Howling Dead

by M. H. Bonham

  “Maybe harmless isn’t the right word. Mostly harmless.”

  “I ought to take you in for questioning,” Jim remarked. “Instead, I’m showing complete lack of judgment and taking you out to dinner.”

  “Thank God for male hormones, eh?” Kira grinned.

  Jim laughed. “You’ve got me. Now, what was Will—er, Spaz—doing here in Denver?”

  “I don’t know,” Kira said. “He had some gig at Axioms to fix their holes in their wireless—can’t say as I blame them with the kids I’ve seen around here with PDAs and palm tops.”

  “No, what was he really doing here? You know, he was making not much more than minimum wage and some free food. What’s more, he was under a stolen identity.”

  “Really? Spaz? Never seemed like the type.”

  “He was your buddy.”

  “Back at MIT.” Kira shook her head. “Ten years changes a lot. Don’t know what he’s gotten himself into except some Internet stuff.”

  “He went by John Powers on his credit card. Everyone knew him at Axioms as Will, but he told them that was his middle name.”

  “Look, I don’t know. He was agitated when I emailed him about Cathal. Said I was getting involved in something I shouldn’t.”

  “Did he know about your, er, affliction?”

  Kira smiled slightly. “No, I didn’t tell him about that.”

  “So, he didn’t know about the werewolves?”

  “No, or if he did, he did a good job faking it.” Kira cocked her head to one side as they walked. “You think he did?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” Jim looked at her as if considering her. “Your eyes were a different color when I first met you.”

  “Yeah, that’s before I turned into a wolf. Charming, isn’t it?”

  “Contacts would change that,” Jim remarked. “It’d also be less conspicuous.”

  Kira nodded. “Spaz noticed my eye color—you think maybe he knew what had happened to me?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not,” he paused.

  “Why all the interest in Spaz? Have you found him yet?”

  “My partner is tracking down his address. Last I heard, he had a possible address and is going to check him out.” He paused. “In the meantime, dinner and hopefully good conversation.” He stopped and Kira looked up to see that they were standing in front of Maurice’s.

  “You don’t get that lucky,” Kira said as Jim held open the door. “There’s still Alaric.”

  “So, there is,” Jim said. He walked up to the receptionist. “We have a reservation. The name is Walking Bear.”

  “Yes, sir, right this way,” the woman said and seated them both.

  “Is there any way you can get Alaric released into your custody?” Kira asked after the waitress handed them menus.

  “I could try,” Jim said. “But Animal Control is a whole separate division of the department. Let me give Wendy a call over there. Maybe she’ll release him to me.” He glanced at the menu. “Order any wine you’d like, and I’ll have the chicken parmesan and a salad with Italian dressing. I’ll be back in a few.”

  Kira nodded and Jim stood up and walked outside. He flipped open the cell phone. The waitress came by with a bread basket, took their orders, and left. Kira looked out the window to see Jim pacing and frowning as he spoke into the phone. At last, he glanced at Kira, heaved a sigh, and came back in.

  “Damn department,” he grumbled. “They won’t do a damn thing without paper filed in triplicate.”

  “And meantime?”

  “Meantime, your wolf buddy gets the needle.” He sighed. “Kira, what do you want me to do?”

  “Break him out—or I’ll do it.”

  “Kira!”

  At that moment, the waitress came back with their orders. Kira looked down at the veal parmesan, not hungry anymore. “Look, I know what you’re saying,” Kira said. “But I can’t let him die and Denver is going to have a lot of explaining to do when they jab a needle into what they thought was a wolf and it turns out to be a human.”

  “They change back?”

  “Yeah,” Kira said. “Haven’t you seen those old werewolf movies?”

  “Okay, Kira,” he sighed. “I’ll free him—provided that he really is human. He’s got to prove that to me.”

  “There’ll be no problem there. So what do we do?” she lowered her voice. “Break in?”

  “No, with a key,” Jim replied. “Cops don’t break into their own buildings. I just need to stop by the precinct and get a building key.”

  “Oh.” Kira felt disappointed. She sliced a piece of the meat, twirled the mozzarella around it and ate it.

