Bear Claw (7 page)

“How long?”

“We don’t know yet. Neither of us got to talk to him before he left. He asked that we watch his house.”

Aubrey nodded. Jamie knew she had to work through her feelings. He and Cody were used to Zak disappearing. The first time Zak had been called away after Cody and Aubrey had gotten together had been hard on her. She still worried constantly.

Now she would have to go through it all again.

“Relax,” Aubrey said softly. “I knew he would have to work undercover again. We talked about it after the last time.”

Cody patted her hand. Waving to the table, he said, “Let’s sit.”

They all settled around the dark-wood table sipping coffee. Jamie blew on the liquid, cooling it as he thought about how to start.

“Well?” Aubrey asked impatiently.

“This morning one of my team members found a connection to some vandalism done to the property of shifter registration supporters.”

Aubrey leaned forward. “And?”

“The reports state that bears knocked over trash and caused a mess but no damage.” He laid it all out for them. It was easy to watch Aubrey’s expressions as she put what he told her together with her own case.

“The teenagers. They don’t want to hurt anyone but they’re trying to find something to use against the humans.”

“That’s what I think too.”

Frowning, Aubrey sat back. “But why? What could they possibly hope to find? And why run away?”

“That’s the mystery.” Jamie nodded. “I found one more missing bear shifter. He was nineteen and stopped showing up for classes at the university. He’s older than your boys but his disappearance matches all the signs from your cases.”

“Maybe the ring leader?” Cody suggested.

“Possible. Or he could be the connection to the boys and whoever is in charge,” Jamie told them.

“What a mess,” Aubrey replied. “The good news is that if the boys are involved in the vandalism they are still alive.”

“For now,” Cody added. “Whatever the end game is, you still have to find these boys. They’re minors.”

“I know. I need to talk to Sophia, who is the sister of the second boy. See if she knows of any older men her brother had started to hang out with or maybe someone who had visited the university. Let me grab my notebook.” Aubrey stood then hurried out of the kitchen.

Jamie took a moment to look around the cozy room. “I like this place. Maybe, if you talk Aubrey into moving, I’ll buy it.”

Cody grunted. “We’re putting the house-hunting on hold for now.”

Picking up his mug, Jamie hid his smile.

“Shut up,” Cody groused.

“Didn’t say a word,” he pointed out.

“This house means a lot to her.”

“I know.” Jamie set his coffee down. “I think it’s good that you stay here.”

Aubrey rejoined them. Not only did she have her notebook but also her laptop and some folders.

“You’re going to talk to the university? What is the kid’s name?”

“Victor Douglas,” he provided.

Aubrey wrote down the name. “Okay, let’s go through this again.”

Jamie had to admire Aubrey’s work ethic. If anyone would find out what was going on, it would be her. Not for the first time, he thought how good of an agent Aubrey would make.

“You might want to stop by the meeting tomorrow at the library,” Jamie suggested.

“I heard about that.” She glanced up. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Hey.” Jamie shifted in his chair. “This is a serious discussion about protesting the legislation. There will be too many people there who want to stop this proposal from going through. I thought we should support the part of our community that is supporting us.”

“Uh-huh.” Aubrey raised an eyebrow. “So you’ll be on duty. No flirting or checking out the pretty little librarian?”

“Well, I was going to go anyway so it’s not like I will really be on duty. I thought you two might want to stop by.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” Cody promised.

Jamie groaned.

“I do remember someone giving me a hard time when I first saw Aubrey again,” Cody told him.

“Not sure what you’re talking about,” Jamie lied, grinning.

Snorting, Aubrey pointed her pen at him. “Watch it. I know all your secrets too.”

Jamie and Cody exchanged an amused look and started laughing. Aubrey was in no way a gentle touch. She was a hard-hitting, stubborn force to be reckoned with.

“Jackasses,” she muttered. However, the sparkle in her gaze showed her delight.

He was glad he’d stopped by. Not only would they be able to work on the cases but also being around his two friends lightened some of the nervousness he had each time he thought about the next night.

