Wild

by Meghan O'Brien

  Taking a deep breath, Selene shifted into a sparrow. Nothing flashy. Leaving her apartment as a bird seemed easiest, as the open window would allow her to come and go undetected. Once in the park, she would find a secluded area and shift into a dog to do her tracking. To be honest, that shift couldn’t come soon enough. She didn’t like to fly.

  Still, as she soared out the window and over the street, a powerful rush of exhilaration hit her. She spent so much time hating the baggage of her ability—that one night a month when she lost control of it altogether—that she rarely allowed herself to enjoy the wondrous, innocuous things she could do. Being able to experience nature as something other than human had its perks. Pity it came at such a cost.

  She quickly located the spot where Eve had been attacked and, with a quick look around, swooped down to land at the trunk of a large eucalyptus tree. Having seen nobody within eyesight, she immediately shifted into a familiar shape: a hound, with the best nose possible at her disposal. She lowered her head to the ground and sniffed.

  Just as she’d suspected, the man’s scent still hung heavy in the damp shade of the trees. She took a good whiff and her lips curled instinctively, then she bared her teeth in a growl. The fur on her back rose and sent a shiver through her body. If evil had a smell, this was it.

  Selene let her nose lead her through the trees near where she’d rescued Eve. She’d watched the man stumble away in the direction the scent was taking her, so she was on the right track. The odor remained strong long past the spot the man had disappeared from Selene’s view, winding through the trees toward the opposite edge of the park. She trotted along after it, only needing to slow down and really start paying attention when she reached a sidewalk at the edge of the park.

  The trail led her to a metal garbage can at the corner of the block. The man’s scent was all over it, along with something else. The faint, sweet smell of Eve. Selene jumped up on the can, placing her front paws on the opening and taking a good whiff. As a human, she would have found the smell of garbage putrid. But as a dog, well, she understood the appeal. On sensory overload, she had to take a few long sniffs to sort out the dizzying array of odors.

  She definitely detected a hint of Eve. Her purse. But she also picked up the obvious: The garbage can had been emptied sometime recently, so Eve’s purse was already gone. Only a trace of its smell remained, as well as the intense odor of discarded Starbucks coffee.

  Selene stepped back and let her paws hit the pavement. All she could do now was follow the trail until it disappeared. If she was lucky, the guy had walked home. She had no idea what she would tell the police if she actually found him, but she would think of something. She had to do whatever she could to protect Eve.

  Selene followed the trail to Ninth Avenue, where it disappeared at the Muni stop on the N Judah line. She wasn’t surprised. Public transit was a popular mode of travel in the city. Unfortunately, it rendered his trail completely useless. She had no way of knowing which car he’d entered, at which stop he disembarked, or even if he’d transferred to BART at some point.

  In other words, she was out of luck.

  “Here, girl.”

  Selene turned her head and saw an older woman standing in the open doorway of a taquería, bent low with her hand outstretched. She clicked her tongue when Selene looked up at her, and Selene sighed internally. This was definitely the drawback of being a dog. Everyone wanted to rescue her.

  “It’s okay, puppy. Are you lost?”

  Selene turned and darted back in the direction of the park. The woman was calling after her, but she didn’t turn around. She certainly didn’t need anyone to take her to the shelter or, worse, have a well-meaning animal lover adopt her.

  Running back into the park, she waited until she was deep among the trees before she returned to bird form. As she flew back to her apartment, she wondered what to do next. She had little hope of actually finding Eve’s purse or the man who took it. It interested her that he had thrown her purse away so quickly, but she didn’t know what that meant. And she couldn’t tell Eve any of what she’d found, for fear of sounding absolutely insane.

  So that left her with nothing to do, except try to forget about the woman who haunted her waking life, who even now sent unknowing transmissions to her, like a siren’s song.

  Selene was used to denying herself things she wanted. She hoped she had the strength to be content to watch over Eve from afar. That would have to be enough.

