"Sure, kid, I was about to fall asleep, reading this boring junk." Trajan set his cell phone aside and looked at Ashe expectantly.
"Trajan, I don't think things are gonna be the same in Star Cove after tonight."
"What do you mean?" Trajan was concerned immediately.
"Well," Ashe perched on the edge of Trajan's bed, "Dawn hasn't always been a member of the community. But she managed to get sensitive information, anyway, during that time."
"True," Trajan nodded. "Information on you and a bunch of other stuff."
"Yeah. What if I told you that the Grand Master and Mr. Winkler are about to find out who she got that information from? That somebody who knew better was handing out information anyway?"
"Kid, this is starting to sound scary."
"Yeah."
* * *
Ashe stared at the gun cabinet he'd misted inside the hidden basement room days earlier. At least he could mist inside the room again. He knew the dart gun and poison darts were safely inside the cabinet, and Winkler held the key. Only one other person could easily reach what was locked inside. Holding out a hand, Ashe Pulled another dart to him and misted it inside the cabinet before withdrawing.
"We may need you," Ashe whispered to the contents of the safe.
* * *
"Mr. Thompson, are you a good shot?" Ashe asked as the Thompsons filled two plates with food to take home with them. Flossie had finished dinner and left plates in the oven for Winkler and the Grand Master when they finished in Star Cove.
Amos Thompson studied Ashe for a moment before grinning. "Sure am, kid. I was a sharpshooter in the army."
"Good. If I asked you sometime soon if you'd like to avenge your brother's death, would you be willing to do that?"
"Son," Amos dropped a hand on Ashe's shoulder, "I would be more than willing to avenge his death. I'm not sure how you know about Alex, but he's been missing for a while."
"I'll remember you said that," Ashe nodded. "Thanks for dinner, Mrs. Thompson. That was really good."
"No problem," Flossie offered Ashe a smile. "We'll be back in the morning."
Ashe shut the front door of Winkler's beach house behind the Thompsons with a sigh. And then he cursed. So many things needed his attention, and without his full talents available, it was difficult to know which one to handle first.
* * *
"Cori, I was planning to give this to you for your birthday, but I can't wait for that."
"What? Marco, my birthday is only three weeks away."
"I know. But this—I can't wait three weeks." Marco stared down at Cori, her pretty, blonde hair lifting in a breeze that swept the beach east of Star Cove. He'd asked her to take a walk with him, and she'd readily agreed.
"What is it, then?" Cori looked up expectantly at Marco, and then dropped her eyes as Marco went to his knees before her.
"Cori," Marco pulled a small, velvet box from a pocket and opened it, revealing the diamond ring inside, "will you marry me? Please?"
"Oh, my gosh, Marco." Cori dropped to her knees in the sand and flung her arms around Marco's neck. "I want to. Yes. Yes, yes, yes!"
* * *
"Mr. Montegue, I know you're sleeping now, but when you get this message, will you consider tailing Curtis Roberts? I think he's up to no good," Ashe left the message on Gavin's cell, along with the address of Curtis' office. "He'll be working late tonight. If you can't do it yourself, will you ask somebody else who's trustworthy to do it and keep you advised? Thanks." Ashe ended the voicemail with a sigh.
* * *
"Are you sure that was wise? Letting Roberts know that vampires, werewolves and shapeshifters exist?" Hutch asked, leaning an elbow on the white buffalo's head.
"You know I don't care if the whole world finds out," Zeke growled. "Haven't cared for a while. What does it matter if the humans panic? Just makes it easier to pick them off, don't you think?"
"Haven't killed a human in at least a week," Hutch chuckled. "Sounds like fun."
* * *
"I can't believe this. You knew? And didn't tell me?" Curtis Roberts flipped the folder shut and glared at Arthur Vaine.
"I'm on other committees, remember?" Arthur snapped. "Of course I know. As does the President."
Curtis cursed and threw the folder at Arthur, scattering papers everywhere and making Arthur duck.
"Curtis, it's time you left my office," Arthur said. "Get out."
"So you can call the President and have him can me? Is that what you're planning to do?"
"I can't—you can ruin me, remember?""Yeah, that's right. Keep that in mind, Congressman. Keep that in mind." Curtis stalked out of Arthur's office, slamming the door behind him.
* * *
"Radomir, I feel this is important. Will you discreetly follow Curtis Roberts?"
