"I'll wait to see what more coming actually means. These three names are good, but I'd need something better than that to make the source unimpeachable, in my opinion. Get with Matt Michaels, hand him the names and see if he can make arrests. If this information is wrong, well," Curt shrugged.
"We let Matt Michaels take the fall for it," Calhoun grinned.
"He's just too squeaky clean," Curt agreed. "Keep me posted with texts—the meeting I have on the hill may take all day."
"Of course, sir."
* * *
"Nervous?" Trace glanced at Ashe as they drove toward Beeville. Coastal Bend College was their destination for the test, and they'd left Port Aransas in plenty of time.
"Yes and no," Ashe sighed. "I know," he held up a hand as Trace started to reply. "That's not much of an answer. I have mixed feelings about this, Trace. I can't explain why, right now, but I do."
"You think you won't pass?"
"I can pass." Ashe hunched his shoulders. "No worries about passing."
"Winkler already pulled strings to get you enrolled at the University of Texas. He knows the College President."
"Yeah." Ashe looked out the passenger window.
"Kid, what's wrong?"
"Trace, ask me that question in a few weeks. Okay?"
"You're starting to scare me, Ashe."
"You think I'm not already there?" Ashe turned and blinked at Trace.
"Let's get through today, and we'll let tomorrow take care of itself," Trace muttered, turning onto Charco Road. Ashe saw the college sign near a parking lot, which was already filling up.
"Good thing we left early," Ashe sighed.
* * *
"What are you wearing tomorrow?" Wynn flopped onto Dori's bed. Dori had been restless and out of sorts all morning, calling Wynn right after breakfast and asking if she wanted to do anything on their last day of summer vacation.
"No idea. Maybe I should have waited to break up with Sali. At least he has a car and could take us somewhere," Dori grumped, dropping onto the floor in a cross-legged position. "I still have enough money to buy new shoes."
"Ace is out of town," Wynn nodded. "I miss him when he's gone. I know not to be a pest," she held up a hand at Dori's lifted eyebrow. "I don't call or text. We agreed that he'd let me know when he wasn't working. We talk, then."
"At least he's a mature werewolf." Dori frowned. "Unlike Sali, who resorts to childish insults at the first opportunity." Dori still hadn't shown Sali's last message to Wynn. The insult was too embarrassing.
"What do you think tomorrow will be like? Ashe won't be there. Hayes is gone. Larry and Jeff are still not talking to anybody, and Sali's back to being a jerk." Wynn examined her blue toenail polish with a critical eye. She'd have to redo it before classes started in the morning. "I'd really like to get my bangs trimmed," she added. "I wonder if Mom will let me borrow the car."
"We can ask, but if we don't have somebody with us," Dori said. "Marcus laid down the law after Hayes got killed. I still don't understand what happened to Jeremy. Sali told me that Micah took Chad's execution," her voice dropped to a whisper. "But he wouldn't talk about Jeremy."
"Well," Wynn scraped off blue toenail polish with a fingernail, "Ace told me. He said Marco told Cori, too, so I'm surprised she didn't tell you."
"Tell me what? I haven't really seen Cori lately; she's been busy moving into her dorm room."
"Ashe did it. Ace wouldn't explain how."
"It was that scary?" Dori blinked at Wynn in confusion.
"No. He said it was—unusual. That's all."
"That describes Ashe. Completely. He's unusual." Dori got up and wandered to her bedroom window. "I still want to go out today, but Mom's with Cori, hauling a load of stuff for her dorm room in the car. Dad's asleep and nobody else we know is available to ask."
"Yeah. Ace wouldn't like it if we're not guarded. I hate being cooped up here."
"Cori says Ashe is taking the GED today. You know he'll pass it."
"He'll pass it," Wynn agreed. "Do you ever get the feeling that Ashe not only passed us by, but he did it at warp speed?"
"It's scary. I remember when he was a laughingstock, because he couldn't turn. Now, he's working for Mr. Winkler and about to start college. Two years ahead of us."
"I can't believe Sali and Ashe aren't friends anymore. I thought they'd stick together always."
"Things change," Dori nodded. "Let's go outside. Maybe we can find somebody to give us a ride." Wynn slid off the bed and followed Dori out the door.
