"Of course I can't tell you where it is right now, don't be absurd. It's a forest."
"My point exactly. Do you know the number for Adirondack Park Services?"
Lee growled in anger. This woman was so frustrating. "Never mind, I'll find it myself."
"Have a nice day."
Lee hung up without responding. "That went well."
Though the idea of a panther stalking around her house was unsettling, Lee couldn't help be excited about the candid shot. Her agent would love it. The thought of Jasmine reminded her that she hadn't called her since she left New York. Now was the perfect time and not just because of the photograph. She picked up the phone and dialed the number from memory. It rang four times and just when Lee thought it would go to voicemail, Jasmine answered.
"Hi, Jazz. It's me."
"Don't call me that."
Lee grinned at her response, at this point it was more habitual and Jasmine proved it when she continued almost immediately.
"Where have you been? Why haven't I heard from you?"
"I'm sorry. Things here have been a little hectic. I'm calling you now."
"Yes, you are," Jasmine mumbled, slightly mollified. "So if it's so busy up there, why are you calling? Not that I'm not happy to hear from you."
"Believe it or not, I got a great photo last night that I thought you would love."
"Really, what is it?"
"Are you sitting down?" Lee couldn't keep the excitement out of her voice.
"Lee, darling, you know I love you, but nothing up there could possibly be that astounding." Jasmine actually sounded bored.
"I got a shot of a black panther in a tree right outside my bedroom window."
There was dead silence from the other end and Lee smiled, picturing Jasmine's reaction. It went on for so long that she'd begun to think the call had been dropped.
"Jasmine? Still there?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yep." Lee smiled. "Completely. Well, it wasn't really outside my bedroom window, but it was only a couple of hundred yards down the trail from the house, so it might as well have been."
She expected Jasmine to be as thrilled about the picture as she was, but that wasn't the reaction she got.
"You need to come home right now. Today. I'll call Davis and have him get the house ready. How long will it take you to get here?"
"What are you talking about? I'm not going anywhere."
"Lee, that place is dangerous. I will not have you living where there are panthers running around in herds."
Lee blinked. "Panthers don't live in herds, that's elephants. I'm pretty sure panthers are solitary creatures."
"Who cares? That's not the point. What if it decides you might be perfect as lunch?"
"Which brings me to the other reason I called."
"Why am I suddenly worried?"
"Because you're very perceptive?"
"Funny. All right, fine. What is it?" Jasmine didn't sound very amused, only resigned. She was used to Lee being unconventional, though she rarely liked it.
"You know that shotgun dad keeps in the trophy room?"
"You can't be asking what I think you are."
"Jasmine," Lee searched quickly for a way to make her understand without causing her to worry more. "I'm sure I'm over reacting, but having it around would make me feel better."
"Do you even know how to shoot that thing?"
"Of course. Dad showed me how to use it when I was a kid and I've used rifles on safari more than once. Please, do this for me?"
"Fine, but I refuse to touch it." Lee smiled upon hearing the peevish sigh. "I'll have someone bring it up for you this weekend."
"That would be great. Thank you."
They spent several more minutes just catching up. Lee promised to forward the photo so Jasmine could have a look and then she spent the rest of the time reassuring her that the situation wasn't so dire that she needed to return home like a scared little girl. Finally, she gave Jasmine directions to the house and ended the call, promising that she'd phone again in a week.
Lee checked the time and saw that it was almost noon. She still had some shopping to do and hoped she would run into Jamison while she was out. Jamison still hadn't returned any of her calls and Lee didn't know where she worked. Maybe she'd find someone who could direct her.
THE STREETS OF Harmon were bustling with visitors and locals alike. Tourism had increased just in the last few days and Lee was amused she actually felt like she wasn't an outsider anymore. She carried a bag of dry foods that she'd picked up at Fogerty's and strolled down the sidewalk toward Andy's. The place held fond memories for her since she'd had lunch there with Jamison that first time. Today she was only after an iced mocha and already she could taste the smooth, sweet coolness sliding down her throat. As she reached out for the handle, the door opened from inside and she found herself face to face with Jamison's sister.
"Dinah? How are you?" "Hi, Lee, it's good to see you." There was genuine welcome in her smile, but a slight wariness in the green eyes. Had someone told Dinah that Lee was asking uncomfortable questions? If that were true, it might mean that this young woman Lee was beginning to like might also somehow be involved in what she was starting to think of as the Harmon Conspiracy. The problem was, she had no idea what they could be involved in, or if she was making the whole thing up as a way to keep her mind occupied. Anyone would be suspicious of a complete stranger who moved in and was suddenly asking personal questions, even if they had the authority. Then again, Lee had wanted to find a way to get hold of Jamison and fate had just thrown her a bone.
"Uh, Dinah, I hate to ask, but can you tell me where Jamison is working today? I've tried to call, but she hasn't answered. I'm worried about her. Finding her friend like she did was such a horrible thing to happen."
Dinah didn't need to know exactly how many times Lee had called and maybe the bit about being worried would be a little incentive, not that it wasn't true.
To her delight, the cautious look was replaced by one of compassion. "That's very thoughtful of you. Jamison told you about Hank?"
