by Kasey Belle
Callie huffed. “Can I speak to you for a moment?”
The woman eyed her warily as she nodded.
“I take it you know the Bennett’s?”
“Of course. I live next door.” Her silent what are you stupid or something? heard loud and clear.
“You must be Ms. Parsegian?”
“I am. Who are you, Miss?”
“Sorry,” Callie reached into her jacket pocket, pulled out a business card, and handed it to Ms. Parsegian. “I’m Callie Caldwell. I’m a social worker with DCFS. I was assigned to the Bennett children’s case. Have you seen them?”
Ms. Parsegian shook her head sadly. “I haven’t. I only heard about Katie last night when I returned from my vacation. The Hale’s on the other side told me what was going on.” She narrowed her eyes a Callie. “I’m gonna assume since little Emmy took those kids and ran off you were trying to break them up.”
“It wasn’t my intention.”
Ms. Parsegian waved her hand as if Callie’s intent was inconsequential. “I’m not surprised Emmarie did what she did. She’s a good sister that one.”
“She’s thirteen, Ms. Parsegian.”
“So? She’s been a rock for her momma since William was killed. She was always helping out with the little ones, so Katie could get stuff done.” She glanced over her shoulder at the house. “I wish I would have been home. I would have taken them in.”
“I honestly tried to keep them together.”
Ms. Parsegian began to walk away. Callie reached out and grabbed her arm. The older woman looked pointedly at the hand on her arm then at Callie. She arched an eyebrow. Callie had the good grace to remove the woman from her grasp without further prompting.
“Please. May I ask you a few questions? I’m desperate. Bad things happen to children on the street. The police aren’t taking this seriously enough.”
Ms. Parsegian snorted. “They never do as far as I’m concerned.” She nodded toward her house. “I’ll make us some coffee.”
“Thank you, Ms. Parsegian.”
“Call me, Millie.”
Callie sat across from Millie at the little two seat table. The woman passed her the cream and sugar. “Did you contact their father’s family? I understand there are still some cousins around. Katie’s family was from here as well.”
“I did. They weren’t willing to help the children.”
“There’s a shocker.” Millie’s sarcasm wasn’t lost on the Callie. The older woman made a disgusted noise and muttered under her breath, “Lord knows their kind can be just as prejudice as mine.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Nothing. Don’t listen to an old woman and her ramblings.”
“You aren’t that old.” Callie studied Millie. “You know.” She could sense it. Millie Parsegian knew about the Bennett’s. Taking a chance on the old woman, Callie flicked out her claws. Millie only looked mildly impressed to find out Callie was a cat. She was not however surprised to learn shifters existed. Callie cocked an eyebrow.
Millie blew out a breath. “Katie let it slip after William died. She was grieving and got all worked up one night after I brought over dinner for them. She was crying, and it just came out. At first, I thought perhaps she’d lost her mind. Then she showed me. Needless to say, I was shocked. I’ve never said a word until now.”
“She was lucky to have you.” Callie reached across the table and gave Millie’s hand a squeeze. “They all were. Katie was a member of my old clowder. I didn’t know her. I was just a child when she left. My father refused as well.”
“Asshole.”
Callie nodded. “Truly, he is.”
Millie cocked her head. “Did you check with Montana?”
“Montana? Is that a person or the state of?
“State. Katie asked for my son’s number. He’s a realtor. She told me her and the kids found a welcoming community and decided to move after school let out for the summer. I told her not to bother putting her house on the market. One of my friend’s from church has a pregnant daughter looking for a place and the timing would be perfect.”
“Her bosses never mentioned Katie was moving.”
“They wouldn’t have. Katie wasn’t going to tell them until she had to give her two-weeks. She didn’t want them to try and push her out early.”
“Emmarie said nothing either.”
“Would you?”
No, Callie thought. She wouldn’t have divulged the information in case she had to run like Emmarie did. “Do you remember the name of the town?”
