Whispers in the Ether

by Jena Gregoire

  I opened the foggy glass door of my shower and stepped into the hot steam. After closing the door behind me, I learned against the warm tile wall. I let the water beat down on me, relaxing the muscles in my back for a few minutes before I started to wash up. The million things I had to do that night ran through my head. The impending conversation with Kade was right at the top of the list. The wolves who had jumped Dylan were selling something with magickal properties and most humans can't handle magick in any form. It was time to connect with him to see what his people knew. Plus, there was whatever he wanted to discuss concerning Ace. I already knew it couldn't be good, it was just a question of what degree of bad we were dealing with. Resolute to get it over with, I rinsed off and stepped out of the shower. I toweled off and watched the condensation drip down the mirror. Jamie's message slowly disappeared and I smiled.

  I quickly threw on a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt, my black boots, and topped it off a hoodie and my leather jacket. I grabbed my chain wallet, keys, and phone off the nightstand and headed to the elevator. On the ride down, I turned on my phone's screen to check my messages. There were a few from the pack and one from Kade Walker requesting we meet up. I replied and asked if we could meet for coffee. I desperately needed a cup — or five. This would kill two birds with one stone. He quickly answered back, accepting my offer and he suggested meeting in an hour at a place close by. I messaged him back agreeing and stuffed the phone back in my pocket.

  I stopped off in the shop to check in with the guys and found Aidan by himself. He was working on a Harley engine rebuild for one of our regulars. By his appearance, most people would assume Aidan spent time listening to heavy metal music. Instead, the house stereo system was playing classical music. He once told me it helps him concentrate but it was only times like this, when he was alone in the shop, that he could play it over the shop speakers without complaints.

  "Morning," I said in greeting. He laughed at that.

  "Evening, boss. You and the little lady tie one on last night or what?" I eyed him wondering what he had seen. I was sure the place had been empty the night before.

  "I smelled her scent when I came in this morning.”

  "Okay, well, keep it to yourself, please.”

  "Is there something I should know?”

  "Meaning?”

  "I've known you for a long time and last night is the first time I've ever seen you bring someone back to your place.”

  "Are any of the guys in the back room?”

  "Nah, they’ve already been in and left again.”

  "I thought it might have been something. I like her but the timing isn't right.”

  "Or you're a chicken shit.”

  "Excuse me?”

  "Come on, man. It was obvious to both Max and me tonight. We've never seen you like that before. Any other night, you would have cut out of there at the first opportunity without a second thought for any of the girls in that place. You hate hanging out at the Bullet and we all know it.”

  "It was an off night.”

  "You took her home," he fired back. You really think it's a good idea to toss that aside or dismiss it as insignificant?” He was probably right but my interest didn't matter. She made it clear that I probably wouldn't see her again.

  "I'm not holding my breath. It was more than likely a one-time thing and I'd really appreciate it if it stayed between us. Especially if you run into her. Do any of the guys know?”

  "Nobody mentioned it."

  "If they do, shut it down.”

  "You know I will.”

  "Good. I'm headed out. I'm meeting Kade for coffee, and the rest of my night will depend on how that goes.”

  "How bad do you think it is?”

  "Honestly, I don't know, but if Kade wants to talk face to face, it can't be good.”

  "That's the same thing I was thinking.”

  "Whatever it is, we'll deal with it.” He set his wrench down and grabbed a worn red shop towel from his toolbox to clean his hands.

  "Do you think Max is right? That bringing them into the pack was a mistake?”

  "I'd be lying if I said it never crossed my mind, but if we were to boot them, they'd just become another pack's problem. Pushing them off on another alpha isn't a solution. They're just going to have to fall in line." He laughed. It wasn't that simple and we both knew that from experience. "I'm out. You know how to reach me if there is an emergency.”

  I turned and headed down the darkened hallway. The rain was pouring down when I opened the door and stepped out into the night. I flipped up the hood of my sweatshirt to keep from looking like too much of a drowned rat when I arrived. The coffee shop was only a few blocks from the garage and I wasn't afraid of a little water.

