The Werewolf Upstairs

by Ashlyn Chase

  The group looked at each other. Finally a woman spoke up. “How are we supposed to remember where we were on a particular evening more than twenty years ago?”

  Roz cleared her throat. “It was the night of the burglary at the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum.”

  A collective gasp filled the room. The woman who had spoken before said, “You can’t possibly think he had anything to do with the stolen art.”

  Roz still didn’t want to commit to a position, but the fact that these people seemed to find it impossible to believe helped.

  “It doesn’t matter what I think. The state thinks there’s enough evidence to bring him to trial.”

  Several people began speaking at once. Some asked Roz more questions. Some expressed outrage. Others were having one-on-one conversations.

  “Hold on!” the gentleman who had seated her said. “This isn’t going to get us anywhere. Let’s all think, and if anyone remembers anything from that night, share it, one at a time.”

  “And please give me your names as you do,” Roz added.

  An older gentleman raised his hand. “Wendell is my name. I have one question first.” He glanced around the room. “I think we need to know what she knows…about us.”

  Roz nodded, and they all stared at her. As casually as she could manage, she said, “Are you referring to the fact that some of you are werewolves?”

  She saw several raised eyebrows, but the room remained deathly quiet. She waited. Someone had to respond.

  “Are you a werewolf?” Wendell asked.

  “No.”

  The gentleman who spoke to her first bristled. “What makes you think werewolves exist?”

  “Your name, sir, is?”

  “Barrett.”

  She tried to keep her cool. This was no time to show fear or back down. She hadn’t seen Konrad shift as he claimed he could, but the whole telepathy thing was certainly supernatural.

  “Well, Mr. Barrett, I know this because I’m his lawyer, and I needed to know.”

  The woman who had spoken previously shook her head and said, “No, he wouldn’t divulge that to his lawyer, even if his life depended on it.”

  “Your name, ma’am?”

  She hesitated, folded her arms, and bit out, “Lois.”

  “All right, Lois. To whom would he divulge that information, if not to his lawyer?”

  “No one,” she said indignantly.

  Roz decided to go with Konrad’s truth, even if she wasn’t totally there yet. “Not even his mate?”

  More eyebrows shot up.

  Finally, Barrett spoke. “Are you saying you’re his mate?”

  Roz raised her chin proudly. “I am.”

  More agitated conversation broke out around the table. She heard the word “human” spoken as if it tasted like rotting meat.

  Lois raised her hand, and everyone quieted. “Prove it,” she said. “Show us your mark.”

  Roz straightened her back. “I will not,” she said as if deeply offended. I hope whatever that mark is, it appears in some really personal place. I’m guessing if my mate put it there, it could be on my ass, and I wouldn’t even know. He probably guessed I’d never look there.

  To answer their question with another question, Roz tipped her head. “How about telepathic communication? Does that do it for ya?”

  Amid the stunned silence, she heard a sigh of relief, or maybe it was some other kind of sigh, like one at the end of a sappy movie.

  Lois smiled. “Yes, that helps.”

  Wendell scrutinized her. “And you don’t mind that he’s a—”

  “Werewolf?” Roz supplied. “I’m not crazy about it, but I am crazy about him.”

  The group nodded and murmured.

  “Good, then if you’re as concerned about Konrad as you seem to be, maybe you can all help me help him.”

  “How?” Wendell asked.

  “I’m hoping for an alibi. Does anyone remember being with him at that time?”

  They all glanced around the room at each other. Eventually a few pack members shook their heads, followed by more. Eventually it seemed as if everyone had weighed in, and the answer was “No.”

  “Wait a minute,” Wendell said. “I think I remember something.”

  Roz’s ears perked up with hope.

  Chapter 16

  Konrad jogged down the staircase, out the door, and down the front steps. Even though it was a cool day, he wore only his black T-shirt and jeans. He stopped at a table set up on the busy street corner. “Morgaine, what’s all this?”

  Morgaine nodded toward the table covered with plates of cookies, loaves of bread, cakes, and tarts.

