by Ashlyn Chase
“Put your foot in your mouth?”
“Yeah, sorry. That happens when I meet a cute guy.”
He laughed. “Don’t worry about it. Actually, I used to be an educator.”
“A teacher? Where?”
“A private school for boys.”
Before she had a chance to ask him more about it, he was already rerouting the conversation to the present.
“And now I’m more of a security specialist. I analyze a company’s weak spots in its off hours and recommend the best protection to suit each company’s individual needs. My brother and I own the business together.”
Maybe the past isn’t something he wants to talk about. “He works nights too?”
“Sometimes, but not for the company. He’s a cop, but he installs our alarm systems during the day. It’s far more lucrative than teaching.”
“I can imagine. Teachers don’t get paid enough for all they do.”
“What brought you to our building? Did you move here to be near your friend?”
Roz wondered why he suddenly shifted the conversation back to her. It seemed kind of abrupt. “Yes, actually.”
“But you wanted to keep your being here a surprise until she gets home? Why is that?”
Roz bit her lower lip and then came out with the truth. “I figured after I was all settled in, she wouldn’t try to talk me out of it.”
Konrad leaned away from her and appeared puzzled. “Why would she want to do that?”
“Oh, uh…no reason. I was just kidding.”
“No, you weren’t.”
Roz’s shoulders slumped. “You have one of those built-in lie detectors, don’t you?”
“Comes with the teaching gig.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet you heard your share of dog-eating-the-homework stories.”
“Oh, yeah. Dogs, wolves, something was always eating homework.”
“Wolves?” Roz shivered. “Where did you teach? Montana?”
He laughed. “No, Newton, Massachusetts, but you should have heard the more creative excuses. Almost made me want to give extra credit for imagination.”
“Such as?”
“You’re distracting me from my original question, aren’t you?”
“Damn, you’re good.”
“What’s the answer?”
“What was the question again?”
He gave her the hairy eyeball.
“Okay, okay. Do you remember that day Merry and I were having lunch in the burger place?”
“When I was sitting right behind you and overheard her telling you that Jason’s a shapeshifter?”
Roz gasped. “You heard that? You know?”
“Yes. I was quite impressed with how well you handled the news. I liked how you were there for your friend, no matter what she said or how crazy it sounded. You must be a very open-minded woman.”
She hung her head. “I may not be quite as open-minded as I seemed. I actually want to keep an eye on Merry. I can’t do that from Allston. But if she knew my intent, she’d kill me. Her family has been overly protective her whole life. I don’t want her to think I am too.”
“But you’re worried about her.”
“Naturally. She’s my best friend. I don’t want to doubt her sanity, but shapeshifters? Really?”
“You’re not willing to entertain the possibility of aliens or shapeshifters?”
“I never said that.” Roz sighed. “Look, I’m used to logic and objectivity. If I can’t see it with my own eyes, there has to be some kind of explanation. I can’t just flex the laws of physics on someone’s say-so. You have to admit the whole idea is kind of weird, and she means the world to me. I don’t want to see anything bad happen to her.”
“Bad? Like what? Are you afraid it’s going to rub off on her?”
“No…yes…hell, I don’t know. I can’t imagine why Jason would make that up. I mean, how did you take it? Weren’t you a little weirded out?”
“I was surprised, but not weirded out. Is weirded a word?”
“It is now.”
He smiled and bumped her arm playfully. Then he cleared his throat. “You may have moved to the wrong place if you’re easily, um, weirded.”
“Yeah, now that I know there’s a ghost here as well as an alleged shapeshifter. Holy crap.”
Konrad glanced the other way and mumbled something under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Oh look, there’s the moving van.”
“Yup. It looks like their GPS is working.”
Konrad kissed her on the forehead, rose, and jogged down the stairs to meet them, as if he were the one moving in.
Surprised, Roz touched the spot, and it tingled. He’s like a big, friendly Great Dane. Jeez, I hope he’s not gay.
***
Konrad slid into a booth across from his identical twin brother. “Nicholas, we’ve got to be even more careful now. A lawyer has moved into my building. She’s a public defender, but they know people.”
“Crap. First a private dick, and now a lawyer. Like attracting like again?”
“Maybe. This one’s cute though. Kind of has that sexy secretary thing going on. Looks innocent as vanilla, but underneath there’s something very spicy. She even smells like cinnamon.”
“Steer clear, bro. She could be trouble.”
Konrad leaned against the padded vinyl back. “What if I don’t want to?”
Nicholas leaned back too and folded his arms. “Are you out of your mind? Should I remind you what you do for a living? A thief and a lawyer aren’t a match made in heaven—unless God has a really twisted sense of humor.”
“The attempted-robbery gig is temporary. It’s always been temporary. Besides, her job sounds temporary too. She’s trying to find a whole new line of work. Being an attorney doesn’t agree with her.”
Nicholas grinned and leaned forward. “Maybe she could become a librarian.”
Konrad almost sighed aloud as he fantasized. “Wouldn’t that be nice? I can picture her in glasses, riding the rolling ladder in my living-room library.”
