Page 123 of Whispers of Wisteria
Me
Who is this?
Unknown Number
Gloria.
I leaped to my feet. I’dbeen summoned! Quick as I could, I dismantled my little café-camp and scurried out of the building. I had to hurry. This was the moment I’d been waiting for.
“Bianca,” she greeted me. “Glad to see that you could get away without raising suspicion.”
“Get away?” I asked, hanging up my coat alongside hers.
“Gregory.” She didn’t look up from her knitting—another new project. “Did you know the man daredto approach me outside the science building this morning?”
What was this fascination that stalkers had with the science building?
“I honestly believe that he’s lost his damn mind. I haven’t seen him this worked up since Michael crashed his precious Camaro through the precinct’s holding gate,” Gloria continued, mouth curling. “And do you want to know what he was saying?”
I shifted my weight to my other foot. “That you’re not able to protect me?” I guessed.
“He was blathering on about how the time was finally right for us to—” Gloria had begun speaking at the same time as me, and once my words registered, she froze. Her golden eyes shot to mine. “He’sstillgoing on about that?”
“Oh.” I bit my lip. Well, this was awkward. “What happened to his Camaro?”
“Did you hear that?” Gloria asked, glancing past me. My heart jumped into my throat as I looked over my shoulder. I hadn’t even noticed that we weren’t alone. “And he thinks I should give him another chance. Hah!”
Dr. Sartore had been standing behind the door. “I don’t care,” she replied, brushing off her crimson pant suit as she slipped past me to the chairs.
“I’m sure I misunderstood.” It was possible, but I doubted it. “You wanted to see me?” I held my notebook in front of me, ready for orders.
“Yes.” Gloria pursed her lips, suddenly serious, as she set her knitting to the side and straightened in her seat. “I need your eyes.”
My pulse began to race in both horror and excitement, and I held the notebook close to my chest. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve agreed to be my protégé. That requires trusting me while we prepare to embark on a mission.” The wolf gestured to the only other open seat in the room, which happened to be directly next to the angry-looking hyena.
“O-okay.” My voice broke. I sat down and tucked my ankles behind the leg of the chair. It seemed that being confident involved a whole lot of faking. I pressed my notebook into my lap. “How can I help?”
“We’ve lost a being of great importance,” Dr. Sartore said gravely, crossing her arms. “It must be found at all costs.”
“A being?”
“Dr. Sartore, while I appreciate the sentimentality,” Gloria interrupted with a sigh, “Cécile isn’t for you to fret over. You may return to your regular duties. Bianca and I can handle this well enough on our own.”
Dr. Sartore pointed at her, eyes blazing. “Nonsense,” she said, voice firm. “I am invested in the mission to locate the beast.”
“I’d really rather you not,” Gloria replied.
“Cécile?” I tilted my head.
Did she run away again? She should consider keeping her caged.
“Yes. It’s missing.” Dr. Sartore nodded.
“I thought shifters didn’t like shikigami?” I frowned at her.
Dr. Sartore looked at me evenly. “It is a cat.”