  “Don’t worry; I’m going to get into a lot of trouble as is with this wolf.” He cut into the chicken.

  At that moment, Jim’s cell phone beeped. “Hang on.” He raised a finger as he saw who it was on caller id. “Hello? Yeah, go ahead. You found what?” He winced. “Yeah, I’m with her. No, I don’t think she has any idea. Thanks.”

  Jim hung up the phone. “We’ve got a bigger problem now.”

  Kira frowned. “What?”

  “That was my partner. He found Tagura’s residence. There’s been a sign of forced entry, a struggle, and blood everywhere.”

  CHAPTER 35

  Are you sure it was Spaz’s apartment?” Kira asked, her stomach roiling at the news. Spaz was kidnapped? But how? And whose blood?

  “Pretty sure—lots of smashed computer equipment was inside,” Jim said, standing up. He put down the cash for both their meals and a tip. “Box this up and take it home. I’ll come by and pick it up.”

  “But what are we going to do?” Kira asked. She stood up when Jim did, but then found herself at a loss. What do you do when your college friend disappears? she wondered.

  “We are not doing anything. You are going home and waiting for me until I call,” Jim said. “I’ve got to go.”

  “That’s it?” Kira asked, feeling her temper rise and the hackles along the back of her neck rise with it. “You can’t tell me to do anything.”

  “Yes, I can. I know your secret.”

  “Asshole,” she hissed. “Who’s going to believe you?”

  “You’re going home—and that’s final.” He turned and left her alone in the restaurant.

  Kira eyed her food mournfully. Her appetite was gone now. She had the waiter put the food in boxes, numbly watching him as he did so. What could she do? She didn’t even know where Spaz lived.

  She thanked the waiter and walked out of the restaurant with a bag of food.

  Why did life have to become so complicated? she asked herself as she walked back to her apartment. A little over a month ago, life had been so different. Now she was unemployed and broke, her best friend was dead, another friend and a possible boyfriend were both in trouble, and on top of it all, she had a propensity to turn into something dangerous and hairy.

  It was enough to send a girl shopping.

  Spaz, where are you? she wondered. They found blood there—could it have been his? Or maybe not. It might not even have been his apartment. Even so, Kira was filled with dread. Who would have wanted to hurt Spaz?

  Spaz had been agitated about something. He was worried about Kira using the Internet. Jim had said that Spaz was wanted by the FBI for cybercrimes. What was he mixed up in?

  “Patience, patience,” Kira muttered. She paused as she entered the apartment building, then she ran upstairs and unlocked the door. After tossing the food in the refrigerator, she sat down at the computer. “Fuck patience. I’m going to kill something.”

  She put on the headset and at once jumped headlong into the Enchanted Forest.

  The Forest was dark, as though Spaz had written a Night and Day routine. In spite of this, Kira found she could still “see” with her eyes as she walked through the forest. Maybe it was the programming or something else.

  The help function was no longer running. At the moment, she doubted that seeing Spaz in his electronic form would help much. It would re
mind her too much of what Jim had said. Instead, she walked down the path that winded its way through the Forest. She went on for some time, not seeing anything except more trees.

  This is boring, she thought. She had hoped she could find something that would clue her in to where Spaz might have gone.

  Well, girlfriend, it depends where you’re looking.

  Kira halted and looked around. Who’s there? she said, hoping that her voice was menacing enough. She turned around but saw nothing but trees. Show yourself!

  You’re practically looking right at me, the voice said. It was fairly high-pitched and even a little squeaky. Kira looked around but saw nothing. Cold. The voice said.

  She turned back.

  Warm, the voice said. She took a couple steps forward. Warmer. She kept moving as the voice said, Getting really hot. A few more steps. Cold again. Are you blind?

  Kira made a face and stepped backwards. She looked to the left and saw nothing but the tree. To the right was a tree as well, but this one had a lizard on it. Are you that? she said and tried to point with her hand. To her surprise, instead of a hand and arm, she was looking down at a paw and foreleg of a wolf. She gasped and jumped back. I’m a wolf.

