Howling Moon Part 11

"Right again."

"But she doesn't doesn't connect the punch because Cat steps in the way." connect the punch because Cat steps in the way."

"Yes," Raphael answered this time.

"Mike said you were in the head when this all broke out. I take it that's when you got back in the room?"

"Yes, sir."

Lucas nodded. Raphael could almost see the gears turning inside the older man's head as he tried to work out how best to clean up this mess. If Tatya had landed the punch, drawn blood from a human, it would be a Wolven matter. If Ned wasn't wearing silver she'd be put down. But she hadn't connected the punch. That meant that while it was serious, it could be handled by internal pack discipline.

"All right." Lucas spoke grimly. "Let them loose one at a time. Start with Cat and Ned. We'll take their statements and get them the h.e.l.l out of here before we release anybody else."

"This could take awhile." Raphael observed.

"Is that a problem, Alpha?" Lucas's tone made it clear it had better not be.

"Alpha?"

Lucas sighed. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger as though a headache was forming. "Raphael, I'm acting head of Wolven. I have enemies on the council and Charles is breathing down my neck about Ms. Turner. We're going to play this exactly exactly by the book. We have a very serious matter that needs investigation. We'll take care of it together so that by the book. We have a very serious matter that needs investigation. We'll take care of it together so that n.o.body n.o.body has a chance to complain." He raised his voice until it could be heard over the jukebox. "Until you hear differently from me, Raphael, you has a chance to complain." He raised his voice until it could be heard over the jukebox. "Until you hear differently from me, Raphael, you are are the Alpha Male of Boulder. And I want to make sure that the Alpha Male of Boulder. And I want to make sure that everyone everyone knows it!" knows it!"

Raphael winced in sympathy. "Right. Ned first. Larry, can we use your office? We don't want the statements getting muddied by everybody listening in."

"No problem." He tossed a ring of keys from across the room. Raphael caught them one-handed before standing up and walking through the swinging doors that led to the kitchen and the office beyond. It was going to be a long night.

YOUR TURN SWEETHEART.

Cat felt the magical vise grip that had held her in place loosen. Her muscles hurt hurt from being in one position for too long. She rubbed her hand under her jaw. It hurt from where the punch had begun to connect, but not nearly as bad as it would have if Raphael hadn't stepped in before Tatya could follow through completely. The smaller woman not only had kick-a.s.s strength, but she had put everything she had behind the blow. It could have broken Ned's jaw h.e.l.l, it could have broken Ned's from being in one position for too long. She rubbed her hand under her jaw. It hurt from where the punch had begun to connect, but not nearly as bad as it would have if Raphael hadn't stepped in before Tatya could follow through completely. The smaller woman not only had kick-a.s.s strength, but she had put everything she had behind the blow. It could have broken Ned's jaw h.e.l.l, it could have broken Ned's neck. neck. Cat felt a surge of anger. A part of her really wanted to do Cat felt a surge of anger. A part of her really wanted to do something... something... but no. No. She was supposed to go back into the kitchen and talk with the nice wolves. But Tatya had better not get out of this with just a slap on the wrist! If she did, Cat was going to be seriously p.i.s.sed. but no. No. She was supposed to go back into the kitchen and talk with the nice wolves. But Tatya had better not get out of this with just a slap on the wrist! If she did, Cat was going to be seriously p.i.s.sed.

Cat strode past the bartender, bustling around, taking care of business as though everything were normal, and pushed her way through the swinging doors.

The kitchen was almost blindingly bright after the dim bar area. Fluorescent lighting shone off gleaming metal pans and walls painted stark white. The floor tiles were badly worn, but immaculately clean. Cat followed the sound of muted voices to a closed door in the back corner of the room.

The door opened as she approached, and Ned stepped out looking grim and determined. His face softened when he saw Cat.

"Before you go in there, thank you. If she'd connected that punch I'd have been in a world of hurt." Ned shook his head.

