Howling Moon Part 8

He laughed again. You're almost as sarcastic as I am. How absolutely delightful. You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to our next meeting, kitten. It might interest you to know that I'm already healed from our last encounter. I took a shower at my club this morning, and n.o.body saw a single bruise. Think about that... in the meantime, work hard, and learn fast. My patience isn't endless. He paused and his voice deepened, as though angry. And find a different teacher. I don't like like Ramirez. I don't trust him. Ramirez. I don't trust him.

He cut the connection easily, before she had the chance to tell him where to go and how to get there. Cat swore. He'd seen right through her. d.a.m.n it! Last night Raphael had promised that someday soon, if she practiced the exercises he'd given her, she'd be able to do just as well. She certainly hoped so.

Looking down at the angry red marks that still remained on her legs and stomach made her s.h.i.+ver. Jack was already healed? healed? Once she started to remember the night she fought, she remembered it all, and she'd hurt him badly. On top of that, Raphael said he'd shot him several times with silver. Once she started to remember the night she fought, she remembered it all, and she'd hurt him badly. On top of that, Raphael said he'd shot him several times with silver.

d.a.m.n! How powerful did that make him?

She tried to think about something, anything, else. But, it was hard going. The knowledge that Jack Simpson was out there, watching and waiting... she shuddered at the thought, her stomach roiling. But Raphael was teaching her, and she was determined to keep on training with him, especially especially since Jack didn't like him. since Jack didn't like him.

As always, she took refuge in work. Barefoot, she padded downstairs to Violet's office. Originally intended as the master bedroom, it was huge. The walls were painted a pale lilac that exactly matched the lilacs in the pattern of the ruffled curtains that framed wide, multipaned windows. The carpet was a vivid royal purple, as were the throw pillows on the loveseat that took up one corner of the room. Next to it stood a tall set of bookshelves that was filled with hardback books Violet used for research and dozens of romance novels, many of their colorful spines bearing her aunt's name in the large, hot-pink lettering that was her aunt's trademark. Cat walked over to the computer desk and hit the switch to turn on Violet's computer. She was careful not to disturb so much as a single Post-it note or sheet of paper that was strewn over the desktop. The "novels" she was supposed to study from were stacked neatly on the end table next to the loveseat She shuddered. Normally she liked fantasy novels. She had entire shelves filled with them in her bedroom in California. These books, however, did not make the grade. If the writer hadn't had the Sazi as a captive audience, the books would have died an ignominious death due to lifeless characters and clunky dialogue. And the att.i.tudes were archaic honor, challenges, and the rule that a man couldn't stay with a woman more powerful than himself.

The sad part was that she more than suspected those were the rules of the culture she was being dropped into. If that was true she was so screwed.

Cat clicked the mouse on the icon to take her to the Internet. She needed to check her e-mails, check in with the one part of her life that still made sense. It took awhile for the program to upload. Violet's computer was old and slow enough to drive Cat to distraction. When it finally finished, she stared at a screen that told her she had ninety-three ninety-three new messages. new messages. Jeez. Jeez.

Some of it was spam. She got rid of those with a couple of quick clicks of the mouse. Condolence messages got a quick reply. There were several messages from the attorneys handling her parents' estate. Those got forwarded to the executor and the head of the Sazi, Cat reminded herself Uncle Chuck.

The next message was actually from him. She opened it quickly.

Catherine, these are difficult times for you, I know. But I also know that you're strong and resilient enough to cope with what's happening. Know that despite what you've lost, you're not not alone. alone.

Trust Raphael. He's a good man. He can help you get a grip on what is going on in your life. He'll help you and answer all your questions honestly, without any hidden agenda.

Call me if you need anything. anything.

I love you. Charles Cat read and reread the message. He knew. He understood what was going on. She thought for a long moment, deciding how best to phrase what she wanted to say. She needed to be vague enough that anybody reading the message wouldn't learn about something he shouldn't but she needed to still get her point across.

Dear Uncle Chuck: You're right. Things are very hard. I feel like my life's turned upside down.

I'm hoping you can help me with something. I understand that you have a copy of the insurance file. Is there any chance I could get a look at it and that we can sit down and talk? I have an idea as to a solution to the problem. Let me know as soon as you can.

Catherine.