  The Forest usually chooses the avatar, the Lizard said plainly. Actually I think it’s Spaz’s idea of a joke. I ended up a lizard; you’re a wolf.

  You know Spaz? Kira asked sharply.

  Yeah, doesn’t everyone? the lizard asked.

  Kira frowned. She walked around the tree-trunk eyeing the lizard dubiously. Now that she looked at it, she could see it was a large iguana-type creature with large purplish spots across its hide. I’ve never seen a lizard your color.

  Like it? I added that bit of programming in, the lizard said, puffing out just a bit.

  Yeah, I guess, Kira said. Who are you?

  Lizard, the Lizard said.

  I know what you are, Kira said. I was asking who you are.

  That’s my nick. Lizard. It’s also my avatar, Lizard said. Surely you’ve been in chat rooms and on blogs?

  Yes, grumbled Kira. She never really liked the secrecy of the Internet that much, and here in the Enchanted Forest, it appeared to be even more questionable. So, you know Spaz?

  Yeah, but everyone knows him.

  Have you seen him?

  Lizard cocked his head and Kira became envious of the EPRE software. By the way it looked, it had to be enhanced for it to mimic the emotion so well. Not in several days—why?

  I don’t know, Kira said. She didn’t want to tell anyone that she knew about Spaz’s disappearance just yet, and was reluctant to talk to a stranger about it. He said he was going to contact me but didn’t. So, I thought I would ask.

  And he gave you a headset, Lizard observed.

  Kira frowned. How many headsets are out in RL?

  The Lizard grinned and showed its teeth. It reminded Kira of an alligator’s teeth. That’s the mystery, isn’t it? He paused. Happy hunting. With that, he disappeared.

  Kira frowned as he left. She didn’t know what to think of Lizard and couldn’t tell if he was a friend, an enemy, or someone completely neutral. She wondered how this person knew Spaz and how he got his headset. What’s more, she wondered what she ought to do to find him.

  She continued down the path, not really expecting to find anything. She knew she ought to get back and try to contact Jim. After all, with each hour, Alaric would be closer to a jab with that needle. She was getting ready to turn back when she saw movement through the trees. She hesitated for a moment. If she ran through the Forest, would she find her way back?

  I can always take off the headset, she reminded herself. She turned left into the darkest part of the Forest, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever it was she saw move. She did not see the dark shadow following close behind her.

  CHAPTER 36

  Kira could see the shadow move before her. She wondered what kind of commands she could use to determine what she was seeing or whether there was really something up ahead. She ran quickly, hoping to catch it. As she ran, she caught a glimpse of what looked to be a white horse’s flank. She launched herself toward it, only to find it disappear as if it were nothing but vapor.

  Kira halted and stared into the darkening forest. She didn’t know where she was, so she paused and assessed her situation. Command? she asked tentatively.

  Okay, came a reassuring reply.

  Help? she asked.

  Help not available on this machine. Try man.

  Kira looked perplexed. Hostname-a

  Treacle HP-UX 13.1.2.5a HP 9000 PA-8900 64

  Kira frowned again. She was in a computer she didn’t recognize, but it had to be somewhere off the backbone. She was considering doing a traceroute when she heard a low growl. She turned around in time to see a huge wolf with glowing red eyes leaping at her.

  Kira leapt aside as the jaws snapped in mid-air. She turned and sunk her teeth into the creature. Hot blood flooded her mouth. Kira wanted to gag, and nearly let go. Was this a program? The wolf turned and slashed at her. Kira yelped as pain ran down her neck. She ripped the headset off and once more was in her apartment.

  It was dark, and only the quiet hum of the computers’ fans broke the silence. The monitor flickered and filled with another screensaver—this time, a swarm that changed color with each movement.

  She felt sick and shaky. She was panting and drenched with sweat. The taste of blood still lingered in her mouth. She stood up to go to the mirror, but her legs wouldn’t move. Instead, she felt all wobbly. She closed her eyes and stumbled forward. Her neck hurt so much, she was sure she had a gash. As she staggered to the bathroom, she felt what little dinner she ate rise in her gorge. She lifted the toilet seat and heaved her guts out. When she finally couldn’t throw up any more, she pulled herself up and looked in the mirror.

