by Robin Roseau
"I agree," she said.
"I will set a schedule," Elisabeth said.
"The alpha needs more than standard protection as well, Elisabeth."
"She'll get it. No arguments, Lara."
"No arguments," Lara agreed.
"I want the two of you to stay together," Elisabeth said. "As much as possible."
"I like that plan," I said. "So much for my job."
"They're leaving Friday," Elisabeth said.
"Bayfield won't be safe until this is over," Lara said. She looked down at me. "Under orders until this is over."
"My job."
"I'll handle it. Your boss will get another phone call."
"They will get tired of this eventually."
"We'll have another solution by then," Lara said. "I'd rather you just quit, but I understand why you don't want to."
"Angel would be devastated," I said.
Lara laughed. "Angel would get over it. She would be far more devastated if something were to happen-" She broke off. "Did she go back to Bayfield today?"
"Yes," said Elisabeth. "I'll handle it." She picked up her phone, then waited. I heard a sleepy Angel respond. "Angel, it is Elisabeth. Are you in Bayfield?"
"Yes," she said groggily. "What time is it?"
"Middle of the night. Wake up. Go downstairs, splash some water on your face. I'll wait."
"Michaela, is there a house phone?" Elisabeth asked me.
I nodded. "Kitchen wall. I don't use it much."
I couldn't hear much from Angel's end on the phone, but then I heard her come back online. "I am awake," she told Elisabeth.
"Angel, there is a phone on the wall in the kitchen. Pick it up, dial 9-1-1, and tell them you thought you heard several intruders trying to break into the house. Do it now!"
"Elisabeth?"
Lara raised her voice. "Follow orders, Angel. Do what you are told, we'll explain later!"
"I'm calling," she said.
We heard her end of the conversation. And then it was obvious Angel had a phone in each ear as she talked to the dispatchers. "No, I don't think they're in the house, but I'm scared. Please, can you send someone? Several someone's?" Her voice quavered.
We listened as the police arrived, as the police first searched the grounds, then asked to search the house.
"Do you have any contraband, Michaela?" Elisabeth asked me.
"Absolutely not," I said. "My gun is in my glove compartment here. Everything is legal. I'm a government employee!"
"Angel, listen carefully," said Elisabeth. "Let them search the house. And let me talk to the lead officer."
We listened as the police searched the house, then Angel handed the phone to one of the police officers, a woman.
"With whom am I speaking?"
"This is Elisabeth Burns of Burns Personal Security in Madison," she said. "We have had a credible threat against Michaela Redfur, the owner of that house. Angel Greene is a valuable member of our extended family, and we need her in Madison where we can safely watch her while we investigate the threat against Ms. Redfur."
"Was this a false alarm, Ms. Burns?"
"The threat is to kidnap Ms. Redfur, and it is a highly credible threat.
There was a pause. "My report will show Ms. Greene reported possible intruders who were likely scared off by the sirens. What else can the Bayfield police department do?"
"I need Ms. Greene safely in her vehicle, gassed up and with sufficient supplies that she won't need to stop on her drive here. Can you search her vehicle and then provide a strong escort until she is safely on her way? The potential kidnappers know that Ms. Redfur is in Madison tonight, so we do not feel that Ms. Greene would be a direct target, but we do feel that Ms. Redfur's house could be a good place to wait for her. We need to get Ms. Greene here where we can protect her."
"I will be very happy to assist Ms. Greene," said the officer.
"Officer-"
"Hill, ma'am."
"Officer Hill, the people who made this threat would not send only one or two kidnappers. Protect yourself as well."
"Yes, ma'am, your family member will have a significant escort on her way, and we'll make sure no one is directly following her. We can't escort her all the way down there though."
"Full tank of gas and no excuse to stop, and she'll be fine. Thank you very much, officer. Can you put Ms. Greene back on the line."
There was a pause. "Angel," Elisabeth said. "You will get in your car. The police will escort you to the nearest service station. You will gas up to the brim and buy whatever supplies you need, and you will drive straight to the compound without stopping. I don't care if you wet your pants, you will not stop. Do you understand me?"
