WereCat Fever (4 page)

“Neither do I. I think I was in shock after my father died. But I had Thomas and you and Donna. You all rallied round like my own protective superheroes.”

“I like that,” Thomas said. “Superheroes, huh?”

“Since we’re finally talking about this. Did any of you ever think Bryan had anything to do with my father’s death, like Tory insinuated?”

Keiran and Thomas glanced silently at each other. Thomas pushed the recliner up and walked over to Lacey. He got down on one knee so he was eye level with her and said, “No, we didn’t. Whatever happened, Bryan never would have hurt your dad.”

“Even the sheriff said it was a wild animal attack.”

“Don’t you think Bryan going missing, and then having several of Cauldwell’s men find my father dead out near the caves, was suspicious? We went there all the time.”

Thomas got up and paced. “If anything, it looked like a setup.”

Lacey shook her head. As bad as that week had been, she never envisioned it ending that way.

“Something bothering you, Lacey?” Keiran asked.

“Nothing really. It’s just, after all this time, I still have so many unanswered questions. I thought maybe you guys had some thoughts. I know you’re afraid I’m too fragile to discuss this—”

“No, never fragile,” Thomas said. “Hurt, yes. We’re your friends and we see how painful it all is…still.”

Keiran took Lacey’s hand. “You finished that master’s program and went on to earn a PhD in record time, but you substituted work for living. You haven’t moved on with your life. Those unresolved issues keep you trapped in the past. I think it’ll be good to discuss them.”

“Thank you, Dr. Keiran.” Lacey patted her friend’s hand in return and chuckled. “You really got something out of that Psych 101 class.”

“Keiran’s right, Lace.”

“I know she is,” Lacey admitted. That week forced her to mature fast. She learned a few of life’s lessons the hard way. One—love doesn’t last forever—and two—you can survive without a heart. But one thing she needed was answers. She was sick and, thinking back, it was all related.

“Although I may never find answers to all my questions, I want to start looking. Thomas is right. I need closure.”

Thomas, as always, just said, “Count me in.”

“What do you need from us?” Keiran asked.

“I’m not sure, but I trust your instincts. Talk to people this weekend. There will be friends here we haven’t seen for a while. Maybe they remember something from back then. We need to pick their brains.”

“What exactly are we looking for?” Thomas asked.

“Information about the days before or after that week.” Lacey was frustrated. “I’m a biologist, not a detective, Thomas. I know how to do research studies, but I’m not sure how to go about a cold case investigation. Maybe it’s the same.”

“Squirt can ask Jack. He’s a detective with the sheriff’s department. Maybe he’ll help.”

Lacey’s research for the Department of Fish and Wildlife took up her life outside the ranch. She had friends and a small social life. Hell, she wasn’t a martyr. She wanted her life back. There were things she could deal with and some things she couldn’t. Now she wanted answers.

Reflection made her angry about all she’d lost. She turned the picture frame face down on her desk. There weren’t many reminders of her father or Bryan left sitting around the house anymore.

Lacey sighed. “Only if we stay below the sheriff’s radar. He’ll be pissed if he finds out we’re meddling and Jack’s involved.”

“We’ll get Donna involved. You know she loves a good mystery.” Thomas added, “And she’ll be pissed as hell if we don’t include her.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll convince Jack. I have magical powers of persuasion where he’s concerned.” Keiran put her arms around Lacey. “I’m glad you’ve decided to take action. I suddenly feel empowered.”

“Squirt, your level of enthusiasm is empowering.” Thomas ruffled Keiran’s short, dark hair. It didn’t make any difference in her pixie-like appearance.

“Good. Now that we’re all empowered, and that’s all settled, let’s talk about something else.” Lacey blinked back happy tears and laughed. Moving forward with a plan felt like the right thing to do.

“We could talk about what’s going on with your blood tests,” Thomas said, cocking his head to one side, “but I’m not sure that’s any more uplifting. You look like shit, girl.”