"Hey, we're family now. Remember?" Cat tried to lighten the mood.

"Only if Violet says yes." Ned smiled, but there was a hint of nerves in his voice.

"Oh, I think she will. She loves you a lot, you know." Cat patted his arm rea.s.suringly.

"Yeah, but she's pretty p.i.s.sed about me keeping the whole 'Sazi thing' secret from her."

Cat gave him a quick hug. "It'll be fine. You'll see."

"Ms. Turner? If you don't mind, I'd like to keep this moving." The voice of the man that Raphael had called Lucas interrupted them from the next room. The words were courteous, but there was no mistaking the authority of the tone.

"See you later," Cat said. Ned nodded, giving her a little shove toward the door as though to let her know not to keep the big dogs waiting. He, on the other hand, hurried out the back door of the kitchen, avoiding the front of the restaurant altogether.

Cat took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and put her hand on the doork.n.o.b. She hadn't done anything wrong. Unfortunately, that didn't make her any less nervous. Squaring her shoulders, she opened the door and stepped inside.

Raphael sat next to the door, across the room from Lucas. She hadn't been able to see him clearly in the other room, so she took a moment to look over the man who was normally Alpha for this pack. He was broad-shouldered, wearing a business s.h.i.+rt with the sleeves rolled up. His short salt-and-pepper hair made his intense, fiercely intelligent brown eyes leap out at her. The power in those eyes told her a lot about him. He had the same penetrating gaze that her Uncle Chuck had. She wondered if they knew each other. Yes, they must.

Lucas sat, looking tense and serious, in a green vinyl office chair behind a battered metal desk. He was using a fountain pen to write notes on a lined pad. Raphael perched on the edge of the desktop, his hands gripping the lip of the surface next to his legs. Across from them, bare inches away, was an uncomfortable-looking straight-backed chair.

"Ms. Turner, have a seat." Lucas's voice was businesslike. "Please tell us what happened."

Cat perched on the edge of the chair. She glanced up at Raphael for rea.s.surance. There was none to be had. His expression was cold, his mind s.h.i.+elded so tightly she couldn't guess at this thoughts.

"Start at the beginning please," Lucas ordered. "Why were you up here?"

Cat pulled her gaze away from Raphael with difficulty and tried to lighten the mood with a smile. "G.o.d! I feel like a witness in a courtroom right now."

"Excellent a.n.a.logy, Ms. Turner," Lucas replied calmly, but there was no laughter in his voice. "I'm Lucas Santiago. I'm a practicing attorney here in Boulder and a former prosecutor, as well as the present head of Wolven."

"Oh." She bit her lip in embarra.s.sment. Taking a deep breath, she started her story without any more comments. "Well, Ned called this morning and asked me to meet with him. He wanted to talk. He planned on proposing to Violet, and wants to start their life together on an even footing. He was talking about my need to hunt, and he mentioned that he was selling his property. Since the pack didn't want it, he asked if I would consider buying it."

It took far longer than she would've expected for them to take her statement. Though there was none of the good cop/bad cop she was used to seeing on television and in the movies, it was obvious that the two men were professionals who were very used to working together. Each asked very probing questions, going over the same ground again and again. Not only did they ask what she'd seen, but just as important, what had she heard and scented. They went over it repeatedly until she was so exhausted her mind and b.u.t.t were both numb, and her back ached from tension and sitting for so long in such an uncomfortable chair.

She almost wanted to cheer when Lucas told her, "All right then, I think that's everything. If we come up with any more questions we know where to find you."

Cat rose. She stretched to loosen her tight muscles, inadvertently brus.h.i.+ng against Raphael when she did. That simple touch sent an invisible crackle of magic between them. He started, and she both felt and scented a quick burst of alarm from him before his s.h.i.+elds once again slammed into place, locking her away.

Lucas turned quickly. Eyes narrowing, he looked from one to the other. Tilting his head back, he scented the air.