  Gwyneth stood in the gutter, talking to a couple of women in a car. She held up one finger to the car behind, which had stopped at the same traffic light and rolled down its window to see what was going on.

  Morgaine grinned. “We’re having a bake sale, to help pay your rent.”

  Gwyneth backed away from the cars and skipped over to the table.

  Konrad was taken aback. “Pay my rent? Why?”

  “Because you’re flat broke, sugar,” Gwyneth answered.

  “Huh? How did you know? Oh, yeah. You’re psychics.”

  “Not only that, but Roz confirmed it for us.”

  He tried to keep his temper under control. “I wonder what gave her the idea that I’m a charity case.”

  “It’s not charity. We’re not giving you our money,” Gwyneth said.

  “Minor detail.”

  Morgaine laid a hand on his arm. “Look, we wanted to help, so we all put our heads together and hatched this idea. Roz knew you wouldn’t take charity, but you’ve done so much for us—”

  Roz?

  At that moment, Roz opened the door and came trotting down the stairs with another plate.

  “Yes, lover?”

  He waited until she arrived at the table. The smell of warm oatmeal cookies wafted up to his nose. “You organized this?”

  “We all did.”

  “Why?”

  “Didn’t you see the eviction notice on your door this morning?”

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets and kicked at the sidewalk. “I saw it. I was going to wait until Jason and Merry got back before I took it seriously. He’s the landlord, after all.”

  “Yes, but we didn’t want Dottie on your case.”

  He nodded. “She can be a nuisance. But you didn’t have to do this.”

  Gwyneth chimed in. “We wanted to. Besides, it’s fun. It’s one of those things that brings neighbors and kin together.”

  The front door opened again, and Nathan jogged down the steps with a few dollars in his hand.

  When he got to the table, he said, “Sorry, I don’t bake, big guy. But I can eat my weight in tollhouse cookies.”

  He handed a five over to Morgaine, and she handed him a plate of cookies.

  “Where’s my change?”

  She gaped at him. “You want change?”

  Nathan stared at the plate. “Five bucks for eight cookies?”

  Roz placed a hand on her hip. “We’re doing this for our friend and neighbor, Nathan. Don’t be a cheapskate.”

  He stared at the cookies. “Fine. But they’d better be good.”

  Gwyneth smirked. “Oh, they’re good all right. Don’t be surprised if y’all come back for more.”

  Nathan sniffed and examined the cookies. “I don’t see any special ingredients.”

  Gwyneth returned to the opposite side of the table. “They were baked with love, silly. We wouldn’t put any wacky tobaccky in them.”

  He sniffed them again. “Hmm. Well, they sure smell good. I guess I’ll just have to take my chances.” He peeled back the cellophane and stuck the plate under Konrad’s nose. “Here, try one.”

  Konrad laughed. “Sure, buddy. Don’t mind if I do.”

  Gwyneth looked over her shoulder at the street. “Oh, another red light! I’ll take the oatmeal ones this time. They smell too good to pass up, eve
n without a spell on ’em.”

  She grabbed the plate and sidled up to the car window, calling out, “Y’all want something delicious?”

  The guy in the car grinned like a love-struck teenager and rolled down his window.

  “Spell?” Nathan dropped the cookie in his hand back onto the plate.

  Morgaine waved him off. “Don’t worry. It won’t work on you. I worded the spell so that only human beings who could afford them would be susceptible. At first we were giving one free with every purchase.”

  Nathan smirked. “Good idea.”

  “Well, it was until the same cars drove around the block and wanted more every five minutes.”

  Nathan held the plate in front of her. “Can you add a few words to make my boss give me a raise? Then I’ll bring them into work.”

  Morgaine whirled on him. “Oh, just eat the damn things.”

  Roz patted her on the shoulder. “Relax. I’ll get back inside and make another batch of normal ones. Gwyneth’s sales pitch seems to be working just fine without a spell.”

  Morgaine pouted. “Yeah, her sex appeal’s in overdrive. But we’re making boatloads of money, so it wouldn’t be right to complain.”

  “You don’t need to complain. You’re every bit as pretty as she is,” Nathan said.

