxes prior to meeting me," I said. "I was wondering if you knew of any other living foxes. I need you to tell me whether this is a conversation we can have and not tell Lara. I have no intention of acting on whatever you tell me without talking to her, but I don't want to bring it up if it's moot."
"We can talk generalities," he said. "You are the only fox I have personally seen in at least fifteen years."
I stared into space, and my voice broke as I asked my next question. "Am I the last one, Greg?"
"Oh," he replied slowly. "Michaela, I don't know. You understand, foxes are incredibly shy and keep to themselves."
"We have to be," I replied.
"You are quite remarkable," he replied. "I have known of foxes that were basically kept as pets, but I've never seen one."
"By vampires?"
"Yes, and the last one I knew of died some time ago, but that doesn't mean there aren't others."
"What about free groups?"
"I cannot say this with absolutely certainty, but I am nearly positive you are the only werefox still living in the lower forty-eight states, unless there is one kept by one of the vampire kings. There are rumors of groups in Canada, but you can bet if any of those rumors proved to be true, the foxes in question either would have moved or..."
"Been hunted."
"Yes. I'm sorry."
"If Lara were on this call, would you have more details?"
"I could share the rumors in greater detail, but if you were to investigate them, I do not believe you would find any living foxes."
"All right," I said after a moment, deflating in my chair. "Greg, what would I have to pay you to keep abreast of any scuttlebutt about this?"
"Nothing, Michaela. If I learn of any foxes, you can rest assured I'd call you and Lara. But Michaela, I won't hide that conversation from your mate."
"I understand, Greg. Thank you for taking my call."
"You're welcome," he replied. "You have another call to make, you know."
"Yeah," I said. "She's next."
"Michaela, are you going to do something that lands you back in my cells?"
"No, Greg," I said. "I'm only making a couple of calls. I just wanted to know." I paused. Greg knew about Deirdre, Carissa's household member. "Deirdre told me I wasn't the last."
"I wish I had better news, Michaela. Was there anything else?"
"No. Thank you."
We both hung up, and I sat quietly for a minute or two before picking up the phone again. This number I had to look up.
"Hello?"
"This is Michaela Burns," I said. "Is she available?"
"Ms. Burns," said the woman. "Is she expecting your call?"
"No."
"I will see if she is available." She put me on hold and was only gone a few seconds before coming back on line. "I'm sorry. If you could leave a message, someone could return your call."
"What is your name?"
"Um. Jessie."
"I see, Jessie," I replied. I thought it was another fake name. "Do you know who I am?"
"No, ma'am."
"I am the Madison alpha. Does that help?"
"Please be more specific."
"Seriously?" I asked. "Do I have to tell you what that means? Perhaps I should be talking to someone a little higher in your mistress's organization if you don't know what it means to be the Madison alpha. I find it hard to believe you don't recognize my name, but perhaps being the only werefox wolf pack alpha in America isn't as distinctive as I thought."
She paused again.
"Jessie did you actually check whether Carissa was available for me, or did you just put me on hold while you filed your nails?"
"Um."
"That's what I thought. If Carissa is truly unavailable, then I would appreciate a call back at her convenience, but subtlety is required. But if you are blowing me off, Carissa will not be pleased when she finds out."
"Ms. Burns, let me pass you through to Annette."
"Very good," I said.
She put me on hold, and a moment later, I was disconnected. I stared at my phone for a moment, looking at the "call ended" message on it.
I called back.
"Hello?"
"Ah, Jessie," I said, "Who told you to hang up on me?"
"Um. I hit the wrong button."
"Are you able to transfer me without hanging up on me again?"
"I think so."
"If you disconnect me again, I will wait five minutes and call one more time. Make sure someone is available who can take my call."
Ten seconds later my phone told me the call was disconnected again. I shook my head then started a five-minute timer. Then I stared at it, not having anything else to do. The timer expired, and I called back again.
A different voice answered. "Hello."
"This is Michaela Burns."
"Ms. Burns," said the woman. "I am Annette. We haven't met. I am sorry for the difficulties. Carissa is indisposed but would like to call you back in perhaps fifteen minutes."
"All right, Annette," I said, "thank you." I gave her my number. She verified the number, and then we hung up.
I stepped out of the office. Elisabeth was playing with her phone. "I'm sorry. Perhaps another twenty five minutes." She nodded, and I slipped back into my office. I spent the time grading papers, and it was nearly a half hour before the phone rang.
"Michaela," Carissa purred. "I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting."
It had been over a year since I last heard her voice. I wasn't sure if my brain would go numb at the sound. It did, just for a moment, and then I shook my head.
"Quite all
right, Carissa," I managed to say slowly. I shook my head again.
"Oh dear," she said. "Are you able to think?"
"Yes," I said. "With a little difficulty."
"Did you want to give me to Lara instead?"
"No," I said slowly. "She doesn't know I'm calling you." I paused.
"Well, I suspect this isn't a social call. What can I do for you?"
"First, I want to say: no one knows I'm talking to you, and I'd like to keep it that way."
"I suspect I remain persona non grata," she replied. "That pains me, you know."
"It's not that. I don't want Lara to know I'm asking the questions I'm about to ask."
"Oh, secretive fox! I love secrets. And you have called to see if I will share with you?"
"I wouldn't expect you to share secrets, Carissa. I thought only to ask a simple question. Do you know of any living foxes, other than me?"
"There are rumors," she replied immediately. "Let me decide what I can safely tell you." She paused, and I heard her moving around. I waited patiently, and then she began to speak. "I know of no other foxes in the continental United States." She paused. "You know some vampires like to collect anything exotic. That is almost universally true."
"You've hinted at that in the past."
"The last pet fox I knew about in North America died about when you were born," she explained. "There were rumors of a fox enclave in New England perhaps almost twenty-five years ago."
"I'm familiar with them," I said.
"Do you know more about them than I do?" she asked.
"Probably. I'm from New England, Carissa." I said it quietly, letting my tone tell the story.
"I suspect there are a few still in Canada," she said. "But they've never been numerous."
"I know," I said. "I lived with a group in Canada about twenty years ago."
"Perhaps fifteen years ago, there were rumors of a fox in New England again," she said. "A hunter. Then the rumors stopped, and so did the deaths. It is believed he died."
I paused. "Carissa, this conversation is only for us, yes?"
"Of course, Michaela."
"That fox didn't die. She moved to Wisconsin."
Carissa was silent for a moment then said softly, "I wondered. It makes sense." She paused. "I wouldn't let that be widely known."
"Very few know, and they won't tell," I said.