Then she handed the phone to Lara.
"You heard her, Angel."
"You're scaring me, Alpha. No stopping. I understand."
"Good girl. You're not in trouble." She handed the phone back to Elisabeth.
"Once you are on the road, I want you on hands free calls the entire way. I'll find someone for you to talk to. If you think you are being followed, you will tell me."
"Yes, Elisabeth. What's going on?"
"See you in six hours. Call me back when you're leaving the gas station."
Elisabeth hung up and dialed another number. "Rory, I need Scarlett in the alpha's house within the next ten minutes. She should bring her phone and charger." She hung up without waiting for an answer.
"We're probably over-reacting," I said.
"No, we're not," said Lara. "We are probably reacting in a fashion that nothing will happen. Better safe than sorry."
I nodded. We moved downstairs. I headed towards the kitchen to find refreshments but Elisabeth told me, "Freeze."
"What?" I said, turning around.
"You're the one who asked for the escort. It hasn't arrived yet. Until it does, you do not walk out of a room unless Lara or I are with you."
"There is no one else in the house," I said. "I would have heard them."
"Maybe," she said. "But we're going to develop the proper habits right now."
"Yes, Elisabeth," I said meekly.
Rory appeared several minutes later with a sleepy Scarlett, who had thrown on some clothes over her pajamas. She took in the tableau and said, "Alpha, am I in trouble?"
"No," Lara said. "We need your help."
"Angel needs your help, Scarlett," I said.
That woke her up. "Is she all right?"
Elisabeth walked to Scarlett, took her by the hands, and led her to the sofa. "Yes," she said. "She's fine." Elisabeth explained briefly, offering no more details than Angel had, then said, "We need you to talk to her. Keep her awake. And be on the phone with her the entire time. We need her watching to make sure she isn't being followed."
"Oh god," Scarlett said. "What's going on?"
"Someone wants to kidnap Michaela," Elisabeth said. "And Angel was at Michaela's house. We're getting Angel back here as fast as we can where she'll be safe."
Scarlett looked straight at me. "You are pack, and on one threatens our pack members!"
"Good girl," Lara said. "Exactly. Can you do this, Scarlett?"
"Yes, Alpha. Can someone tell my parents what is going on?"
Elisabeth turned to Rory. "Scarlett is helping the alpha," she said. "Everything is fine."
"On it," he said.
"Then find Eric and send him in."
Angel called several minutes later.
"I'm ready," she told Elisabeth.
"Okay, you're going to hang up and Scarlett is going to call you. Sit right there until she reaches you." Then Elisabeth gestured to Scarlett, who picked up her phone. Elisabeth hung up, and soon Scarlett was talking to Angel quietly. Elisabeth helped hook her up with her charger so she could talk and not lose charge, and Angel was safely on her way.
"The police just dropped off behind her," Scarlett said. "She says she doesn't think she's being followed."
"Keep us posted, Scarlett," Elisabeth said. "Fo
r now, keep her awake and alert. Your job is to keep her watching the road, not talking about boys."
"Um. That won't be a problem," Scarlett said.
"Or talking about girls!" Elisabeth said. Scarlett began blushing.
The girls talked quietly, and then Elisabeth escorted me into the kitchen to take care of refreshments. I puttered in the kitchen, and Elisabeth watched over me, not allowing herself to become distracted trying to help. "Thank you, Elisabeth," I said.
"If you're ready to ask for protection, I know it's serious."
I made a tray and carried it into the room. I waited on Scarlett, which surprised her, but she smiled at me and continued talking to Angel.
"Someone should tell Francesca what is going on," I said.
"She'll just worry."
"Lara, if I were the one driving home like this, and Elisabeth kept it from you-"
"Someone should tell Francesca," Lara said immediately.
"I'll send Rory to retrieve her once he gets back," Elisabeth said. "You two should sleep."
