“What about his face? How much of his features could you make out?”
“Not much at all,” Derrick replied. “Everything but the eyes was covered with black cloth.”
“Anything notable about the eyes?”
Derek went silent as he recalled the details. “I only caught a glimpse. Around that time, I succumbed to the chaos and turned into a bear. I don’t remember much after that.”
“That’s okay. That’s okay.” Austin thought for a moment. “Hang on. Something just occurred to me. If you turned into a bear, your senses would have heightened, right?”
“Yeah. What are you getting at, Austin?”
“Do you think you would remember their scent?”
“Oh, hm. I don’t know. There was a lot going on that day.”
“If you came across it again, do you think you could recognize it?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I’ve gotten a lot stronger since my days in the service.”
“Yeah. We all have. I know you’re on leave, but if this goes down the way Chase wants it to, do you think you could meet us in the forest?”
“Of course. Just give me a call.”
Austin hung up the phone, thinking over the information laid out before him. He still felt as if something were missing, some vital piece of the puzzle.
“Good morning, Dad,” the little voice spoke at the open door to his office. He looked up to see Bonnie standing there in her pink nightgown rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
“Good morning, Bonbon. How did you sleep?”
“Okay, I guess. Can we have pancakes?”
He leaned back and extended his arms to her. “Yeah,” he said. “We can have pancakes.”
She walked over and wiggled into his arms, leaning her head on his shoulder. “I miss Janet,” she said.
“Me too, kiddo. Me too.”
They headed to the kitchen. Bonnie sat down on the stool and watched him as he scooped out the pancake mix into a bowl. “Janet put chocolate chips in them,” Bonnie said giving him a puppy dog look.
“Oh, did she?” Austin replied.
“Yes, she did.”
Austin reached into the pantry and grabbed the bag of chocolate chips, adding a scoop into the batter. However, his daughter was not fully satisfied by the effort. She leaned her pink cheek on her hand and gazed up at him.
“Are you sad that Janet left?” she asked in a quiet voice.
He considered carefully before he replied. The expression on her face revealed how important his answer might be to her. “I guess a little bit.”
“Are we going to get another nanny?”
Austin considered as he swirled the butter around in the heating pan. “I don’t know yet. What do you think?”
“Well,” she fiddled with the paper towel in front of her. “I liked having Janet. She was nice. I don’t know if I would like anyone else.”
Austin scooped some of the batter into the pan with a satisfying sizzle. “I think I might ease up on my work to spend more time with the two of you. Would you like that?”
“Yes, of course!” she grinned. She quickly turned somber once more. “Do you think Janet went away because we’re all shifters?”
“Oh, no honey. That’s not the reason, sweetie.” He flipped the pancakes with the spatula. A few seconds later, he scooped them up and stacked them onto her plate. “What do you think about all that? What I told you guys the other day.”
Bonnie shrugged. “I guess I kind of already knew,” she said. “I mean, I knew Dillon and I were different than the other kids at school. I’m glad you told us. I’m not scared about it.”
“That’s good. I’m glad, sweetheart.”
“Neither am I,” Dillon said from the kitchen door. His dark hair spiked up in the back like a peacock tail. Austin smiled as his son made his way to the stool next to Bonnie.
“Hey, kiddo. You ready for some pancakes?”
He answered, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “Yeah. I like pancakes.”
“Dad,” Bonnie said around a large bite. “Do you think if we ask Janet to come back, she’ll come back?”
“Well, I don’t know, Bonbon. I mean, she left on her own. I’m not sure if she would want to come back.”
Dillon took a sip of his milk leaving a swath of white mustache on his lip. “Did she leave because of that lady?” he asked.
Austin flipped the next batch of pancakes to let them finish cooking. “You know, I’m not sure.”
“Why don’t you ask her?” Dillon said. “I mean, I didn’t want her to leave. I want her to come back. Don’t you, Dad?”
Austin scooped the pancakes onto Dillon’s plate. He felt as if his children, his strangely wise and all-seeing children, knew something he did not know. Did he want her to come back? He had never considered it. Janet had left. That was that. Austin felt as if their attraction had complicated things in the household. He also knew that Janet would have stepped in front of an oncoming train for the sake of his children if it came down to it. His children peered at him, plaintively taking bites of their breakfast.
“You know,” he said. “I’ve got to do something later. Do you guys want to spend the night at Alex’s house?”
Bonnie and Dillon exchanged a glance. “Yeah. I guess so,” Bonnie replied with a shrug. “Can I go get dressed now?”
“Yes, of course.”
Both of the children trotted off, having filled their bellies with chocolate chip pancakes. Austin felt as if an idea percolated within his mind, not quite coming into clarity. Janet had left without saying goodbye to the children. Yet, they seemed to have an understanding of her absence which he had not yet mastered. Maybe once all of this business with the other shifters passed, he would track her down, maybe ask her out for a proper date. For now, he needed to focus on the business at hand.
* * * *
Janet woke up feeling empty, despite having a day stretched ahead of her with nothing at all to do. The intentional choice to leave the shifter community had drained her more than she realized it would. It only made sense after all. Shifters belonged with other shifters. She should not try to force herself into a place she did not belong.
