She shrugged. Oh well, some habits die hard.
Her mind on the few groceries she wanted to pick up, she didn't realize she was being stared at. She pulled out a shopping cart, noticing the front left tire wobbled dangerously, and started for the bread. She milled around picking out bread, mustard and some lunchmeat before she noticed the curious onlookers.
Men and women alike had stopped what they were doing to watch the stranger. Now that she bothered to notice, the inhabitants of Harmon were quite eye-catching. Not one of them could be described as ordinary. Some were very tall and well-muscled, some were not as tall and had more wiry builds. All of them were taller than Lee and they were gorgeous. Suddenly, she felt like an old frump.
"Stepford much?" she mumbled under her breath and headed for the checkout, picking up a six-pack of diet Pepsi on the way.
The clerk, a teenager with amazingly clear skin, stared at her for a second before slowly running her purchases through the scanner. The kid had wavy reddish-blond hair and the longest eyelashes she'd ever seen on a boy.
"Don't get a lot of visitors here?" Lee asked conversationally.
The young man flushed slightly and cast a look back toward the regulars. "Sorry. Most of the tourists stay around the Park. They don't mean to be rude. I guess we're just not used to strangers."
"I'm not really a stranger. My great aunt, Christine Mafdet, lived here. I'm moving into her house."
Lee normally wouldn't offer such personal information, but for some strange reason felt the instinctive need to be seen as nonthreatening. Apparently, it was the right decision. The young man's expression brightened with an unexpected smile.
"You're Aunt Chris' niece? Sorry, but that's what everyone called her...Aunt Chris. Um," he finished lamely, "I'm Denny."
"Denny, don't chew her ear off. Just ring up her groceries."
Lee looked over at the man who was obviously Denny's boss. He didn't seem as thrilled with her, no matter to whom she was related. Lee nodded and smiled, but the man just stared back at her. She paid for her purchases and quickly walked back out to the truck. She sat the groceries in the back while she opened the door and then transferred them onto the floorboard. Cleo acted like she hadn't seen her in six months, jumping all over her and generally getting in the way.
"Get back in there, you silly dog. Let's get out of here before I get lynched." Lee cast a quick look around into the gathering darkness and could almost imagine suspicious eyes watching her. "What a weird town."
Throwing the truck into reverse, she backed out of the parking lot and drove back onto the county road. In less than half an hour she'd be at her new home. Just the thought was enough to put the unusual inhabitants out of her mind. She had more pleasant things to concentrate on. Fifteen minutes later she came to a fork in the road and pulled as close to the edge as possible so she could stop and check her directions.
The motor of the pickup chugged a little as she put it in park.
Moths beat against the headlights and bounced off the windshield. The darkness suddenly felt like too much and she reached for the overhead switch that controlled the dome light. It refused to come on so Lee quickly cracked the door. As soon as the door opened far enough, the overhead light allowed her to breathe easier and to read her own hastily scrawled directions. Mrs. Horton, the realtor, had given them to her over the phone and she felt sure she was getting close. After a quick check, Lee slammed the door and drove forward slowly. Just up ahead she could make out the sign indicating the right turn onto a private road that said 'Mafdet Lane'.
They had arrived.
"Finally, Cleo." Lee bit her lip anxiously, looking around at the dark forest. "I just wish we'd managed to get here while it was still daylight."
Lee was vaguely aware of the black wrought-iron fence that veered away to either side as she drove onto the property. The Mafdet crest overhead was invisible in the darkness, though she vaguely remembered it from years before. She headed slowly down the lane, cautious on the unfamiliar terrain. For all that she'd been here before, it had been quite a while, and driving the route herself made the previous experiences almost surreal.
Taking the opportunity to look around some, Lee noticed that the paved entrance was perfectly manicured but the forest still seemed to encroach. Was there something or someone out there in the trees, watching her approach? Then again, why would anyone do such a thing?
Maybe she was more of a city girl than she wanted to admit. All this darkness and solitude seemed to be setting her nerves on edge. The unusual behavior of the townspeople hadn't helped.