“It was something strange. Started with an S. Give me a minute.” She stood and pointed at Callie’s mug. “I think better on my feet. It’ll come to me. More coffee?”
Chapter 6
Sanctuary. Callie shook her head. It was almost too perfect a name considering it was what the children sought. Had they made it? How could she find out without tipping them or the authorities off? If Emmarie Bennett took her siblings and ran once, she’d do it again.
Instead of heading back to the office, Callie made her way home. She had phone calls to make and she couldn’t do it where human ears could hear. During the drive she psyched herself up to have yet another conversation with her father. She hated the idea of needing anything from him. Especially, after the way he turned his back on Emmarie and her siblings.
Callie laid her purse and messenger bag next to the little table by her front door. She headed to the kitchen. She would need something alcoholic in her bloodstream if she was going to have a halfway civil conversation with Deimos Caldwell. Fitting considering her father’s name literally meant dread.
She made herself comfortable on the sofa and downed half the wine in her glass. Callie eyed her phone with disdain. Might as well get it over with. She pulled up her father’s contact information and called him.
“Calypso. I’m surprised to hear from you so soon.”
You and me both, she thought, but kept her snarky comment to herself “Do you know what alpha lives in Sanctuary, Montana?”
“I’m fine, daughter. How are you?”
Callie blew out a breath and closed her eyes. Goddess, give her strength. “This isn’t a social call, Father. If you don’t know, will you find out? If you can’t do that, then tell me so we can all get on with our lives.”
“Of course, I know. I am an important man in our world as you are well aware.”
“Legend in his own mind,” her cat quipped.
“Why do you need this information?”
“For work.”
Her father scoffed. “Work.”
“Father, could we please talk about your lack of respect for my chosen profession later? I’m a bit pressed for time.” Callie crossed her fingers to excuse her lie. “I have a meeting in five minutes.” With the rest of the bottle of wine in her refrigerator.
“Thorne Stone has a rather large wolf pack. Black River. His youngest son, Dakoda, also has a pack of sorts in Sanctuary. Inter-species group of misfits,” he muttered. “Disgusting, if you ask me.”
“Which nobody did,” Cat snarked.
“Will you stop?”
“I can’t believe Alpha Stone hasn’t disowned the whelp. Then again, Stone is one of those bleeding-heart types.”
“Like your own daughter? After hearing your feelings on the matter, I’m surprised you still acknowledge my existence.”
“You aren’t an alpha.” Callie could picture him waving his hand in disregard. “Plus, there is still hope you’ll come to your senses and make something of yourself.”
Come to her senses? He made it sound like she’d chosen to cook Meth as a career instead of being a voice for those without one. She’d never understand people who viewed public service as a bottom rung career. People who chose jobs that helped others for a barely livable wage and very little respect were Callie’s heroes. She was proud to count herself among them.
“Thanks for the information. I have to go. Goodbye, Father.” Callie rang off before her father could resp
ond.
Callie tilted her head back.
“Make something of ourselves? Who the hell does he think he is?” Cat ranted.
“The universes gift to us lesser beings?
“We don’t need his approval.”
“No, we don’t.”
Callie wanted to tell her father not to hold his breath. She liked who and what she was and wasn’t about to change, definitely not for him. But she couldn’t. She may not need his approval. But a small part of her still wanted it.
She finished her wine and got up to refill her glass before making her way to the bedroom instead of the sofa. She had to figure out what to do next. Callie’s instincts told her the welcoming community the Bennetts found was with Dakoda Stone’s pack. But if she contacted him, he would know she was looking for the children. She could call his father. No. Alpha Stone would probably alert his son she was snooping around. Callie doubted either man would tell her anything over the phone.
Callie was no closer to a plan the following morning. She went about her day conducting home visits and opening new cases. The Bennett children were never far from her mind nor was trying to decide how to locate them. Finally, around noon, Detective Ballas called with an update. Honestly, Callie was surprised he even bothered. Perhaps he grew a conscience. She immediately dispelled the thought. He was most likely worried she’d lodge a complaint against his lazy ass.