After he saw Brandy at the meeting, there would be no denying who he was. She would know for certain that he was a shifter and part of the Coalition. He still had to believe that she would be okay with those two aspects of his life.

He had never defined himself by his shifter status or his job. Like his tattoos and bike weren’t who he was. Those were just small parts of the whole man. He prayed that Brandy would get that. No one ever had in the past. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. His friends and Aubrey saw through all of that stuff.

Now, putting his heart on the line, he had to take a chance. Brandy would be worth it. He knew it down in his bones. The bear inside wanted to claim and mate with the human.

For the first time in his life, he was looking to the future.

“Hey! Stop mooning over your girl and get back to work,” Aubrey ordered.

He glanced up, surprised he’d lost himself in his thoughts.

Aubrey smiled warmly at him. He nodded. Yeah, things had to work out.

Chapter Six

Brandy watched the last of the library patrons leave the main desk. She stretched her arms over her head and rolled her neck.

It had been a crazy, busy day. Word had gotten around about the meeting and all the regulars as well as some new supporters had asked about attending.

Chris hadn’t returned her call but she wasn’t worried. He had been busy. She’d driven into work earlier and noticed posters all over the neighborhood between her house and the library. Judging by the number of people who had called and stopped by, Brandy expected a good turnout.

She only had about thirty minutes until people would start arriving. Heading toward the large open area that they used for meetings and plays for the children, Brandy cataloged what would need to be done.

More chairs, for sure.
Turning the corner, she almost ran into Betty and Cam. “Oh, sorry!”

The women laughed.

“Lost in thought?” Betty asked.

“I’m trying to make a mental list of what I need to prepare everyone’s arrival,” Brandy explained. “Are you heading out?”

“Actually,” Cam spoke up, “I was going to hang around. I’d like to stay and check out the meeting.”

“That’s great,” Brandy said with enthusiasm. She was surprised that the younger woman wanted to join. Cam was the newest employee at the library and only worked part time, as she also attended classes at the university. She hadn’t been very social so far but Brandy really liked the girl. “Betty?”

“No, I’m heading home. Phil will want dinner soon.”

Brandy wasn’t surprised the older woman wasn’t staying. Anytime shifters were brought up, Betty never said anything against them but she also didn’t seem supportive.

“Well, great. Tell Phil I said hi.”

“I will, honey.” Betty slowly headed toward the front door.

“Can you help me pull out some chairs?” Brandy asked Cam. “I expect a pretty good crowd.”

“Sure.”

With Cam’s aid, Brandy went to work dragging extra seats from the utility closet and lining them all along the walls, making rows.

* * * *

“I want to thank everyone for coming. This turnout is more than I expected. We need all of you. Contact your friends and family. Talk to your co-workers. It’s going to take everything we have to make sure this proposed legislation does not pass.” Chris paused and looked around.

Brandy wondered what he was searching for.

“Right now we are passing out a copy of the legal document that has been submitted. Read this carefully. Pay close attention to the wording.”

Brandy glanced at the pages someone had handed her.

“Attached is a list of supporters. You’ll see they have power and money behind them.”

Flipping to the next paper, Brandy gaped in awe. As Chris continued to talk, she read the names of supporters for shifter registration. She wasn’t surprised to see her family’s name now that she knew about William’s involvement. It certainly didn’t make the sick feeling in her stomach feel any better.

They had a battle ahead of them.

“We’ve been fighting for rights groups all through history. Judging someone because of their skin color, race or sexual orientation has gone on for thousands of years. Now there are people out there who want to do the same to shifters.”

She had to give her cousin credit. He made a very good argument. Peering out at the gathering, she watched the faces of people as they listened. Her gaze found Jamie’s in the crowd.

His eyes weren’t on Chris but on her. She smiled and was pleased when he returned the gesture. The anxiety she’d been feeling for the last twenty-four hours seemed to lift a little.

It didn’t matter what her parents thought. Joining the fight to protect the shifters was the right thing to do.

