A Justified Kill (Heart of a Wolf - Amber's Tale)

by MaryLynn Bast

  When Amber walked into the emergency room instead of through the front lobby, the nurse assistant recognized her immediately and led her to the private room they had moved Hanna to. “She had a rough night, lots of bad dreams. The doctor went ahead and sedated her so she’s still sleeping. We tried to find a phone number for you, but couldn’t find one since nothing was listed on her intake forms.” Her tone was almost accusing.

  Amber ran her hands through her hair and strangely felt guilty. “Um, sorry, I don’t carry a cell phone.”

  Thankfully it was a short walk to Hanna’s room. The orderly pushed the door open and allowed her to enter the room without further discussion.

  Amber stood just inside the closed door and stared at the pale girl lying in the bed. The dirt and grime had been cleaned from her face and hair, leaving the dark bruises and cuts marring her young, once perfect skin. Her blonde hair was pushed away from her face. She appeared to have had a shower, which Amber felt relieved to see. She walked over to the bed and saw Hanna’s bandaged hands clutching the blanket to her chest. Her hair lay limp, spread out across the stark white pillow and appeared to have been haphazardly cut. There were jagged chunks missing and leaning a bit closer, Amber saw that there were bald spots where the hair had been ripped from her scalp. The tiny hairs on the back of Amber’s neck stood on end and she fought the lump suddenly forming in her throat. She was not a crier and she refused to do so now. Taking a deep shuddering breath, she closed her eyes to get herself under control.

  Once calm, glancing over her shoulder, she made sure the door was closed. Leaning down to Hanna, she brushed the back of her knuckles along her cheekbone and leaned in close. She saw that he had even ripped the earrings out of the piercings in her ears and recalled seeing in the photograph, the diamond studs in her ears. She had a sneaking feeling that if she were to go to the pawn shop, those earrings would be there. Closing her eyes, she whispered softly to the sleeping girl. “I promised he would never hurt you or anyone else again, and now he won’t.” Amber straightened up. Her hands gripped the side rails of the bed and she stared down at Hanna for another moment.

  Moving away from the bed she began looking around the room. There should be some kind of medical supplies, opening cabinet doors and drawers she searched until she found them above the sink. The individual ointment packets were perfect. Grabbing a handful, Amber slipped into the bathroom and unbuttoned her shirt. Peeling the field dressing off, she tossed it into the toilet and flushed, staring at it until she was sure it was gone. Then she stared at the red puffiness surrounding the infected cut. With a disgusted shake of her head, she cleaned herself up then applied a new bandage. When her wolf emerged, the cut would heal. She just dreading making the change, but looked forward to healing and most of being able to run again.

  Making sure she left nothing behind and with one last look at Hanna, Amber listened for the hallway to become quiet. When she didn’t sense anyone near, she slipped quietly out of the room. Hanna never knew she had come and gone.

  Sitting in the parking lot of the hospital, Amber grabbed the small backpack and pulled out the plastic bag. Sifting through her purse once more, she removed the picture of Hanna and her parents. Looking at the photo, she wondered if her mother had loved her the way Hanna’s parents appeared to love their daughter. Clenching her jaw against the memories, she shoved it roughly back into the purse. With an irritated release of breath at allowing her thoughts to wander to her mother again, she pulled out of the parking lot, drove to the nearest shopping center and found an electronics store.

  Handing the phone over to clerk she frowned. She knew how to use electronics, but when it came to the accessories, she had no clue and it was just easier to let the clerk help her find what she needed. “I need a new charger for this.”

  The young man smiled and took off towards the isle of chargers with a wave of his hand.

  Within minutes she was back in her jeep and on the way back to her campsite. She decided, since she still had a job she was going to stay in town a couple more days because she had more investigating she wanted to do. The feeling that Hanna was not Gerald’s only victim would not leave her mind. The full moon phase lasted up to five days and would make her wolf want to run free. Staying there worked out perfectly since she already knew the area. She might as well be comfortable and decided to go back to the hotel.

  The tent was easy to take down. It only took a short time for everything to be packed up and stored in the back of the jeep. She was once again on her way.

  The clerk at the hotel put her back in the room she’d had before. He was extremely talkative since he didn’t have many customers coming in. From what he told her it was because they were still doing renovations. He had smiled as if conspiring, winking at her when he told her he had put her in the best and only room they had available. Amber figured there was not much traffic in the backwoods town and it was probably one of the only rooms in good enough repair to keep a guest in. Lack of sleep and chatty people didn’t make a good combination for her. When he handed over the key to the room, she was happy to escape his non-stop chatter.

  Settling in didn’t take long since she didn’t have much to put away. Her green backpack, laptop bag and her small black pack was all she carried. Lifting the green pack to the bed, she placed her face against the rough surface and inhaled. Even after all these years it still contained Blake’s lingering scent. Staring at the pack, she wanted to kick her own ass for allowing the memories of him to flood her mind. More than once she had considered tossing the backpack into a fire and getting a new pack all together. But she knew that wouldn’t happen. Blake had given it to her and she cherished it. The pack and the stone were the only things she had from her past. Holding onto the pack reminded her not to let her guard down and allow anyone close. It had taken her years to get over her heart breaking at just the thought of him. There were times she wished she had controlled her anger and avoided Tracy’s attack at the shelter. If she had just stayed away from the yard instead of meeting her head on, she might have been able to spend more time with him. Ultimately though, she knew she would have to leave him, but she still missed their time together.