  Everyone stared at him in shock.

  He shrugged. “What?”

  Morgaine recovered first. “I think I heard you give me a compliment, and it wasn’t followed by some kind of smartass remark that negates the whole thing.”

  “You seemed to need one.”

  She rolled her eyes. “And there it is.”

  ***

  Roz and Konrad were making out on her sofa when she heard a knock on her door. They reluctantly broke their lip lock. “Before I answer it, would you mind closeting yourself in my bedroom again, just in case it’s my dimwit stepfather?”

  “Sure, if I have to.”

  “I think it’s best until after the case.”

  Konrad removed himself as Roz crossed to the door. She glanced over her shoulder to be sure he was out of sight and then opened it.

  Of all the people she hadn’t expected. “Merry!”

  Her best friend rushed in to hug her. “I couldn’t wait to get home. I’ve missed you so much!”

  Roz welcomed the firm embrace and almost cried, she was so glad to see her. “Oh, Merry, I’m so glad you’re back. I’ve missed you too. A lot!”

  “Well, tell me what’s going on. Are you still seeing Konrad?”

  Roz turned toward her bedroom. “Hey, sweetie, it’s okay. You can come out.”

  “He’s here?” Merry strode to meet him as he rounded the corner and gave him a big hug too.

  “Great to see you, Merry,” Konrad said. “Is Jason home? I need to talk to him.”

  “Yeah, he should be upstairs talking to Dottie.”

  His face fell. “Oh. I’ll wait a while, then.”

  “Is anything wrong?”

  Roz groaned. “You could say that. Konrad’s been arrested for a crime he didn’t commit and posting bail wiped out his bank account. He was a little late on his rent, and Dottie sent him an eviction notice yesterday.”

  Merry gasped. “What? You’ve got to be kidding me!”

  “Sorry, Merry,” Konrad said. “It’s no joke.”

  “I can’t friggin’ believe it. I’ll be right back, guys. I’m going to have a word with Jason and his aunt.”

  Roz didn’t stop her. She flew out the door and up the stairs.

  Konrad yelled, “Wait!”

  Merry didn’t even slow down.

  ***

  Konrad charged up the stairs and heard Merry demand, “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Dottie? Evicting Konrad for one late payment is ridiculous. Jason, set her straight!”

  Konrad appeared at the door she had left wide open.

  Dottie reared back and stared at Merry wide eyed. “Excuse me?”

  “Honey, that’s not necessary.” Jason put an arm around his furious wife. “I’m taking care of it.”

  Konrad quickly interjected, “Merry, Roz didn’t get a chance to tell you. I’m getting the money.”

  Dottie crossed her arms. “Oh? And when are we getting it?”

  Just as Merry opened her mouth, Jason held up his hand. “We’ll get it when he has it, Aunt Dottie. There’s no need to rush him.”

  Whew. I knew I could count on Jason to be reasonable.

  “But his aunt better stay out of choking reach,” he heard Roz think from downstairs. Apparently their telepathy was growing stronger, traveling over greater distances.

  Dottie’s jaw dropped. “I thought I was the manager.”

  Jason rested his hands on his hips. “And I thought I was the landlord.”

  Her lips thinned into a tight line.

  Merry took a deep breath. “Dottie, if it weren’t for Konrad, I might not be alive. He saved me from a would-be rapist with a knife to my throat. Don’t you remember that night?”

  Konrad stared at Dottie and waited to see what she’d say to that.

  She relaxed a bit, but her arms remained folded in front of her. “I remember. But does that mean he gets a free ride? How are the other tenants who pay their rent regularly going to feel?”

  Merry folded her arms too. “They don’t have to know.”

  Konrad coughed. “Um, Merry, they already know. They held a bake sale to help me out.”

  Dottie had a smug look of satisfaction on her face. “You see? They all know. I watched the whole thing from that window.” She pointed to the bay window facing Beacon Street. “Roz and Morgaine set up a folding table on the corner, and Gwyneth risked her neck walking into oncoming traffic to sell the goodies. Nathan bought some, so he knew about it. In fact, the only one I didn’t see was Joe.”