"Yes, she came over right after it happened." Lee shuddered. "She was covered in blood and at first I was worried that she'd been hurt."
Dinah touched her forearm in reassurance. "It's hit her pretty hard and being promoted to head ranger in his place hasn't helped much. She's just so busy."
Lee's eyes closed in sympathy. It was no wonder Jamison hadn't returned any of her calls. "That must be pretty stressful, but I really do need to talk with her if only to reassure myself that she's all right."
"Of course." Dinah patted her hand and then reached into her purse for a pen and paper. She scrawled out something and then handed Lee the note. "That's the address for the Paul Smith's Visitor's Center and some rough directions on how to get there. Basically, you just keep taking Blue Mountain Road past Mafdet and you'll run right into it."
"Thank you." Lee didn't know if Dinah was playing matchmaker, or just wanted Jamison to see someone who wasn't directly related to the horrific incident she had just experienced. Maybe it was both, but she wasn't about to question her luck.
"Just be careful with her; she's a little fragile right now."
"I understand."
Dinah left and Lee walked away from the café, her mocha a vague memory. She scanned the note and then shoved it in her pocket, already planning what she'd say to Jamison. Lee neared the intersection she needed to cross to get back to her truck when a man leaned out of the shadows unexpectedly, causing her to start.
"Oh, you scared me."
Rather than apologize, the dark-haired man stared at her, quietly assessing. His long hair was tied back in a loose ponytail and his skin was leathery from exposure to the sun. The button-down, flannel shirt and jeans weren't pressed, but they were clean and his eyes were strangely mesmerizing. From his appearance she thought he might be Native American.
"Lee Grayson." It wasn't a question.
"Yes. D
o I know you?"
"No, but I have information for you. It concerns Christine Mafdet."
Lee was completely caught off guard. This man was a little scary, but she decided that could just be the way he'd approached her. She had so many questions and he was the first person who seemed willing to talk to her.
"Who are you?"
"Nash Daylong, but that's not important. Come with me."
"Where? Why?" Lee looked around furtively, hoping he intended on conversing in a nice, public place.
The man had already headed back down the alley, but he said over his shoulder, "Do you want answers or not?"
Okay, guess I don't have a choice.
"Fine, slow down," she groused, jogging to catch up.
She did so when he stopped in front of a run-down shotgun house at the end of the next block. The structure looked very small and the white-flaky paint on the exterior boards had definitely seen better days. Nash walked up the sagging porch steps and through a door that didn't look solid in the hinges.
Lee followed slowly, unsure what she was getting in to. She stopped at the edge of the entryway and waited for her eyes to adjust as she searched inside the darkened dwelling. "Uh, sir? What's this information you said you had and how did you know my aunt?"
"Your aunt was a very powerful Kadin," he said, not really answering her question.
Lee recognized the word from the letter Chris had left behind in the trunk. "How do you know that?"
"Come inside. I won't hurt you."
Hesitantly, she crossed the threshold and entered a dingy room. The shag carpet hadn't been new twenty years ago and the smell of cigarette smoke pervaded the small space. Lee fought the urge to sneeze and looked over where Nash sat in a tattered recliner. He nodded toward the only other seat in the room and she spotted an equally dilapidated loveseat a few feet from him.
Lee swallowed and perched hesitantly on the edge, hoping he'd get to the point so she could get out of there and go see Jamison. "I'm listening."
Nash grinned, showing yellowed teeth as he lit up a smoke. He exhaled heartily and then said, "You're impatient."
Her temper got the best of her. "You don't know anything about me."
"I know that you seek answers and I also know you won't find them where you're looking."
Great, like Aunt Chris' letter wasn't cryptic enough.
She let out an exasperated sigh. "And exactly where is it I'm looking?"
"On the physical plane."
"Huh? What else is there?"
He didn't answer. Nash took another draw on the butt. "Chris was very strong in the ways of healing and insight. The Panthera go to doctors just like everyone else, but Chris could cure diseases of the soul."
"You mean she was like a psychiatrist?"
"Psychiatrist, guide into the mystic, call it what you want. But she also had the ability to foretell the future."
"That's crazy."
Nash's expression hardened. "Silence. I'll tell you some of what you need to know. The rest you'll have to learn on your own."
Whatever. Lee regretted following this guy; anything to get away from him faster. She nodded her assent.
"I can see that you already know the true purpose of the Mafdet line, so I won't bore you with more of the same. What you don't know is that the Panthera don't worship nature, they're a part of it. They have the ability to change form, to interact as a beast of the forest rather than a puny human walking upright on two legs."
"Oh, come on. You're saying Chris was a werewolf? That's preposterous." He stared at her in response and Lee got the message. She held up one hand. "Fine, go on."
"In ancient times it wasn't uncommon for the people to have powers outside of the realm of what science now tells us isn't possible. The defenders of the kings had to have strength, courage, agility and the natural weapons that would disable any man, fangs to rend and claws to carve. Our kind has retained those skills because they are used. Evolution allows constant change and if something is no longer necessary, it's done away with."
