The Wolf at the Door

by Charlie Adhara

  “We’re just trying to get a better understanding of the relationships with the customers that evening,” Jefferson said soothingly. “Like Oliver Park.” Cooper tried to catch Jefferson’s eye, but his partner continued to smile gently at Jenny without looking at him. “You’re friends with the Park family, aren’t you?”

  Jenny’s eyes narrowed. “When I was growing up, sure. We’re friendly. They keep to themselves mostly. You know how really big families are. They don’t need anyone else. But we’re friendly.”

  “Friendly enough that you asked them to take care of some trouble for you last year.” Cooper was sure his face looked as confused as Jenny’s did. “Jacob Symer,” Jefferson prompted. “He moved to town last year and started harassing you.”

  Cooper’s confusion shifted to shock and his hand flew to his belly just as it cramped and burned so hard he almost buckled forward. He touched the thick scar tissue like a charm to ward away evil. Jacob Symer? Where had Jefferson got all this? Why hadn’t he told Cooper before?

  “It wasn’t a big deal,” she said.

  “Big enough that you filed a complaint with the police and your boss banned him from coming into the Bear’s Den.”

  “Yeah, a lot of good that did. The cops did shit.”

  Jefferson grimaced sympathetically. “As much as I love our justice system, I have to admit it is flawed. People slip through the cracks. Is that when you went to the Parks for help?”

  Jenny looked uncomfortable. “You’re making this sound more formal than it was. Like they’re the Mafia or something. It wasn’t like that.”

  “What was it like?”

  “Everyone who grew up here knows the Parks. They’ve been in Florence a long time. They’re invested in the town. I mentioned what was going on with Symer to Camille Park when our kids had a school project together—well, it’s Camille Holt now, but everyone still thinks of her as a Park. It was more like me venting than anything else.” She paused. “Actually it was more like me breaking down and her catching the worst of it. I just couldn’t believe how useless the cops were.”

  “What happened?”

  “Nothing! I mean, nothing bad. She let me cry it out, asked a couple questions and said not to worry. They’d take care of it.”

  “What, kill him?”

  Jenny actually laughed before catching Jefferson’s expression and stopping abruptly. “Wait, you’re serious? Of course not. This is Florence. What the hell do you think is going on here? I don’t know what happened exactly, but Symer didn’t bother me again and I didn’t hear anyone else complain about him anymore either. And yes, I knew he was still alive because I’d still drive past him in town sometimes. Anyway, it wasn’t a problem for long because he moved soon after that.”

  “You didn’t think that was strange?”

  “What’s strange about it? That’s what people do, don’t they? They move on.”

  She said it meaningfully, like a suggestion they should take themselves, and the interview stumbled to an end.

  * * *

  Cooper waited until they’d made it out of the oppressive air of the hospital before turning on Jefferson. “How could you not tell me Symer moved to Florence?” His voice echoed oddly, sounding more like a shout in the parking garage.

  Jefferson shook his head, clearly expecting this. “Because his trail went cold. By the time I heard about it, there was nothing to tell. The Park pack had already gotten in the way.”

  Cooper wasn’t satisfied with that, but Jefferson’s words moved him on to his second complaint. “Right, and what was all that about? I told you Park’s not involved in this.”

  “Get your head together, Dayton. You heard her—the Park pack runs this whole town. They’ve already been sanctioned by us twice for playing law and Symer hasn’t been heard from since he took off suddenly and mysteriously. If you don’t think he’s dead somewhere in that forest of yours, you’re more turned around than I thought.”

  “Bull,” Cooper said without hesitation. “You know how I feel about those sanctions. It makes sense Symer split if he got on the bad side of the biggest pack in town. That doesn’t mean they killed him. Oliver’s part of the Trust. A—a bureaucrat. He used to teach college literature, for fuck’s sake.”

  Cooper didn’t know why that seemed like such conclusive evidence, but it did. As did the way Park had laughed and held and kissed him last night, but he certainly wasn’t about to offer up any of that as proof of character.