  Chapter Eight

  Three days after her attack in Golden Gate Park, Eve was frustrated by the lack of progress they’d made on their murder victim. They knew her name was Yasmin Mandujano and that she had been single, but they had very little to go on as far as identifying her killer.

  The body had been free of any significant hair or fibers. The lack of physical evidence collected at the scene suggested a killer who was careful, even meticulous. Definitely not an amateur. Despite the amount of blood present around the body, he hadn’t left a trail. With the exception of poor, broken Yasmin, he didn’t leave them a goddamn thing. As far as the police and the medical examiner’s office were concerned, someone had stabbed Yasmin eighteen times with a knife, all but two of the wounds too superficial to have actually killed her, then vanished.

  Unfortunately, Eve couldn’t shake her growing certainty that he had walked almost a mile away to punch her in the face and drag her into the trees. As much as she didn’t want to subscribe to that theory, it had a certain logic. Yasmin’s killer had restricted her breathing at some point, and he had obviously enjoyed using his knife to torment, not just kill. Just like her own attacker. Though Jac didn’t say so, Eve could see that she had reached a similar conclusion. Her attacker and the murderer were almost certainly the same person.

  Eve didn’t know how to process that information. It brought her no closer to identifying the man, and it certainly left her worried about the implications. What kind of killer would attack two women in a public place within an hour, leaving a total bloody mess at the first scene, then manage to escape undetected? If he was the meticulous serial killer he appeared to be, Eve would have expected him to stop at one kill. If it had been a spree, she wouldn’t have expected him to stop at all. Something wasn’t right about the situation, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Nothing about what had happened made sense, least of all how a wolf had appeared in Golden Gate Park at exactly the right moment to save her.

  Eve made a note in the victim’s chart, then flipped it shut. They couldn’t discover anything more on her body or at the scene, it seemed, so they now needed to give Ms. Mandujano’s family the comfort of a proper burial. Eve needed to simply try to reassure herself that even if the murderer had attacked her, she was safe now. And chances were, he wouldn’t risk coming back to finish what he’d started.

  At least she hoped not.

  “Hey.”

  Having let her guard down in the safety of the lab, Eve startled at Wayne’s voice just behind her. She swiveled in her chair and pushed back with her feet, putting some distance between them. Wayne winced sympathetically.

  “Don’t.” Eve was tired of the apologies, tired of feeling scared. Everyone had been tiptoeing around her, though she had given them several reasons to think it was necessary. She was jumpy, irritable, and, most of all, frighteningly out of control of her emotions. And she burned to regain that control with every cell in her body. “I’m fine. Just drifted away for a moment.”

  He nodded. “I have that report on the Williams case for you to review, when you have a chance.” He offered her a folder, which she took with an admirably steady hand.

  “Thank you.” As much as Eve hated to admit it, she didn’t want to be at work. While poring over the details of other people’s deaths usually removed her from her own problems, it now reminded her of her own mortality. If not for a random twist of fate, she would be as dead as Yasmin Mandujano. “I’ll get this back to you tomorrow morning.”

  Wayne reclined in his ch
air, watching curiously as she stood and put on her jacket. “Taking off early today?”

  Eve tried to act nonchalant. “Yeah, I have a few errands to run.”

  “Not a problem. I’ll hold down the fort.” He hesitated, then touched her hand before she could move away. “You need anything from me, Dr. Thomas?”

  Though their relationship was strictly professional, Eve also considered Wayne a friend. He wasn’t the kind of guy to express his emotions easily, but Eve could see his concern. Acknowledging that she also wasn’t very good at letting others in, Eve forced herself to drop her mask ever so slightly.

  “Just keep doing what you’re doing,” Eve said. “It helps.”

  He tipped his head. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

  “See you.”

  Eve limped out of the medical examiner’s office building without a clue as to where she would go. The new lock had been installed on her apartment three days ago, but she still didn’t feel comfortable going home. She wasn’t afraid her attacker would come to her apartment, but she couldn’t stand to be alone with her imagination.

