“Aye, that’s right.”
“So one of our town’s four paramedics is a wolf.” Jade shook her head incredulously.
Conall tipped his head a little sheepishly. “Well, in truth, two of them are. Colleen Corcoran is his mate, but she’s been working with Broken Wheel’s emergency services for the better part of six months. Now they can appear to meet, fall in love on the job, and get married, and no one is the wiser.”
“You wolf people put some real thought into your cover stories, don’t you?”
“We have no choice, our survival depends on it. Can ye imagine how most people would react if they knew there were shapeshifters in their midst? You’ve seen all the problems that have come about simply because people think there are real wolves in the area.”
“Just tell me that your clan hasn’t killed any livestock around here.”
“No, that is the Lemmons at work.”
“So if we can get Biggy and Frank locked up, our so-called ‘wolf problem’ goes away?”
“There’s a chance, yes, unless the Carey Alphas move someone else here.”
Jade stood up and stretched. “Then one more reason to bring the Carey clan down.” Suddenly, Jade’s mouth puckered in concern. “What will happen to the Carey females and young if we put the Alphas away?”
“My clan, other clans, will absorb them. They’ll be taken in and treated well. They have no great love for their oppressors.”
Nodding, Jade retrieved Conall’s jacket. “Okay, you go talk to Don, while I get a nap, and then we’ll start putting this plan in motion.”
Conall slid his arms into the jacket with his characteristic grace, and as he reached her front door, he turned to look at Jade. His expression was no longer one of cheerless duty, nor did it exude the sexual energy they had shared earlier. He reached out to Jade and caressed her face in a brief gesture that seemed meant to comfort him as much as her. “I am grateful to ye, Jade. It is not easy for me to ask for help. You are truly the good person I thought ye to be.”
As Jade shut the door, glassy tears of fatigue and frustration welled up in her eyes. Being a good person didn’t fill either the space in her heart, or in her bed.
***
Jade was out the moment her head hit the pillow. Soon, though, her dreams were of wolves. At first there were picturesque images of the giant wolf with amber eyes she knew to be Conall, with an equally impressive red wolf by his side. Then a pup joined the pair, as they made their way through the beauty of forests and fields, the soaring Tetons a white, green, and purple-hued backdrop behind them. It was idyllic, a dream of beauty and serenity, but then the dream became a nightmare.
A huge, grizzled-looking gray wolf missing an eye appeared on a ridge, and behind him an army of slathering, brutish canines. They descended on Conall’s gamboling pack in a surprise attack. The young were made to flee by their elders into the hills, as they battled the malignant legion. Finally, the marauders turned back. The beautiful red wolf had fallen and was still. Another red wolf—almost the twin of Conall’s mate—stood over the lifeless body of a strong, black male. She whimpered in agony as she nudged at him, trying to revive him. The amber-eyed wolf bled from a dozen places as he curled up next to his dead mate, resting his chin on her broken body. A feeble howl escaped from his throat, and soon, the others around him took up the keen.
The next image that appeared in Jade’s dream was not of wolves; it was of Aoife in her human form. She was bound and gagged, and her face was bruised and swollen. Her eyes were defiant, though. The place she was in was dark and shadowy, and might have been a barn or storage shed. In the corner was something that looked like a branding iron, but then, Jade’s phone rang, waking her up.
Jade looked at the caller ID: Nicolette. Then she glanced at the clock, it was 7:00.
“Hey, Nicky, what’s up?”
“Just making sure you’re still on to meet me for breakfast at the Brown Buffalo at 7:30. You have got to make a decision on your dress, or we will never get it in time for the wedding.”
Jade sighed; picking a bridesmaid’s dress was about the furthest thing from her mind. The dream image of Aoife’s face dug at her, and she wondered if she could spare half an hour to make Nicolette happy. She tried to justify a small delay in order to avoid blowing off her friend. She had to eat, and besides, the Lemmons probably weren’t even awake yet.
She must have paused a little too long as Nicolette added, “You forgot you were meeting me, didn’t you?”