  Minutes later, I rounded the corner of the coffee shop and almost ran into a woman carrying a tray full of coffees. I apologized and made sure she had her bearings before I continued on. I stepped through the shop door, a metal bell tinkling overhead signaling my arrival, and shrugged out of my jacket. I shook it slightly, shedding the excess water by the door, and scanned the busy cafe for Kade. I spotted him at the back of the room waving and holding up a coffee. I squeezed my way through the tables and Kade stood to greet me.

  "Marcel,” he greeted me, his warmth genuine. "I didn't know how you take your coffee so it's still black.” He pointed to the cup. A bowl sat next to it filled with single serving creamers.

  "Thanks," I said as we both took our seats. "How have you been?”

  "Well, and yourself?”

  "I can't complain.”

  "Glad to hear it. I'm sorry to pull you away like this but I have some information you may want.”

  "Max said it's something to do with Ace?”

  "Yes, from what I understand he’s new to your pack. Is that correct?”

  "He is. He and Dylan have only been with us for a few months.”

  "How much do you know about their life prior to coming to you?”

  "Not much, but the point of them joining was a fresh start. All my guys have pasts. Why? What is this about?”

  "Last night, when Dylan was jumped, I called a friend with the NYPD to find out what he knew about the new drug floating around. After you guys left, he asked me about Ace. The cop said he’s a dead ringer for the sketch artist's rendering of a suspect in a string of rapes he was investigating a few years back.”

  "How certain was he?" I asked apprehensively

  "He said he'd stake his badge on it.”

  "So why didn't he arrest him?”

  "The only victim who could identify her attacker, the one who gave the description to the stretch artist, died by suicide last April. Apparently, she'd been in regular therapy due to crippling paranoia. The knowledge that her rapist was still out there made it so she couldn't sleep, and she was afraid to leave her house. He didn't go into much detail. He did say she'd been drugged and she was barely hanging on when they found her. She'd been tortured and left for dead.”

  "She was tortured?” He nodded.

  "Dungeon style.”

  "Holy shit," was my only response.

  "Holy shit indeed. Without their witness, they can't charge him.”

  Memories of my conversation with Jamie flashed through my mind. Maybe there was something to the bad vibes she was getting off him.

  "Can you do me a favor and pass my contact info on to your cop friend? I'd like him to keep me in the loop if anything pops up that might be Ace.”

  "I can absolutely do that.”

  "Thank you. Mark my words, that fucking wolf is going to be the death of me.”

  "Having a little buyer's remorse?”

  "Yes. I wish I could say it's more complicated than that but it's not. Every day brings a new problem with at least one of them. More often than not, it's Ace but they are pretty equal pains in my ass.”

  "I'm sorry for adding to it.”

  "No, I'd rather know. They're my responsibility now whether I like it or not. Is your cop friend going to ask que
stions if this gets resolved by pack law?”

  If it came down to it and the pack had to take extreme action, there were really only two options: forced isolation or death. Human jails couldn't hold a werewolf and a rapist wolf couldn't be left to roam free. The pack would have to handle the problem, and I didn't know that anyone had actually ever been shipped off to Siberia.

  "He knows we deal with our own.”

  "Good. You know what will happen and I don't want to end up at the top of a suspect list in anyone's disappearance.”

  "Understandable. I can make sure you never register on their radar.”

  "In a related matter, I wanted to talk to you about the drugs too. Did your guy have anything on it?”

  "Want to hear something weird? They had no idea there was anything new circulating. They've had an influx of opiate overdoses but what city hasn't?”

  "Do you think there's a connection?”

  He sipped his coffee and shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. Even if it is to blame, nothing is being ruled as suspicious by the medical examiner.”

  "So it looks like heroin and nothing the humans test for is detecting the magick.”

  "What makes you so sure the drug contains magick?”