  There was no sign of an attack or any sort of injury. Her eyes were swollen and her face was red from throwing up, but beyond that, she looked normal. She sank back down to the floor and felt the cold linoleum next to her face.

  Why did she always have to learn the hard way? she asked herself. Kira felt stupid. It was her curiosity that always led her into trouble. Curiosity killed the cat, she reminded herself. She had no idea what it did to a werewolf, but she knew it wasn’t good.

  Her mind went back to the white, horse-like thing. She had only caught a glimpse of it before the werewolf attacked. What might it be? She felt that she should have recognized it, but what exactly it was, she couldn’t say.

  When she felt steady enough, she stood up. The werewolf thing had been a shock; she remembered Spaz said something about werewolves in the Enchanted Forest. Well, now she knew and would have to be more careful. She washed her face and took a sip of water. As she dried her face with a towel, she glanced at the stick-em digital clock she had put on the mirror. It said 11:25 pm.

  “Shit!” She walked out of the bathroom, still unsteady. Alaric was still in Animal Control and she was losing precious hours. She got some more water and opened the fridge. It wouldn’t do for her to go after Alaric on an empty stomach, even if it was still a woozy one. She popped her leftover dinner in the microwave. While it was cooking, she went back to the bathroom to search for something for her stomach. After a quick search, she found a bottle of Pepto Bismol, opened it up and took a swig. The pink peppermint flavor made her want to gag, but she forced it down and then drank more water. If she was going to break into Animal Control, she had better do it at her peak.

  The microwave beeped and she pulled out the veal parmesan. She and ate it and the fettuccini ravenously. Unsatisfied, she went back to the fridge for Jim’s untouched chicken parmesan. She warmed that up, too, and ate it.

  She wondered what this would do to her figure, but she guessed that as a werewolf, she burned a lot of calories. Wringing her hands, she tried Jim’s cell phone but only got a voice recording.

  “Jim, this is Kira...” she began. Your werewolf girlfriend? A nasty voice inside her head
added. “Look, I’ve got to get Alaric out of Animal Control. Can you meet me there?” She was beginning to feel sick again. She gave him her phone number and hung up.

  Oh yeah, that will really work, the voice inside her said. Now you’ll just get arrested for B&E.

  Kira ignored the voice, grabbed her keys and what little cash she had, and called a cab. She walked downstairs, glaring at Trevor as she passed him in the hall. He acted as though he didn’t see her, but she could smell the change in his body’s odor. It smelled like fear.

  Good, she thought. He ought to be afraid. How dare he turn his back on the pack’s Alpha.

  She stopped herself. Where did that thought come from? She shivered, not really wanting to know. The whole concept of an Alpha was completely alien to her, and yet, a part of her accepted it. No, she told herself firmly. She would rescue Alaric, but not because he was Alpha. She would rescue him because he was in danger of being killed. And, she had to admit, she liked him a lot. Even if he was a werewolf.

  As the cab pulled up and she got in, Kira wondered what she was getting herself into this time.

  CHAPTER 37

  Alaric paced in the small cage. He had changed back to his human form twice, only to find that he could do even less as a human than he could as a wolf. He had tested the steel bars both with hands and teeth, but they were strong, tempered steel—there was no way he could break them. The lock, too, was case-hardened steel—without a tool, neither his teeth nor his hands could do anything with it.

  So, he had resolved himself to pacing back and forth. All the hope he had left was Kira’s promise to bring help. She had promised she would bring help. Would she talk to Cathal? And would Cathal show proper pack loyalty as his Beta? Alaric had never had a lot of faith in Cathal or in Cathal’s loyalty, but now he didn’t have much choice. Kira couldn’t get him out alone. And with her cop boyfriend...

  Now, that rankled Alaric. He snarled and slashed at the cage before catching himself. What did he care if Kira had a boyfriend? Alaric hardly knew her. Yet, he was attracted to her. She was beautiful both as a wolf and a human. She was tough-minded, too. And he could tell the attraction was mutual.