“No—no I didn’t forget,” Jade lied. “I’m really looking forward to seeing you. I’m just standing here half-dressed.”
“Well, I’m looking forward to hearing about your date with Mr. Size Thirteen last night,” Nicolette giggled. “Did you have any confirmation on my hypothesis?”
Jade could feel her cheeks starting to burn, and she was glad Nicolette couldn’t see her at that moment. “Nicky! It was a first date—and Boomer’s a gentleman.” Her date with Boomer felt like it had happened a lifetime ago. Nicolette’s prompting brought back the memory of the rather delicious smooch they had shared, though.
“I hope not too much of a gentleman,” Nicolette teased.
“Look Little Miss Perv, if you don’t let me get off the phone, I’m coming to the Buffalo wearing nothing but my uniform pants and a push-up bra.”
“That’d get the town talking. I can see the headline in the Gazette now: C-Cup Deputy Stuns Breakfast Crowd at Local Café.”
“I’m hanging up,” Jade threatened.
“Bye!”
When Jade arrived at the Buffalo, the Saturday morning crowd was already starting to get thick. Even on weekends, the population of Broken Wheel tended to rise early. Nicolette waved at her from a booth, but as Jade made her way over, she heard someone call her name.
“Deputy Lundgren!”
Jade turned and saw Broken Wheel paramedic Colleen Corcoran motioning to her from a table. Colleen was a petite brunette with bright blue eyes, and she was wearing her navy blue uniform. She was seated with another paramedic. Jade tried to act natural; had Conall told Colleen anything? It was kind of weird, Jade thought, to bump into someone that she now knew could turn herself into a wolf whenever she chose.
“Hey, Colleen—call me Jade, I don’t always answer to Deputy Lundgren,” she tried to joke.
Colleen laughed. “I just wanted to introduce you to our new hire—this is Don Redmond. Chances are you’re going to end up at the same emergency before too long. Not like there’s many paramedics—or deputies—to spread around.”
Jade shook hands with Don, but nothing about him gave any hint of him being the #2 in an Irish clan of shapeshifting wolves. He was slimmer than Conall, but well built. His face seemed open and friendly.
“Nice to meet you, Jade.” Don smiled a totally normal smile at her.
“Same, welcome to Broken Wheel. I trust Colleen is showing you the ropes?”
Don couldn’t help but give Colleen an adoring look. “Absolutely, I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
A waitress with two steaming plates arrived at the table, and Jade excused herself. There was no indication that Colleen had stopped her for any other reason than to introduce her to the new paramedic in town. Let them enjoy their breakfast, Jade thought, because when Conall found Don, the fun would be over.
Jade slid into the booth across from Nicolette, who was armed with catalogues. “Is that the new paramedic?” Nicolette asked. “They’d make a really cute couple, don’t you think?”
“Just because you’re getting married, doesn’t mean that the entire universe has to pair up,” Jade said grumpily.
“Ooo, somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” Nicolette got right to business as a waitress poured some coffee for Jade. “I already ordered you a spinach omelet with Swiss cheese and whole wheat toast. Now, which of these dresses do you like the best?”
Jade had to smile; it was good to have a friend who knew—and tolerated—all of your
quirks. She glanced at the three choices Nicolette had spread across the table. “I like this one, it’s elegant and simple.”
Nicolette smiled broadly. “I was hoping you’d pick that one—it looks like a Kate Spade cocktail dress—for a lot less—but I wasn’t sure I could coax you into something that shiny.”
“Honey, if you want me to wear a clown costume to your wedding, I’d do it for you,” Jade said—and she meant it.
Sweeping the catalogues aside, Nicolette wiggled her eyebrows at Jade. “Now the good stuff. How was your date?”
Over her omelet, Jade gave Nicolette a fairly accurate, but condensed, accounting of her evening with Boomer, omitting, of course, the fact that Conall was on her porch when he brought her home, and that she’d been up most of the night planning how to take down a nasty clan of shapeshifters. She hated holding things back from Nicky, but Conall had trusted her, and with Aoife already in trouble, she didn’t want to accidentally cause any more problems.