She hit the send b.u.t.ton, and moved on to the messages from her friends. There were notes about concerts, babies, gossip about Brad and the office. One of her best friends from the office would be leaving for a new job at Microsoft at the end of the week.

She laughed. It had been bound to happen sooner or later. Ron's e-mail sounded so surprised. He had a minor conviction for computer hacking in his background and had thought it would keep him from getting the job. Cat knew better. It hadn't bothered her father one d.a.m.ned bit. Some of the best software programmers in the world former hackers. That was just a fact.

Cat glanced at the clock readout on the computer and swore under her breath. She needed to get moving if she wanted to get a run in before work.

In fact, she was dreading the day ahead of her. While she did did trust Raphael as a person, she didn't necessarily agree with his judgment. She was almost thirty! Far too old to be working at a burger joint! And while she would never insult Holly by saying so, it was such a step down from what she was used to. Still, Raphael had insisted, saying things like, "You need to get to know the pack members, see how other Sazi behave." And, "You're too new to this to be trusted out among the humans without supervision." trust Raphael as a person, she didn't necessarily agree with his judgment. She was almost thirty! Far too old to be working at a burger joint! And while she would never insult Holly by saying so, it was such a step down from what she was used to. Still, Raphael had insisted, saying things like, "You need to get to know the pack members, see how other Sazi behave." And, "You're too new to this to be trusted out among the humans without supervision."

As if the job weren't enough, starting Monday Cat had been ordered to attend "puppy school" for training with the newly turned wolves. The idea had sounded iffy enough and that was before before she'd found out Tatya was the teacher. she'd found out Tatya was the teacher.

Tatiana Santiago, the one and same woman who'd stormed off yesterday morning for no reason anyone cared to explain.

Immersion her a.s.s! The idea was for her to spend every waking minute in the company of Sazi so that she could get a better grip on the culture. Unfortunately, the last thing Cat wanted to do was spend her time stuck in a cla.s.sroom with a bunch of pre-teen kids during the day and working at a burger joint at night. Especially not if John was a typical example of how pack members behaved.

Raphael had listened attentively to everything she'd said. It hadn't made one d.a.m.ned bit of difference. He'd made up his mind and nothing was going to change it. The best she could manage was to wring the concession from him that if she gave it her best shot and it still didn't work, they'd figure out something else.

What made Raphael think that a cat could get along with a bunch of wolves, Cat wasn't sure.

It was hours later when Cat tapped lightly on the door to Violet's hospital room. "h.e.l.lo?" She stuck her head in, just in time to see Ned pull hastily back into his seat as Violet wiped quickly at her reddened eyes.

Violet looked like h.e.l.l. Her skin was drawn, her color had a grayish tinge. But far worse to Cat's mind was the fine, nervous trembling that shook her aunt's body.

"Good morning, Catherine." Ned's voice held a false heartiness that cut Cat to the quick. Violet said nothing, didn't smile, and couldn't even bring herself to look at Cat. Instead, she clung to Ned's hand like a lifeline.

"So, how're you doing this morning?" Cat walked over to the chair by the window and took a seat. Emotions boiled over the top of each other as she saw Violet, looking pale and frail. She wanted to run over and hug her, but something stopped her. Instead, she struggled to appear casual, like nothing was wrong. It was a lie, and they both knew it, but it was all she could think to do.

"Oh, I think she's doing a little better. Aren't you, Vi?" Ned gave her hand a little squeeze.

Violet turned her head very slowly to where her niece sat. Her eyes were haunted and shadowed. Cat could see the effort it cost her aunt to face her fear and her heart broke from the realization that she she was what Violet was terrified of. was what Violet was terrified of.

Tears filled Cat's eyes, running unchecked down her cheeks.

Violet's eyes filled again, too. With a voice that was hoa.r.s.e from crying, barely louder than a whisper she began saying over and over, "I'm so sorry. I can't do this. I'm so sorry."

Ned moved to the side of the, the, bed, taking Violet's shaking form into his arms, holding her as she wept, his huge hands patting her back gently as he murmured soft words into her frizzy hair. bed, taking Violet's shaking form into his arms, holding her as she wept, his huge hands patting her back gently as he murmured soft words into her frizzy hair.

Cat sat there for a long moment, tears streaming down her face. The two of them were oblivious to her. It was almost as if she were invisible. In that instant she felt more alone than she had ever felt before in her life. In the past, whatever happened, she knew her parents were there for her. But they were dead. Brad was gone. Now Violet was lost to her as well.