“The ladder you’ll never need unless you’re chopped off at the knees?”
Konrad chuckled. “Hey, it goes with the old-world look of the place.”
A waitress strolled over to take their lunch orders. They both ordered rare steaks, bloody, with cold centers and no side dishes. She wrinkled her nose, but jotted it down and left them to continue their conversation.
“How tall is she?”
“About five six or seven.”
“You’re about a head taller. She’d need the ladder just to look you in the eye.” Nick grinned, wickedly. “Or you could find more interesting uses for it. It’s probably been gathering dust, just like you have.”
“Is that a crack about my social life?”
“No, it’s a comment on your lack of one. But you should wait to ask her out until one of you finds another line of work.”
“Yeah, yeah. So what job do you have for me this time? A boutique? A jewelry store? What?”
“Nope, this heist is unusual. It’s a restaurant downtown. They have a free-standing freezer plus one of those dessert display cases.”
“Crap, those weigh a ton.”
“I’m sure you can lift them. No mere mortal could, that’s for sure.”
Konrad sighed. “Fine. You’re sure they have no cameras? No alarms? Remember last time? That was close. If I hadn’t shifted and growled, scaring the damn dogs out of their minds…”
“No dogs, either. No security whatsoever. Not even a dead bolt. I’ll bet you could get in with a credit card.”
“Well, since I don’t have any, I’ll have to borrow one of yours.”
“Yeah, right. Like I’m going to hand over my credit card to my deadbeat brother.”
Thanks a lot, rude-o. “Be nice. And exactly what am I supposed to do with these things once I get them outside?”
“Leave ’em on the sidewalk. Make it look like you were scared off. Oh, bu
t bring me home some steaks and a Boston cream pie. You know how much I love those.”
Konrad shook his head. “Man, I’m glad I don’t have to carry the equipment far.”
“Yeah, we just want the owners inconvenienced enough to want an alarm system, and then I’ll conveniently drop in.”
“Sounds good. When do I do it?”
“Tonight.”
“Tonight? Are you sure? It’s almost that time of the month. What if I get caught and locked up?”
“You won’t.”
Easy for you to say.
Nick tucked his napkin into his collar to protect his uniform. “You’re always careful.”
“Yeah. I wouldn’t want to miss a run through the Arboretum. We’re on for tomorrow at midnight, as usual?”
“Absolutely. Are you planning to go to Newton after that?”
“You know I have to keep an eye on the pack.”
“No, you really don’t. They kicked you out and replaced you with another alpha. How can you possibly feel any responsibility toward them?”
“I just do. You’ve got tomorrow evening off, don’t you?”
“Of course. It’s the full moon.”
“It’s a good thing there are so many werewolves on the Boston police force, especially the ones who arrange your schedule.”
“If you do the job tonight, you’ll be nearly at full strength.”
“True.”
“Pretend your sexy librarian is watching. Muscles get the ladies hot.”
“Yeah. That’ll work.” Konrad rested his chin on his fist and drifted off into a fantasy of Roz Wells without baggy sweats.
Chapter 2
“Argh, this sucker weighs a ton.” Konrad’s muscles ached as he struggled under the weight of the freezer. “Shouldn’t have had that chocolate cake.”
He had propped open the back door of the restaurant using the tall, cylindrical dessert case. All that remained of the third shelf were crumbs, and his stomach hurt.
As he managed the few steps that led to the alley, he muttered, “Damn Nicholas. Why can’t he take a turn once in a while? Just because he’s a cop—”
“Hey, you! What are you doing?”
He froze. “Fuck.” Konrad tipped the freezer back enough to see who had called out. He lost his precarious balance, and the huge chest slid out of his grasp. Falling backward, he hit the curb with his hip. Ow, damn it! A second later, the freezer hit the street with such force, it may have cracked the pavement.
Konrad rolled to the side as quickly as he could, but the heavy ice chest pinned his leg to the ground. It held him just long enough for the witness, who looked like a homeless guy, to yell for the cops.
“Shit. I should have checked the boxes and crates in this damn alley first.”
If only the guy would move out of view, Konrad could shift and reappear as a big dog limping away, but the shift would take a couple of minutes, and who knew how fast the cops would get there? An unreliable witness might be dismissed or might not. To expose his shapeshifter capabilities might be worse than getting caught. His muscles vibrated as he tried to lift the dead weight off his leg.
Unfortunately he had to remain in human form or risk exposure, the very worst thing that could happen to a werewolf. To expose the existence of one would lead to witch hunts for others. Maybe even government experiments. Ugh. Being dissected would really suck.
By the time he pushed the freezer aside enough to free himself, a uniformed cop on horseback came charging down the alley.
Konrad shook his head and mumbled, “Too late. Caught by the damn Mounties.”
