Page 50 of What a Wolf Wants
“Yeah, I want to deal with that too,” Noah said. “Someone like that can get a lot of the good guys hurt.”
“I agree.” Then Ethan got a call from his boss. “Yes, sir.”
Grainger asked, “Are you meeting with Noah?”
Ethan glanced at Noah. “Uh, yeah. Noah’s here and we’re discussing how we’re going to handle this. I’ll let him know. Thanks. Out here.” Ethan put his phone back on the dining room table. “That was Grainger. He said that the clerk was paid to make the clerical error in Kroner’s favor so he would be released. She has been arrested for her part in the crime.”
“Hell,” Noah said.
“I know. I hope she realizes what she has done if Kroner is responsible for yet another murder,” Ethan said.
“What about this mole in the department?” Noah asked.
Charlene got everyone refills on their coffee. She seemed relaxed with them speaking about the case and not talking about her dating Ethan any longer, and he was glad.
“I’m not sure who it could be. There are six to ten of us who go on these various missions, augmented by local law enforcement. It’s even possible it could be someone in the Portland Police Bureau who’s involved in leaking the planned raids to the men we are after.”
“But the last time you went after these guys, you went to the wrong house, and then you managed to go to the right house and catch two of the men. Was anyone on vacation when it happened, or out sick who didn’t know about the actual timing of the raid and that’s how you managed to capture the two men?” Noah asked.
“Grainger is looking into it. On the police end, Adam and Tori, who are both red wolves—”
“I met them. They came by to see me because they’re part of the wolf pack and knew I was taking over your job. They said they were thrilled another wolf was going to be working with them.” Noah sounded pleased that he’d made some friends already.
Ethan was glad that he had. A new wolf was welcome if he or she contributed to the pack. “That’s great. They’re good folks.”
“Adam and his mate, Sierra, and Tori had me over for dinner last night,” Noah continued.
“That’s great. So the two of them are looking into who might be a mole in their bureau. They are homicide detectives,so they don’t go on the drug raids with me normally. Though when we have an issue having to do with wolves, we all stick together. And if I’m working on a case that has to do with a murder, we all work on it together. Adam and Tori have access to information about who’s working what jobs and who’s off on vacation, that sort of thing, at the bureau. So they’ll be looking into it. Covington, their boss, is great to work for. He’s aware of the fact one or both of the departments might have a mole, but we’re keeping it just between us for now until we can find the culprit.”
“Okay, good. I’m at a bit of a disadvantage coming into the job from out of state and not knowing anyone,” Noah said.
“Yeah, but that’s what makes it perfect. You haven’t been involved in any of the shenanigans in the department, not to mention you’re a wolf and we trust you for that reason alone,” Ethan said. “I’m sure that also helped you to secure your job.”
“Renault put in a good word for me too. I’m glad I can be here to help you out.”
Ethan thought Noah was having a real change of heart about him and Charlene. He was glad about it. He could use a good partner on this last mission. He noticed that Noah was glancing surreptitiously at Charlene, but she was ignoring him completely, appearing not to want to give him the idea that she felt anything for him any longer.
“Grainger said that you’ll take the lead on this mission because you’re from here and know the players. He also told me not to tell anyone in the department that I’m out herewith you working on the case since you’re supposed to be retired,” Noah said.
“Not even Renault,” Ethan said, knowing the two of them were good buddies. “Not that Renault is anything but one of the good guys, but if he accidentally let it slip up that we’re doing this together, whoever the mole is might get the word.”
“Yeah, not even Renault,” Noah said. “Everyone believes I’m not starting the job for a few weeks to get moved and settled in. I had lunch with Renault yesterday afternoon. I told him I had found a house and purchased it in Portland, but that I had to return to Destin to sell my house and get my household goods ready to move. Which is why it worked out well that I’m living in Oyster Bay with you so that I don’t run into anyone that I’ll be working with in Portland. I didn’t even tell Adam and Tori what I was doing, not realizing that they knew just what you were doing out here.”
“Okay, good. Adam, Sierra, Tori, our pack leaders and a few other wolves know, just in case we need some additional support,” Ethan said.
“Oh, that’s good to know.”
They finished eating breakfast and Charlene and Ethan cleared the dishes from the table. He started soaking the pan that Charlene had used to make the pancakes. “I’ll take care of that after it soaks.”
Ethan noticed Noah watching their interactions, the way Charlene was smiling at him, helping him put things away, touching him in little intimate caresses. Nothing passionate, but just enough to show she really cared about him and thatNoah didn’t stand a chance to date her. Maybe they could be friends, but not in an intimate way.
Ethan wondered if Noah had ever helped her with cleaning up after meals, or if he left it to her to manage if she made meals for them. He shouldn’t have cared about their past relationship, but he wasn’t used to dating a woman whose boyfriend still wanted to be with her, and he certainly wasn’t used to befriending a girlfriend’s ex and working with him. Not only that, but Ethan really wanted to measure up in Charlene’s eyes and prove to her, and to Noah, that he had what it took to make her happy.
“Did you ever date Tori?” Noah suddenly asked Ethan.
If he was trying to create dissension between Ethan and Charlene, it wasn’t going to happen. “Yes. When she first arrived, she dated quite a few bachelor males, including me. We’ve worked together, socialized at the wolf pack gatherings, and she’s a great woman, but we just don’t have that spark that wolves have when they know they’re with the one they really want to be with for a lifetime.”
Noah nodded. “She seems really nice. Maybe I’ll ask her out on a date when I get back to the Portland area after this mission.”