  Surrounded by the mundane artifacts of her newly single life, Eve had spent the past two evenings sitting on her couch imagining what could have happened. Though she had escaped with only minor cuts and bruises, she mentally felt the pain of rape, the agony of strong hands wrapped around her throat, the terror of her blood pouring out onto the dirt. When she had nothing to do but think, the scene replayed itself incessantly, each nightmare scenario more horrifying than the last. All of them were probable outcomes had that wolf not shown up.

  As Eve walked into the parking lot, she pulled her spare car key from her spare purse and sighed. She wanted to feel safe again, to be the person she’d been before that man turned her life upside down. She wanted to be the woman who didn’t think twice about walking alone in the park, but she wasn’t that person anymore. And she hadn’t felt secure since she left Selene’s apartment.

  Eve got into the driver’s seat and started the car. She put her hand on the gearshift, then paused. Selene. The only thing that could pull her mind away from the assault was the memory of the beautiful woman from the park. Eve couldn’t stop thinking about her. Not only her inexplicable attraction toward her, but also how being with Selene had made everything seem better.

  True to her word, Eve had called Selene’s cell phone after she got home the night of the attack. Disappointed to get Selene’s voice mail, she’d left a brief message that she was all right and thanked Selene again for her kindness. Eve had hoped to get a call back, but wasn’t shocked when it never came. Surely a woman like Selene led a full, busy life, with little time for socially awkward forensic pathologists.

  Eve had told herself she should forget Selene and move on. But she’d also washed Selene’s shirt and placed it in the trunk of her car, just in case. Every evening since then she thought about returning it, but until now, she hadn’t been able to work up the courage. Selene hadn’t called back. That meant she wasn’t interested in seeing Eve again. And who could blame her? She was gorgeous, breathtaking. So Selene had been kind when Eve had needed help. What would she want with Eve now?

  Probably nothing. But who was Eve to say? And she had promised to return Selene’s shirt.

  Perhaps this was the perfect first step to regaining control over her life. Eve would do something uncharacteristic and drop by Selene’s place to thank her again. If nothing else, she owed Selene that, and maybe a chocolate cake.

  Decision made, Eve pulled out of the lot and headed for Selene’s apartment. It was possible she would make a complete fool of herself by showing up unannounced, but seeing Selene again felt important in a way she didn’t understand. The pull toward Selene was even more powerful than her shyness around beautiful women.

  In other words, it was damn overwhelming.

  Here’s to taking control, Eve thought, and didn’t look back.

  *

  The last thing Eve expected to see when Selene opened her front door was genuine, unabashed joy. Selene’s happiness to see her was palpable, making Eve feel as though she was reuniting with an old friend instead of potentially disturbing a near stranger. Any doubts about dropping in on Selene instantly vanished.

  “Eve.” Selene took the pink bakery box out of Eve’s hands and set it on a small table in the entryway, then held her by the shoulders and pulled her into a gentle embrace. “I’m so happy to see you again. How are you?”

  Caught off guard, Eve surprised herself by returning Selene’s hug easily. Because she usually didn’t enjoy physical contact with anyone except the most intimate friends, she didn’t understand why holding Selene would feel so comfortable. But it did. Despite the supple curves pressed against her body and the heady scent of Selene’s dark hair, Eve didn’t feel nervous. Instead she felt reconnected, at peace.

  Nothing except work had ever taken her to such a balanced place. Shaken by her obvious attachment to Selene after having spent only about twenty-five minutes with her, Eve drew away. “I’m sorry to drop in on you, but I wanted to return your shirt—”

  “I told you to keep it.” Selene stepped out of their embrace but kept her hands on Eve’s shoulders.

  But I wanted to see you. Eve’s face heated as she struggled to explain how she couldn’t stay away. “I brought cake.”

  Selene grinned slowly. “That’s an excellent reason to drop by.”

  “I hope you like chocolate.” Eve gestured at the pink box. “It’s from the bakery down the street.”