* * *
"Amos, how are you?" Bear Wright shook Amos Thompson's hand and then stood aside to allow the buffalo shapeshifter inside his home.
"Bear, we haven't talked in a while," Amos nodded.
"You're right. Not since your brother Alex disappeared all those years ago." Bear led the way to his kitchen, where he offered Amos Thompson a seat at his kitchen island. "Want coffee?"
"Sure. Thanks."
"I still miss Alex," Bear said, dumping coffee in the coffeemaker. "He and I, we put up a hell of a fight for the Marines in Dubya Dubya Two. You went off and joined the army, so you missed it."
"Our parents said they couldn't face losing both of us, so we went in separate directions. Thought it gave us a better chance."
"Yeah. Not easy to deal with, knowing Alex survived the war, only to fall into somebody's trap later on. I always suspected the Tanner bunch, but there was never any proof."
"I'd just like a body to bury, if there is one," Amos sighed. Bear set a fresh cup of coffee in front of his old friend. "I was hoping somebody coming to your meeting might know what happened to Alex. He was in Arizona when he disappeared."
"Hard to believe it's been thirty years," Bear agreed, pouring a cup of coffee for himself. "That gives me an idea, though. If we set up a network so shifters can put up names of missing friends or family members and allow the rest of the shifter community to take a look, then some of them may know what happened."
"I was hoping we could ask, at least," Amos sipped his coffee.
"I think it's a good idea. As soon as we can set a date, we may have more shifters together in one place than we've ever had before. I have copies of the werewolf and the vamp rules—don't ask how I got the vamp part, but I think we can cobble something together to protect the community using those as guidelines."
"We need it," Amos said. "Have, for a long time. We needed leverage back in the day, when we were nothing but target practice for werewolves and vamps. That prejudice still exists. More than most think."
"I know. The Grand Master and I are friends and have been for a long time. He understands, but that doesn't go for all the wolves."
"That prejudice may not go away in our lifetimes," Amos sagely agreed.
* * *
"Jasper, call out the dogs," Matt said. "We may have leads on those three who blew up the courthouse in South Carolina."
"Are you kidding me?" Jasper, a werewolf and Matt's assistant, grinned at his boss. "Nobody had anything on those guys."
"I have names," Matt waved a printed page at Jasper. "All three of them have petty crimes in their background, and now we have addresses, thanks to an unnamed source. It's enough to make arrests, and if we can pull confessions out of them, well, so much the better."
"Gonna get one of the vamps on this if we can make the collar?"
"You bet." Matt flashed Jasper a wide grin. "Why are you still standing there? Get going."
* * *
Ashe deliberately got a few questions wrong. Things were going well, too, until he got to the essay question. "Describe the qualities of a good parent," stared back at him. Ashe sighed. He dithered. Finally, steeling himself, he began to write.
* * *
"How did it go?" Trace asked as he and Ashe walked toward the SUV.
"Fine," Ashe mumbled. "I passed."
"Kid, you worry me at times." Trace hit the fob button to unlock the van and slid onto the driver's seat. Ashe climbed in slo
wly on the passenger side.
"I'm worried about the vamps coming in tonight."
"Mr. Winkler will be back by then. He knows both of them."
"I know."
"Classes start at UTA next week. Homework," Trace grinned, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Yeah."
"Want new school clothes?"
"To go with the ton of stuff Mr. Winkler bought for me at Banana Republic?"
"Shoes?"
"Maybe." Ashe smiled.
"Dinner out?"
"Maybe."
"Steak, seafood or something else?"
"Mexican?"
"Kid, you just said the magic word." Trace steered away from the college and headed toward Corpus Christi.
* * *
"Thanks for giving us a ride, Mrs. Smith." Dori sat in the front seat of Dawn Smith's late-model sedan. Wynn climbed into the back seat after letting her mother know that she and Dori were riding to Corpus Christi with Randy's mother.
"It's no trouble, girls. I was going to the mall anyway—Randy needs new shirts for work."
"He's such a good writer," Wynn offered. "I read some of his articles online that he wrote for the Chicago paper."
"I can't believe he's falling for that worthless girl," Dawn said. "Did you meet her?"
