by Helen Harper
It didn’t matter what I tried, or how I phrased it, whenever I came near to questioning any of them about Mack herself, I was stonewalled. I had to admit that it rankled. I’d been adamant when I’d spoken to Staines about not using compulsion on anyone to find out what I needed to do. Unless I started getting some answers soon though, I was going to have no choice. The optimism I’d expressed to Staines was quickly leaking away. When I asked Tom, her boyfriend, his answer was even more odd.
‘Red doesn’t like to admit it, but she trains pretty hard. She can be clumsy though. She fell down the stairs a few days ago! So it’s not really surprising that she loses one fight then wins the next. She’s very inconsistent.’
‘Red?’
His eyes widened. ‘I mean, Mack. Red’s just…it’s just a nickname.’
I looked him up and down. He was a nice guy and, even for a werewolf, he was clearly skilled. I just couldn’t see what he had in common with Mack though. Maybe opposites really did attract.
‘I want to talk to her on my own,’ I told Staines when Mel popped her head through the door and said that Mack was next in line.
He frowned at me, but apparently knew better than to argue. I could sense that as far as this particular shifter was concerned, his patience was wearing extraordinarily thin. In contrast, I was fairly certain that I could spend months in her presence and not get bored with it. Quite frankly, her unpredictability was exciting. I needed to get her to relax around me so, when she finally re-entered for her interview, I pretended to read a sheet of paper for several long moments while Staines looked on. I knew it would no doubt annoy her but I could deal with that more easily than with nerves.
You should go now, I eventually said to Staines, who was leaning against a wall and staring at the lady in question with a marked frown.
Yell if she attacks when you rub her fur the wrong way, he replied drily then pushed off the wall and left.
I gestured Mack towards the chair in front. For a moment I thought she’d demand to conduct the entire interview while standing but she sat down, holding her knees together and clasping her hands neatly in her lap. If I didn’t know better, I’d almost have thought she was nothing more than a meek little Catholic schoolgirl.
‘So, Miss Mackenzie, we finally have some alone time to talk together.’ I smiled at her in an attempt to put her at ease. A trace of fear crossed her face, which surprised me. I might be the Brethren Lord but I was fairly certain I’d not actually done anything to merit such a reaction. If anything, after her fighting display, I should probably be the one to be afraid. I decided to be honest and open, at least for the time being. ‘I have to admit that I find you rather fascinating. One minute you are being knocked down by a tap from a little girl, and the next you are defeating a werebear in his own shift form.’
She still didn’t respond. Instead she stared at me wide-eyed as if she expected me to pounce on her. The thought was remarkably alluring, but I pushed it away and tried not to get overly irritated when she looked down as if in submission.
‘And then, of course,’ I continued, ‘there are your night-time sparring matches on the beach.’
Her head jerked up and she glowered at me. Relieved to finally get a real reaction out of her, I met her eyes, silently encouraging her to hold my gaze. ‘So what is a shifter of your talents doing tucked away in sleepiest Cornwall, and why are you so desperate to stay here?’
Her shoulders relaxed. ‘Er, well, I like the quiet, and then there’s Tom, of course.’ She said the last part as if it were an afterthought.
‘Ah, yes, the boyfriend.’ I stood up and moved round the desk to get closer to her. Perhaps it was the wooden barrier that was making her so jumpy. ‘Funny, I wouldn’t have pegged the two of you as a couple.’
She pulled back, attempting to put as much space between my body and hers. Then, completely misreading my query, she spat out, ‘Do you think I’m not good enough for him?’
‘Not at all,’ I quickly answered. It was more that he didn’t seem good enough for her. ‘I just wonder how someone like him could keep someone like you…interested.’
‘Oh, I’m very interested,’ she told me, with a genuine spark in her eyes.
I quashed down my disappointment and quickly returned to my chair. So much for that, then.
Her face took on an earnest expression. ‘Lord Corrigan, I don’t want to waste your valuable time. I have no desire to leave Cornwall and believe that I have made that apparent to you already. Perhaps your time would be better spent with those shifters who would like to join you in London.’