"I'll doze here," Lara said from the sofa. I lay down next to her, curling into her, and she put an arm around me. I actually fell asleep, because the next thing I knew, Lara was struggling out from underneath me, and there was a blanket over me. I sat up and saw Francesca and Gia talking to Elisabeth. Lara joined them. Eric was at the front door, and I could hear Rory in the kitchen. I used my ears, and everything was as it should be. Angel and Scarlett were talking calmly to each other, comparing various Hollywood stars. I smiled.
I climbed off the sofa and joined the adults. "Francesca, I'm so sorry," I told her. "I put your daughter in danger."
"Hush," she said. "You did no such thing. My daughter is fine, and this isn't your fault." She pulled me into a hug. "I'm going to talk to Angel for a few minutes, but I think she'd rather talk to Scarlett than her mother."
"Are you all right with that?" I asked.
"They would be good for each other," Francesca said. Then she stepped away and knelt down in front of Scarlett. She had a brief conversation with Angel before giving the phone back to Scarlett.
I turned to Lara. "Alpha. They. Will. Die."
"Yes, they will," she said. "But we have to be smart about it. I want three dead Chicago wolves and no dead Madison pack members."
"Two dead from Chicago," I said. "Unless you know things about Jared I don't."
She cocked her head. "Maybe you are right."
After that it was a long night. Lara pulled me back to the sofa, and when I woke later, we were both wrapped in blankets. Gia was talking to Angel. Elisabeth was napping, and Francesca was standing near a window, looking outside. The next time I woke up, Gia was on the floor leaning against Scarlett's legs and Scarlett was back on the phone. She and Angel were exchanging what could best be described as sweet nothings. Scarlett caught me looking at her.
"I suppose no kayaking next weekend."
"Do not cancel that," I said. Lara stirred when I talked. "I think it'll just be a bigger party than originally planned."
Scarlett smiled. Lara looked down at me kindly, caressed me, and I fell asleep.
It was full daylight when I woke next. I heard the crunch of car tires in the gravel outside, and I sat bolt upright, waking Lara.
"Angel," I said, and Scarlett nodded at me. She looked tired, but she was smiling.
I climbed for the couch and headed for the front door, but Elisabeth beat me to it, and suddenly I was surrounded by the wolves I most trusted.
"It's Angel."
"Yes," said Elisabeth. "But this is what you asked for, and this is what you're going to get."
And then Angel was standing in the doorway. "Honey! I'm home! What's for dinner?"
I was so happy to see her, but she only had eyes for Scarlett.
At least at that moment, all was right with the world.
* * * *
A few minutes later, I pulled Elisabeth aside. "Do we have anyone in fur?"
"Yes. June, and John are out there."
"I want four wolves in fur in the courtyard in a few minutes. Can we do that? Not you or Lara."
She nodded. "Gia, Eric, I need you to shift please."
"Gia isn't an enforcer," I said very quietly.
"She's here. You manage you, I'll manage my forces." I nodded.
They took a few minutes, but then we stepped outside. Lara yipped twice, calling June and John to us. I told Lara, "Keep everyone quiet for a minute."
I stepped away, but suddenly had several enforcers around me. "Give me a little space." They backed off a little. I turned slowly in a circle, listening to the sounds of the forest. I heard nothing I shouldn't. I turned to Elisabeth and gestured her closer.
"I want the ones in fur to go stir up the forest. Anyone skulking won't be able to stay still with wolves running around."
"How far out?"
"A thousand yards."
She nodded and gave them their directions. For the next fifteen minutes I listened as four wolves raced through the forest around our compound, stirring up birds, rabbits, squirrels, and countless insects. I heard nothing larger, and I was listening for all I had.
Finally I told Elisabeth, "If they're out there, they're much further than a thousand yards or buried in a hole and very, very still. I don't think they're here."
"I don't either," she said. "But I like including you in this. Can you really hear that well?"
"Can you hear our wolves running around?"
"No."
I pointed. "Gia. John. Eric. June. June just stopped, she's sniffing something." I turned to Elisabeth in alarm. "I can't tell what."
"Alpha!"
"Screw this," I said. I shifted to a fox and didn't even bother climbing out of my clothes. I swiveled my ears. June came in more clearly. She was sniffing. I whined quietly.
