Page 54 of Wild Wolf
She knew damn good and well what they were after.
My doubtful eyes stared into her. "Somebody broke into your house and rummaged through your stuff. Now they've broken into your office and ransacked the place. They’re after something, and I want to know what it is. No more bullshit."
She cringed again, then said, “I think I know what they’re after."
"I'm listening."
My phone buzzed with another call from Mendoza. I was more interested in what Taryn was about to say, but I took the call anyway.
"Bad news. Carolyn loaded up her sailboat with supplies and just cruised out of the marina.”
I grumbled a few obscenities under my breath.
Mendoza asked, "Is there anything we can do?"
"Not at the moment. We don't have an arrest warrant. The DNA won’t come back for a day or two at least, even with a rush job.” I paused. "Call the harbor patrol, have them follow her. Maybe they can stay on her tail.”
“We don't have jurisdiction past 12 miles.”
"It is what it is. Call the sheriff and let him know.”
I ended the call and slid the phone back into my pocket. Then, I refocused my attention on Taryn. “You were saying?”
28
“Remember I told you that some believe King Lycaon became a malicious spirit? Well, others believe the wolf spirit is a demonic force that can be summoned with a sacrifice and an incantation. Three sacrifices, to be specific. All under the full moon and all must be carried out by hand. Living flesh must be consumed. When the incantation is made, and the sacrifices complete, the wolf spirit will enter the person, conveying the power of transformation and immortality.”
My skeptical gaze persisted.
“I didn’t say I believed in that kind of stuff. I’m just telling you the legend.”
“Let me guess, you have the incantation?”
Taryn nodded. “A colleague sent me the ancient scroll for safekeeping. I think that’s what they are after. I think this is all related. Whoever is doing this is trying to become a werewolf.”
That hung there for a moment.
Jack’s face wrinkled. “Why would anyone in their right mind want something like that?”
“Key word is right mind,” I muttered.
“The person doing this believes they will inherit incredible power,” Taryn said. “It’s intoxicating. Some people who live ordinary lives crave what they will never have—power. Whoever is doing this obviously has deep-seated psychological issues. You’re looking for an outcast. Someone who doesn’t fit in. Someone who has likely always been picked on. Someone who is trying to assert themselves now.”
“Gee, do you know anybody like that?” I asked, my voice drenched in sarcasm.
She shrank sheepishly. “Look, my friend who sent this died shortly thereafter. This scroll and incantation is highly sought after in certain circles.”
Taryn was still in denial.
“Who fits the profile? Who knows you have the incantation? Which one of your students?”
“It’s against the law for me to give you information about students,” she said, tormented with inner conflict.
“I’m going to make you ride along with us when we have to make another death notification to a grieving family.”
Taryn cringed.
“Write the names of likely students down and leave it on your desk. Then go down the hall to the bathroom.”