I really wasn’t going to get anywhere by trying to persuade her otherwise. Telling myself to give up on her as a lost cause, I focused on something else. ‘That may be but there are other matters that I would like to discuss. Tell me what you did on the day of your alpha’s death.’
‘On the day of his murder, you mean.’ There was still a hint of challenge in her tone. Then she sighed and rubbed her eyes. I had to resist the urge not to lean across and give her a hug. ‘I went for a jog, then to the eastern perimeter. There had been some rumours about something there.’
‘And did you find anything?’
‘No.’
‘And then what?’
‘I came back to the keep. When we realised that John hadn’t returned, I went out with the others to find him. Then we did. Find him, I mean.’
‘I see.’ I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. Despite my every effort to tiptoe round her, she was still prevaricating. I felt something inside me snap. ‘You’re lying, Miss Mackenzie. Or certainly not telling me the whole truth.’ I glared and then, almost without thinking, used my Voice. Tell me everything.
I would have taken it back but she opened up her mind, sending me an image of what happened that night. I could feel her grief washing over me in waves and I felt a bitter anger on her behalf that Anton had accused her of being responsible. I curled up my fingers under the desk. ‘Hmmm. So what is it between you and Anton? Perhaps he’s a jilted lover?’
‘We just rub each other up the wrong way.’
She was still holding back. ‘I see,’ I said again. ‘So why does your boyfriend, call you Red?’
Her eyes darted around the room as if searching for an answer. ‘It’s my favourite colour,’ she eventually burst out. ‘I always wear it.’ I couldn’t help glancing at the black clothes she was currently displaying. ‘But, of course, I’m wearing dark colours now in mourning for John,’ she hastily added.
I was beginning to wonder whether I was seeing lies where there were none. ‘Of course. You do seem to take this mourning aspect very seriously.’
‘I take his death very seriously.’
The depressed tone in her voice was painful to hear. I changed the subject again quickly. Maybe I could at least discover what kind of shifter she really was. ‘You smell like a rat, or maybe a gerbil. I can’t quite pinpoint it.’
‘I’m a hamster.’
I watched her face. Hamster? I couldn’t believe it. Cautiously, I tried to delve further. ‘Interesting. Werehamsters rarely have much fighting prowess. You, Miss Mackenzie, must be an anomaly.’
She shrugged. I waited for her to elaborate but her soft lips were pressed shut. I wasn’t going to get anything else out of her. This was a waste of time. I was suddenly tired of her repressed emotions. ‘Very well then. You are free to go.’
She stood up to leave, turning towards the door just as I caught a waft of her scent. It wasn’t that of a bloody hamster – it was too damn predatory. ‘Oh wait. One more thing, Miss Mackenzie. I’m curious as to what you bathe with.’
She stiffened and her voice was tense. ‘I’m not quite sure what you mean, my Lord.’
‘I mean, sweetheart, that you smell very odd. If you are a werehamster as you claim, then you’re like none I’ve come across before. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it’s definitely an unusual scent that you carry around with you.’
She spun ro
und, nostrils flaring and eyes flashing at me. ‘I fail to see what I wash with or how I bathe has anything to do with you. I’ve answered your sodding questions and played along. If you have nothing of any note to ask about, then let me go.’
Something deep in my chest tightened. That was the first reaction I’d had out of her that I could swear was honest. So the kitten roars after all.
Her mouth opened then snapped shut again. Venom spat at me from her eyes. I didn’t care. I’d finally seen a glimpse of the real Mack and I wasn’t about to forget it. ‘Never mind. I didn’t realise it was such a touchy subject. Clearly there are depths to you that I need to plumb further. Some other time, I think, Miss Mackenzie.’
She stalked out as I settled back in the chair. Next time, I’d try harder to catch her unaware. I wanted to see more.
Chapter Nine
‘Why isn’t he here yet?’
The Arch-Mage’s reply was smooth and well practised. ‘If you want the best mage for the job, then you have to wait. It won’t be much longer. He’ll arrive by nightfall.’