“Thank you for mentioning it.” Lacey smoothed out her hair. “Maybe it’s because I feel worse today than yesterday.”

“Drink your tea. Should I get your pills?” Keiran jumped up.

Lacey looked at the grandfather clock and motioned for Keiran to sit. “In a minute. It’s almost time.”

“Are you documenting your symptoms like Doc suggested?” Thomas asked.

“Yes.” She grew testy thinking about her symptoms and Bryan. “I’m hot. I hate this time of year.”

“Is it the weather or is your fever back?” Thomas asked.

“I don’t know,” Lacey said on a sigh.

“Really?” Thomas knew just how to hold her feet to the fire. “What’s your temperature?”

“I haven’t taken it.” Lacey checked her temperature with the back of her hand. God, she was burning up. “Hot.”

“What kind of scientist documents data with a general adjective?” Thomas asked.

“I know it’s not very accurate, but I’m definitely hot,” she said.

“Then we better document your symptoms for Doc.” Keiran said.

“Fine. The thermometer in the kitchen drawer came with a chart. I’ll get it.”

“I’ll come with you,” Keiran said.

“Me, too,” said Thomas with a sarcastic lilt. Wearing a smirk, he rolled his eyes in Keiran’s direction as he led the way into the kitchen. “We’ll help.”

After rummaging through the contents of the junk drawer, Keiran announced, “I’ve got it.” Sure enough, she found the thermometer, chart, and a pen. Her expression looked like she’d found gold.

“You’re so cute, Squirt. I love your exuberance.”

Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m charting my own temperatures. Jack and I are trying to get pregnant.”

“Whoa, did you need to share that?” Thomas cringed. “I’m picturing sex with a clinical detachment. I’m picturing scrubs with tie pants and nothing beneath… Okay, I’m feeling better.”

“You are such a slut, Thomas. Keiran, ignore him.”

“I am. Don’t worry. I’m a pro at this.” Keiran put the chart on the counter and rinsed the thermometer at the sink before she said, “Open, Lace. No talking.”

“Well, this is one way to keep Lacey quiet.” Thomas tickled her, and Lacey smacked his shoulder.

“Leave the patient alone,” Keiran said. “The last time Lacey manifested these symptoms, Doc suspected she picked up something from the wild cats out at the sanctuary—like a virile form of cat scratch fever or something.”

“Nothing turned up in her blood work back then.”

“How did you know?”

“Good guess.” Thomas looked uncomfortable.

“Well, they chalked it up to PMS, put her on birth control pills, and they worked until the brand was taken off the market five months ago. Her bouts with the abdominal cramps started again.”

The thermometer beeped. Lacey took the thermometer out of her mouth and said, “Hello! I’m right here. Stop talking about me like I’m not.”

“What’s it say?” Keiran asked.

“102 degrees.”

“That’s not good, is it?” Thomas said.

“Nope. It’s up from 101.5 degrees last month.” Keiran announced after reading the chart.

Lacey wrote the new numbers and her symptoms on the chart then put her arms around her friends’ shoulders. “Okay, time for you two to go home. I’m going to do paperwork and rest.” As an afterthought, she reminded them, “Don’t forget what I said about asking questions this weekend.”

“We can take a hint.” Keiran smiled and hugged Lacey. “Feel better.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow at the planning meeting, right?” Thomas started out the door, but stopped. “I’m just down the road if you need anything. Call me.”

“I will. And Thomas? Ask Kirk if he has time to look at my AC this week?

“I’ll look—”

“Thanks. But no thanks. Kirk said he would. You can take care of me, buddy.” She kissed Thomas on the cheek. “Okay?”

“’Kay.”

Lacey walked her friends to the door and waved as they left. This made the fifth month she’d been off the pills and the fourth month she’d been ill. Contraception hadn’t been an issue since her libido disappeared with Bryan. But the hormones kept her symptoms away.

