Page 4 of Quest of the Wolf

For twelve million dollars, wouldn’t one expect all repairs to be done in advance? And for fang marks to be buffed out of the gate? I peered into the stone-paver courtyard.

“Yeah, my mom’s business isdead,” Jasmine said. “I’m going to have to use my fancy real-estate-finance degree to work for another agency, hopefully one that’s getting more leads right now.”

“I can tell you an agencynotto apply to.” I stuck my tongue outtoward the for-sale sign. For some reason, maturity was difficult to achieve today.

“A reference would be better.”

“I haven’t worked with you in a professional capacity.”

“I recorded a heroic battle for you while risking my own life. I also threw a pan at a seething wolf that I’m related to, all to help you out.”

“Is that night something you want me to go into detail about when your prospective employers call to ask about your character?” I tried to step sideways between the bars, but they were too narrow. As a wolf, I’d escaped that way, but my hips were trimmer in that form.

“Maybe you could leave out the werewolves. They might not be a selling point.”

“They usually aren’t.”

We, both werewolves ourselves, shared a sigh.

“But you could mention the pan-throwing,” Jasmine added. “That’s a point in my favor, right? It shows initiative.”

“Iappreciated it.” I tested the lock on the gate. It was, alas, sound.

If it hadn’t been midday and more than a week until the full moon, I might have been able to call upon my magic to change into a wolf, but that was always difficult without a threat stirring my blood. Even if Icouldshift, there was no guarantee that wolf-me would remember what human-me wanted. Some prey sauntering through the fields might distract me, and I would end up ten miles away in Lake Stevens with a rabbit dangling from my jowls.

“Good. That’s all you have to tell them. Whoever. I haven’t sent out any résumés yet, but I have to soon. Ican’tkeep living in the ADU at my parents’ house, not when they insist on a curfew. If it’s not a hunt night, I have to be home by one. Like I’m ateenager. Have you ever heard of any people so repressed?”

“I have not.” I pressed my forehead to the gate and peered around the courtyard. I wanted a clue, damn it.

“If I had my own condo, I could live by my own rules.”

“I wish you the best in fulfilling your career and financial goals, but I called about something else.” I would probably cave and let her list me as a reference if she kept asking, but I felt squeamish about vouching for someone’s employment skills when I hadn’t observed them. Besides, wasn’t there a rule against asking relatives to be your reference?

“Oh, right. You called me.”

“Yes, I did. Remember when your father looked up the business that’s been buying werewolf artifacts? He got a list of places they own, right? I remember you mentioning a few.”

“That’s right.”

“The owner, and his mad-scientist buddy, have moved out of their Arlington location. Do you think you can get me the list so I can check their other facilities? What was the name of the business that owned everything? The Tumwater Tonic Corporation. I think that’s it. Oh, and can your mom check the MLS to see if the other addresses have also been listed for sale?”

“Anyone can check that, but sure. I’ll get them for you.” Jasmine hesitated. “Is this about Duncan?”

Since she had been with me the night he’d disappeared, she’d witnessed him being called away.

“I’m trying to find him, yes.”

“Good. He’s got that sexy accent.”

“And is thus worth rescuing?”

“Obviously.”

After hanging up, I finished walking the perimeter of the facility, but I didn’t find a way inside. I considered getting my rope out of the truck. I might be able to climb the courtyard wall, but I hadn’t sensed any remnants of magic inside the compound. Mygut told me that Radomir and Abrams had completely cleared out. If Duncan had been here at all, he was gone now.

Disappointed, I leaned my forehead against one of the cool adobe walls of the main building.

“I shouldn’t have waited so long to come looking,” I said, though it was possiblethat those guys had moved their operations and listed this place for sale before they’d summoned Duncan. They’d probably decided to leave the night I’d gotten away with the artifacts, maybe figuring I would gather the rest of my werewolf pack and come after him. “IwishI had.”

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