  “You only know the one Park. You said yourself he’s not part of his family’s pack anymore. Did you ask why?”

  Cooper didn’t respond. He remembered the bitter look on Park’s face when he spoke of packs that didn’t want to acknowledge the BSI.

  Jefferson read his silence easily. “Exactly. So maybe one Park’s not involved. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t know exactly what his family is capable of.”

  “What does this have to do with our case?” Cooper snapped.

  Jefferson gave him a long, assessing look and then got into the driver’s seat of the car.

  Cooper swore and got into the other side. Jefferson started the car and drove them around the spiral of the sharp turns of the garage and out into the street in silence.

  The sunlight was blinding and the fading pain of Cooper’s hangover made a last stab, specifically through his corneas. His eyes watered. He blinked rapidly, horrified Jefferson might think he was crying, and said with a clear, steady voice, “I hear what you’re saying, I do, but the Parks have an alibi. They’re out of the country.”

  “The family is. Who else is in their pack and would follow their orders? Whittaker?”

  “No. Whittaker follows the bar owner, Rudi Abouesse—” Cooper stopped, thinking of Park’s obvious surprise at that fact. He’d said something about Whittaker’s parents already belonging to a pack. Had he been talking about his own family?

  Jefferson was saying, “But you don’t know that. You only know what Oliver Park told you. And if he’s not up to his neck in his family’s shit, he’s a mouthpiece for the Trust. The Trust that doesn’t want us to expose any pack wars. Bad publicity for them.”

  “We’re supposed to be working together. He’s been very helpfu—”

  “Can’t have been that helpful if you’re more confused now than when you first got here,” Jefferson interrupted. He smiled apologetically at Cooper. “Look, no one’s saying don’t listen to Park. But you’re not questioning, either.”

  Cooper opened his mouth, closed it, swallowed what he wanted to say. The truth was he didn’t know. He had taken a lot of what Park told him as fact.

  He feared his relationship—no, not a relationship, but his...collision with Park last night was dictating his defense now.

  He tried to focus on the passing Portland streets but couldn’t see past his own stubborn reflection in the glass.

  Jefferson let Cooper stew for a bit and drove them to pick up a second car. He’d said he wanted his own pair of wheels in Florence. He always did on cases. He’d been surprised Cooper was driving around with Park.

  After they parked in the lot, Cooper could feel Jefferson studying him. Cooper turned and raised an eyebrow. “What’s up?”

  “Are you okay, Dayton?”

  He was startled. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Your face back there while we were talking to Eagler...” Jefferson didn’t seem sure what to say.

  “It’s horrible what happened to her,” Cooper offered.

  Jefferson nodded. “Stupid, crude, pointless violence,” he said. “She didn’t deserve to go through this.”

  That reminded Cooper of something distantly. But it was gone quick as it came.

  Jefferson was still studying him out of the corner of his eye. “Very beautiful woman, Miss Eagler.”

  Both of Cooper’s eyebrows shot up this time.
“And?”

  Whatever Jefferson saw in Cooper’s face seemed to relax him. “Nothing. It was silly of me. I know you like men.” The way Jefferson said it, reassuring himself and devoid of any discomfort, was oddly sweet, and Cooper felt a rush of affection for his partner. They may not always see eye to eye, but Jefferson had never treated Cooper any differently after learning of his sexuality. Cooper wished he could hope for that ease with his own father someday.

  “It’s just that back in the hospital for a minute while I was asking Eagler about the Parks and the Symer situation, your face was as furious as a suspect’s spouse.” Jefferson laughed and Cooper laughed with him. He hoped it only sounded strained and panicked to his own ears.

  “It’s nothing. I just don’t like hospitals.”

  Jefferson nodded, his face sympathetic. “Of course. I get it, kid.” He patted Cooper’s shoulder kindly. “But you got to use that. Don’t forget it was a wolf that put you in the hospital.”

  Cooper blinked and considered confessing that wasn’t why, but Jefferson was already getting out.