"I will. I have the night off before traveling to Belfast tomorrow evening."
"Just keep an eye on him and use your best judgment if you see him doing anything improper."
"Of course. Shall I keep you and the Honored One apprised?"
"Yes."
* * *
Radomir, Wlodek's youngest vampire child at more than eleven hundred years old, waited discreetly outside the building in Silver Spring, Maryland, which housed Curtis Roberts' office. Gavin had forwarded a photograph of the government employee who, according to several sources, had overstepped his authority on many occasions.
As Wlodek's child, Radomir had access to vampires and werewolves who worked for the U.S. government, and had contacted three highly placed sources. Each had given him identical information, causing Radomir to growl softly.
* * *
Curtis walked past the security guard with barely a nod as he dropped his briefcase to the marble floor and adjusted the cuffs of his suit coat. He'd arranged to meet with a well-known journalist, and Curtis was prepared to hand over important information—information revealing that werewolves and vampires were not a myth. In less than twenty-four hours, everyone on the planet would know. Curtis wanted to laugh—he imagined that vigilantes, religious groups and thrill seekers might be hunting vampires and werewolves by the weekend.
* * *
A cab pulled up outside the building, and Radomir watched as Curtis Roberts exited the building and opened the back door to climb inside the vehicle.
"I'll be joining you," Radomir seated himself beside Curtis before Curtis could blink or reach for the door to close it.
"Who are you?" Curtis stared at the tall, handsome man now sitting beside him. For some reason, a tingle of fear crept up Curtis' spine.
"You should not be concerned," Radomir placed compulsion. "Inform the driver where you wish to go."
Chapter 17
"Traje said he thought you knew," Winkler settled on a barstool beside Ashe at breakfast.
Ashe looked up from his eggs and ham. Flossie Thompson had been unusually quiet since her arrival. Ashe figured he knew why.
"It happened last night, after Paul Johnson took the execution. The Grand Master called a meeting with all of Star Cove's werewolves. He announced what he'd learned after Aedan placed compulsion on Dawn Smith and asked her who she'd gotten information from inside the community. Turns out that Marcus has been giving Denise sensitive information when he shouldn't have, asking her to keep it to herself. She's been gossiping with Dawn all along, and all Dawn had to do was ask the right questions."
"What did the Pack do?" Ashe wanted to shiver. He figured he knew the answer but wanted to ask anyway.
"You know there's only one way to remove a Packmaster, if there's no challenge made. The Pack declared Marcus and Denise outcast last night, by a majority vote. Marco isn't a part of the Star Cove Pack any longer, so he couldn't vote. Sali abstained."
"Who's in charge, now?" Ashe didn't express his concern for Sali right then; he'd wait to see what Winkler had to say, first.
"Micah Rocklin. Frank Dodd is acting Second at the moment. We learned that Denise has been feeding information to Dawn about you that she and Marcus had gotten from Sali and a few others. Information that should have been kept confidential. The Grand Master warned Marcus about releasing information on you to anyone else."
"Damn," Ashe cursed softly. "That's why Dawn chickened out on Josiah, then. Denise told her, after I told Marcus not to say anything and the Grand Master agreed."
"Sounds like it."
"What about Randy?"
"Randy is going through his mother's things. I have no idea if he plans to stay or will leave the minute he can get away."
"Too bad," Ashe shook his head and cut another chunk of ham before stuffing it in his mouth. "Randy needs to think this through before making important, life-changing decisions."
"He's emotional, right now. Shirley refused to allow Dawn's burial in her groves, so the remains were hauled to the gulf afterward."
"What did James' parents say? Anything?"
"They called Dawn out before the execution. Pointed out that James had been Randy's best friend, and she'd watched him die without helping. Dawn just growled at them."
"Crazy."
"Yeah."
"What do you think Marcus will do?"
"He and Denise are packing, but haven't told anyone where they plan to go."
"Do you think they'll leave Texas?"
"Yes. The Grand Master told Sali that at sixteen, a werewolf has the right to petition to stay, as long as someone agrees to take him in if his parents have been outcast by the Pack. I heard from Sali this morning." Winkler cut into his slice of ham, which had gone cold while he and Ashe talked.
"What did he say?" Ashe wanted to hold his breath. Forcing himself to breathe normally, Ashe turned back to his breakfast.