I shifted back, almost strangling myself in my clothes. "Call her back. I don't know what it is. Call her back."
Lara immediately began howling. June paused, then turned around and began running for the clearing, along with the other wolves. More wolves appeared from the houses around us. But June was safe.
Two minutes later, all four furry wolves were back with us.
"June," I said to her. "I don't know what you were sniffing. I got scared."
She chuffed and offered a wolfy smile, then lay down and yawned.
"Patrols are in twos," Elisabeth said. "Anything unusual you report back and we send larger groups to investigate. No one investigates alone." She turned to me. "You are stressed and over tired. Alpha, make her sleep a little longer. John and Rory, escort the alpha and the fox to their bedroom, search it, then stand watch in the hallway."
* * * *
They let me sleep until midmorning, most of it in Lara's arms. Then we cleaned up and I apologized repeatedly for being a scardy-fox. Lara told me to be quiet about it. "It's about time I saw you take security seriously."
"They want a fox hunt and they want you dead, Lara."
"I know. We'll deal with it. Let's get some breakfast then go meet with the council."
* * * *
I was invited to the council meeting from the beginning, and I was given a chair at the head of the table with Lara. Lara pulled Vivian to the side and spoke quietly to her, but I heard every word. She told Vivian about my hearing but explained why we wanted her to go along with a slightly distorted version of events. Vivian was very understanding, then looked at me and smiled.
"Thank you," I mouthed to her.
Lara called the meeting to order, and Mr. Berg immediately asked, "What was the commotion this morning?"
"We have a credible kidnap threat on our fox and a credible death threat against me."
That brought a general hubbub of conversation. I let them talk until Vivian said, "You know, we set historical precedent so as to have access to our little spy. Perhaps we should ask for her analysis from last night."
I stood up.
"The Chicago pack is run by assholes."
I sat back down.
They all stared at me.
"I think, young lady, we may need more than that," said Mr. Berg. His eyes were twinkling.
"I'm sorry. That was my sense of humor. I shouldn't do that."
"It's a reasonable coping mechanism," Vivian said. "And I must say that is as accurate a statement as can be made."
I stood back up. "I am going to provide an overview of my beliefs. Some of these are guesses. Then I will relay everything as verbatim as I can. Then, if my conclusions are not obviously derived from events, I can describe how I came to them. Is that acceptable?"
"Perfect," Lara assured me. I reached down to hold her hand for a moment.
"We met Durian, the Chicago alpha, and his sons Avery and Jared. Durian and Avery are thugs, plain and simple. Jared is much more thoughtful and intelligent and could be a powerful ally or fearsome enemy. Avery is particularly crude and ruled by his testosterone first, foremost and always."
"I agree completely with that assessment," Vivian said.
"The Chicago pack finances are a mess. Durian and Avery are doing particularly poorly financially and live as leeches off the other wolves. I have no evidence of Jared's standing. I believe that they are under pressure from the other wolves, and only their fearsome fighting skill is keeping them alive."
"That doesn't last forever," Dominick said. "If you have enough challengers, they eventually wear you down."
"But it takes enough wolves early on to risk themselves," Mr. Berg said. "They won't do that unless it gets bad enough or Durian is deemed sufficiently weakened somehow. Then they'll come out of the woodwork."
"The worst thing that could happen for us," I went on. "Would be if Durian started listening to Jared enough to set intelligent plans but not enough to make sane plans."
I thought about it. "Their plan was to lure the Alpha to Chicago, where Durian was going to challenge her. We have temporarily thwarted that. They also wish to hold a fox hunt."
The room broke into conversation. No one was happy about either of those pieces of information. I finally got them to settle down enough to finish my report. I concluded with, "They may or may not have been temporarily mollified by taking some cash from us last night, but even if they are, I do not believe it will last long. Avery in particular is a brute and will eventually attempt to kidnap me. They may believe they can still lure us to Chicago, or they may already be coming up with plan B. But if they aren't, I believe they believe their only option is to challenge the alpha and begin draining the financial resources of the Madison pack."