  “And he already gets a break on his rent,” Merry added.

  Konrad’s eyebrows shot up. “He does? Why?”

  “Because his roommate is an officious ghost,” Dottie said. “And for some reason, he won’t let anyone stay there except Joe, so it’s half the rent or none at all.”

  Konrad scratched his head. “I heard Joe is moving out. I can give you half the rent right now.”

  Dottie gasped. “Joe’s moving out? Oh, no. We’ll never get that place rented again.”

  Konrad stuck in hands in his pockets. “I don’t know. He seems to like me. Maybe he’ll let me move in.”

  “You’re kidding. Now I know he hates me,” Dottie wailed.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Apparently I’m the only one he plays tricks on.”

  “Tricks?”

  “Yes. Last fall, before we held the séance and he was still trying to frighten potential renters away from what he considers his apartment, I was showing it to someone, and he moved boxes from the closet right into my path, causing me to trip. I could have broken my neck!”

  “Are you sure that was his doing?”

  “Don’t you start questioning my sanity too. I get enough of that from my husband and nephew.”

  “Sorry.”

  Dottie jammed her hands on her hips. “But why would he like you? It’s not like you can protect him from anything. He’s already dead. You can’t talk to him like Morgaine and Gwyneth can. You can’t even see him to know he wants you to turn on the TV, like Nathan does.” Dottie threw her hands in the air. “I give up.”

  Jason patted her shoulder. “I’m sure he doesn’t hate you. He probably just knows he can get a reaction from you. If you ignore him, he’ll probably leave you alone.”

  “Oh, no. I tried that.” She shook her head, vehemently. “If I ignore him, he keeps upping the ante until I lose my temper and scream at him.”

  “What does he do?” Konrad asked.

  “Irritating things. He sees me waiting for the lottery numbers to be read with my ticket in hand then causes static on the TV. He turns the oven off as soon as I put a roast in. He shakes up my cans of soda in the fridge
.

  Konrad bit his lip. Don’t laugh, don’t laugh, don’t laugh.

  Jason sighed. “I don’t know what to tell you, Aunt Dottie. There’s nothing we can do about a ghost.”

  Ralph walked in from the hallway. “What’s going on? Did I hear Dottie telling you some stupid ghost stories again? By the way, welcome home, Jason.”

  Dottie put her hands over her face, but Konrad saw the skin around them turning red. Jason and his uncle clasped hands and patted each other’s backs in a man hug.

  At last, Dottie balled her fists and yelled, “I can’t do this anymore.”

  Jason raised his eyebrows. “Can’t do what, Aunt Dottie?”

  “This! All of this. Managing an apartment building full of miscreants, trying to rent unrentable units, using what little authority I have to collect the rent and being undermined at every turn. I’ve had it!” She stormed off toward her bedroom.

  Ralph shook his head. “She’s been like this ever since she published that travel article. Now she wants to take off in an RV and tour destinations all over the country.”

  Merry and Jason spoke at the same time. “She published the article?”

  “What article?” Konrad asked.

  Ralph scratched his chin. “When we were in the Caribbean scouting hotels for Jason and Merry’s honeymoon, Dottie found her calling. She had a ball touring the various facilities and grilling the managers. Later she used all her notes to write an article describing each place in detail and submitted it to a few travel magazines.”

  Dottie strode back into the living room with a magazine in her hand. “And not only did a magazine offer me a good paycheck for it, the editor wanted me to write more.”

  Jason took the magazine from her. “That’s great! Is it in this issue?”

  “Page twenty-three,” she announced proudly.

  Ralph cleared his throat. “Um, Jason, after you get settled, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

  “Sure. Give us a couple of hours to unpack.”

  “When you’re free, can I speak with you too?” Konrad asked.

  “If it’s about the rent, don’t worry about it.” Jason clapped him on the back. “My wife’s right. If not for you, she might not have survived the attack in the alley. Take that eviction notice and tear it up.”

  Whew. Dodged one bullet. Now all I have to worry about is a grand jury.