"No. I think she had a hotel room in Port A," Dori said. "We didn't see her."
"Ashe met her," Dawn huffed. "She's supposed to be so smart, getting through college and going to veterinarian school. Seemed too timid to me. Fitting, I guess, since she's a bunny when she turns."
"I didn't know that," Dori blinked at Dawn in confusion. "She's a shapeshifter? Did Randy know about that?"
"Not until she got here."
"Wow. I don't know what to say," Dori muttered.
"He'd be better off with a werewolf or a larger shifter. Somebody who can protect him, if necessary. That rabbit is dinner."
"Well, maybe somebody else will come along," Dori offered. Dawn seemed angry and Dori didn't know how to deal with that. Dawn pulled into the mall parking lot and located a space not far from the entrance.
"Where can we meet, in case we get separated?" Dawn asked as they walked in the mall.
"We can be back here—whenever you're ready," Wynn offered, tossing long, white hair over a shoulder.
"Two hours? I should be done by then," Dawn said.
"Sounds fine," Dori shrugged.
"Great. See you later." Dawn started to walk away when her phone rang. "Hello?" she answered the call. "What do you want, now?" she asked, anger evident in her voice again.
"Let's go that way," Dori steered Wynn in the opposite direction.
"That was weird," Wynn whispered as they walked away quickly. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder. Dawn had her back turned to them, still talking on the phone. "Come on. There's a shoe store this way."
* * *
"There's a Mexican restaurant here at the mall, and we can find shoes at the same time," Trace steered the SUV into a parking space.
"Sounds good," Ashe opened his door and climbed out. "If we're lucky, we may not be going home alone." Ashe stuffed the tail of his shirt into his jeans and began walking toward the entrance. Trace had to trot to keep up with him.
* * *
"Dori—look! There's Ashe and Trace." Wynn pulled Dori away from a rack of shoes and pointed.
"Let's go. Maybe we can get a ride home with them. It makes me uncomfortable when Mrs. Smith talks about shifters like they're scum."
"Yeah. Let's go."
"Ashe?" Dori called out. Ashe turned quickly, followed closely by Trace.
"Hey, Dori. Wynn." Ashe started walking toward them. "What are you guys doing here?"
"I could ask you the same," Dori grinned.
"We're here for Mexican food. Then Ashe wants new shoes," Trace grinned.
"We were looking at shoes, too, but Mexican food sounds awesome," Wynn said shyly.
"You can eat with us—I'll buy," Ashe offered.
"That's great. I'll call Mrs. Smith and let her know we're with you, if that's okay," Dori said. "We rode in with her, but she wants to leave in about half an hour."
"We'll take you home, no problem," Trace agreed. "Call your parents, too, and let them know."
"Great," Dori bounced on her toes. Wynn pulled the cell from her purse and placed a call to Dawn Smith.
* * *
"Why do they always bring flour tortillas when these corn tortillas are so much better?" Dori dropped a spoonful of salsa on a buttered corn tortilla, covered that with a little queso and rolled it up before biting into it with a happy smile.
"No idea. I have to ask for these every time." Trace had introduced them to the tasty goodness of warm corn tortillas as an appetizer. "The old Mexican restaurant we went to in Denton always served these."
"This is pretty darn good," Ashe agreed, helping himself to another tortilla.
"Says the bottomless pit," Trace grinned.
"I'm a growing boy," Ashe laughed.
"You'll be as tall as Trajan and Trace if you keep that up," Dori snickered.
"Close, maybe," Ashe agreed.
"Mrs. Smith said you met Randy's girlfriend," Wynn said, taking a chip from the complimentary basket and dipping it in the bowl of salsa.
"What did Mrs. Smith say?" Ashe turned to Wynn.
"That his girlfriend seemed too timid."
"She said Randy's girlfriend was dinner," Dori snorted. "It made me mad."
"It should make you angry," Trace muttered. "There's no excuse for that."
"I need to talk to Randy," Ashe grumbled before hauling out his cell and punching in a number.
* * *
"Ashe? What's going on, man?" Randy answered Ashe's call.
"Hey, Randy. I had a talk with Mr. Winkler yesterday. He said you're welcome to invite Sara down next time and meet her in San Antonio. The plane tickets will be cheaper and he has a three-bedroom condo there you can borrow."