She poured herself a cup of coffee for the morning, figuring she would need to update her resume. She already had a list of agencies which she could contact. Regular human agencies, representing a plethora of regular human children and families. She caught her reflection in the door of the microwave on her way out of the kitchen.
“Yup,” she muttered scowling at the face peering back at her. “Regular, ordinary human.”
Mrs. Haymaker had been remarkably understanding about her choice to leave the agency. If anything, Janet suspected the woman felt relieved. Having an ordinary human on staff was probably a bit of a liability if Janet were being honest with herself. Her only regret was not being able to say goodbye to the children.
Her plans for the day included updating her resume, followed by making her way down the list of childcare agencies she had compiled the night before.
About halfway through her cup of coffee, her phone buzzed. She did not recognize the number, but the area code indicated a call from Burning Falls.
“Who could that be?” she mused. She let it go to her voicemail. She worked on her resume, sending a few emails to old associates, asking for reference letters and putting out feelers among the agencies. Her phone buzzed once more, indicating the message waiting for her to hear it. She tried to ignore it, focusing on her task at hand.
It buzzed once more.
“Okay, who are you?” Janet picked up her phone, scrolled to her voicemail and tapped in the password.
“Janet, this is Eloise Charmichael from Bells and Whistles in Burning Falls. I want you to understand, this happens so rarely, but it is vital that I speak with you. Please do give me a call as soon as possible. It is of utmost importance.”
Janet listened to the message. The sound of urgency in the woman’s voice took her aback. She had only met Eloise once an
d had the impression she was a bit of a kook. However, she sounded sincere. Janet decided she would finish her emails first.
The phone buzzed again. The same number appeared on the screen. Eloise was calling again. Janet’s curiosity peaked. She answered the phone.
“Janet, oh thank god,” Eloise said. “I’m sorry to call you like this.”
“Is everything okay?” Janet asked.
“Yes, yes. I, um… I’m unsure how to explain this to you. I’ve had a bit of a premonition.”
“Premonition?”
“Yes. I have them now and then apparently. It’s a thing.”
“I would imagine.”
“You are the final ingredient,” Eloise said. “You are vital to the protection of Burning Falls. You must come back. You must!”
Janet did not know how to respond. Even with her knowledge of the shifter community, whatever was going on in Burning Falls felt like the next level. “Eloise, what do you mean ‘the final ingredient’? I don’t understand.”
“I don’t understand it myself,” Eloise said. “But I woke up with it. You must come back. Come and see me as soon as you can. I might get some clarity if I can speak with you in person.”
Janet glanced over her list of emails, the phone numbers she had planned on calling. Yet, the urgency in this woman’s voice compelled her in a way she did not understand. Even if she was a kook, it remained obvious that she believed her own words. Janet liked Eloise. Perhaps she could head into Burning Falls, at least long enough to calm down Eloise.
Chapter Sixteen
Austin met up with Chase, Jackson, Derek at the trail head parking lot. They arrived and all moved into the depths of the forest, communicating wordlessly. The four of them shifting once they reached the thickest part of the woods heading toward the county line, Chase leading the way.
When Austin shifted, he felt as if his body tore itself in half. Shifting had always been painful. Less so after practicing the meditations and disciplines of the Kon-Mar. But even so, he had no choice except to lean into it. He had learned early on that if he tried to fight the pain, it only made it worse.
His bear felt restless. He ran on all fours, tree limbs whipping at his fur, wind stinging his eyes. In their bear form, the mental connection between him and his pack mates increased. He felt their excitement, trepidation, rage all collecting in their pack mind, seeping into his psyche as they ran.
Up ahead, Austin felt the presence of Max in his wolf form, pacing at the shared border of their towns. Two other wolves hung back. Austin sensed they were connected to Max, his pack. Chase approached him, and they shared a moment of communication alpha to alpha.
Chase turned back to the three of them, sending out a message to his pack.
We’ll head up the mountainside, he said, circling around to the backside of the camp. All we’re doing is checking things out right now. We will take no action at this time. Understand?
Each of the bears responded with a shuffle. Jackson tossed his head, ever anxious to get into a scuffle. Austin halfway suspected Jackson enjoyed his bear side more than his human side. Chase turned and led the way, weaving in and out between the tree trunks. Jackson fell into step behind him, flanked by Austin on his left and Derek on the right. Max and his wolves parted ways and headed another direction, disappearing into the forest.
They walked in silence, even with their massive size, their animal survival instinct had allowed them all to hone their stealth when moving through the forest. They passed by one of the hiking paths, careful not to draw attention. Now and then they heard the distant voices of hikers, far enough away that they would not hear the movement of the bears. When they moved past the tree line, Chase sent them a mental message.
Austin, Derek. Move around to the back. I want the two of you to get a good look at their faces. Send it to us through the mind link. Jackson and I will find the trail and follow it as far as we can to see how far they’re canvasing the territory.
