Doe and the Wolf (Furry United Coalition, #5) (10 page)

A flash went off, temporarily blinding her, and it was that image that went viral, not just in the morning edition of the paper but everywhere. Overnight, she became a YouTube sensation as someone who’d caught footage of the chase posted it. She also made the front page news.

Dawn groaned when she read the article the next day over breakfast.

Local Resident Takes Down Serial Purse Snatcher

Dawn Johnson, wife of Everett Johnson, owner and bounty hunter for Lone Wolf Agency, took down Juno Smith last night, teaching the youth that not all women are easy prey...

The article went on at length about her heroic act and bravery. They even had a picture of the cops shaking her hand for helping them catch the wanted criminal.

Everett sulked at the breakfast table as he pushed around the scrambled eggs on his plate. “I can’t believe our plan got screwed.”

“I don’t see what the problem is,” she said as she sipped at her coffee. “You wanted us to do something to get noticed. We got noticed.”

“But I was supposed to be the hero.” His disgruntlement at not being the star of the show showed clearly.

Men! They could be such babies sometimes. “Get over it. You’re a wolf. You should be used to being the bad guy.”

“First off, I am really tired of the stereotype.”

“Says the guy who uses it to his advantage whenever he can.”

“And secondly,” he continued as if he’d not heard her, “what on earth possessed you to tell them we were married?”

Dawn choked on her coffee. “Yeah. Sorry about that. When they asked my name, I panicked. I didn’t want to give them my real last name, and the first one I could think of was yours. Is it my fault they assumed we were a couple?”

“You didn’t correct them.”

“I don’t see the big deal. I got your name and the agency in the article. Wasn’t that the whole point?”

“And now thousands of women think I’m off the menu.”

She snorted. “You’re worried about your ability to get laid?”

Tom, who’d remained silent up to this point as he read the paper and ate, jumped in. “Actually, Everett, this might work in your favor. Lots of women find married guys attractive, but now you have an excuse not to get serious.”

“You are not helping,” Everett growled.

“Besides, you’ve got more important things to worry about than whose face got in the paper and your new marital status. Some FUC agents called and left a message on our office machine. Apparently a pair of them are in town, and they want to meet with us to discuss the ongoing shifter hunt.”

Before Dawn could bolt from her chair to the back door as self-preservation kicked in, Everett clamped a hand on her arm and held her down. “Sit. There’s no need to panic and jump to conclusions. We don’t know that they’re here about you.”

“They must have seen the article. They’re probably here to take me down.” She almost hyperventilated as she couldn’t help but imagine the worst-case scenarios.

“Considering they asked to meet Everett and me at a local pancake house, I doubt it,” Tom replied. “So don’t get your panties in a knot just yet.”

“What if that’s just to throw us off? What if they’re surrounding the house as we speak?” Dawn’s eyes darted to the nearest window and peered with suspicion at the patch of bare grass studded with weeds that comprised Everett’s back yard.

“I hardly doubt they’d warn us they were here if they planned to arrest you,” Tom remarked dryly. “Use your head, doe, for something other than a wig rack.”

Dawn glared at Tom, who simply ignored her.

“When do they want to meet?” Everett asked.

“In about a half hour.”

“We’d better get ready then.” Everett stood, but something about the way Dawn kept eyeing the back door with longing must have tipped him off that she still considered flight.

“Don’t you even think of it, little doe.”

“I won’t just sit around and wait for them to show up to arrest me.”

“No one’s arresting you. And, even if they did, I’d call in some favors and make sure you got a fair shake.”

“How reassuring.” Her sarcasm came through loud and clear.

Everett dropped to his knees beside her and caught her gaze. “I mean it, Dawn. No one’s going to hurt you. Not if you trust me and stay put while we go listen to what they say. Run, though, and they’ll assume you’re guilty and come after you, possibly with guns blazing.”

“Your pep talk skills suck.”

“Just being honest.”

“For once,” Tom muttered.

“Trust me.”

Peering into his eyes, she could see he meant what he said. He wouldn’t let them harm her. Big bad wolf or not, his word meant something, and she was tired of running. She nodded.

“Good girl. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”

“With a doggie bag?”