Attempting to shake off the irrational dread, Lee concentrated on the light drawing closer through the trees. One more curve in the extended driveway and Mafdet Manor sat before her in all its glory. The realtor had thoughtfully left the front entrance lights burning. The sight was so magnificent that she didn't realize she'd stopped completely.
"Wow. I'd forgotten how impressive this place is."
The circular drive caressed the front of the property, framing the three-story structure. The manor boasted four fireplaces. Great awnings draped the windows across the front of the house. They'd be bright and colorful in the daylight, but in the darkness looked gray and washed out. Broad wooden steps led up to an old-fashioned wrap-around porch. She remembered the front door had been carved from mahogany. Two large jungle cats crafted from solid marble sat sentry on either side. She couldn't really see them in the darkness, but seemed to recall they might be panthers or leopards. Even with the full moon it was difficult to tell and her fuzzy memory refused to supply the details.
From her perspective they were a warning to intruders or a welcome for those who called Mafdet home. Since Lee was now the rightful owner, she considered them her new guardians.
She shut off the engine and climbed out of the truck. She was aware that Cleo jumped out, but she couldn't tear her gaze off the manor. Goose bumps erupted on her arms, though she hardly felt the chill.
After several minutes the sounds of the forest slowly demanded her attention. Crickets chirped and somewhere an owl hooted. Lee looked away from the house and suddenly realized Mafdet was quite isolated. If something happened out here it would be a long time before help arrived, if at all. Rather than fill her with fear, the thought sent a thrill through her veins. The wilderness was in her blood. Lee had always preferred the truth of an animal's heart over the deceit of humans and the sweet, clean mountain air over the feculence of civilization.
She cast her gaze overhead and grinned at what seemed like millions of stars. "Come on, Cleo. It's time to start over."
Cleo had been busy relieving herself at the tree line, but came running as soon as Lee called. Her tail wagged so hard her rump moved in time. She showed no sign of concern, even though the forest was far from her usual haunts.
Lee climbed the stairs, taking in every detail she could from the planks under her feet, to the feline sentinels, and the thick wooden door. She pulled a key from her jeans pocket and slid it into the lock. Pins turned easily and the door swung silently inward on well-oiled hinges. The beagle happily entered Mafdet Manor before Lee could take a step, her claws clicking on the foyer tiles.
"First thing we're going to do is put in a dog door."
Chapter Two
"DO YOU REALLY think there was a bear in the campgrounds?"
"Maybe. I guess we're about to find out."
Jamison Kessler pulled into the entrance to the St. Regis Falls camp area. She didn't really believe it was likely for several reasons. It was just the beginning of summer and the animals would have plenty to eat in the surrounding wilderness, plus they didn't really like being around humans. Still, stranger things had happened. She'd know quickly enough if one had actually been here once she investigated the scene.
Her trainee, Brenda Thomas, grunted a little and held her Smokey the Bear hat, affectionately called a 'Smokey', to her head as the Jeep hit an unexpected bump. Personally, Jamison thought headwear tended to
get in the way and she refused to wear one. "It's just that I've heard about these kinds of things, but I've never actually seen it. You know?"
She didn't attempt to respond. Thomas was new to being a Park Ranger. In addition, she was twenty-two and every fresh experience was electrifying. Jamison, on the other hand, had been involved with the park service all of her adult life and grown up in the Adirondacks.
She pulled up to the campsite in question while Brenda continued her monologue.
"This is just so exciting. Don't you think it's exciting, Ranger Kessler?"
Jamison grunted in response and got out of the Jeep, relieved to be away from the incessant chatter. A man and woman in their thirties stood waiting beside a spic-and-span dark blue SUV. Next to them a little boy around ten years old was playing on the ground. Everything about the family group spelled tourist.
"It's about time," the man said, stepping forward with a swagger as he inserted himself between his family and the rangers. He puffed out his chest as he spoke and tugged up on his belt.