  The car was abruptly too cold. Cooper turned down the air-conditioning and then, on second thought, stepped out of the car and stood in the warm sunshine instead.

  He pulled out his phone and studied Park’s text. He tapped the phone icon and listened to it ring.

  “Park.”

  At the sound of his voice, Cooper released the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. No. Park wasn’t playing him. He was sure of it.

  “... Dayton?” Park said hesitantly.

  “Yeah.” Cooper cleared his throat. “It’s me. We just spoke to Eagler. She’s doing okay. Shaken, but she’ll be fine. She doesn’t remember much besides being cold and in the dark. Possibly inside. I’m sure Miller’s our guy, though—”

  “Dayton—”

  “Wait, hear me out. There was this couple arguing outside right before her attack. I want to track them down. They were lingering for hours and then just happened to take off right before she’s attacked? What if they saw a cop car and thought she’d called the police on them? She almost did. But what if it was Miller coming back for Jenny?”

  “Dayton—”

  “People don’t suspect police cars. They can come and go at any hour. Hell, I saw a cruiser parked there after he left and didn’t give it a second thought. And when I asked about Miller, Jenny was quick to guess he was a suspect, which indicates she thought something was off about him even if she didn’t know it consciously—”

  “Cooper!”

  Cooper snapped, “What?”

  “Miller’s dead.”

  “What?”

  “Looks like he’s been dead two or three days. He was shot in the face.” Park took a breath. “They found him at the bottom of the crevice you—well, at the bottom.”

  “What the hell is going on,” Cooper whispered.

  * * *

  “Goddammit!” Jefferson slapped the hood of the car. A couple of people walking past the rental agency looked over and Cooper gave them an “everything is okay” wave.

  Everything was not okay, but the people continued walking, with only the occasional suspicious look back. “He’s out of control,” Jefferson muttered. “Killing an officer? How does he expect to get away with this?”

  “It might not be connected,” Cooper said doubtfully. “Miller was shot.”

  Jefferson gave him a skeptical look and took out his phone. “At Baker’s. In the same trap you’d been led to. I’m telling the chief to bring in Whittaker.”

  Cooper frowned and considered his next words carefully. “I’m not sure he’s guilty,” he said finally.

  Jefferson stopped dialing and ended the call. “He’s a wolf witnesses place fighting with the vic at the time of his disappearance. He’s the only person who knew you’d be at Baker’s when you were attacked. What’s not to be sure about?”

  “Park thinks he’s innocent,” Cooper argued.

  “Park may have motivations for keeping Whittaker out of it. We already discussed this. What’s really going on here, Dayton? Because I have to say you’re not acting like yourself.”

  Cooper stiffened. “What do you mean?”

  Jefferson leaned in closer and gently placed his hand on Cooper’s arm. “I mean you’ve been a little...off. Did something happen?”

  “Happen?” Cooper repeated dumbly. Oddly, it wasn’t Park naked, pinning him down and thrusting on top of him that he thought of. Or even Park that morning, all awkward, tender and unsure. The first image in Cooper’s mind was of Park gripping his arm and pulling him out of the hole and into the sun. The way he’d run his hands over Cooper’s belly checking for injuries and Cooper hadn’t even flinched once when they traced his scars.

  Jefferson lowered his voice. “Did someone threaten you?”

  “No! God, no.” Cooper shrugged Jefferson’s hand away. “Nothing happened, okay? I’m just not sure Whittaker’s our guy. He has an alibi.” Sort of.

  On the other hand, Whittaker was their best lead, their only real lead besides the missing Baker, and Cooper genuinely believed they weren’t getting the full story there. Bringing Whittaker in for additional questioning was the decision he would have made a few days ago, before...complications.

  “It’s your call, Dayton. I’m here to support you on your case.”

  “Fine. We bring him in. For questioning only.”

  Jefferson nodded. “Good call.” He started to dial again, then paused and gave Cooper a strange look. “Do you...want to talk to Agent Park first?”

