by A. Z. Green
“A punishment?” She nodded uneasily. “No. Well, maybe a little. Unofficially. But I don't fight anyone who does not or cannot fight back. That would be cruelty, and there's very little a despise more.” Jaz didn't allow him to see how much she liked him for saying that. His words blew away her previous uneasiness with him. “He smelt your blood and it drove him berserk.”
Jaz bobbed her head remembering.“I cut my knee falling.”
“I know.”
She squirmed a little in her seat from the heat of his gaze on her. Then cleared her throat and said, “Thank you. For saving me.” She didn't look at him and regretted it, realizing how false her apology must have seemed to him. When he stayed silent, she looked him straight in the eye and with no barriers holding back her emotions from her face, she said again with complete sincerity, “I mean it. Seriously. Thank you. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't stopped him.”
He regarded her intently for a few seconds before smiling his minuscule smile. “You left a good mark on him.” Jaz balked and he saw it, forcing him to be serious again. “What scares you the most? Me? All of us?...Or yourself?”
Jaz's startled eyes glanced his way and then back to the desk. Her fingers twitched on her lap nervously. She looked down at them as if they had a decent response for her.
A warm, dry hand gently covering her restless hands stopped her thoughts dead. Rather than flinch or shy away she allowed it to remain there, staring at it. His hand calmed and soothed her. He knelt down beside her but it took her a good two minutes before she had the courage to meet his questioning gaze. “What are you afraid of?”
She shook her head. She couldn't answer that. Not when the words would only offend and not make sense to anyone who wasn't her. “I can't do this, Nik.”
Hearing her say his real name was a rare pleasure, making the sentence sound even more urgent and despairing than the look in her eyes. He didn't want to force it further. “Just promise me one thing?” he asked with a steady gaze. Jaz watched him cautiously. “Don't go out after dark again. I can't promise I'll be there next time.” She smiled weakly. “Though after today I'm not sure you need my help.”
She grinned and then stopped, abruptly nursing her jaw with her palm. Driver clenched his teeth.
As she mumbled, “Beginner's luck,” he lifted his hand and held it lightly, delicately, under her chin. Her eyes opened wide as she regarded him with surprise, her nursing hand hovering just shy of his.
He waited for her to slap him, to pull away. This gesture was so intimate, so clearly meaning much more than just a hand on hers that he was sure she would remove it. But she didn't. She sat there, completely still, gazing at him with her bright, penetrating blue-green eyes, her mouth partly open, breathing heavily.
Just then, there was a loud, heavy knock on the door and Jaz nearly jumped out of her skin.
Driver stayed motionless, holding his hand under her jaw a moment longer. To show her how important this moment was to him. She took it as seriously as the look in his eyes, watching him unblinking until he removed his hand.
He stood up sidestepping to the other side of the desk before announcing the knocker to enter. “Come in,” he called.
A middle-aged man with graying sideburns and a handsome, rugged face in jeans and a tight blue t-shirt poked half his body round the door. “I'm not disturbing you?” It was then he observed Jaz was in the room and he eyed her inquisitively -and admiringly, to Jaz's discomfort.
She wasn't used to being looked at the way men regarded her here, especially when her face looked a wreck.
“No, come in Kerk. “
Kerk glanced Jaz's way again and Jaz immediately got the hint.
She awkwardly pushed herself up off the swivel office chair, standing up stiffly.“I should go,” she announced softly.
Driver held his arm out like a barrier, stopping her. “No. I'd like you to stay.”
Kerk's eyes widened in astonishment but it was fleeting. Jaz's cheeks turned a pretty scarlet. Driver gazed at her thinking intimate thoughts before it was snatched away from him by Kerk's words.
“What I have to say is private,” he said firmly.
Driver regarded him questioningly. “Is it of a personal nature?”
“No.”
“Then I'd like Jaz to sit in.”
“Are you sure you want her to know-?”
“What is it, man?” he snapped impatiently.