"Really? That's great. I gotta tell you, I was worried that Sara might not want to come back—I think Mom scared her. You know why."
"Yeah. I know why," Ashe agreed. "Look, I'm having dinner with Trace, Dori and Wynn, so I need to let you go. I just wanted to tell you what Mr. Winkler said."
"Thanks, man, that's really good news. See ya." Randy ended the call.
* * *
"That was quick," Trace grinned at Ashe as their waitress placed plates of food on the table. "Randy will like the condo. It's really nice and not far from downtown San Antonio."
"I'd love to see San Antonio. We passed through on our way here, but didn't stop," Dori said. "Ashe, Sali and I broke up."
"I know," Ashe said. "You don't have to go into details. Sali and I are on the outs, too."
"Yeah. I hear that," Dori cut into her enchiladas. "Sali needs a hard kick in the pants."
"I don't know about that," Ashe said, lifting a taco and crunching into it. "He's done a pretty good job beating himself up."
"I got a text from Cori. She says Marco told her that Sali got grounded for disappearing for hours yesterday and not answering Marcus' calls." Dori sipped her soda and blinked innocently at Ashe.
"So, the rumor mill is as strong as it ever was, huh?" Ashe went back to his taco.
"Obviously," Wynn replied. Her phone rang. "It's Ace." She was almost breathless as she answered the call.
"Hi, baby," Ace's voice was clear to Ashe's enhanced hearing. "We just hit the ground in Corpus."
"Tell him we're at the Mexican restaurant in the mall, if he wants to join us," Trace said. He was listening to the conversation, just as Ashe was.
"Mexican? Baby, we'll be there in a few minutes," Ace chuckled and hung up.
"We'll need more space," Ashe informed the waitress when she came to refill glasses. "We've got three more coming."
"Three?" Dori lifted an eyebrow.
"Ace is driving Winkler and Trajan," Trace explained. "Had to go to Dallas for a board meeting this mornin
g. They probably left right after the meeting was done and didn't take time for dinner."
Two restaurant employees pulled up an extra table and laid out a new basket of chips with salsa.
"We'll need another basket of chips, more corn tortillas and two orders of queso," Trace grinned at the waitress.
* * *
"Mom, Mr. Winkler, Trajan and Ace got back and they joined us at the restaurant. Trace is bringing us back when we're done," Dori assured Lavonna Anderson over her cell.
"That's fine, as long as I know where you are, honey," Lavonna said.
"We're fine, Mrs. Anderson," Winkler said, knowing Lavonna would hear.
"Thank you, Mr. Winkler."
"This is so nice," Wynn leaned her cheek against Ace's shoulder. The white werewolf leaned in and kissed the top of Wynn's head.
"I have an announcement to make," Winkler grinned as soon as Dori ended the call with her mother.
"What's that?" Trace asked.
"Wayne and Wynter flew back to Dallas with me this morning. Wynter came and asked me a question. I made a phone call. She and Thomas Williams, Jr. are officially engaged."
"Really?" Wynn clapped her hands and laughed. "That is awesome, Mr. Winkler."
"Yeah. It really is awesome," Winkler grinned.
* * *
"Kid, do you want to go back to the airport with us tonight to pick up the vamps?" Winkler asked on the way home. Trace and Ace had offered to drive Wynn and Dori home; Ashe chose to ride with Winkler and Trajan.
"I can," Ashe nodded. "That way, Mr. Montegue can get a good look at the kid."
"Kid, that vamp is more than seventeen hundred years old. Almost everybody is a kid to him."
"Around midnight?" Ashe asked.
"Yeah. You can get a nap in, if you want, before we leave."
"Maybe."
* * *
"Curt, that information was pure gold. We have three in custody and they're answering questions now." Matt Michaels said. He was watching through one-way glass as one of his vampire agents questioned a detainee his werewolves had arrested earlier in the day. Two had tried to run. They hadn't gotten far—not many could outrun a werewolf, even in human form. This one was admitting his part in the courthouse bombing, and naming the other two as his accomplices.
Legend of the Ir'Indicti 5 - Destroyer Page 7