I gritted my teeth. The wizard was merely flexing his magical muscle. The Ministry had the required fee in its bank account and, should he so desire, our assigned mage could open up a portal and be standing in front of me virtually immediately. I seemed to be on a roll as far as recalcitrant people unwilling to do my bidding were concerned.
‘This isn’t some kind of jolly,’ I growled. ‘We’re investigating a brutal murder scene. It’s entirely possible that whoever or whatever did this is planning more of the same. Time is a concern.’
‘Of course, of course. That’s why we’ve moved hell and high water to ensure Alexander Floride, one of our most accomplished mages, will be with you before the day is out.’
I tightened my grip on the phone. What I really wanted to do was demand he arrive right now. It’s what Xander Brady would have done. But along with bringing the Brethren screaming into the twenty-first century, I had also made it my personal remit to get on better with the other main Otherworld groups: specifically, the mages, the vampires and the Fae. I was barely a month into this; despite the severity of the situation, if I was serious about making improvements, I’d simply have to suck it up. It still took everything I had not to slam down the receiver after forcing out a polite goodbye, however.
I stalked out of the office, immediately spotting Lucy in deep conversation with one of the Cornish girls. She must have sensed my frustration because she immediately glanced in my direction. I tipped my chin and she came over.
‘You know, my Lord, if you want to get my attention, all you have to do is use the Voice.’
‘Except when you’re not expecting it, it can be rather jarring.’ On more than one occasion, I had spilt food or drink all over me when Brady contacted me that way without prior warning. And there’s nothing quite as unsettling as starting to urinate when someone suddenly appears in your head without warning. I had no desire to start over-relying on my new Lord Alpha abilities – plus, I was still regretting using it to compel Mack to show me what had happened on the beach.
Lucy grinned at me, displaying the quirky gap in her front teeth as she acknowledged my words. I’ve obviously not been the only shifter in town to experience a bit of Voice trauma in the past.
‘Have we made any headway on the cloth?’
She shook her head. ‘There are strands of silver running through it and I’m fairly certain the stench of death is going to stick to it for all eternity, no matter how much fabric softener or pixie dust is poured on it. But, beyond that, nada.’
‘Do we have anything to go on?’
Lucy shrugged helplessly. ‘Very little. We’ve examined the body and all we can say for certain is that whoever killed the alpha here was freaking powerful. No-one has found anything extra at the site where he died, other than an odd ring of coal. It’s unused but whether it was part of the kill scene or merely left by someone planning a barbecue, we really don’t know.’
‘We should contact the human police,’ I said, as much to myself as to her. ‘Perhaps they’ve noticed something themselves. It’s unlikely, but we’re out of options until the mage gets here.’
‘I’ll get on it immediately,’ she answered.
‘No,’ I said, holding up a palm to forestall her, ‘I’ll do it. Beyond pacing around these four walls and alternately scaring and impressing the shifters here, I don’t feel I’ve been much use. Besides, I want to get some fresh air. You should stay here and draw up the final paperwork for solidifying Julia as the new alpha.’
‘Okay, my Lord.’ She threw me an arch look. ‘You know, the girl over there was just asking me if you’re single. You could always invite her to go with you.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘I have enough problems as it is, Lucy. I don’t think involving myself romantically with someone is going to solve any of them.’ I thought of Mack. There was no need to tell Lucy that I could be persuaded in her direction, however.
‘It doesn’t have to be romance. You could just…a wicked spark lit her eyes, ‘loosen up a bit.’
‘There’s more than one way to skin a cat,’ I told her, relieved that she’d stopped feeling she had to tiptoe round me now that I was officially her boss and was able to banter. ‘The walk will do that.’
‘If you say so, my Lord.’ She dipped into a curtsey.
I harrumphed. I wasn’t sure I’d ever harrumphed before. I hoped it didn’t mean I was also about to start wearing tweed and smoking a pipe. ‘Back to more serious matters, has Mel managed to finalise the list of who will join us?’
‘There are only two. If you agree to both, we can put them out of their misery and let them know the good news.’