It was a rare sight, a first on Jaz's part. Little did she know that it was only because he was annoyed that they'd been interrupted.
Kerk waited, gauging Driver's reaction. Driver inhaled and exhaled audibly. Repeating the same question calmly.
Jaz leant her hip against the desk for support, wishing she could sit down again without drawing any attention to herself. It was clear Kerk didn't want her there and that made her feel very uncomfortable. What could he have to say that Driver would practically demand she hear?
“I saw Njord last night, speaking to the insider.”
“Garik?” Driver looked Jaz's way as he said this, catching the surprise and confusion in her face.
Kerk shook his head. “Someone else. They had layered themselves with dirt to hide their scent. All I could guess was that the Were was most likely male. He wasn't the tallest I've seen, about six foot one or two. His face was concealed with dirt like a Arnold Schwarzenegger wannabe and he was wearing a black cloak with a hood over his head.”
“Where did they meet and for how long?”
“Up at the Log Bridge River. And almost half an hour. I couldn't make out most of what they were saying. The river was flowing strongly. He's smart. A good rendezvous place. For them. I had to hold back in case they caught my scent. The wind wasn't in my favour.”
“They planned this well.” Kerk nodded solemnly. “What did you hear?” Driver questioned.
“Snippets. I can't be sure.”
“Just tell me, maybe we can work it out.”
“He said something about Saturday. He kept saying it several times. I'm guessing maybe this Saturday they have a plan.”
“Was Jaz mentioned?” Nik didn't look at her when he asked this but she was definitely staring at him. Looking back and forth between him and Kerk like a tennis match.
“I didn't hear anything. Our Pack name was mentioned, that day and something else. But I'm not sure.”
“What?”
“I think I heard the name Dead Tree.”
The intensity in the room was electrified.
Jaz looked from one to the other with desperate confusion. She frowned, annoyed at being the ignorant one in the room. “What is Dead Tree?” she demanded in irritation.
The sharpness of her tone made both of the men look her way. Driver responded, Kerk still unsure of how or even if he should address her. “They're a neighbouring Pack northwest of here. They border our Pack and the Red Sword Pack. If Kerk heard correctly, it could mean the Dead Tree Pack are in alliance with the Red Sword Pack.”
“And that's bad?”
“Very.”
Jaz huffed. It was like getting blood from a stone. “Why, is it bad?”
Kerk gazed at her and then at Driver. “She doesn't know much does she?”
Jaz bared her teeth at him, giving him the full force of her fiery glare. “Unfortunately I'm not telepathic so unless someone tells me, I can't magically know how things work here,” she snapped back haughtily.
Kerk was stunned by her reaction. He eyed Driver who was smiling at them both, entertained by their exchange. Kerk regarded Jaz with surprised admiration. “You're not what I expected.” Jaz gazed at him levelly, stopping herself from smiling as she kept her arms firmly folded across her chest. “So what do you want me to do?” Kerk addressed Nik. They both suddenly looked towards the door as if distracted. After a moment they spoke in low voices.
“I can smell his bloody cigarettes from here,” Nik rumbled.
“Should I stay?”
“Maybe. Let's see what he has to say first.�
�
Jaz frowned at them both, puzzled. She inhaled deeply through her nose trying to discern who they were talking about. She recognized the scent of a man close by but she wasn't sure who. It wasn't someone she was around regularly. She noticed Driver trying to get her attention with his eyes.
He mumbled, “I'd like to speak to you later, but I have things I need to do now. Okay?” Jaz bobbed her head, unsure of what to do with herself. “Go back to the cabin. Take this.” He lightly grabbed her hand and pressed a cold rectangular object into her palm. A mobile phone. She stared at it then back at him in half concealed astonishment. “If Edda isn't there, call Skye. Her number is in there. So is mine. This is yours from now on. It won't call numbers further than ten miles away, okay? But no one can track it either.” Jaz's brow furrowed. “You don't trust me?”
Driver smiled. He lowered his voice. “I promise you, I really do. But this phone is safer. When it's the right time, you can call them again. Do you trust me?”
