Page 80 of Cruel Revenge
“Sir, I think we as the BSA back off and support the moon cursed. Clearly, something is happening. Things have been strange for years. We had the Dallas pack fall apart. We had werecats in the city to meet Jacky and Zuri, and someone committing murders trying to frame a werewolf. We’ve had… Alaska happened, and since then, Jacky has been leaving a lot. But not once has a human been killed until last night that we know of, and witches did it trying to take Carey.”
“And nearly killing her, apparently,” Rhodes finished for her. “If Jacky is to be believed.”
“And she’s not,” Agent Jan argued.
“She’s never lied to us in a way that hurt us,” Beth countered. “She protects her people just like we protect ours. We know the werewolves do the same. She would also never play games with Carey’s life. The Change can be fatal. Heathneverwanted his daughter Changed. He’s on record for over a decade saying that. Jacky would have only done it if it was necessary. Weknowthat.”
Rhodes looked at her. Studied her.
“Fine. Clearly, I misplayed this. You can tell D.C. that. I’ll see this through, then present myself for their reprimand if they find one necessary.” Rhodes got up and paced the space near his chair for a moment. “Do you think we can win back the moon cursed? Or am I responsible for breaking a relationship we’ve had with the werewolves for forty years?”
“I think we can, but it’ll take work.” Beth stood up as well. “I think we start by listening to Zuri’s statement, then backing it.”
“This is insane,” Agent Jan said, throwing something. “We’re just going to let them do whatever they want?”
“We’re going to let them get their kids back and stand down. I’ll take the punishment from D.C. if there is one,” Beth said,ready for it. Ready to stand on her chosen hill. She was going to make the choice for the BSA. If there was going to be a brawl, she wanted to be on Jacky’s side. Somehow, someway, Jacky came out on top. She would explain it in D.C. later.
“Then we’ll prepare something to say and adjust it once we see what Zuri has to say,” Rhodes said.
Agent Jan cursed violently and stormed out.
“Should I call the other agents back in?” Beth asked, grabbing a remote. She tuned into the local news, knowing everyone in Texas at least would pick it up the moment it went live. Beth had a feeling that somehow the livestream would get out there within seconds of it starting.
“Please do.” Rhodes shoved his hands in his pockets as he looked at the screen. “Special Agent Kirk… I’m sorry for all of this. You tried to warn me. Couldn’t have expected that Carey was now a werecat or that Heath was in charge of the werewolves, but even without that information, I should have taken your advisement. I get pressured a lot for more information, about not getting new intel out of these situations…”
“I know what the Directors are told to do. You’re only trying to do your job to appease the other organizations.” Beth shrugged. “But I’m an expert, and my job security is pretty waterproof. I’ll probably be doing this job until I retire, unless Jacky doesn’t want to talk to me anymore. Just remember that. Would hate to have to deal with this yet again.”
Beth called in the other agents, and they waited.
When seven rolled around, breaking news hit.
A new werecat was revealing herself, live for the world. Zuri.
The tale she wove about Jacky and Carey and the bond they shared was enough to make the anchors cry live on air. Carey, a young girl without a mom in her life, struggling to live normally with her werewolf father and brother, who just want her to besafe. Jacky, the tough-as-nails, lonely woman who saved Carey and swore to protect her for the rest of their lives. About to be a real family once Jacky and Heath got married, brought together by the girl they both loved as a daughter. She emphasized that not only was Carey gone, but three other young people, three young werewolves, two of whom were born as such. She spoke about Stacy, who was shot trying to save the youngest werewolf, young Benjamin, who was also only sixteen. Zuri mentioned that Kody, her younger brother, was also missing. And Arlo, Benjamin’s older brother.
“Damn. She is fucking good,” someone whispered.
“The millions she’s going to give away to fix things helps, too,” Beth said, chuckling. “But she is good. It’s easy to be that good when you’re telling a true story, though.” Beth turned to the agents. “Now, the Dallas statement. We’ll run it through D.C., but since we’re ground zero, they probably won’t argue with our choice here. We can’t have this getting any more out of hand.”
Beth was going to keep a damn good eye on everyone, though, because she had a feeling it wasn’t really over for her yet. Not until Jacky, Carey, and everyone else were back where they needed to be. Home.
“Director Rhodes, there’s an emergency flight asking for permission to leave from Houston. They claim they have someone critically injured. I can confirm, but I need approval.”
“No flights are leaving any Texas cities,” Beth snapped before anyone else could answer. “Not a single one. Houston has plenty of hospitals. They can use one of those in the meantime.”
“But—”
“No exceptions!” she yelled, turning on the agent.
Director Rhodes just nodded.
“Special Agent Kirk is right. It’s a shame, but we can’t have any private flights going up right now.”
“Plus, emergency medical flights are through certain companies, and those aren’t being denied air space,” Beth said softly, shaking her head. “Not privately owned flights…” Beth narrowed her eyes at the agent. “Tell me who sent that flight request to you.”
29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