Doc Wells had no idea what was causing her illness. Her new symptoms and the old cramps began after the weak spells, nightmares, and changes in her vision. Those weren’t her only symptoms, but if she ever put the others into words, someone would lock her up and throw away the key.

The doc had tried her on different medications and various doses, but, since coming off the hormones, nothing worked. At least she wasn’t dizzy or blacking out again. Yet.

She took the prescription out of the cabinet, opened a cool bottle of water from the fridge, and poured out the pills Doc prescribed. The new medication eased the monthly abdominal cramps. She tossed back the medication and water in one big gulp. The pink pill kept the fever down and the other helped the cramps—a little.

She was afraid the old doctor was right. Until they identified the ailment, they could only treat the symptoms. Many of the symptoms started with the mountain lion scratch. But they’d have to wait on the CDC. The results from last month’s blood tests were due back any day.

The AC was on and blowing, but her forehead and upper lip still felt warm and damp. When she checked, the filter was clear. So, she pressed her hand over the AC vent. Yup, sure enough the force was strong, but not cool enough.

Kirk would take a look and correct anything that he found needed fixing. Normally she went to Thomas for help, but his brother was much handier with mechanical stuff. Thomas didn’t normally like getting his hands dirty. He was more suited to the chain of nightclubs he owned in Denver, Dallas, and Austin. He ran the operations from Wilding’s Plain while Kirk ran their cattle ranch. Their parents were still living, but moved to Arctic, Colorado after their father suffered a serious heart attack three years ago. Lacey still missed having them around for support.

Without the darn AC working up to snuff and with the dust from the drought blowing outside, she longed to find a cool place where she could rest in a safe spot outdoors. Sometimes her small ranch house felt too confining at night. Last month, she’d gone into the hills. Maybe she’d sleep in the old cave tonight. The cool damp mountain air would be a reprieve from the oppressive August heat, and she could soak off the day’s dust along with a few aches and pains in the mineral spring out back.

Those unusual tracks she’d seen out there kept her in the mountains more than usual. Spending her days tracking undocumented animal prints for her book was a priority, but she had to admit the springs would feel good.

Before she could leave, there were a few things to wrap up with the committee before the town’s diamond jubilee celebration. Damn Thomas for getting her involved. She had to check emails for additional, last-minute reservations to the country club gala and prepare the list for her friend, Donna, the Jubilee chairperson. As much as she wanted to ignore this celebration, her friends had dragged her in so deep there was no way of bowing out. Lacey was resigned to do her job and get this over with. Then she’d focus on her work and getting well.

* * * *

Sitting astride his horse, Bryan Cauldwell watched the ranch house with mixed emotions. The only woman he’d ever loved should be reading his email by now, and he couldn’t help wondering how it was affecting her. If she ever felt anything for him, her insides would be as churned up as his were.

Suddenly, there was the sound of a loud crash, followed by some unladylike cursing, a thud, and something else shattering. Then he heard more cursing and silence.

“I guess she got the message,”
Hunter thought. The mountain lion sat as still as stone with only his tail flipping back and forth effortlessly. Then Bryan’s brother stretched, yawning, bored.

“I guess so.”

“Are we going to head down there?”
Hunter asked.

“I’d rather give her a few minutes to digest the message before I walk into her fist.”

Hunter’s huge canines flashed in the sunlight. “
Good thinking
.” He expressed the thought with a little humor that Bryan didn’t miss. “
So, I take it you don’t think she’ll be glad to see you now that she knows you’re still alive and well. She is your mate, after all.”

“Uh, she doesn’t know that, yet. I’m going to have to do some pretty fancy talking to convince her she belongs with me. I have five years to make up to her.”

“I told you to return after I found out you were infected.”

“Is this the time for ‘I-told-you-so’s’? Really? I wasn’t ready to condemn her to the risks and a life she knows nothing about.”

“No. You were the one who wanted to play hero and save her from herself. Too bad it didn’t work out that way. Instead, you left your mate to fend for herself.”