She looked at him for a moment, asking herself the same question.
Did she trust him?
Could you be afraid of the person you trusted?
Could you occasionally hate the person you trusted?
Could you despise how he thought sometimes and still trust him?
She didn't know if one contradicted the other. But right then, at that moment, she knew she trusted him. She trusted his word. And that was enough. And when she nodded her head she didn't feel any falsity in it.
He smiled faintly and signalled her towards the door that Kerk opened for her.
Just as she was walking out, a large shadow loomed over her. She found herself looking up into the square, boxer face of her Uncle Garik.
He eyed her dubiously for a fleeting moment before exchanging it with a teasing smile. A strange, almost sinister looking smile as if he'd caught her red-handed doing something wrong.
She frowned at him, biting her bottom lip, shaping it into a stubborn thin line. An expression that had been often used on her face.
He kept his creepy smile up until he turned his face away from her. She leaned back to see into the room, but was too late as Kerk swiftly shut the door.
She stared at it wondering what she had just learned and fearing how unintentionally she had become involved in something that was far above her.
Clearly, something very dangerous.
~Chapter 31- Rouse~
Friday, June 10th , 5:30 p.m.
“I've had enough of this shit! It's gone on long enough!” Lisa screamed down the phone.
Ellie squeezed her eyes shut. “Calm down Lisa. There's no need to panic.”
“I'm NOT PANICKING! I'm pissed off!”
Ellie sighed. “What do you want me to do? She called us and told us she'd be missing in action for a while, so what's the problem?”
“The PROBLEM is that we haven't heard anything from her but one dodgy phone call and apparently neither has her own fucking parents!”
Ellie frowned. “What do you mean?”
Lisa huffed heavily, her boyfriend was massaging her feet on the sofa. She gazed at him, he smiled, his hazel eyes twinkling and it gave her the sense of calm she needed. “I called them yesterday. They're lying about her calling them. And about when she's coming back. They can't even give me a straight answer.”
Ellie stroked her fat cat Ginger's tummy. He was sprawled on her bed, purring lazily. She frowned at him, in thought. “How do you know they're lying?”
“Because I know liars. When have I ever been wrong? They're not being honest about the whole thing. Her dad was all hazy on the details. He said her therapist -whatever they call 'em- there isn't sure when he wants her to be discharged. And that she might stay longer. He won't say anything more about it. For god sake she's been there since May! How long does rehab take!?”
“It's not rehab it-”
“WHATEVER!”
Danny jumped a little in his seat. She rubbed his hand apologetically. He mouthed, 'Calm' and she took deep slow breaths.
He was the only one who could control her anger problem. Not that she'd admit aloud she had one. “Look. I need to do something before I go insane. What do we even know about that place? Nothing. We don't know where it is exactly. We don't know who owns it, runs it, what it's like. What are the treatments? And what exactly she even went there for? How do we know she's not been kidnapped and brainwashed and sucked into some evil cult?”
“You watch too many horror movies,” Ellie sniggered but even she, who was the most trusting person in the world, could see the problem.”But you may have a point.”
Lisa smiled lightly on the other end. Danny's hands were working his way to the balls of her feet and she knocked her head back, sighing happily. “Danny massaging your feet again?”
Lisa snapped her head up, frowning. “How the hell did you know that?”
Ellie shrugged. “Only thing that seems to calm you down. Plus the sighing down the phone was a big giveaway.”
Lisa grinned. Danny was watching curiously as he worked between her toes. “I'm thinking of hiring a private investigator, ” she added casually.
Ellie sat up straighter. “And did the police skip your mind before you came to this weird decision?”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Of course I thought about the police. I called them. They said there's nothing you can do but if you suspect foul-play and have enough evidence to issue a search warrant then come back to them. Blah blah blah.”
“You called the police without talking to me first?” Ellie questioned unhappily.
“What are you, my mother?”