Jamison smiled inwardly at his attempted display of dominance, even though she was a good six inches taller and at least thirty pounds heavier. Sun glinted off the man's black hair and she noticed a few strands of gray.
High-stress job, she reasoned. Probably thought he'd get away for the weekend with the wife and kid. Then she saw the expression in his mud-brown eyes--equal parts relief and fear.
Oh, I see. He probably didn't really want to come up here in the first place and a supposed animal attack is the perfect excuse to head back to civilization.
She was good at assessing people fairly quickly and these tourists weren't the usual weekend campers.
"I'm Ranger Kessler," she said, offering her hand. The man shook it in a flabby grip and released it quickly. She was grateful he'd let go so fast and shook off the cold, limp sensation. "What can I do for you?"
"Michael Wallace." He gave a curt nod. "We've just had a bear attack our campsite. I want that creature found and shot."
Jamison stared at him in amazement. He couldn't be serious. "Now, hold on a minute. How do you know it was a bear? Did you see it?"
Wallace flushed slightly but refused to back down. "I didn't need to. It destroyed our camp. It's clearly vicious."
Mrs. Wallace spoke for the first time, her voice soft and high. "We were down by the lake fishing. We came back and our things had been ransacked. All of Ricky's clothes are dirty now." She glanced toward the little boy. Ricky wore a pair of new jeans, Gucci shoes and a button-down shirt under a thick wool sweater.
Of course, Jamison thought. We can't get dirty while we're out camping.
"Do you mind if I take a look at the campsite?"
"I'd be disappointed if you didn't." Wallace grunted and led the way around the SUV.
The campsite was only twenty feet away with a large L. L. Bean tent dominating the center. It was much too close to the fire ring, but showed no evidence of having been disturbed. A red and white cooler lay on its side with various drinks and food wrappers scattered about. Next to it was a red-stained paper plate and a piece of aluminum foil that had been torn off. Clothing had been pawed out of backpacks, but overall there was no evidence of the destruction a rampaging bear would cause.
Jamison squatted down and picked up a child's sweatshirt. The material had been torn by claws. Her nostrils flared as she tasted the animal scent and raw meat lingering in the air.
"Was it a bear?"
Deep green eyes looked up into Brenda Thomas' anxious face. Jamison thought it was to her credit that the younger woman had been quiet for this long.
"No. Lynx." This time.
"Lynx?"
Jamison nodded. "They're protected. The government's been trying to repopulate them in this area."
"How do you know that's what did this?"
Brenda looked like she truly wanted to learn, but she hadn't seen any evidence to support the more experienced ranger's claim. Short of asking Thomas to believe she was psychic, Jamison needed tangible proof for her trainee.
She pointed over near the fire pit. "Paw tracks." The cat had stepped in the ash near the now cold fire.
"Good eye," Thomas said appreciatively.
"See?" Wallace stepped up next to them, having missed the entire conversation. "It's like I told you. That bear is a menace. What kind of place is this when the Park Service can't even keep us safe?"
Jamison stood slowly to her full height. Anger simmered along her veins and a warning growl fought to be released from her chest. Like most Panthera, she had little patience for tourists who came into the wilderness and demanded its denizens conform to their expectations. Jamison was more patient than most of her kind because she worked around people on a daily basis, but calling for the murder of an innocent animal tested her limits. It made her want to show him exactly how unsafe the forest could really be.
"Mr. Wallace, did you by any chance leave food out while you were off fishing?"
"I had some steaks thawing on top of the cooler, but they were wrapped up." He shrugged. "So what?"
"So this is a forest. Wild animals actually live here and they have a sense of smell a hundred times greater than a human. Aluminum foil is hardly a deterrent."
"Are you saying this is my fault?" His voice rose as his face flushed dark red. Jamison was concerned that a vein in his neck would pop and she'd be stuck doing a ton of paperwork. "A bear attacks our campsite in broad daylight--"
"Not a bear," Thomas mumbled.