“We’re organizing a benefit to gain supporters and attention. We ask anyone who is able to donate their time to help. Make calls, sell tickets, walk the streets handing out flyers. Anything you can do
will
help. I’m going to let Drew Bridges take over now and give us some more insight. Drew is an attorney and a shifter. He can answer any questions you have about the legal issues we might come across and insight into the shifter point of view.”

As Chris stepped down, Brandy gave her attention back to the front of the room. She hadn’t known Drew was a shifter. She wondered if she would ever figure out how to tell.

But it didn’t matter now, did it? The entire point of this meeting was to give the shifters the same rights as everyone else.

“Good turnout,” Chris whispered as he joined her.

Brandy moved closer so their shoulders brushed. “I’m proud of you.”

“Really?” Chris peeked up at her through his bangs. “I don’t think you’ve ever said that to me.”

“If I haven’t then I should have. You were right when you said we’ve been fighting for rights one way or the other. Women couldn’t vote at one time. This change has to start somewhere. I don’t know if people will ever learn to stop judging one another for being different.
I’m proud of you
.”

“I am proud of you too,” Chris said quietly.

“Me?” Brandy scoffed. “I haven’t done anything. I hide behind my books and writing. I’m not active in causes like you are.”

“No, but you always give everyone a fair chance. You care about what’s inside someone. I don’t know where you get that from, because God knows it wasn’t inherited. You don’t judge. And I love you because of that.”

Warmth filled Brandy. The sick feeling completely left her. As close as she was to her cousin, he’d never said anything like this to her, either. “Thank you,” she said, choking up a little. She bumped him.

“Besides,” he said, throwing an arm around Brandy’s shoulder, “think of all the good things you’d miss out on by being close-minded and bigoted like our family.”

“Like getting arrested for freeing lab test animals. Oh, no. How about chaining myself to a tree to save the park from being removed and paved over for a new shopping mall.”

“Yes, all good things, but I meant more of whom you would have missed meeting.”

Brandy knew where this was going. “Chris…”

“He’s very good-looking. Has a solid, important job. Helps people. You could do a lot worse.”

“I don’t know what is going on with us. Until recently, he’s been standoffish for months.”

“Well, he did have a pretty big secret. It can’t be easy telling someone you can turn into an animal. Hey, that reminds me, do you know what he is yet?”

“No.” Brandy blushed and dropped her head after those closest to her glanced her way. She pinched Chris’ side. “Stop it.”

He shook with silent laughter.

“I hate you,” she grumbled.

“No, you don’t. You love me,” Christ argued. “And you are dying to know.”

He was right. It
was
killing her not knowing. The most notable shifters were the wolves and cats. Somehow, she knew those animals weren’t Jamie.

“Well, tonight’s your chance,” Chris told her.

“What do you mean?”

“He can’t keep his eyes off you.”

Brandy chanced a quick look in Jamie’s direction and saw that Chris was right. While Jamie wasn’t staring at them, he was skimming his gaze over the crowd to land back on her.

“Brandy’s going to get laid,” Chris teased, barely above a whisper.

“If you embarrass me, I’ll kill you,” she threatened.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He squeezed her. “Drew’s wrapping up.”

Damn, she’d missed everything that had been said. From the nods and applause, she took it that Drew had done well. She had to pay attention. Which was a lot easier said than done with Jamie on the other side of the room.

Jamie couldn’t keep his gaze off Brandy. She’d started off leaning against a wall until her cousin had joined her. He couldn’t hear what was being said, even with his superior hearing, but Brandy had blushed several times.

She also kept sneaking peeks at him. He clapped along with everyone else as the gray fox shifter finished. He hadn’t heard much of what the man had said.

Chris returned to the front of the room and opened the meeting to questions. Jamie crossed his arms over his chest and relaxed as the room buzzed with excitement.

There were several good inquiries and Chris handled them well. He was organized and passionate. As the gathering started to come to an end, Jaime pushed off the wall and started strolling closer to Brandy.

Thanking everyone for stopping by and encouraging them to sign up as volunteers, Chris concluded things. Brandy nodded at a few people closest to her then walked slowly in his direction.