  Sitting and talking with him for hours had been the only time she was happy. When she saw him smile at her, her entire world lit up. Amber’s fingers lifted to her lips. She could still remember how they had tingled when he had kissed her. The sensations that had shot through her body and she would have sworn that she felt her wolf stirring then.

  Now, she couldn’t help but wonder where he was and what he was doing. What would happen if they were to run into one another again, would it be the same? Would her feelings come flooding back? Had he found a mate? The last thought made her toss the bag onto the chair in the corner in irritation. She didn’t want to think about that.

  Picking up the plastic bag, she ripped open the packaging for the phone charger and plugged it into the wall. Lifting the phone, she twisted and turned it in her hand, finally finding where it connected and plugged the phone into the charger. Taking out her computer, she stared at the screen before closing it. She had spent countless hours searching the internet for a way to contact her grandfather and Blake, but never found one. Only once did she try looking for her mother and had found a phone number. She had called and when the man answered, she had lost her nerve and hung up. Standing there by payphone she had used, she remembered jumping when it rang. But she refused to answer it and had run back to her room, packed up and had fled the area.

  Pushing away from the makeshift desk in her room, Amber paced the floor, constantly glancing at the phone and the red light. It took forever to charge, but finally a green light showed and she hurried over and snatched it up. She flipped it open and pushed the power button on. It came to life immediately and began pinging with unheard messages and texts. Amber didn’t bother looking at any of the messages and flipped through the applications until she found the one for contacts. Like she had figured, and most people
tend to do, Hanna had listed her parents as Mom and Dad. Amber lay down on the bed staring at the lighted screen until it went blank. Sitting up with a sigh, she pushed the button to make it light up again, then the contact that would dial Hanna’s mother’s number. She didn’t have time to hang up when the phone was answered before the second ring. She felt a moment of panic because she had no clue what she was going to say. She remembered making the one phone call eight years earlier and how disappointed she had felt when her mother didn’t answer.

  “Hanna?” A panicked voice came through the phone. “Hanna, are you there? Please baby.” The woman begged.

  “No.” Amber’s voice sounded hoarse. She really had no idea what she was going to say to the woman, but she had called and she had to go through with it. Clearing her throat, she tried to interrupt the woman on the other end of the phone. “No ma’am, this is not Hanna. I am a…” Amber stopped and thought for a moment. She wasn’t close enough to anyone to really call them a friend, but what else could she say to a worried mother? “I’m Hanna’s friend.” When the woman started asking all kinds of questions Amber held the phone away from her ear and stared at it with a frown. For someone who didn’t want her around, this woman was definitely worried about her daughter. “Mrs. Barton please, I need for you to be calm and let me speak.” Finally, the woman grew quiet and Amber continued.

  “Your daughter is in the hospital.” With these words, the sobbing and questions started again and this time the woman would not stop until Amber raised her voice. “Would you please just shut up so I can tell you?” She hated being rude, but she had no choice with the woman being so emotional. Amber quickly told her the location of where Hanna had been admitted and hung up before she could question her any further. Before the phone could ring, she turned it off and tossed it onto the bed beside her.

  Falling back on the bed, she bounced against the hard surface and winced in pain. She had temporarily forgotten her injury. After lying in bed staring at the ceiling for a few minutes, Amber got up and went to her laptop. A quick search of the area code on the phone told her that Hanna was from Los Angeles, somewhere in the Hollywood area. From the clothing Amber had found, she figured a rich part of town, but would never have guessed from there. Glancing at the bedside clock, she had about five hours before Hanna’s parents would be at the hospital. This would give her time to drop her purse and phone off to her before they got there. The clothing was ruined and more than likely it would be the smart thing to return them to the woods around the campsite when she went back out. But first, she needed a nap, so she crawled to the middle of the bed, laid down and immediately fell asleep.

  A strange dream held her captive. Her wolf was running through a meadow with tall grass and wildflowers. The pine trees were different than was in the California forests. They kind of reminded her of the woods surrounding Moonlight Shelter. In the shadows of the trees, she could see a pair of glowing eyes, werewolf eyes, staring at her. Watching her black wolf bound through the grass, the other form remained in the darkness, in the shadows of the trees. Inside the wolf, Amber knew she was being observed and tried to see who was watching her, but could not urge her wolf to get close enough to make out who it was. She could hear the howling of timber wolves off in the distance, but the wolf in the shadows remained silent. It felt like she ran for hours. Every time she looked over, the other wolf was always right alongside her, watching her. Her wolf ignored whoever was there and continued running.