"Sort of like a sixth sense," she said catching on. "Or losing all the body hair ancient man had because we now wear clothing."
Nash nodded once and continued. "But I'm not talking about werewolves. There's no such thing as someone being cursed into being a dog at the light of a full moon."
"What are you talking about then? Bears, lions, monkeys?"
Nash smiled and squashed his cigarette butt into an overflowing ashtray. "Some changers have bear shapes, some have others."
"But not these Panthera you're telling me about."
"No."
"Then what are they?"
"You already know the answer, and if you don't I won't ruin the surprise..."
It was too much. Lee surged to her feet and started pacing across the limited space. "You're telling me that selected individuals have the ability to become a totally different...thing...at will and that these people still exist today. If that's true, why has no one ever heard of them?"
"Because they have remained hidden. Could you imagine what would happen otherwise? I can tell you that the Dark Ages were not a very good time for them."
Lee snorted. "I can imagine. Let's say I believe you, which I'm not for one moment saying that I do. Why did you tell me about this?"
Nash suddenly looked very sorry for her. "You don't know it yet, but you're a part of us and soon you'll be needed."
"Okay, see, now I know you've lost it. I can't change into something else at will. If I could, I think I'd know it by now."
"Buried deep inside, beneath the years of separation, you do. Now that you've returned where you truly belong, your abilities will begin to manifest. They have already."
Lee frowned, growing more confused by the second. "How?"
"Have you not seen things in your dreams, touched the mind of the small one as he traveled through the woods?
"What are you talking about?"
Nash stood and walked to the door, signaling that it was time for her to leave. "You'll know when the time is right. For now, I believe there is someone you need to see."
Lee was out on the front step with the door shut in her face before she could even formulate her next question. She spun away in exasperation. This whole damned town was crazy, but he was right about something. She needed to see Jamison.
The ride to the park's Visitor's Center didn't take long. Lee left the groceries on the front seat and slammed the truck door before she went inside. An older woman with a beehive hairdo and thick, dark framed glasses sat at a desk behind the counter.
"Can I help you, dear?"
"Yes, ma'am, is Jamison Kessler here? I'm a friend."
"Really?" The woman stood up, suddenly much more interested. She walked over to the counter and lifted a flap, indicating that Lee should step through. "Good. Maybe you can convince her to take a break. I'm worried sick she's just going to keel over. Come with me."
Lee followed, feeling like she'd just been run over by a bus. She had expected a lot of red tape, maybe excuses that Jamison was in some sort of meeting. To be ushered in right away disabled any preplanned speeches she'd prepared to get through the gauntlet of intimidation.
The secretary tapped on a connecting doorway and said, "Captain Kessler, you have a visitor."
Chapter Twenty
JAMISON LOOKED UP slowly at the sound of Jeanie's voice. Lost in thought, she hadn't realized she was no longer alone until Lee's scent hit her like a visceral punch to the gut. Lust raced over her so intensely her skin tingled. She lowered her feet from the desktop to the floor and stood without realizing, trying to calm her beast that was suddenly demanding to be near Lee.
"Thank you, Jeanie."
"Hi," Jamison said softly, walking out from behind the desk.
"Hi."
Lee met her halfway, until only a breath separated them, neither able to fully deny the magnetism.
"Captain Kessler. Very impressive." Lee looked into her eyes and appeared t
o have trouble speaking. "Congratulations on the promotion, though I'm so sorry about the circumstances."
The change of topic gave Jamison the mental distance she needed and she took a half step back. "Thank you. I'm sorry I haven't returned your calls. I've just been so busy trying to figure out what I'm going to do next."
Jamison looked at her feet feeling guilty for the half-truth. She'd been pulled in so many directions it was difficult to keep up, but she could have made time for Lee.
"It's all right, I understand. I didn't come here to make you feel bad. There's something I needed to talk with you about, at least Sheriff Macke thought I should."
"Sheriff Macke? What's wrong, did something happen?"
Lee smiled a little awkwardly. "It's nothing serious, really. I just took some pictures recently that I thought you should have a look at. One of them is a huge black cat sitting in a tree not far from the house."
Jamison swiveled around and sat in a chair. She indicated Lee should take the seat across from her while she considered the information. Jamison hadn't yet told the Council that Lee now had a picture of her and in the woman walked, practically holding it out on a silver platter.
"When you say cat, do you mean domestic shorthair?"
"No." Lee smiled. "I mean as in panther, or at least I think so. You don't have any reports of black panthers that have escaped from the zoo, do you?"
Jamison shook her head. She couldn't help but be charmed by Lee's teasing humor. "No, but if it's black, it's probably a jaguar. The Black Panthers are a social group."
"My mistake."
Jamison couldn't believe they were talking about a potential man-eating jungle cat with so much sexual tension permeating the room. She cleared her throat. "Do you have what you want to show me on you? I could take a look."
She swallowed thickly, aware of the innuendo in her words even if Lee wasn't. Right now, looking wasn't really what she wanted. She wanted to peel off Lee's shirt and kiss every inch of her body. She craved the chance to slide her fingers under the waistband of her jeans and explore intimate flesh.
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