Raphael gave a discreet cough behind his hand. As if it were a signal between them, Lucas's expression changed to one of amused indulgence. He shook his head and turned back to his notes.

"It'll probably take a day or two before we hear back from the Chief Justice."

She raised her brows in a question. "The Chief Justice?"

"Charles Wingate. I believe you know him." Lucas gave a wry smile, and she noticed that it softened his whole face. She remembered that Raphael had said that Uncle Chuck was the most powerful Sazi, but Chief Justice? Chief Justice?

Lucas sighed, probably thinking she knew more than she did. She kept her mouth shut and let him continue. "Normally this would be a pack and Wolven matter. But I'm acting Chief of Wolven, and Raphael is acting Alpha of this pack. While we'll be running the investigation, and Raphael will be conducting the discipline within the pack, our findings will have to be reported to the Chief Justice and the Sazi Council at their meeting in December. They'll be watching us very very closely." closely."

Cat could hear the worry in Lucas's voice. It occurred to her the position the man was in. After all, his wife was the one who'd thrown the first punch. Lucas was managing a poker face, and she couldn't scent what he was feeling, but she knew the fear had to be there just the same.

"If you'd be so kind as to send my son in here? We'll talk to him next."

It was a relief to leave. The tension and magic in the room had been thick enough to walk on, and powerful enough to set the fluorescent overhead lights buzzing and flickering.

Cat walked through the kitchen and back out into the bar proper. She couldn't wait to get back to the house. What with everything that had happened, she was completely exhausted. All she wanted was a good meal, and a good night's sleep, in that order.

She glanced around the room and shuddered. It was quiet enough that she could hear people drawing breath, and the wet slap of the cloth Larry was using to clean the bar. People were standing or sitting, frozen in midmotion. Only their eyes moved, and those eyes blazed with hatred.

"Mike, it's your turn."

The bar stool sc.r.a.ped against the floor as he rose. Pulling the wallet from his back pocket he dropped enough cash onto the bar to pay for his meal and started toward the swinging doors.

"Where's Ned?"

"I told him I'd give you a ride back. He left."

"d.a.m.n it!"

"I won't be long." Michael's expression was serious. "And we need to talk."

"I don't want to talk. I want to eat and then go to bed," Cat snarled.

He had the nerve to smirk! He'd planned this! "Well, Ned left. So you're stuck waiting whether you like it or not."

His tone of voice raised Cat's hackles. He sounded smug, controlling, and more than a little condescending. If she had her purse with her she'd call a cab, and d.a.m.n the expense. Unfortunately, since Ned had been driving, she hadn't bothered to bring it. She was such an idiot. She was far too old to be making that kind of a stupid mistake. Well, she might be stuck with the situation tonight, but it would never happen again.

She lowered herself onto the wooden bar stool Mike had vacated. Larry appeared in front of her. "You're hungry?"

"Yeah, but Ned was going to buy. I didn't bring my purse," she grumbled.

"S'right." Larry tossed the bar towel casually over his shoulder and gave her a smile. "Ned's a friend. He'll pay me back. What do you want on your burger?"

"Burger?"

Larry grinned, showing a chipped tooth that, oddly, made him seem more approachable. "You're not getting steak. Just in case he doesn't doesn't pay me back." pay me back."

Cat's laugh echoed strangely through the room and the scent of frustrated fury rose from more than one of the motionless wolves. She s.h.i.+vered. "Make it to go, would you?"

Larry nodded, his expression sympathetic. "No problem."