  Suddenly, Amber sat straight up in bed, her breathing labored. Adrenaline pumped through her veins like she had really been running. The strange wolf in her dreams felt so real. Chewing her bottom lip, a frown on her face, she looked quickly around the room. Her heart pounded in her chest and she felt like she was actually being watched. The sun was going down, judging by how dark it was in the room, she had slept longer than she’d planned to. Hopping up out of bed, she cautiously peered into the bathroom, then out the window to find nothing and no one there.

  A quick glance at the clock told her she was going to be late if she didn’t get a move on. Hanna’s parents would be getting to the hospital soon, if they were not already there, and she needed to get to work. Grabbing the phone and charger, she jammed them inside Hanna’s purse and rushed for the door. Jumping in her jeep, she grabbed her side when the sharp pain hit her and sucked in a deep breath. The cut was healing faster than it would on a human, but it still hurt and was definitely a reminder for her to keep her wits about her. Popping the clutch and punching the gas, she spun the tires in the gravel and she sped out of the parking lot.

  Amber stood in the brightly lit hallway for a moment before leaning against the wall by the door. She was too late, the parents were already there. The door to Hanna’s room was closed but she could still hear the soft murmur of a man and woman’s voice coming from inside the room. She heard who she assumed was Mrs. Barton, blow her nose. Shaking her head, she hated being around crying people, even if it was for a good reason.

  The scene in the room was very emotional. Hanna’s parents were sobbing, telling her how much they loved her and they were not mad at her for running away, they were just happy to have her back. Through their tears, they told her that everything was going to be ok. Deep down, Amber knew the girl would never be the same again. Things like what happened to Hanna changes a person and more than likely would affect her for the rest of her life. Depending on how strong the girl would be in the upcoming months would determine what kind of life she was going to lead. From the feelings Amber got from being around her, she thought Hanna was probably going to be ok. She seemed to be pretty strong and on the positive side, at least she wasn’t pregnant, which was a good thing.

  Inhaling deeply, Amber smiled sadly for the girl’s lost innocence. She was happy her parents were there by her side when she heard the rustle of the bed shifting. Hanna’s parents hugged their daughter to them. She was going to need their understanding in the coming months, maybe even years. From the sounds of it, Amber was sure they would be by her side through it all.

  Standing alone in the sterile bright hallway, Amber for once felt at peace with herself. She had made a difference in this girl’s life and she hoped Hanna would realize, with her at that very moment were loving parents. No matter what either of them said or did, they were still a family and had one another. She felt the urge to open the door, to tell Hanna to hold on to her family as long as she could and to tell her goodbye, but it was better this way. Looking down at the purse in her hand, Amber confirmed that the charger and phone was inside and hung it on the hospital door handle. Taking a deep breath, she released it in a heartfelt sigh, then turned and walked away.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The local news reporter was all over the story of the “Camp Fire Disaster”, reporting the details on how the Forestry Service had responded to the fire. The rangers had called in the sheriff and fire department once they realized there was a body in the tent at the campsite. There were no questions asked because everyone knew Gerald was a drunk, there were witnesses stating that he had bought several bottles of whiskey a couple days earlier. This made the county coroner’s job easy and they reported that Gerald had passed out while smoking. There had been debate about ruling it suicide since the whiskey had been spilled onto the bed in his drunken stupor and had served as an ignition source. The reporter had gone on and on about the years of obsessive drinking. She painted a very ugly picture of an alcoholic’s abuse to his own body which resulted in an alcohol blood level so high causing it to actually seep out his pours. His body was completely burned with only his charred skeletal remains left behind. The only way of identifying him was from the three teeth which had been found in his jaw bone. The newspaper report noted that even if he had awoken during the fire, he would not have stood a chance. With everything considered, the coroner’s report ruled it as a case of an accidental death.

  Only Amber knew different and smiled when she read the story in the local newspaper. The news report
er dug into Gerald’s past and found his family had left town long ago and had since passed away. The old shack he had lived in years earlier had fallen down so he’d set up camp in the National Park. Normally they didn’t allow year round camping, but somehow he had gotten away with it. It was unknown how he earned money, since he didn’t work. He had no bank account, even drove on an expired driver’s license. Amber shook her head at the thought of everyone in town, even the authorities knowing about him, but had left him alone. She had an idea that he probably stole from all his victims and as she had suspected, she did find that Hanna’s earrings, necklace and watch had been pawned. The people of the town only saw him when he went to the bar or made a quick shopping trip, then he would disappear into the woods again. His van always parked in the same spot on the side of the road.

  Shaking her head at how he could be so far off the grid and still stay in one place for so long amazed her. If he had been werewolf, the pack would have been all over him. Either way, he had no one to call foul on his death and insist on a detailed investigation. She was able to breathe easier that her screw up had actually turned out for the better. But she wasn’t quite happy. She knew Gerald had to have had more victims. So, she spent the next couple of days scouring the wooded areas surrounding the camp. Staying in the motel, she was close to the forest when her wolf decided to emerge. With the full moon phase lasting five days, she would have enough time to come up with something. She had to find something to set her mind at ease so she could move on. The feeling that she was pushing her luck was always at the back of her mind. She was staying longer than she had in any other place. The only way she had avoided being found by the Council was by staying on the move. But she couldn’t leave just yet. She knew there was unfinished business here.