Jamison was happy for the distraction that stopped Wallace before he could really get going.
"What?"
"It wasn't a bear."
"Mr. Wallace," Jamison smoothly took over in her best friendly forest ranger voice, even though all she wanted was to kick this man and his family out of her park. "A bear would have knocked over your tent, or at least damaged it in some way. There would have been a lot more chaos if there was one and it really had gone berserk."
"Then what do you think did this?"
"It was just a little lynx. He was probably attracted to the meat."
Wallace looked like he'd been slapped. "There are mountain lions around here? That wasn't in the brochure!"
There are worse things than that, Jamison thought, almost at the point of showing him. Fortunately, Thomas continued trying to calm the man down.
"It was harmless. He probably ate the meat and went through your belongings out of curiosity."
"Does that look like curiosity?" He pointed to the rent shirt Jamison was still holding. "It would have torn my son apart!"
Jamison held back her smile of disdain. "I'm sure he just got his claws stuck in the material."
"Claws! Stuck!" Michael fumed impotently for a few seconds and she could almost hear his blood pressure spike. "That's it! We're leaving, but don't think this is over!"
"Yes, sir," Jamison said dutifully, biting the inside of her cheek. Her anger disappeared as she was struck by how pathetic this little man really was.
"I intend to file a complaint with your superiors."
"Of course, sir." Thomas answered because Jamison was already walking toward the Jeep, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
Jamison met the rookie's eyes over the hood when Thomas finally reached the car. She looked over at the angry businessman and couldn't help herself. "Oh, by the way. You have a fish hook in your collar."
Thomas laughed as they drove away, but the humor of the situation was already passed for Jamison. The incident with Wallace was minor really, but did serve to bring up a very troubling issue that was currently facing the Council.
People.
They were everywhere, breeding at ever increasing rates and destroying everything the Great Mother had set on the planet. Wallace was just a reminder they were also encroaching into the natural world. It was hard to transform into an alternate state in front of people and not expect to incite a riot. Throughout history, they had proven time and again that they preferred to
demolish what they didn't understand. Cohabiting with them was out of the question. Panthera and others of their kind were pushed into shrinking areas of isolation and would eventually have no place left to go. When that happened, they'd have no choice but to reveal themselves.
Would they then be shot on sight, as Mr. Wallace wanted done with his non-existent bear?
"Where are we going now?"
Thomas had a concerned frown on her face and Jamison realized she understood they were returning to the visitor's center.
"Don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong. In fact, you did a good job. Keeping Wallace calm and just allowing him to vent was the right thing to do."
"In this case, I don't think I could have done anything else. It's not like I can just politely ask the animals to leave the campers' play toys alone."
"True." Jamison smiled, pulling into the Paul Smith's Visitor's Center. "Go ahead and take the Jeep. I've got some things I need to take care of."
"Alone?" Brenda couldn't hide the excitement and surprise, nor did she attempt to do so. "That's great! But what do I do?"
Enthusiasm had quickly given way to anxiety. Jamison chuckled and shut off the engine. She couldn't help but like this woman. "You'll be fine. You've been here a few weeks now and you know the routine. Just patrol out along Blue Mountain Road. It's pretty busy this time of year. At the most you'll have people running out of gas and that kind of thing."
She got out of the Jeep and Brenda came around to take the driver's seat. "If you have any trouble, call Dispatch. They'll send someone out to help you."
"Okay." She didn't sound very sure, but gamely started the vehicle and put it in drive.
"You'll be fine," Jamison repeated. She patted Brenda's shoulder reassuringly and walked away.
She headed for the office to speak to her boss, Hank Morgan. He was also an elder on the Panthera Council. Jamison didn't personally need to see him, but it was time for her daily check-in. Council issues were just as important as tourist concerns, and this was the time Jamison really looked forward to. They were also the only two of their kind on the Park's Service payroll, unbeknownst to the other employees. Since she was second in command at the Adirondack posting, no one questioned the meetings.
Under the Midnight Cloak Page 2