  The question felt loaded, heavier and more dangerous somehow than even the gun at his hip. For a moment Cooper felt the urge to confess, to tell him what had happened last night. Jefferson was his friend, after all. One of his only friends. It was hard maintaining relationships while doing a secretive job, but Jefferson had always been there for him and had guided him through the terrifying early days at the BSI, patiently explaining everything he knew about wolves that Cooper hadn’t even known to ask. It wasn’t like Cooper hadn’t talked to him about his hookups before. Why not this?

  But still he hesitated. Random hookups were one thing. A sexual collision with your work partner, even your temporary work partner, was another.

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ll tell him when we see him,” Cooper said finally. Jefferson continued to watch him for a long moment, looking for something. Whatever it was he must have found it because he finally nodded and made the call to Chief Brown.

  When Jefferson turned away to speak, Cooper’s hand twitched toward his own phone and he deliberately crossed his arms. It would be better to tell Park in person. That way he could explain why questioning Whittaker was the right thing to do. Besides, he didn’t want Jefferson listening in, thinking something had happened that had changed Cooper in some way. Because it hadn’t. Not at all.

  Chapter Twelve

  Miller’s apartment was a wreck. It wasn’t immediately obvious if someone had searched the place or if this was Miller’s normal disaster zone aesthetic, but the shattered computers cleared that up quick enough. Why destroy them? Why was Bornestein’s computer missing?

  Michael Miller.

  Cooper had heard Harris say the name to the chief, voice hard and agonized, as he toured the tiny apartment. Most of Florence PD seemed to be here, shocked and violated to lose one of their own.

  It was odd how Cooper hadn’t known, hadn’t even wondered, what Miller’s first name was this whole time. He’d been too busy accusing Officer Miller of assault and abduction. Now instead there was this stranger. Another victim to discover and profile.

  Miller had been dead at least forty-eight hours, which meant someone must have called in sick for him and spoken to the chief or maybe Harris. Not just someone. His killer. It also meant Miller wasn’t the one using Baker’s place to lie low. They should t
ry for DNA and prints off the takeout in the fridge on the chance that it was the killer’s.

  But why was Miller at Baker’s the night he died? Had he been chasing a lead and stumbled across something? Or had he been purposefully lured there? If Cooper’s first guess was actually right and it was Miller’s food, he must have brought it with him into the house the night he’d died. That indicated he was meeting someone he trusted. Or trusted whoever he thought he was meeting, anyway.

  Mike Miller. He sounded like the kid he was. And he had still been a kid. Cooper could see it in the tangled wires of the video game console; his fridge full of deli meats and no condiments; the DVDs, all ride-and-die cop shootout flicks, overflowing the plywood shelf that had probably come with the apartment along with the waterproof imitation-leather couch where all his dirty clothes were scattered like throw pillows. Except for his uniform, which was folded and placed on a huge pile of laundry. A tiny stamp of pride atop the slop, badge glinting like a gold star sticker.

  It was uncomfortably obvious why Michael Miller had joined the force. He was just playing out the part he thought a cop had. He’d found himself a gruff but kindly mentor in Harris and followed his every move, he hoped for some small-town romance with a local waitress, maybe he’d even wanted to solve this case by himself. The first big mystery to hit Florence. Was that why he’d kept trying to insist Gould hadn’t been abducted? Maybe he’d wanted to find him himself. Maybe that’s how he’d ended up at Baker’s with a bullet to his face and through his wrist.

  That was how the bracelet came off. He must have held up his hands to cover his face when the unsub pulled a gun on him. It was so...useless. So childlike it made Cooper’s jaw hurt.

  “What do you think?”

  Cooper turned away from the two smashed computer monitors to find Park watching him. Cooper smiled, absurdly comforted to see him. Park smiled back, pleasantly enough but obviously confused about why they were exchanging grins at a time like this.

  Cooper quickly looked away. “Hard drive’s missing. Do you, ah, sniff anyone?”

  Park huffed, a slightly amused but mostly frustrated sound. “Too many other people here now. The trail would be too old anyway.”