“No, thank god. But don't you think you're overreacting a little bit with this private investigator lark?”
“No. All I need is to get him to find out where this place is. I can't find a number. Not one that actually works anyway. So I don't know what else to do. I'm not waiting around for a random call from her in a million years time.”
“I don't think she'd want us snooping around when she's going through a delicate period right now.”
“I don't care what she wants. I care about what she needs, and she needs us, just as much as we need her. I'm going to call someone.”
“Just give it three weeks,” Ellie persuaded. Lisa groaned. “Please Lis. Don't make things worse and cause drama in case you are overreacting and nothing's wrong. Just wait. Please, if not for me, do it for Jaz.”
Lisa paused, sucking on her tongue.
It was difficult to say no to Ellie. Even harder when Ellie played the 'do it for Jaz' card. Jaz had been there for her so many times. She could wait a few weeks couldn't she? Maybe she'd find out she'd worried for nothing. Even so she'd still look up private detectives, so she'd have one ready at hand before going ahead with it. “Okay. Two weeks.”
“End of this month.”
“Grrr Fine! End of this month, exactly. Last day. And after that, starting from July 1st this investigation is on. And don't hold me back.”
“Just keep me in the loop, Lis that's all I ask.”
“Fine.”
~Chapter 32- Hurt~
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2:07 p.m.
“Are you gonna ask me to sit down?” Garik announced.
Nik snarled in a 'don't fuck with me' tone and Garik for the first time since he'd walked in, looked uneasy. Nik glanced sideways at Kerk who bobbed his head.
“Park it,” Nik commanded in a low growl.
Garik did as he was told, all the bravado had run away from him. Or in fear from Nik.
Nik took his place in his office chair. It was still warm from Jaz's body. He pushed the thought from his mind, only allowing the sensation to warm and calm him. “Garik. This is the point where you stop being a prick and take what I say very, very seriously.”
Garik eyed him and then Kerk on his left side, who was leaning, arms folded, against the wall with the wolf pictures, before glancing back at Nik and nodding his head in acceptance. Nik grunted,“Good. I'm gonna cut to the chas
e and say we know you've been sneaking around behind our backs. We know about the little deal you've got with Njord and we're not very happy about it.”
Garik gazed at them levelly. “Did you know this room, your room and your office were bugged, up until last night?”
Nik glared at him and looked at Kerk for his thoughts. He gave him a 'hear him out' glance before focusing on Garik who was waiting calmly. Inside Garik's stomach was ripping apart from the amount of acid erupting inside the lining. He needed a cigarette, badly.
“You put it there?” Nik interrogated. Garik shook his head. “You removed them?” He nodded. “So what, does that make you a hero all of a sudden? Your betrayal forgotten?”
Garik frowned in disagreement.“I didn't betray you. I'm working on a project you'd be very interested in knowing about. I needed Njord's help, though he doesn't know my true intentions. He thinks I want in with the Cur Hunters. I'm only doing it, because like you, I have an interest in certain people's welfare. People who are in danger. I think you know what I'm talking about.”
Nik skewered Garik with his piercing, dark eyes.
How Garik had any suspicions about the same things he had, bewildered and concerned him. Even Jaz didn't know what he suspected. No one else could know otherwise a lot of people would die.
He'd made it very clear to Rufus that he'd better stop spreading false rumours around and keep his mouth shut. She had sharp nails, that was all. The damage hadn't been enough to suspect otherwise. Rufus only said what he thought he'd seen. And it had been dark that night.
If Jaz was killed, a lot of the people would be killed by his own hands. He knew he had the power to go down that dark path.
Could he trust Garik? He had kept his knowledge secret. If he hadn't, several people would already be dead, including Jaz. Nik would have to tread carefully and make a decision quick. “Kerk. You can leave.”
Kerk bobbed his head in compliance. He was quiet when necessary and never asked too many questions. He also never told anyone the secrets he knew, but Nik couldn't risk it. “Don't mention this meeting or what you've heard to anyone,” Nik added slowly.