Cat could barely see to fumble her way out of the room. She stumbled into the hallway, and ran right into a very large, solid chest.

"Are you all right?"

Cat looked up into a pair of wide chocolate brown eyes. "Do I look all right?" The sarcasm was completely spoiled by the fact that the words came out as a sob.

"Here." The boy who had been carrying the other Sazi woman from Violet's house steered her gently to the nurse's station, where he snagged a box of tissues from behind the counter and handed them to her before leading her to a set of chairs in the small waiting area near the elevators.

Cat lowered herself into a chair, dried her eyes, and blew her nose noisily a few times.

He smiled the tiniest bit, looking hopeful. "Feeling better?"

"A little."

"Good." He reached down, grabbing the small wastebasket from underneath the lamp stand. He held it out so that she could toss the used tissues inside. "You want to talk about it?"

Cat thought about it for a moment, but decided against it. While he seemed a nice enough kid, she really wasn't comfortable with me idea of baring her soul to a stranger. Besides, if she tried to talk about it now, she'd probably end up crying again. Her self-control was tenuous right now.

"No." She shook her head. "No, thank you."

"All right." He set the waste can back where it belonged, then leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. "We'll talk about something else." He smiled, showing straight white teeth and deep dimples. "My name is Mike Santiago, I'm the youngest son of the Alpha pair for Boulder, I'm a soph.o.m.ore at CU with an undeclared major that my mother's been giving me no end of c.r.a.p about. I don't have a job right now because my parents want me to concentrate on bringing my grades up." His expression grew rueful. "It hasn't been working." He smiled again, and it was like the clouds rolling away from the sun. The whole room seemed to brighten. "Your turn."

"Cat Turner." She stopped, wondering what to say.

"What're you doing in Boulder?"

"I'm staying with my aunt to avoid the press. I was on a camping trip with my family when a jaguar attacked us. My parents were killed."

"I'm sorry." Mike took her hand in his.

"Thanks." She took a deep breath, determined that she was not not going to start crying again. going to start crying again.

"So, where do you normally go to school? What's your major?"

"Actually, I graduated a few years back. I've got my Ph.D. in applied computer science with a background in business."

"You do?"

He sounded so disbelieving her back stiffened with anger. Apparently he scented it, because he held his hands palm outward in a placating gesture. "Don't be mad." His voice took on a pleading tone. "It's just, I thought well, you look Oh h.e.l.l. I thought you were my age."

CAT REACHED ACROSS the rumpled bedclothes to shut off the offending blare of the alarm clock. She groaned, not wanting to get out of bed, but knowing she probably should. She shook her head in amazement. It was Friday already. The week had flown by! Violet was released from the hospital, but instead of coming back to the house, she moved in with Ned, only coming down for daily therapy appointments with the newly recovered Dr. Perdue. Cat knew Violet was trying very hard to get over her fears, but the efforts didn't seem to be bearing any fruit. The best she could manage right now was daily phone calls. On the phone she could almost pretend that things were all right between the two of them. Cat had rented a car for herself, and offered to move to a hotel or apartment so that Violet could come home, but her aunt had declined. the rumpled bedclothes to shut off the offending blare of the alarm clock. She groaned, not wanting to get out of bed, but knowing she probably should. She shook her head in amazement. It was Friday already. The week had flown by! Violet was released from the hospital, but instead of coming back to the house, she moved in with Ned, only coming down for daily therapy appointments with the newly recovered Dr. Perdue. Cat knew Violet was trying very hard to get over her fears, but the efforts didn't seem to be bearing any fruit. The best she could manage right now was daily phone calls. On the phone she could almost pretend that things were all right between the two of them. Cat had rented a car for herself, and offered to move to a hotel or apartment so that Violet could come home, but her aunt had declined.

"I won't be be coming back to that house, Catherine. Not after what... happened in the kitchen. As soon as I'm feeling a little stronger, I'm going to put it on the market. In the meantime, I'd appreciate it if you would stay. I don't want it just sitting vacant. It'd be an invitation to burglars." coming back to that house, Catherine. Not after what... happened in the kitchen. As soon as I'm feeling a little stronger, I'm going to put it on the market. In the meantime, I'd appreciate it if you would stay. I don't want it just sitting vacant. It'd be an invitation to burglars."

