Claws by Kassanna Page A

they had. Slowly a plan came into play. She didn’t want to kill the fuckers but maiming them was a great option. Sasha tilted her head and looked past Mais at the gas tank connected to the camp stove. They could set up a trip wire, somehow set the matches to light and leave the gas line open for a slow leak. Yeah this could work.
    Sasha glanced at the guard at the door. “Any sign?”
    “Not yet.” The Wolverine turned to continue staring out the screen.
    “All right, ladies, I have an idea.” Sasha motioned for the other two women to come closer.

Chapter Ten
     
    Where the hell were all the animals? Court slapped a branch away from his face. It snapped back, grazing his cheek as he walked past. He patted his pocket, finding the crinkle of plastic reassuring. Instead of checking a few trails, he should have gone back to camp like he’d intended. But the idea that his panther could be just beyond the trees was too enticing to pass up. Now it was late afternoon and he still had to figure out his cover story for Tim’s death. If they dragged the lake, after he reported the incident, and the body wasn’t exactly as he described, the police would arrest him. He’d watched enough of those cop shows to know he’d have to make the evidence match the story.
    The boat wouldn’t work as an alibi either. It wasn’t gator season. If he shot Tim and said they were hunting gators, shit, that’d be just as bad. Maybe not. He weighed the options in his mind—murder verses poaching. He reached in his pocket to pull the cigarette pack free and the soft box crumpled in his hand. Grunting, he tossed the pack behind him and trudged on. Fine fucking time to run out of cigs. He stopped. Self-defense that was all he had to do, claim Tim attacked him after they had a little squabble. Everyone knew Cajuns have hot tempers. He’d just play up the stereotype. One shot to the head or the heart. Tim showed him the ins and outs of the hunting business. It was the least he could do to make the man’s death quick and painless. Yeah, he’d shoot him at camp instead. If he wasn’t mistaken there was a rusty old ax by the dock. He could plant that in Tim’s hand.
    Court started walking, quickening his step. Damn, perhaps he should wait until they caught the panther. Hunting that monster alone would be a real bitch. He sucked in a deep breath. With all the idea’s tumbling through in his brain, he was getting ahead of himself. First, he would solidify a plan, and then he would take care of gathering the necessary tools. From there it would just be a case of executing his scheme.
    He needed to hurry back to the fish camp. If he went in search of everything, Tim would wonder what the hell he was doing. The Judge bumped his hip reassuring him. He caressed the cool metal.
    “Soon, baby,” he cooed.
    Perhaps he’d use his handgun on Tim, too. His friend deserved to be shot with the best weapon possible. He adjusted his growing erection. The idea of the firing off two shots excited him. There was no time to give into his baser emotions. He could do that as a reward when he completed his little projects.
    He broke through the foliage into the open area around the camp and immediately spotted Tim sitting on an old bucket and leaning over a stump he turned into a makeshift table. Brown and white fur lay at his feet. Disappointment whipped through him. He’d hurried for nothing. Court rubbed his jaw. No, he could still make his plans work.
    Tim had skinned one animal and it sat it on the side of the stump. He’d leaned the barrel of the rifle on the wood close at hand. An easy smile bloomed across his face when he lifted his head. “Hey, I thought something might have got a hold of you. I was ’bout to come looking for ya after I got supper on.” He held up the raw meat. “Squirrel was the only thing I managed to find. It’s like the animals suddenly went into hiding.”
    Court nodded. “Yeah I noticed. I went down a few trails to see if