  "Dylan hooked up with a girl a few weeks ago. She had taken some and he could smell the magick in her. Although she'd taken it before getting there, she was still high when she left.” He just stared at me, apparently unconvinced. "Eleven hours later," I clarified.

  "And he’s sure she didn't use again while she was there?”

  "I didn't ask for details of their night, but he said the only time they were apart was when she went to the bathroom. She was naked and took nothing with her.”

  He thought about that for a moment. "We need to get our hands on a sample. I can have it analyzed by one of the witches here in New York. Maybe she can figure out what we're dealing with.”

  "You know those guys aren't going to sell to any of us, right?”

  "I know." He sat back in his chair clasping his hands together behind his head. He looked up at the ceiling, running over options in his head. “We could get a witch to go in,” he suggested “With a good enough cloaking spell, he or she would look like any other human.”

  "Look, yes. Smell, no.”

  "Pardon?"

  "Wolves can scent magick a mile away,” I explained. “They may not be able to smell that she's a witch but they'll sure as shit scent the cloaking spell. It would be the same as sending them in wearing a t-shirt that says narc.”

  "What do you suggest then?” he countered.

  "I don't know.”

  I gazed out the large bay window into the dreary night. The rain had eased to a slight drizzle for the time being but the weather report showed the reprieve would be brief. I idly watched the passing cars and pedestrians as my mind frantically ran through ways to set up a buy. The pack dealing the drug wouldn't trust any of my guys if Dylan's attack was any indication. A raid was out of the question if they had any hope of getting answers. All that would accomplish was the launch of a war between supernaturals on the streets of New York and humans would inevitably be caught in the crossfire.

  Every plan I could think of had gaping holes with unacceptable consequences neither of us would be willing to chance. Whatever we chose to do needed to be carefully planned and executed.

  Then, like a gift from the universe, the answer was right in front of me, walking down the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street.

  "Maybe I do have an idea," I said, standing from my seat. “Order up two more black coffees?” He nodded and I ran for the door before I missed her. Once outside I regretted not grabbing my jacket. The rain had picked up again and before long, I’d be soaked.

  "Jamie!" I called out catching her attention on the first try. She saw me waving and crossed the street to where I was waiting.

  "What the hell are you doing?" she demanded as she approached. She grabbed my shoulder and shoved me backward until I was under the protection of the café's awning. "It's pouring rain and you're just standing in it.”

  "I'm a wolf, I don't get sick,” I informed her with a smile.

  "Okay, well, I saved you from smelling like wet dog.”

  "Thanks for that. Your concern is duly noted," I added with a wink. "Would you mind if I derailed whatever plans you have for about five minutes? We have something we'd like to run by you.”

  "We? Pack business?"

  "Yes and no," I answered honestly. "I'm here with Kade Walker.”

  "The leader of the Walker coven?”

  "The same.”

  "Hard pass," she said, then abruptly turned to walk away but I caught her arm. She spun and I quickly let go and put my hands up in surrender. "Please," I pleaded, "it'll just take five minutes and there's coffee in it for you. I already had him order.”

  "Marcel, I'm sure this isn't news to you but he's a vampire. I’m a vampire hunter.”

  "Retired," I corrected.

  "I wonder how much difference that'll make to him,” she snapped back, sarcasm heavy on every word.

  "Look, you have my word, your secret's safe with me. He doesn't even know why I came out here. We need help with something and you're kind of perfect for the job. Please, will you come inside? By now, your coffee is already waiting.” She considered it for a long moment before she finally heaved a defeated sigh.

  "Fine but if he kills me, I'm going to haunt you.”

  "Deal.”

  "I mean it. I'm talking full on poltergeist. I am not fucking around.”

  "You got it.” I held my arm out gesturing for her to go first. Once inside, I placed my hand on her back and led her to our table. Always the gentleman, Kade stood as we approached.