“Filled with Danishes,” he solemnly promised.

Off to the pancake house Everett and Tom went to meet with the FUC agents while Dawn remained at his home, alone, bored, and out of things to clean.

The floors in every room sparkled, and while they could use a coat of wax, they at least no longer wore a layer of clutter. All of the dishes were washed and put away. His bathroom was sterilized to the point a person could have eaten off the floor. Laundry was on the go, and she had meat marinating for dinner.

Not a fan of television, and with nothing to read or anyone to cook for, Dawn moped.
I understand why he couldn’t bring me, but this whole waiting thing sucks.
A part of her would have preferred to be in on the action, to know what was going on.

Sure, he did her a favor by not letting the FUC agents see her. Still, though, after the excitement of the last few days, hanging by herself just didn’t have the same thrill. The very idea froze her.

Since when do I need a thrill?
Wasn’t she the one who used to advocate a calm life? Who argued the only thing she wanted was a white picket fence-existence, free of mini masterminds and monsters and horny wolves who hit on her every time they shared the same breathing space?

Is the fact I miss the hairy womanizer another symptom of my madness, or something more serious?
Something more dangerous than the arousal she couldn’t seem to stem around him.
Don’t tell me I’m falling for him?

He’d probably run, howling on four legs, if he suspected it.

The doorbell rang, and she wondered who it could be. Everett and Tom obviously wouldn’t ring for entry. What if it was FUC agents? Had they come to arrest her while the coast was clear?

What if it wasn’t? She needed to control her paranoia. Not everything that happened revolved around her. According to Everett, the world revolved around him.

The clock showed the time as eleven thirty-three. Prime time for door-to-door salesmen looking to prey on housewives. Heck, it could even be a reporter. She was, after all, a star now. A star who now needed to keep her head down. In that case, she should stay out of sight and let whoever it was think no one was at home.

But what if it was Joey? Hadn’t they done their media stint in the hope of flushing him? Maybe if he showed up, she could talk him into turning himself in without the need for violence. Promise him help for his condition so no one else needed to die.

Once it occurred to her, it became almost an imperative need to peek through the spyhole.
Must look. Can’t resist.

A lone, distinctly unattractive woman—and probably not one of Everett’s conquests—stood on the stoop, not Joey. Forget answering. Everett very specifically told her to stay out of sight. But the female at the door wasn’t very big, or scary looking, or well dressed either. Wringing her hands and casting worried glances up and down the street, she appeared nervous. Dawn couldn’t help but wonder if she needed help.

Indecision had her gnawing her lip.
How would I feel if I went to someone for help and no one bothered to listen?

Her conscience won over common sense and Everett’s orders. If it turned out the stranger outside was a reporter, Dawn would politely answer a few questions and then send her on her way. Pasting a smile on her lips, Dawn opened the door. A strong waft of perfume assailed her. She tried not to gag or wave her hand in front of her nose. Had the woman bathed in it?

“Can I help you?”

“Oh my,” tittered the stranger. “I was hoping for a big strong man. My car has a flat tire.”

“Sorry, but my, um, friend isn’t here at the moment.”

“Will he be back soon?”

Dawn shrugged. “Who knows?”

“Dear me. What shall I do?”

“Would you like to use my phone and call a repair service or something?”

“If it’s not too much trouble.”

“Hold on while I get the phone.”

Dawn had only taken a few steps when the door behind her slammed shut. Trepidation tickled up her spine as she spun around on a heel. The ugly woman stood in the front entrance, except she wasn’t quite a woman. Or so the wig being peeled from the bald head indicated. Glasses got flung to the side and...

Uh-oh. Even under the heavy, ill-applied makeup, she now recognized whom she faced.
Our plan to get someone’s attention worked.

“Joey.” She acknowledged him, and he beamed, his less-than-sane smile with its rouged lips creeping her right out.

“Yes, my dearest Dawn. It is I, come to save you from the vile clutches of the wolf.”