"MICHAEL, THERE IS nothing nothing to talk about." Cat fought to control her temper. He was being a jerk: a to talk about." Cat fought to control her temper. He was being a jerk: a major major jerk. It had started with his whining about her standing him up this morning. She hadn't stood him up. It wasn't a date. She'd never once asked him to join her on her morning runs. He'd taken that upon himself, just as he'd taken to hanging out at the Joint about the time he knew she was due to get off, or go on break. It was just one more of the million little things he'd taken to doing to force his way into her life. She'd been trying to handle the situation delicately; after all, he was the pack leaders' son, but he was getting on her last nerve! jerk. It had started with his whining about her standing him up this morning. She hadn't stood him up. It wasn't a date. She'd never once asked him to join her on her morning runs. He'd taken that upon himself, just as he'd taken to hanging out at the Joint about the time he knew she was due to get off, or go on break. It was just one more of the million little things he'd taken to doing to force his way into her life. She'd been trying to handle the situation delicately; after all, he was the pack leaders' son, but he was getting on her last nerve!

Cat felt her muscles beginning to tense as her irritation increased. Even the temperature in the car started to rise. She tried to calm herself, control the beast within her as Raphael had been training her to do. It was d.a.m.ned hard work. And what p.i.s.sed her off most of all was that she appeared to be one of the few bothering to do it. From what she could see of most of the pack, they didn't think they should have to bother. The animal in their their nature was never far from the surface; casual violence the norm, rather than an oddity. nature was never far from the surface; casual violence the norm, rather than an oddity.

Which brought her thoughts neatly back to Ned. If she hadn't been here... hadn't taken the blow... She couldn't believe Tatya did that. The first rule is secrecy Cat knew that much. And right behind it were the rules to protect humans. Turning a human Sazi other than in self-defense was an automatic death sentence. How could Tatya risk it, even with her family so involved in pack hierarchy no, especially especially with her family so involved in pack hierarchy? with her family so involved in pack hierarchy?

But her mind answered its own question. Tatya, and the rest of the pack, had come to rely on the fact that the human family members all wore silver at all times. If the humans didn't, there wouldn't be any any affiliated with the pack anymore they'd've all been changed. affiliated with the pack anymore they'd've all been changed.

Or died in the attempt. Raphael's voice slid smoothly into her thoughts.

What do you mean?

Human bodies aren't meant to hold magic, to change shapes. Even for family members with generations of Sazi in their bloodlines it's a terrible risk.

Cat saw the memory in Raphael's mind. A pretty blonde pre-teen girl, naked in a small clearing, surrounded by her parents and Raphael. The moon rose, its light silvering the frost-covered ground, casting deep shadows that brought every detail into stark relief.

She screamed in agony, again and again, as fast as she could draw breath. Her body collapsed to the ground. Cat could hear her bones snap, saw the muscles strain to re-form. Her face distorted, elongating into a muzzle with fangs. Short brisdes of gray hair sprouted from her pores, then retracted again.

It wasn't enough. Cat could feel the naked fear that clawed at Raphael's stomach as he gathered his power, forcing his own magic into the fallen girl.

For a moment it looked as though it might work. He kept trying, kept straining against the inevitable, draining himself until he fell to the ground, spent, despite the part of him that knew it was a lost cause.

Thirteen years old, barely more than a child; and there was nothing he or any of the others could do but watch in nauseated horror as her body ripped itself apart.

Cat dragged herself free of the memory by force of will. Her stomach heaved and rolled. She tasted bile on the back of her tongue. She fought against the nausea, barely managing to keep down the burger she'd eaten.

She knew it could have been Ned, Holly, even her. In that moment she realized, without him saying a thing, that that that was what he'd expected to witness that first night. She shuddered, her stomach heaving. was what he'd expected to witness that first night. She shuddered, her stomach heaving.

"Cat? Are you even listening to me?" Mike snapped.

"Not really."

Mike slammed on the brakes, causing the car to skid and swerve violently toward the side of the road. Mike steered with it, pulling over until they were in the gra.s.sy verge, with tree limbs sc.r.a.ping along the pa.s.senger side of the vehicle.

"Let me guess. You were thinking thinking at Raphael again." at Raphael again."

"Michael " Cat's voice held a warning.