Jade looked at her watch, and started to say something, but Nicolette interrupted her. “I know, you’ve got to get to work. Breakfast is on me—it’s the least I can do for my maid of honor. Tell Dad that Harlan and I will be over for Sunday dinner tomorrow. You should come too—maybe invite Officer Harkness? Mom’s making a roast the size of a brontosaurus—and you know she loves a full table of appreciative eaters.”
Wiping her mouth, Jade stood up, adjusting her utility belt as she did. “That sounds awesome, but it depends how things go with the Minton case.”
“Oh geez, I almost forgot, Duke’s funeral is this afternoon. Are you going?”
Jade shook her head as she put on her heavy, Sheriff’s Department-issued jacket with the fake sheepskin collar. “I’m on duty, but your dad and Rosie will represent the department.” Jade gave Nicolette a quick hug. “I’m sorry, I gotta run.”
A blast of cold air hit Jade as she stood by the front door of the Buffalo, zipping up her coat. She looked up, and there was Conall.
He tipped his head slightly in the formal manner one uses to acknowledge an acquaintance. “Deputy Lundgren.”
“Mr. O’Faolán,” she responded, fighting the urge to turn and watch Conall break the news to his second in command, as the Irishman hurried to the table where Colleen and Don sat laughing over blueberry pancakes. Instead, she pushed out into the frigid channel of Broken Wheel’s main street, and made her way over to the Sheriff’s Department at a clip.
Wilson pursed his mouth in dismay as he glanced at his watch, noting the time. He poured a cup of coffee as he announced, “You’re five minutes late. Should I spank you or my daughter?”
“I think we’re both a little big for spanking. But I’ve got some news you’re going to want to hear.”
Wilson took a noisy slurp of his coffee. “I’m all ears.”
“I got an anonymous tip that Biggy and Frank Lemmons are persons of interest in the Minton case.”
“Biggy and Frank. Have you lost your ever lovin’ mind, Jade? Biggy and Frank would steal the shoes off their own mother, but I can’t believe either of those nitwits has the stomach for murder.”
“I didn’t say they were the murderers, I said they were persons of interest. They might know who murdered Duke Minton.”
“Alright then, go pick them up. I’m sure they have some kind of outstanding warrant we can use as an excuse to hold them for a while—and maybe hold over their heads to extort some information from them.”
Jade feigned disbelief. “Sheriff Wilson Page! I did not just hear you suggest that as officers of the law we should extort information from citizens in our custody.”
“Did I say extort? I think what I meant to say was that you can use their outstanding warrants to persuade them to share what they might know.” Wilson grinned. “Dougie will be in shortly, I’ll have him dig up the warrants while you invite the Lemmons over for coffee.”
***
Questioning the Lemmons wasn’t going so well. For one thing, Biggy and Frank were still drunk from the night before. A musky smell that reminded Jade of wet dogs that had rolled in something dead seemed to emanate from them, and that mixed with the odor of cheap whiskey on their breath was making the tiny interrogation room almost unbearable. At least for Jade— Biggy and Frank didn’t seem bothered at all. Finally she stepped out.
“Not going so well, huh?” Dougie looked up from his computer. “I can take a crack at them if you want.”
Jade massaged her temples; her lack of sleep certainly wasn’t helping. “What I’d like you to do is crack their heads together and see if anything spill outs.”
“Ah, the old piñata technique.” Dougie yawned and stretched. “You know the judges frown on treating the suspects like party favors.”
“Judges-schmudges. I need these guys to sing like dime store parakeets.”
“Have you been reading those hard-boiled detective stories again? ‘Cause you’re starting to sound like a character from a Mickey Spillane novel. You need to relax. It’s not like we can bring Duke Minton back.”
How could she relax? Conall was counting on her, and Aoife was in danger. But she couldn’t share that part of the situation with Dougie. “I’ll let them stew for a little while, see if they sober up a little.” Jade sighed. “So I’m guessing you haven’t found anything unusual with the Minton finances or phone records?”
“Now that you mention it, there is one weird thing.” Dougie tapped a manila folder on his desk with a stubby index finger.