Vile clutches? Somehow she didn’t get the impression her old prison mate had come looking for assistance. “Oh.” More like a big fat uh-oh. “Um, thanks. But I don’t need saving. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine. Great actually.” She inched backward toward the kitchen, where an array of knives sat on the counter. She also mentally slapped herself in the forehead with several “duhs” for falling into the classic trap of a stupid, trusting woman. Maybe she’d ask Everett to punish her later, if she got a later.

“No need to pretend in front of me. The wolf is gone. I saw him leave a while ago. We’re alone. You can speak freely.”

“You’ve been watching us?” Creepier and creepier.

Joey didn’t seem to note her less-than-pleased response. He bobbed his head, looking more like a parrot in the moment than a gecko. “I found you last night after seeing your story on the evening news. How dare he mislead everyone into thinking you were his wife? I know he brought you here against your will, trying to keep us apart.”

Creepier and creepier. “Us?”

“Yes, my dearest Dawn.” Joey took a step forward, his expression fervent, and frightening. “I know I never said anything before, but surely you’ve felt it too. The instant connection. The lust. The rightness.”

Hmm, yes, she had, just not for Joey. But somehow, explaining that didn’t seem like the right thing to do at the moment, not if she planned to survive this encounter. She opted for a change of subject. “I’m actually here getting his help in negotiating with FUC. We’re on their most wanted list. If we turn ourselves in, apparently they can help us.” Okay, so she lied. She wasn’t about to let on that, given Joey’s crimes, he’d be lucky if he didn’t end up skinned and turned into a handbag.

“Help? I don’t need help, nor do I intend to let FUC get their hands on me. I like who I am.”

“You’re a giant lizard monster.” Possibly not the most diplomatic way of putting it, but she wondered if bluntness might prevail where doefooting wasn’t.

He didn’t take offense. Rather he beamed. “Isn’t it marvelous? I went from being a nobody, a harmless little pet afraid of just about every other shifter out there, to someone they fear. Why would I want to give that up?”

She pointed out the obvious flaw. “Because you’re killing people.”

“I was hungry.”

So much for rational logic. “Well, you should have hit a McDonald’s instead of dining out on campers. That kind of thing draws attention. There’s a warrant out for your capture, dead or alive.”

Out puffed his scrawny chest. “They can try. I’m not afraid.”

“That’s just it. You should be. These guys mean business. And they have guns. Lots of them. As a matter of fact, Everett’s one of those hunting you. You should leave before he comes homes and finds you here.”

“Let him come. If that mangy dog had not taken a coward’s path before and jumped off that cliff, I would have killed him. I can’t believe he survived, the rotten cur. Because I failed to finish him off, he got his dirty claws on you. For that, I blame myself. But never fear, my four-legged love. I won’t make the same mistake twice. Let the wolf come. I will rend him limb from limb and free you from his wretched clutches.”

How to answer that? Cheering on Joey’s plan seemed wrong, yet denying it would probably prove deadly. Where was a grumpy sloth with his shotgun when a girl needed a tie breaker?

“There’s really no need for violence.” Although she would have dearly loved a weapon right about now.

“Have I shocked your delicate sensibilities? I do apologize. Sometimes my violent nature takes even me by surprise. But I want you to know, you never have to fear me, Dawn. I want to protect you.” He smiled, an awful leering grin. Dawn couldn’t help but shiver before it.

He’s insane.
And had obviously read some really bad prose. Who the hell talked like that?

“Shall we wait for the wolf in the living room, or would you prefer we adjourn somewhere more
comfortable
?” He waggled his lopsided brows, and Dawn couldn’t take it anymore. Stomach churning with nausea and fear, she turned tail, making a dash for the kitchen.

She launched herself at the block of knives, knocking them over in the process. The sharp blades skittered across the counter. Scrabbling, she managed to close her trembling fingers around the handle of one. She turned and brandished it before her. Joey, who’d scurried after her, halted.

“What are you doing?”

“Stand back, or else,” she threatened, waving the blade in his direction.

The confusion on Joey’s face lasted only a moment before anger set in. “What are you doing, Dawn?”

“You need to leave.”

“Not without you.”

She shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Wrong answer.

Nostrils flaring, and his left eye twitching, Joey took a step toward her. “Don’t make me angry. I can’t always control myself when I’m angry, and I don’t want to hurt you.”