The detective informed her he’d been able to obtain a warrant to access Katie Bennett’s financial records. Her credit card had been used the day the children disappeared. Once at a local Wal-Mart. Judging by the amount it was probably for clothing and food. She used an ATM in the store to get cash from both the debit and credit cards. Emmarie used the card again to buy four bus tickets to Montana. Callie had questioned that. Detective Ballas deduced she bought four, so they wouldn’t appear as if they weren’t traveling without an adult. Once in Montana, the credit and ATM cards were used again. She withdrew the maximum amount of cash from each. Callie said a prayer of thanks to whatever god was listening for making Emmarie so damn smart.
Callie didn’t share the information she received from Ms. Parsegian with Detective Ballas. If he figured it out, fine. But she wasn’t about to help him do his job.
Instead, she did her own research. After a quick Google map search and an itinerary search on the local bus station’s website, she leaned back in her chair and smiled. Even though the trail went cold after Emmarie and her siblings arrived in Missoula, Callie didn’t doubt they made it to Sanctuary. There was a bus that went through there on the way to Bozeman.
Callie still needed to go to Sanctuary and find out for herself if the children were there. She couldn’t rest until she knew for sure. She pulled up her employee portal and put in for time off. She sighted an unexpected family situation. She hadn’t marked the PTO as an emergency because she knew her coworkers would have questions and the fewer lies told the better. Once that was done, she went about clearing her desk and sending out requests to the other case workers in the office to temporarily handle her case load while she was gone. Callie wanted to be ready to leave town once her leave was approved. She knew it would be since she never took time off. Now that she had a direction, she was eager to put her plan into action.
Chapter 7
When Matt called to check on the children, Koda informed him Emmarie, Lula, and Sage were at Janie’s. Matt didn’t bother fighting his overwhelming need to make sure they were okay even though he knew they were in good hands. Matt slowed his truck down and turned left instead of right.
A couple of years after Devon and Janie finally got together, Koda bought the 600 acres across the road from The Sanctuary. His plan was to turn it into a communal pack land similar to what Black River Pack had. It had taken time to clear sections of the land and get the utilities run before they could start to build. Storm was handling the development. He now owned and operated his own construction company. His crew consisted entirely of veterans from all branches of the military.
So far only Devon and Nikki’s families lived on the new pack land. Storm and Bow along with Danika and Race had homes in various states of construction. Matt assumed Storm and Bow’s would be finished before their cub was born.
Matt parked next to Janie’s Tahoe, set the emergency brake, and got out. He’d just cleared the front of the vehicle when a snowball smacked him in the side of the head just above his right ear. A chill raced down his spine as icy pieces of melting snow slid under the collar of his sweater. He slowly turned his head. It only took a moment to find the culprit. Make that culprits. Casey, Stevie, and Jack peered at him from behind the giant inflated snowman that sat in the center of the yard. Mischievous delight danced in their eyes.
He sent them a narrow-eyed glare. “You know this means war, right?” He made a move toward them.
The little imps squealed with feigned fear and ran towards the backyard.
“I know where you live!” He shouted after them as he headed to the front door. Matt didn’t bother knocking. He figured Janie wouldn’t hear it over the chaotic noise coming from inside the house. “Hello?” he called out.
Janie popped her head through the kitchen doorway. “We’re in here.”
Matt’s eyebrows shot up when he saw the kitchen. It looked like a bomb went off. There were dirty pans and bowls piled up in the sink. Flour decorated the counters and floor. Racks filled with cooling cookies littered every available surface.
“Matt!” Lula yelled his name as she scrambled down from her chair at the kitchen table. Her face and hands were covered in red icing. She went to throw her arms around him, but he grabbed her wrists. Matt wasn’t sure if he’d get the red out of his clothes if she touched him. He knelt in front of Lula and offered his cheek. He immediately regretted it when she gave him a sloppy, sticky kiss.