  “Chocolate is my kryptonite,” Selene said. She picked up the box and indicated that Eve should follow her inside. “Let’s go have a piece.”

  Selene led Eve deeper into her apartment, and this time Eve had the presence of mind to look around. Framed photographs, mostly nature shots, many of them spectacular, covered the walls. In the corner of the front room sat a massive desk covered in computer and camera equipment, leading Eve to assume that the photographs surrounding them were probably Selene’s work. She saw no pictures of people, no hint of family or friends.

  “You’re a photographer?” Eve said, pausing to examine a photo of a large gray wolf. It didn’t look exactly like the one she’d seen in the park, but its piercing stare sent shivers rolling down Eve’s spine. “This is an amazing shot.”

  “Thanks. I like taking pictures, but I’m not sure I’d call myself a photographer.” Selene paused with her hand on the kitchen door. “Professionally I do graphic design. Photography is just a hobby.”

  “These are excellent. As good as anything I’ve seen in National Geographic. Have you ever tried to make it your profession?”

  “I’ve thought about it,” Selene said. “But it would mean a lot of travel, and I enjoy staying close to home.”

  Nodding, Eve followed Selene through the kitchen door. The place was spotless, with a faint antiseptic scent that reminded Eve of her lab. Jac had always been the consummate slob, so to discover such tidy perfection aroused Eve more than she would ever admit out loud. She walked to the bar and took a seat on a tall stool, watching as Selene opened the pink box.

  “Oh, yes. This was a very good reason to drop by.” Selene pulled a large knife from the block on the counter and cut into the cake, her face the picture of sinful pleasure. “Thank you.”

  Eve realized she was staring with her mouth agape. With effort, she tore her attention away from what she decided was the most blatant display of unconscious sexuality she’d ever witnessed. “It’s the least I could do.”

  Selene moved a large slice of cake onto a plate, then plucked two forks from the drawer next to the sink. “Do you mind sharing?”

  Eve shook her head, struck dumb by how very much the idea appealed to her. Dimly she thought about how uncharacteristic this situation was for her, everything from pursuing a woman to sharing a dessert, but that didn’t make it feel any less natural. Nothing had ever been easier. “That sounds perfect.”

&n
bsp; Selene brought the plate to the counter and set it between them, then handed Eve a fork. “So how are you doing? Really?”

  Eve waited for Selene to take the first bite before spearing a small piece for herself. “I’m fine. Honestly.”

  Searching Eve’s face as she chewed, Selene said, “You’re not wearing your glasses today.”

  “Oh.” Eve touched the bridge of her nose. “What happened in the park has finally inspired me to try contact lenses. I’m still getting used to them.”

  “I like being able to see your eyes. I didn’t realize they were so blue.”

  Her face burning, Eve said, “Thank you.”

  Selene used her fork to point at the cake. “That’s delicious.”

  “Yes, it is.” Eve took another bite. She’d never eaten anything so incredible. Almost as though being with Selene made everything taste better. “You may have to wrestle me for the last bite.”

  Selene gave her a smoky look that whetted Eve’s appetite for something more decadent than chocolate. “Oh, I could take you.”

  Eve’s pussy clenched and she gasped slightly, dropping her gaze to stare at her fork. Since when did she engage in flirtatious banter and inspire double entendres? She had never been comfortable expressing herself sexually, and the ease with which Selene aroused her was startling. Eve took another bite so she wouldn’t have to answer.

  “Tell me the truth,” Selene said quietly. “Because I know you’re not just fine after what happened. Are you?”

  “I’m…worried.” Eve exhaled, almost relieved to have Selene call her out on the subject. She was glad that Wayne was mostly leaving it alone, and she hadn’t wanted to depend too much on Jac by admitting how badly the attack had shaken her, but Eve appreciated the opportunity to talk it through with someone. Even though they had just met, Eve sensed Selene was the perfect confidante. “Physically I’m feeling better, but emotionally…I can’t stop thinking about what happened.”

  “That’s to be expected. Are you sleeping?”