Page 63 of Wolf Bane
I felt his glare on me all the way to the end of the street.The entire neighborhood, I thought, felt like it was watching me even without anyone visible.Paranoia, thou art a heartless bitch.At the stop sign on Tulip Tree and Easter Lily, I fumbled my phone out with shaking hands and set it on the console so I could call Ethan.
Who, of course, didn’t answer.Nor did Tyler.
“Jesus,” I muttered.“I’m starting to feel like y’all are avoiding me.”
Giving it up for a bad job, I turned out onto the farm-to-market road that ran past the neighborhood.I turned right, heading back towards Belmarais.I had about four hours before I had to be on site for the t-shack set up, and I wanted to get in touch with Tyler and Justin to find out if they’d found anything.I tried Ethan again via Bluetooth as I took the first curve, the rattle of gravel on the undercarriage loud and irritating.Ethan’s voicemail greeting was nearly lost under the rumble.
“Hey.”I sighed.“It’s me.I won’t go into the details, but let’s just say suspicion confirmed on the Clemenses.”Frowning, I slowed as I neared another spill of gravel.The road itself was asphalt, recently resurfaced just last summer by the county.There was no reason for the gravel to be everywhere.It made it a pain in the ass and meant I had to slow down on the curves, so I didn’t slide.“I’m heading back to Belmarais now.Call me.”
Another curve, more gravel.A lot more.What the hell?Slowing to just about thirty, I glanced up in my rearview mirror reflexively.
A black truck was right behind me.
Paranoia wobbled to life in my stomach.I accelerated a bit coming out of the curve.They kept the same distance between us as they followed.
“Okay,” I muttered.“Either super dedicated to road safety, or I’m being followed.Super, super, super.”Focusing on the road ahead, I mentally cursed the area for being so fucking remote.There were no turn-offs save for a few small farms and a McMansion set too close to the road.All the better to show off the new money, I thought wildly as I glanced up again.This time, the truck had someone following them.
A champagne SUV.
Super, super, super,superfuckingsuper.
Another curve, more gravel.
Slowing my pace again, letting the truck get a little closer on that dangerous stretch.
The road straightened and I sped up.
So did my entourage.
The road would go straight for a good six miles, I remembered, staring straight ahead, mentally willing Ethan to call me.Or even Reba at this point—someone so I wouldn’t feel on my own.Someone who would know if I suddenly disappeared.
As if someone actually heard my prayers, my phone chimed.I answered by voice.
“Hey,” Mal drawled.“Listen, I need to tell you something?—”
“Shut up.Sorry.I mean.Not now.I’m kind of being followed.”
Mal was quiet for a moment, then, “Real shit?”
“Seriously?”
“Sorry, just… Shit.Okay.Um.Ethan!Ethan?—”
“Isn’t answering.Neither is Tyler.And I’m kind of too involved in re-enactingDuelto call everyone in my address book.”
“Where are you?”
I gave him my general location.“I should be hitting the intersection between this road and Red River Bend in about five minutes.”A quick look told me the truck was much closer now.I gave the car more gas.“More like three.”
“Shit, shit, shit,” Mal chanted.“Okay.Okay.Look.I’m going to call you back in like two minutes.I’m calling Waltrip.”
“Wait!Mal!”
But he’d already hung up.
“Fuck my life,” I muttered.The intersection would likely be only a little busy—not many people came out this way, not since they put the spur for I-10 just south of Belmarais.But there was a good chance there’d besomeonepassing through, and I’d need to slow the fuck down unless I suddenly developed some super awesome evasive driving skills in the next two minutes.
Lucky for me, I didn’t have to.Unlucky for me, it was because an ambulance came rocketing out of a hidden driveway right in front of me.I didn’t have time to brake before slamming into the side of it, everything spinning and flashing in a scream of metal and, no, that was me, not the car making that sound.
