Page 21 of Quest of the Wolf

I spread my hands and attempted to look bewildered, not guilty.

“The photos sent to us by a tenant showed the wolf fighting men on motorcycles,” she continued.

“If it did that,” I said, “then it’s a hero. Those bikers have vandalized this place more than once. I had to replace that cluster mailbox a few weeks ago, thanks to them.”

Not paying attention to me, Dubois pointed at Rue. “The photos also showed you standing next to the wolf afterward,pettingit. Like it’s your faithful hound.”

“That’s silly,” Rue said. “As I said, I already have an animal companion. My cat would object vociferously if I came home with the scent of a forest predator clinging to me.” A quick glance at me suggested that might have happened. “Besides, wolves aren’t allowed to be kept as pets.”

“It wasn’t a cat that attacked those men,” the male officer said. “Not yesterday and not the night of the murders. We think someone might have trained that wolf to carry out those deadly deeds.”

I bristled. When Duncan and I had battled those thugs, it had been in self-defense. Yes, I’d lost it when my wolf instincts had taken over, but if the men hadn’t been trying to kill him and kidnap me, we wouldn’t have shifted forms and attacked in the first place. But I couldn’t say that without admitting everything.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Rue said. “Perhaps someone seeks to blame me for some reason. I have lived many years and acquired a few enemies. Rivals who are envious of my skill and success in my field, among others.”

Afraid they would ask whatfieldshe was in, I hurried to add, “Where did you get the photos? Such things can be computer generated now, you know.”

“Of course we know that,” Dubois snapped.

“If Tia Aandahl was the one to call you and send them,” I said, dredging the tenant’s name from my memory, “you should know that she and her roommate spend their evenings out in the parking lot with ghost-hunting equipment. They seem to believe this is a hub of paranormal activity. I’m surprised you didn’t get a photo of Rue petting a ghost.”

“My cat would also find that distressful,” Rue murmured.

Dubois looked at her partner, a touch of uncertainty in her eyes. “That girlhasmade a report to the station before. About… paranormal activity.”

“Those photos looked legit.” The male officer gazed around the parking lot, his eyes pausing on one of the security cameras mounted on a light post. “You record footage of what happens here, Valens?” He looked at Dubois. “Did we get that last time?”

“Sergeant Mendez was going to check on it. I’m not sure he remembered though.” A chagrined expression replaced some of Dubois’ earlier sternness. “I should have followed up on it.”

“That footage gets deleted after a week,” I said.

I’d made sure the footage of Radomir’s thugs had been deleted even sooner.

“But you would have yesterday’s recording,” Dubois said.

“They should be there, yes. But I believe you need a warrant to demand to look at it.”

By the time they got that, I could arrange for them to be deleted.

Dubois’ eyes closed to slits. “You wouldn’t share the footage with us to help show your tenant wasn’t involved?”

“I’d have to call my boss and get the passwords and log-in information for the files.” I shrugged. “I’m just the property manager. If you want to rent a unit, I can help you.”

Her eyes remained slitted, but it was Rue she focused on again. “Will you willingly answer our questions?”

“As I said, I have nothing to hide.” That wasn’t ayes,and Rue shot me a baleful look as Dubois led her away.

At least they didn’t handcuff her and stuff her into the back of their car. Still, I felt guilty. If Rue hadn’t been out here collectingsamplesfor her potions, potions she had made at my request, nobody would have photographed her.

“I’ll see about getting that warrant.” The male officer gave me a long look before he got in his car and called someone.

I resisted the urge to sprint into the leasing office, get on the computer, and delete the previous night’s security-camera footage. The male officer might follow me and catch me. I would do it later, after I picked up Jasmine and went to find Duncan. The officers shouldn’t arrest Rue on the basis of a couple of photos. Even knowing that, I continued to feel guilty, and I worried she would be surveilled and eventually arrested because of her association with me.

She might also tell Dubois the truth about everything. Aboutme. After all they’d seen, the police might be ready to believe that werewolves existed. ThenIwould be the one surveilled and arrested.

9

“Deming isa surprising location for a potion factory or whatever those guys have at their facility up here,” Jasmine said as we drove north on Highway 9, a mixture of forested land and rural farm properties to the sides.

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