“What have you been up to Princess Lula?”
“We’re decorating Christmas cookies. Ms. Janie said she needed our help.” She leaned in and whispered, “Jamie, Liam, Heather, and me are helping. Sage and Maizy just keep eating the cookies.”
“Jamie, Liam, Heather, and I,” Emmarie corrected. Matt turned and found the oldest Bennett leaning against the door jamb.
Lula scrunched up her face. “That’s what I said, Emmy.”
“You said me. I is proper.”
“Oh.” Lula shrugged her tiny shoulders and went back to the table. “You wanna help us Matt?”
“Um…” He stared at his little cousins, some by blood others by choice. There wasn’t a one of them that was covered in various shades of goop. The table didn’t seem to be fairing much better.
Janie giggled. “Matt looks like he needs to dry off before he does anything else. What happened to you?” She held out a wet paper towel to him and jerked her chin. “You have red on you.”
He wiped the icing left behind by Lula’s kiss off his cheek. “The three musketeers happened.”
“Have a seat. I’ll go grab you a towel from the linen closet.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Do you need to borrow one of Devon’s shirts?”
“Nah. It’s mostly in my hair.”
“Sneak attack, huh?” Emmarie chuckled as she joined him at the breakfast bar.
“Got me as soon as I left my car. Little punks. I’m gonna pay them back though.” He looked at her and narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t happen to know anything about their plans, did you?”
“No.” Em shrugged. Matt arched his eyebrow at the innocent look she gave him, he wasn’t buying that for a second.
“I can’t help it if they overheard Ms. Janie when she told me you were coming over. What they did with that information is on them.” She smiled sweetly at him.
“Uh-huh. Sure.” He grabbed her and gave her a noogie.
She swatted at him while she laughed. “Cut it out, jerk.”
The door to the mudroom opened and slammed against the wall. Three troublemakers stomped in. Janie returned with his towel. “Do not leave that room
until you’ve taken off your boots and hung up your coats,” she ordered.
“Yes, ma’am,” the trio sing-songed in unison.
A few minutes later, Casey, Stevie, and Jack entered the kitchen in socked feet. Their cheeks were still rosy from the cold. Their faces lit up when they spotted all the cookies. Jack messed up Heather’s hair and stole a decorated tree cookie from her plate making the pup giggle.
“You have to come outside with us next time, Em,” Casey stated with a toothy grin. “We could do teams of two and have an epic snowball fight.”
“Sure. Next time.”
Matt frowned at her lack of enthusiasm. He wondered why she hadn’t wanted to play with Casey, Stevie, and Jack who were close to her age and some of the nicest kids you’d ever meet. Janie caught Matt’s eye. She nodded at Lula and Sage then at Emmarie. Ohhh. Em had stayed inside because of her siblings. He understood why Em had a hard time letting Lula and Sage out of her sight, but it wasn’t healthy. Emmarie needed to take care of herself as well. He felt the sorrow rolling off her in waves. He wanted to take it all away and felt so completely helpless because he knew he couldn’t. Matt grinned when an idea struck him. Maybe there was something he could do.
“Hey, Janie girl?”
“Yes?” The look she gave his said she knew where their conversation was headed.
“I need to borrow Emmarie for a bit.”
Emmarie’s head swiveled around. “Borrow me?”
He ignored her and addressed Janie once again. “Do you mind keeping an eye on Lula and Sage?”
“Of course not. You guys go do whatever.”
“Wait. What?” Emmarie shook her head emphatically. “I can’t go with you. I have to stay here with them.” She pointed at her siblings who seemed oblivious to their conversation.
“No, you don’t,” Janie cut in. “We’re almost done with cookies for now. They’ll be fine. I plan on putting on a Christmas movie for them to watch in the playroom.”
Emmarie glanced back and forth between them and her siblings. He could tell how torn she was as to what she should do. It was painful to watch. Matt started to feel guilty about forcing the issue.