“Weird, how?” Jade’s curiosity was piqued.
“The Bar Double Star has written a series of sizeable checks to “OEW Productions.” You ever heard of an outfit by that name?”
Jade shook her head. “Sounds like a movie company or something.”
“That’s what I thought, but why would a medium-sized ranch be hiring a movie company?”
“Maybe it’s something else then, like a company that builds websites. I heard that the Mintons were wanting to build up the dude ranch part of their operations, you know, attract more tourists.”
“Well, wouldn’t you expect a company that builds websites to have one of their own? I can’t find anything on OEW Productions except a charter of incorporation in the state of Wyoming. Bogus address, no working phone number. Something is definitely peculiar about it.”
“Did you ask Duke Jr. about it?”
Dougie expelled a breath. “Not yet, I was trying to let everybody get through the funeral first.”
“What about the bank where the checks are being deposited?”
“It’s across the state line in Bozeman. And I need something more concrete before I can get a subpoena for OEW’s bank records.”
Weird or not, Jade didn’t see how it had anything to do with helping the O’Faolán clan. “Okay, I’m going back in. Wish me luck.”
“Before she could open the door, though, Jade’s cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID to decide whether she should answer it or not. The name she saw made her stomach lurch; it couldn’t be good news.
“Has something happened?” she blurted out as she answered.
“Aye. Something has happened.” Conall’s voice sounded tired and defeated. “Those Carey blaggards snatched up Colleen, and Donal is about to lose his mind. This is going to escalate into full-scale war, and it’s a war that the O’Faoláns can’t win. Our only hope is stealth and smarts. Have you learned anything yet from Doolin and Frank?”
Jade let out an exasperated sigh. “Only that they drank themselves stupid on cheap whiskey last night.”
“I know I have no right to ask anything of ye, Jade, but many more will die if we don’t defeat the Careys once and for all.” Conall’s voice dropped to almost a whisper, “Please, Jade, I’m begging you, help us find Aoife and Colleen before it’s too late.”
TO BE CONTINUED IN BOOK SIX: Means, Motive and Opportunity - Volume 6
***
Means, Motive and Opportunity
***
Anot
her hour passed inside the claustrophobic interrogation room of the Broken Wheel Sheriff’s Department, but Biggy and Frank shared nothing substantial about either wolves or Duke Minton, no matter how hard Jade questioned them. They claimed to have been working at their garage the day Duke was killed, and that they had customers who could vouch for them. Jade was pretty sure any alibi was going to come from a Carey wolf, but it wasn’t really something she could say to a judge. She decided to try one last ploy before letting them go.
“There’s something else we need to talk about.”
Frank looked a little nervous, but Biggy tried to show his contempt for anything Jade might say by rocking his chair back on two legs. “Yeah? What’s that?” Biggy spat the words at her.
“You know a woman named Aoife O’Hara?”
Biggy brought his chair back to the floor with a clatter and glared at Jade. Frank glanced at his cousin out of the corner of his eye, and Jade could see Frank’s hands fidgeting with the fabric of his pants. Clearly Frank was subservient to Biggy in the pack hierarchy.
“Whad’ya got against me, lady?” Biggy growled. “You harass me at me garage, you tried to embarrass me when I was working at the Crystal Spur, and you pushed me girlfriend to break up with me…and I never done nothing but kill a couple of miserable wolves that deserved to be dead.”
The angrier he got, the more Biggy’s Irish accent started to leak through. More importantly, he was acting less like an Omega and more like an Alpha, and she wondered how to get the upper hand on him.
“So you do know Aoife O’Hara?” Jade prodded. “Frank, I bet you know Aoife too.”
Frank’s left eye started to twitch, a dead giveaway that he was hiding something. Jade leaned across the table and stared directly into Frank’s eyes in an Alpha maneuver of her own. “You think she’s a hot piece of tail, don’t you, Frank?”
Broken Wheel Wolves: Boxed Set (The Complete Collection, Books 1-6) (Werewolf Romance - Paranormal Romance) Page 13