So she stayed, but it felt a little weird. And despite Mike's best efforts to take advantage of that big, empty house, she hadn't bedded him. Nor had she accepted any of his invitations to do things with "the crew." They all joked constantly about being "party animals." Cat wasn't interested. As she told Holly, "Been there, done that, bought the T-s.h.i.+rt." Mike was nice, and had been trying very hard to cheer her up, but she couldn't get the thought out of her mind that he was a... well, a kid. kid. More to the point, he just wasn't Raphael. More to the point, he just wasn't Raphael.

And few of Mike's crowd liked Raphael.

Her relations.h.i.+p acquaintances.h.i.+p... a.s.sociation a.s.sociation with Raphael was just another reason for none of the wolves to like Cat. Cat was almost as frustrated with "the pack" as they were with her. Puppy school was a disaster of the first order. It was impossible to learn anything with Tatiana's sniping and the whispering and giggling of the youngsters at Cat's expense. with Raphael was just another reason for none of the wolves to like Cat. Cat was almost as frustrated with "the pack" as they were with her. Puppy school was a disaster of the first order. It was impossible to learn anything with Tatiana's sniping and the whispering and giggling of the youngsters at Cat's expense.

She would've liked to discuss it with Raphael, but the usual Alpha Male for the pack had gotten called out of town on business, and Raphael was apparently up to his a.s.s in alligators and sinking fast. She didn't want to make things worse for him, so she kept her mouth shut and tried to make the most of what she was learning in the few lessons he'd managed to give her.

The first night, after she'd gotten over her hysterics, he'd given her exercises regarding the telepathy: exercises that required a second person's partic.i.p.ation. After all, you have to talk to to someone, and confirm that he heard you. There was the same problem with listening. Raphael had just a.s.sumed she'd have somebody to work with. Well, she hadn't at first. Because while she had no doubt that Michael would be more than happy to help, she didn't particularly someone, and confirm that he heard you. There was the same problem with listening. Raphael had just a.s.sumed she'd have somebody to work with. Well, she hadn't at first. Because while she had no doubt that Michael would be more than happy to help, she didn't particularly want want to slip in and out of his head. Besides, she knew exactly what he was thinking. His wandering hands made to slip in and out of his head. Besides, she knew exactly what he was thinking. His wandering hands made that that clear enough. clear enough.

Finding a partner for her exercises had been a real problem, until Holly had stepped up to the plate.

Cat smiled at the thought of Holly. The seeds of friends.h.i.+p from their first meeting at the restaurant had begun to grow and blossom. It was kind of surprising how well they got along; after all, they came from such different backgrounds. Cat had grown up the only child with wealth and privilege. Holly was the youngest of a large brood, all female. Cat had earned her Ph.D. At twenty-six Holly had finally managed to save enough money to start college. She might not have had the opportunity to go for her undergrad degree yet, but she was smart and funny. And one thing she understood better than anyone was the loss of a parent. Her mother had died when she was very small, leaving her to be raised by a grief-stricken father and her older sisters.

Despite her background, Holly didn't show even a hint of bitterness. But her sense of humor was black, dry, and Cat found it utterly hysterical. Oh, the snarky things she thought at her friend during work hours! Jake and the other wolves had begun looking at the two of them very strangely because often, suddenly, for no apparent reason, one or the other would just start snickering or burst out laughing.

Mike had tried to steer Cat away from Holly, saying she wasn't their "kind." It had backfired badly. Given a choice between her new friend and a guy she wasn't all that interested in, Cat was going to choose her friend. When he'd realized that he'd backed down. But a part of him was still seething about it, she could tell.

She'd talked about it in her solo therapy session with Dr. Perdue just the day before. The good doctor made all the right neutral noises, and gave not a single constructive suggestion. Typical therapist bulls.h.i.+t. Still, Cat was always calmer after each appointment, so she kept her them without arguing.

The phone rang. Cat threw off the covers and padded over to where she'd left the handset on the dresser. She s.h.i.+vered a little. The black satin and lace nightgown she'd worn to bed last night was beautiful, but not terribly practical.

"h.e.l.lo?" Cat wandered over to the window. Looking out she saw a light dusting of snow sprinkled unevenly over the dead Kentucky bluegra.s.s of the front lawn. Where the sun's rays. .h.i.t the ground the snow had already melted. It only lingered in the shadows. Not a single cloud was visible. Which meant there was a good chance for another day of unseasonably warm weather.