  "Kade Walker, this is Jamie, and I'm pretty sure she's exactly what we need.”

  RECKONING

  CHAPTER NINE

  "We just need someone who can make the buy.” Kade had just finished explaining the situation. Jamie had remained silent the whole time, sipping her coffee and patiently waiting until he was finished speaking.

  "Sure," she finally said with a shrug.

  "You won't be alone. We'll have guys following you by rooftop, Marcel and myself included,” he explained for the third time.

  "You mentioned that,” she replied, looking somewhat amused.

  "He's just nervous about sending you into a bunch of wolves we have no control over,” I added.

  "It's fine, I'll do it.”

  "That seems way too easy,” I said, not at all hiding the accusatory tone in my words.

  "I literally have nothing better to do and I don't have anywhere I need to be. I do a favor for you guys, maybe you return it someday when I need it.”

  Kade's eyes met mine, looking for confirmation that I was on board. I nodded slightly.

  "You don't have to convince me. I've already seen her handle a wolf and I'm not worried.”

  He turned back to Jamie. "When are you free?”

  "I'm free tonight but the guys you're looking for won't be out for a few more hours.”

  "What do you mean?" I asked.

  "You can find them any night starting around ten o'clock about three blocks away from that bar Onyx. They're in the same spot every night. I have no idea how they haven't been busted already. As drug dealers go, they're pretty fucking stupid.”

  Kade and I both shook our heads. The owner of Onyx had been out of town for some time and it seemed some of the locals were taking advantage of that fact by breaking one of her long standing, non-negotiable rules: no illegal business anywhere near Onyx. We hadn't been formally introduced but I knew she was a demon-witch hybrid who was tied to the covens and the High Council in Italy. She was also somehow connected to Michael Tremayne, the enforcer for the covens, and the rumor was that anyone stupid enough to break any of the Onyx house rules would be subject to the full force and punishment of the High Council. I didn't know how much truth there were to the rumors and my pack wasn’t stupid enough to test it out.


  "I'll give Dez and Michael a call to let them know they need to expand security,” Kade said.

  "You know them?” I asked. I already knew the answer. Kade was, after all, a member of the High Council, but the few times we've had reason to meet, we'd never discussed any of the covens beyond his own.

  "I'm good friends with them. They have a formidable security team at the bar, but they haven't had to worry about watching the surrounding area in a while. I'll give them a call tonight. By tomorrow night, that block will be swimming with werewolves armed with special ops experience and two thousand-dollar suits.”

  The werewolf-owned security firm he was referring to was infamous in the wolf community. If they were involved in the security at Onyx, the wolves dealing in the area were lucky they hadn't crossed paths yet. They might not have lived to tell the tale.

  "Do you guys want to meet up at Onyx at ten o'clock and go from there?” Jamie proposed.

  "That works for me," Kade replied.

  "Same here,” I added.

  "I'm going to go back to the coven house to assemble a team,” Kade said as he stood. "I'll meet you guys there with the team waiting on the roof. I have to run though. I have a few other things I need to take care of before we do this. Jamie, thank you for your help. I'm still nervous about sending you in there, but I'll make sure we're ready for anything that could possibly go wrong. You'll be safe, I promise.”

  "It's not a problem," she answered. She smiled politely but her body language said she wasn't comfortable. I wasn't sure if it was because of Kade's presence or if it had to do with what we were doing to each other to less than a day ago.

  "I'll call Aidan and Max to make sure they meet us as well. I won't bring the others in until we have more to tell them.” I didn't really need them as this was a fact-finding mission, but I thought Jamie might be more comfortable having a few extra familiar faces watching her back.

  "Perfect," he replied, "I'll see you guys soon.” The second he walked away, Jamie relaxed.

  "Oh good, that was about him. I was beginning to worry.”

  "Is he always so ...” She paused searching for the right word. "Motherly?"

  I nearly spit my coffee all over the table. "I don't think anyone has ever used the word motherly to describe Kade Walker.”