the great room. Whatever had removed all noise from my world and put everything in slow motion had released its hold.
I picked up my cell phone with a sense of inevitability and dialed the phone number imprinted on the notepad. TWTW. I knew who I was calling even before the rich, deep voice answered the phone.
“The Way They Were Safaris. How may I help you?” he asked solicitously, pronouncing it “where.” As in werewolves.
“May I help you?” he asked again.
“Oh, sorry. I was wondering about a tour for tonight. I only need one ticket.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. The last tour leaves in a few minutes and is booked solid. After that, we’re closed until Friday. We don’t take tours on the full moon or the two nights leading up to it. Too dangerous, you know.”
He said it with just a hint of laughter in his voice, conspiratorially. As though we both knew he was teasing, but he needed to keep up the charade. I wasn’t so sure he was teasing, but if he was, it was a good gimmick to keep up the illusion.
I used the same teasing note. “Please? Isn’t there anything I can do to convince you? Isn’t there a special price I could pay?”
“No, it’s an absolute rule, ma’am. I can squeeze you in on Friday, if you only need one ticket and you don’t mind joining a family of five. Would you like me to hold the ticket for you?” he asked.
I closed my eyes, let my mind flow, and reached for that place that sometimes told me things. The place that told me secrets about strangers. The man on the phone believed he was telling the truth. He wouldn’t sell me a ticket for tonight. Whatever was happening out there, this man at least believed that the next three nights would be dangerous.
“Ma’am,” he prompted.
“Oh, sorry. I was just looking at my calendar. I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay one more night. Are you sure? Could I look around during the day tomorrow, instead?”
Warm laughter floated over the line. “I’m sure. Tonight’s booked, and we’re closed up tight for the next three days. I’m sorry it won’t work out this time. Maybe the next time you’re in the area. Just don’t make it a full moon. Have a nice day,” he said and ended the connection.
I wasn’t so easily discouraged. I knew where I would be come this full moon.
Jason had been one of mine. I would find out what happened.
Chapter Nine
I woke at my new usual time and greeted Aaron when he delivered the breakfast trays. Gabrielle was due in today, and I planned to take advantage of her presence to do a little shopping and a little snooping. It must have been purely coincidental that most of the items on my shopping list came from businesses that Jason had visited in his research.
I heard the front door open and Quinn entered for his usual coffee and bagel. He was first on my “To Do” list for the day. So to speak. I blushed a little at the images that I conjured in my mind. I hadn’t meant it that way. Really .
“Good morning, Quinn.”
“Miss Carmichael,” he said without looking up from his newspaper.
Hmm… I could stay formal. I tried again. “Sheriff, have you found anything out about Jason’s murder?” I asked.
“No,” Quinn said and turned the page.
He wasn’t going to make this easy. I refilled my coffee, but instead of returning to my usual table, I sat at Quinn’s. When his reluctant gaze met mine, I struggled to keep my breathing even. Looking into those eyes, watching his lips curve into a cruel imitation of a smile, I felt as if I had just put myself in the cage of a very hungry tiger. Instinctively, I reached out a hand and placed it on his arm, hoping to calm the angry beast that I sensed just below the surface. I pulled my hand back immediately, as though I’d received an electric shock.
His smile was mocking. “A new game, Miss Carmichael? I confess I can’t see the purpose, but maybe it’s all the thrill of the hunt for you.”
Stung, I fought the urge to strike
I picked up my cell phone with a sense of inevitability and dialed the phone number imprinted on the notepad. TWTW. I knew who I was calling even before the rich, deep voice answered the phone.
“The Way They Were Safaris. How may I help you?” he asked solicitously, pronouncing it “where.” As in werewolves.
“May I help you?” he asked again.
“Oh, sorry. I was wondering about a tour for tonight. I only need one ticket.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. The last tour leaves in a few minutes and is booked solid. After that, we’re closed until Friday. We don’t take tours on the full moon or the two nights leading up to it. Too dangerous, you know.”
He said it with just a hint of laughter in his voice, conspiratorially. As though we both knew he was teasing, but he needed to keep up the charade. I wasn’t so sure he was teasing, but if he was, it was a good gimmick to keep up the illusion.
I used the same teasing note. “Please? Isn’t there anything I can do to convince you? Isn’t there a special price I could pay?”
“No, it’s an absolute rule, ma’am. I can squeeze you in on Friday, if you only need one ticket and you don’t mind joining a family of five. Would you like me to hold the ticket for you?” he asked.
I closed my eyes, let my mind flow, and reached for that place that sometimes told me things. The place that told me secrets about strangers. The man on the phone believed he was telling the truth. He wouldn’t sell me a ticket for tonight. Whatever was happening out there, this man at least believed that the next three nights would be dangerous.
“Ma’am,” he prompted.
“Oh, sorry. I was just looking at my calendar. I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay one more night. Are you sure? Could I look around during the day tomorrow, instead?”
Warm laughter floated over the line. “I’m sure. Tonight’s booked, and we’re closed up tight for the next three days. I’m sorry it won’t work out this time. Maybe the next time you’re in the area. Just don’t make it a full moon. Have a nice day,” he said and ended the connection.
I wasn’t so easily discouraged. I knew where I would be come this full moon.
Jason had been one of mine. I would find out what happened.
Chapter Nine
I woke at my new usual time and greeted Aaron when he delivered the breakfast trays. Gabrielle was due in today, and I planned to take advantage of her presence to do a little shopping and a little snooping. It must have been purely coincidental that most of the items on my shopping list came from businesses that Jason had visited in his research.
I heard the front door open and Quinn entered for his usual coffee and bagel. He was first on my “To Do” list for the day. So to speak. I blushed a little at the images that I conjured in my mind. I hadn’t meant it that way. Really .
“Good morning, Quinn.”
“Miss Carmichael,” he said without looking up from his newspaper.
Hmm… I could stay formal. I tried again. “Sheriff, have you found anything out about Jason’s murder?” I asked.
“No,” Quinn said and turned the page.
He wasn’t going to make this easy. I refilled my coffee, but instead of returning to my usual table, I sat at Quinn’s. When his reluctant gaze met mine, I struggled to keep my breathing even. Looking into those eyes, watching his lips curve into a cruel imitation of a smile, I felt as if I had just put myself in the cage of a very hungry tiger. Instinctively, I reached out a hand and placed it on his arm, hoping to calm the angry beast that I sensed just below the surface. I pulled my hand back immediately, as though I’d received an electric shock.
His smile was mocking. “A new game, Miss Carmichael? I confess I can’t see the purpose, but maybe it’s all the thrill of the hunt for you.”
Stung, I fought the urge to strike
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