"Catherine, it's Ned."

"Oh, hi, Ned! What's up?"

"Violet's scheduled to be in therapy this afternoon. Is there any chance you could come up and talk?"

"Sounds serious. Am I in trouble?" She teased.

"No. Of course not." She could tell he was smiling. "But it is is serious. There's something I want to talk to you about, but I'd rather Violet didn't hear us discussing it." serious. There's something I want to talk to you about, but I'd rather Violet didn't hear us discussing it."

"Okaaay " Cat dragged the word out slowly. Her aunt might not exactly be her usual self right now, but she would absolutely hate it if she thought they were keeping secrets from her.

"Don't worry." Ned answered the worry that had crept into her voice. "I'm not planning on keeping anything from her. I just wanted to get your opinion on something before I bring it up to her." He paused. "To be honest, I'm a little nervous about it."

Cat smiled. Now Now she understood. In fact, if she was the betting woman her mother had been, she'd lay heavy odds that a proposal was in the immediate offering. "What time do you want me up there?" she understood. In fact, if she was the betting woman her mother had been, she'd lay heavy odds that a proposal was in the immediate offering. "What time do you want me up there?"

"Can you be here at four o'clock?"

Cat thought about it for a second. It was Friday, so she had no therapy, and there would be individual lessons with Raphael in the morning, instead of puppy school. Since she wasn't scheduled to work the Joint, her schedule was completely free after noon.

"No problem. Let me run downstairs and get a pen and paper; you can give me directions."

"Nah, just meet me at the pack complex. I'll meet you there and show you the way up."

"See you then." Cat cut the connection with a smile. If she was right about what Ned was planning, Violet would be ecstatic. She was the ultimate romantic, and she and Ned adored each other.

Humming under her breath she padded downstairs to the office to turn on the computer. She had enough time to check her e-mails before taking a shower and heading over to St. Francis for a run at the school track.

She plopped down in Violet's office chair making herself comfortable as she waited for the blasted machine to boot. It really took way too long Cat pondered whether or not Violet's computer was full of spyware slowing everything down. She didn't have the most updated virus protection, and she did a lot of Internet research. What her aunt needed was a new computer maybe even a laptop, especially because that way she wouldn't be off schedule now, without her computer with her at Ned's house.

It was while she was debating whether or not she should download virus-scan updates when the first kernel of an idea struck her. She needed to know who Jack's lawyers were. If she used spyware to track all of the action on the computers at his various offices... There'd be a ton of data to wade through... Then again... what if... oh, now that was an idea.

What if she let Jack "overhear" her thinking about hiring an investigator to find the file? He would contact the right firm almost immediately, which would mean less data for her to sort through, and a faster resolution to her problems. And if it didn't work... well, what harm could it do?

Of course, most spyware was illegal, which meant there would be h.e.l.l to pay if if she got caught. She pulled her legs up under her, rocking back in the chair. she got caught. She pulled her legs up under her, rocking back in the chair.

She'd just have to make sure she didn't get caught.

Cat put one foot on the floor so she could scoot the chair across the room and pulled a hardback book from the shelves and a pen and blank paper from the table that held Violet's combined copier and printer. Soon she was immersed, sitting cross-legged in the chair, using the hardback as an improvised desk, alternately tapping the eraser of the pencil against her front teeth and scribbling notes. In the process she lost all track of time.

Cat? Where the h.e.l.l are you?

Raphael's voice in her head caused Cat sat up in her seat so abruptly that the pen and several loose sheets of paper slid to the floor. Oh c.r.a.p! What time is it? She jumped up from her seat, and wound up hopping over to the computer as her left foot was completely asleep from having been pinned under her body for so long.

It's ten thirty. Raphael's voice confirmed what she read on the screen.

Cat swore under her breath.

I take it you overslept? There was a hint of amus.e.m.e.nt in his mental voice.

No. I was working on a problem and lost track of time. I haven't even dressed, let alone had breakfast. c.r.a.p! Cat squatted down to gather up her scattered notes from the floor. She was seriously annoyed with herself. Of all the stupid things to do!

Tell you what, Raphael offered. I'll get some food and come pick you up. I'd planned on taking you up into the woods anyway.

Up in the woods?