Austin and the others followed his instructions. It took longer to get to the area, but they knew where the camp site was. He could smell the presence of the two women, moving in and out of the area. He also sensed that more people had arrived and made camp since seeing them last.
There’s more of them than there was before, Austin mentally called to Derek. I can’t tell how many. Let’s move closer.
Derek replied with an affirmation. They moved further up the slope, making their way to a higher vantage point slinking in behind an outcropping of rocks. A large encampment had been set up in the field, a large tent on one side with about half a dozen people moving in and out of it. Some of them carried various types of equipment now and then.
He spotted a surveyors tripod pointed out from the field over the slope heading down towards town. He and Derek exchanged a mental nudge each time one of them noticed another detail. On the far end of field opposite the large tent, a number of sleeping tents perched in a circle around a dormant fire pit. These people have been here a while, Austin thought, and it appears they planned on staying. The woman he had seen speaking with Mr. Briggs the last time, stepped out of one of these tents.
A sudden rush of panic erupted from Derek. He turned and looked at him, pacing, tossing his head, his lips pulled back in a deep snarl.
What is it? Austin attempted to break through the mental anguish emanating from his friend. What are you seeing?
He responded with a series of images, flashing into Austin’s mind like a slide show. He saw the woman from the tent, only from the slightly different angle of Derek’s perspective.
It’s her! It’s her!
Derek’s communication felt like shouting in his mind. Austin shook his head, peering down to the woman below and back to Derek.
The next image appeared in his mind from Derek’s mental link. Matt running through the Agora in the village in Afghanistan. Austin saw what Derek had seen that fateful day. He saw Matt, running. In moments he would collapse from the sniper’s bullet. Next he saw the sniper, balanced at the edge of the building across from Derek, dressed all in black just as he had said. The sniper had a slight build, thin but solid.
The image flashed back to the woman in the field, and the immediately back to the sniper. Through the mind’s eye of Derek, Austin had the ability to close in on the eyes of the sniper, the only visible part of the body. Dark brown eyes, and a small mole on the left side. Flashed back to the field. The woman, her eyes. Dark brown. A mole on the left side.
Derek was about to charge. Austin felt the rage rising within his friend. He had to stop him. If Derek gave away their position, they could lose the advantage.
No! Austin blasted to him. Come back, Derek! Now!
Luckily, Max and his wolves appeared from the higher up the mountainside. They immediately began to circle Derek, preventing him from moving forward. With their presence, Austin also felt a strange forceful calmness washing over both of them. Max was more advanced than them in the knowledge of the Kon-Mar, and on this day that knowledge saved them.
Max and the wolves paced with a consistent pattern, creating small, soft noises of their paws against the grass.
Back! Max said. The message between wolves and bears felt rudimentary compared to the clarity which Austin felt used to from his own pack.
Back! Max said again.
Finally Derek calmed to the point that he no longer wanted to charge the camp. Together they made their way up the mountain, finding the path down the other side which headed to the backside of Max’s property. He shifted back to his human self, motioning them to do the same.
Austin felt his body erupt back into his human form, Derek following shortly after. His breath came in short gasps, even after he returned to his human form. Max and Austin lifted him on each side, each taking an arm and leading him toward the house.
“Chase and the others will meet us here once they’ve completed their recon. What happened back there?”
“I think I know,” Austin said. “This does
go back to Afghanistan.”
They made their way inside the house. Max brought them sweats and tee shirts from his closet, changing into jeans himself. He immediately poured them both a cold glass of elderberry tea to take the edge off from the transformations.
“Okay, Derek,” Austin said. “Talk to me.”
“That woman in the field, the one who Briggs hired. “She was the sniper. She’s the one who took down Matt that day.”
“You’re sure?”
“I am. I didn’t realize it at first. I assumed the sniper was male that day.”
“Of course. What do you think she’s doing here now?”
“They’re all connected. Briggs, Afghanistan. The attempts on our property. It’s all connected.”
Max sat down at the table, running his hand over his face. “How long has Briggs lived in Burning Falls?” he asked.
Austin thought about it. “He’s always been there, as far as I can remember,” he said. “Ever since I was a kid.”
“That’s what I was afraid of,” Max replied.
“Why, what does that mean?”
“It means, he’s part of a legacy clan. Most likely, now keep in mind this is all a theory at this point, but a legacy clan means they’ve been canvasing this area for generations. This is even bigger than Afghanistan.”
“But why did they come after us in Afghanistan? It doesn’t make sense.”
“I think Briggs is the one who put us all in the same unit,” Austin said. “His plan was to take us out so he could get the territory without a challenge. That was his plan anyway.”
“But we all turned into bears and scared away the sniper,” Derek said. “Do I have it right?”
Max nodded. “Chase and the others are on his way. I’m afraid this is going to come to a skirmish. We need to find those amulets before they do.”
“We have one of them,” Derek said. “Jenny’s been wearing it off and on since before the baby. Her roommate had it, passed down from her family. She gave it to Jenny as a gift.”
“Yes, and Lisa has another one,” Austin said. “So that leaves five more to find.”
Nanny to the Bear (Burning Falls Shifters Book 4) Page 11
