Wild Card by Mark Henwick, Lauren Sweet Page A

of help, but I didn’t think experience in a lab made her capable of a forensics investigation. I had already gotten used to working with the Athanate, who seemed to have experts on tap in any field that was needed. Obviously, the Weres’ resources were a bit more limited. It was going to take some adjusting.
     “One last thing I want to say. We need to keep this investigation close. This rogue has been careful and clever to get away with this for so long, right under the noses of the pack and the police. It’s a slim advantage, but he doesn’t know we’re hunting him. He doesn’t even know we’re aware of him. If he does find out, he might disappear or hide his tracks even better.”
    “A rogue’s dangerous and unpredictable,” Alex said. “If he finds out we’re hunting him, his reaction may be to eliminate the threat. Or attack any point of weakness.”
    Whether Alex meant it that way or not, it meant Jen was a vulnerability for me. Alex could take care of himself. Pia and David were tougher than they appeared, but Jen’s battles had all been fought in boardrooms. Julie’s role as close protection was becoming more vital to my sense of balance. I’d have to keep her briefed on this hunt as well as what was happening with Matlal remnants and Nagas.
    I wanted to help her get Keith back, but how would I hold on to her after that?
    And what about Mom and Kath?
    I finished my main course lost in thought, while the others talked, but when my plate was cleared away, the only conclusion I had reached was that getting the rogue off the street needed to be done faster.
    The staff were trying to tempt me with the dessert menu when Alex and Ricky politely excused themselves: Alex stepped outside to return a business call, Ricky to wander around to the other tables, talking to the customers.
    “It’s his place,” said Olivia, when I asked. “That’s where the nickname Ricky comes from, the name of the place—y’know, Tallrik, tall Ricky. Sten Tallrik actually means Stone Plate; it’s the signature dish. The pack loves coming here.”
    Even while she was talking to me, her eyes were following Ricky. I smiled.
    “You two an item?”
    “What? Oh, no. I don’t think he wants to.”
    I snorted. I’d seen the furtive looks when he thought no one would notice. “He wants to.”
    “Ah.” Olivia sat back and went all thoughtful, teasing a spike of her hair down the middle of her forehead.
    Since we’d been abandoned, and only because of that, I ordered a chocolate fudge cake dessert with ice cream. Olivia asked for a second spoon.
    “Sex on a plate,” she groaned, and I had to spoon-fight to keep her out of my portion. “Which is the only place I’m getting it at the moment.”
    “Hey, take the initiative. I would.”
    “Hussy. Is that what you did with Alex?”
    “I would have, if I’d had a chance.”
    She giggled, and then went quiet for second before shocking me. “Well, what if I asked you to kiss me?” She blushed.
    Crap. I thought I’d gotten the pheromones under better control.
    “No, not for real,” she said when I frowned. “Screen kiss.”
    “Why?”
    “It works for Alex. I bet it’ll work for Ricky.”
    I felt as if I’d missed a vital sentence and lost the thread of the conversation.
    “What?”
    She leaned in. “They were talking earlier, when I got here. Ricky’s teasing Alex about your other kin.”
    “Jen?”
    “Yeah. Alex ‘s getting so hot and bothered about the thought of you and her. Girl, you are not safe when he’s around.”
    I laughed. “Bring it on. What’d Ricky think?”
    Olivia looked away and played with her drink. I let her mull it over and when she turned back she edged closer and dropped her voice.
    “I’m not in the pack, but I get to meet all of them. I think they’re kinda on Alex’s side. I know Ricky is.”
    “Interesting.” I smiled at Ricky across the length of the restaurant, which I reckoned would be almost as effective as kissing Olivia.