"Oh, so I'm supposed to pretend I don't notice? I'm just supposed to keep my mouth shut and watch while you alienate everybody everybody in the entire f.u.c.king pack? Don't you get it? You in the entire f.u.c.king pack? Don't you get it? You have have to fit in. You to fit in. You have have to acknowledge my mom's dominance; she's the alpha female. She to acknowledge my mom's dominance; she's the alpha female. She is is superior to you. And, for G.o.d's sake, superior to you. And, for G.o.d's sake, don't don't buy the land. It's our prime hunting ground. Ned has no business selling it to anybody!" Michael's whole body shook with rage. "You've got to conform. They'll never accept you if you don't. Never accept buy the land. It's our prime hunting ground. Ned has no business selling it to anybody!" Michael's whole body shook with rage. "You've got to conform. They'll never accept you if you don't. Never accept us" us"

"There is is no 'us,' Michael." Cat looked him straight in the eye as she said it, and actually no 'us,' Michael." Cat looked him straight in the eye as she said it, and actually saw saw the words slide past him unheeded. "And I will rot in h.e.l.l before I act subservient to your mother after what she almost did to Ned tonight." the words slide past him unheeded. "And I will rot in h.e.l.l before I act subservient to your mother after what she almost did to Ned tonight."

"What she almost did? You mean turn him? Like that would be so terrible. h.e.l.l, she'd be doing him a favor!"

In that instant Cat forgot her breathing exercises, forgot her self-control. c.o.c.king her arm back she punched him full-out, a powerful right hook that connected with his nose, snapping his head back.

Blood poured through the fingers of the hands he'd brought to his face. Mike's eyes were gla.s.sy, and he swayed slightly in his seat, as though she'd almost knocked him out.

Cat didn't stay to watch, or talk. She climbed out of the vehicle, slammed the door, and stormed off in the direction of the bar. She wasn't worried about Mike. She knew she didn't need to be. He He was Sazi. He'd heal. was Sazi. He'd heal.

LUCAS STUBBED OUT a spent cigarette with the toe of his boot. Two fifteen. The bar was closed, and the last witness interviewed. Raphael knew that the old man had quit smoking more than a decade before. That he'd bothered to b.u.m a cigarette and light meant that he was seriously stressed. Raphael couldn't blame him. The situation was a total f.u.c.king mess, and Tatya was right, square in the middle of it. a spent cigarette with the toe of his boot. Two fifteen. The bar was closed, and the last witness interviewed. Raphael knew that the old man had quit smoking more than a decade before. That he'd bothered to b.u.m a cigarette and light meant that he was seriously stressed. Raphael couldn't blame him. The situation was a total f.u.c.king mess, and Tatya was right, square in the middle of it.

"It could've been worse," Lucas said with a sigh. "Would've been if you hadn't been here."

"Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good." Raphael admitted.

"What the h.e.l.l h.e.l.l was she thinking?" Lucas growled with exasperation. was she thinking?" Lucas growled with exasperation.

Raphael didn't answer. They both knew Tatya hadn't hadn't thought. She'd reacted instinctively to the threat she thought Cat posed, and the rest of the pack members had been ready to back her up. Raphael suppressed a shudder and wondered if Ned knew just how close a call he'd had. Probably. He was no fool, and he'd been around the Sazi his whole life. thought. She'd reacted instinctively to the threat she thought Cat posed, and the rest of the pack members had been ready to back her up. Raphael suppressed a shudder and wondered if Ned knew just how close a call he'd had. Probably. He was no fool, and he'd been around the Sazi his whole life.

"You realize she'll never forgive you for keeping her frozen in place like that while you interviewed everybody else."

"You 're the one who held her," Lucas pointed out. the one who held her," Lucas pointed out.

"Uh-huh. But you you decided the order of the interviews." He gave his friend a rueful grin. "Hope you've got a comfortable couch." decided the order of the interviews." He gave his friend a rueful grin. "Hope you've got a comfortable couch."