‘Which two?’ I knew who it wouldn’t be, of course.
Lucy scrunched up her face, trying to remember. ‘Um, Betsy and one of the werewolves.’
I looked at her. Realistically, only one of the wolves had acquitted himself well enough in the fights to be considered. And I was fully aware that he was keen to become a card-carrying member of the Brethren. But still, I wanted confirmation. ‘Tom?’ I asked.
She snapped her fingers. ‘That’s it. Tom. You have a better memory for names than I do.’
‘Mmm,’ I nodded absently. ‘Where is Tom right now?’
‘I think I saw him out the back.’
‘Thank you.’ I gave her a quick look. ‘Let’s hold off on any final decisions just yet. I’d like to chat with him a bit more.’ I corrected myself. ‘I mean, them.’
***
Tom was, as advertised, in the grounds outside the keep, carefully churning up a corner of dark soil. I watched him for a moment or two, until he caught sight of me out of the corner of his eye and almost fell over.
‘My Lord!’ he stuttered. ‘I didn’t see you there. Is there anything I can help you with?’
‘No, no,’ I said with an easy air. ‘I don’t want to interrupt. You look very busy.’
He wiped his palms down the front of his jeans and grinned. It made him look even more boyish than usual. ‘Doing Julia’s bidding. She needs this all turned over ready for the end-of-season planting.’
I glanced over the neat rows of leafy herbs. I’d be hard pressed to identify more than a couple but it was clear that she definitely knew what she was doing. ‘I hear you’re keen to join us,’ I said, flicking my gaze back to him and watching his eyes carefully.
His face lit up. ‘Yes! I didn’t think it would be a possibility after losing in my fight but Mel seemed quite positive when I spoke to her.’
‘Hmm. Can I ask why?’
‘She said it was because I’d still looked like I had potential.’ He beamed with pride.
‘No,’ I shook my head. ‘I mean, why do you want to join us?’
He blinked. ‘Because the Brethren are the best. I want to make a difference.’ He gazed off into the distance. ‘I respect Julia, I really do, but with John gone…’ he sighed. ‘It just seems like the right time.’
For a moment he looked confused. ‘But she… Oh!’ He licked his lips. ‘No, she doesn’t want to leave. She likes it here.’
‘What will that mean for your relationship?’ I said it casually, trying to draw him out.
Tom scratched his neck. ‘Long-distance relationships can be very healthy. Red and I go way back and we trust each other completely.’ He nodded to himself. ‘It won’t be a problem.’
Somehow, I very much doubted that. ‘Why do you call her Red?’
His eyes widened and he glanced from side to side as if searching for an answer. ‘Er, she, er, blushes a lot.’
‘You mean like you’re doing right now?’ I asked. It was an impolite question but I wasn’t going to let my questions about Mack go on without any real answers.
‘That’s because she does it when she, um, when we,’ he kicked at a clod of earth, ‘when we make love!’ he finally burst out, looking remarkably pleased with himself.
His expression shouldn’t have pissed me off, but it did. ‘I see.’ I turned to go.
‘My Lord!’
‘Yes?’ I glanced back at him.
‘Red, I mean Mack, seems a bit strange sometimes but she’s really a very good member of the team here.’ He was very earnest. ‘She’s a strong shifter.’
I gave him a thoughtful look. ‘So I’ve seen.’
‘She’s taken John’s death very hard. They were really close. But you’ll never meet a nicer shifter.’
I raised my eyebrows. For some reason, ‘nice’ wasn’t a word I’d associate with the confusing little werehamster. Not that I believed that’s what she really was, of course.
‘What’s her shift?’
‘Werehamster, my Lord.’ He said it quickly but his expression was telling a different story.
Damning myself, but completely unable to help it, I used the Voice. Is she really a werehamster?
Of course, my Lord.
My shoulders tightened. He answered the same under compulsion as not. There were ways around the pull of the Voice, of course. I’d proved as much with what I’d done to Brady. The werewolf wasn’t that strong, however. Either there were external forces at work here or he really was telling the truth.