***
While Konrad waited in his cell, he reflected on his life with a good dose of self-pity. In 1922, he and his brother had been running away from home, and while making their way through the woods at night, they happened upon a werewolf council meeting. They were turned and taken into the pack to prevent exposure—even back then it was a werewolf’s greatest fear. As long as humans didn’t believe werewolves existed, they were safe.
He had worked his way up to the alpha leader of the Newton pack. Yes, Newton, Massachusetts. He was proud of how completely he and his brother had been able to blend in, even in a pricey neighborhood. He helped found a private school for troubled boys and subsequently became the dean of students.
Life was good, until he took in a lone wolf named Petroski, who had used Konrad’s tendency toward kindness to oust him. The newcomer managed to poison the pack’s opinion of him. Petroski challenged him for alpha status, and by cheating, won.
Now Konrad sat in a jail cell for the first time in his life, without the support of his pack and without the help of his brother. With a breakfast that no matter how hungry he was, he couldn’t wolf down. He wanted to howl at the sun.
“Wolfensen, you’ve got a visitor.”
The guard startled him out of his pity party. Konrad stood and groaned, still sore from the night’s activities. He stretched as he waited for his cell door to open. He could easily overpower the guard and escape, but curiosity got the better of him. No one knew where he was, so who’d come to see him? Did Nick hear about it?
He followed the guard past the long row of occupied jail cells. It had obviously been a busy night for the Boston PD. He and the guard stopped at the end of the corridor in front of a door with a small window. The guard opened the door and told him to go ahead inside and sit on the far side of the wooden table. A woman wearing a gray suit with her brown hair twisted into a bun sat in the seat closer to the door.
“Ah, you must be the lawyer they promised me.”
She turned her head enough to see his face. And he recognized her.
“Roz?” Holy crap! Way to make a good impression…
“Good morning, Konrad.” She opened the folder on the table and said, “I’d hoped there were two people with the same name. I never expected to see you here.” She waved him over to the seat on the opposite side.
Konrad gulped. He slowly made his way to the other side of the table and sat down gingerly.
“Would you prefer another attorney? Not that there are a lot of us, but if you’re uncomfortable…”
“No, I want you…um, to represent me, I mean.” Oh, God. Of all the public defenders! But maybe…“I really need your help, Roz. And I trust you to do your best, since I’m that rare innocent victim of the system you spoke of.”
Roz nodded to the guard, and he left them alone.
***
It figures I’d be attracted to another loser. Damn. Just my freakin’ luck. Why can’t I find a great guy like Merry did? Roz cursed her terrible taste in men. Just one more thing to blame on her stepfather.
“You’re being charged with breaking and entering and attempted grand theft. Are you aware of the process?”
“Process?”
“The legal proceedings?”
“No. This is the first time I’ve been arrested.” He hung his head.
She saw tears welling up in his eyes, and her heart automatically constricted. What should she do? Show sympathy? Try to face it like an impartial attorney? She sighed. Until she knew the whole story, she’d have to put on her best poker face.
“Well, that should help. Give me a minute to look over the police report.” She tried to maintain a professional distance and demeanor, but the details of what she was reading sounded so ridiculous, she wanted to laugh. Either that or reach out and squeeze his hand, telling him everything would be all right. The charge was preposterous. He couldn’t have done what the witness said he did. And what a witness! A street person? He was probably drunk or hallucinating or both. She doubted the police would even be able to find him if the case went to trial, which it wouldn’t. She’d get it dismissed if it was the last thing she did.
“What were you doing in that alley late at night?”
Konrad’s expression didn’t waver. “Just taking a walk. Some people like long walks on the beach, I like long walks around the city.”
“I like long wa
lks too, but not at three in the morning, and certainly not in back alleys.”
“There’s less traffic. I can think better when it’s quiet. And who would mug me?”
Did she imagine it, or did he just flex his pecs? Either way, she had to look down and not at the hot guy in front of her. Christ, I’d better take some deep breaths and clear my head. “Okay, so let’s say you were just out for a walk, and then what happened?”
He shrugged.
“Come on. Are you telling me a five-hundred pound freezer fell out of the sky and hit you? Because the police report said there was no heavy equipment nearby. No way to lift it, yet the witness said he saw you carrying it out of a restaurant on your back.”
Konrad laughed. “I was passing by and wondered what it was doing there. I tried to lift it, to at least get it out of the street, but it toppled over. Fortunately it was only my pants leg that got pinned.”
Roz took a deep breath. “Well, first is the arraignment. That will happen today. If the judge feels there’s a case, he’ll set bail.”
“Bail? How much do think that’ll be?”
“Well, nothing, if I can get the charges dropped, and that’s what I intend to do.”
“Really? Do you think you can?”
Roz leaned back in her chair. “You never know what will happen, but the witness claims he saw you carrying the freezer, fully loaded with frozen meats, on your back. Hang on a minute.”
Roz opened her laptop and typed in commercial freezers. She found one about the same size as the one Konrad had allegedly picked up and carried. “Okay, this size and type of restaurant freezer weighs about five hundred pounds empty and holds fifty-seven cubic feet of frozen food. And the police report states it was filled with frozen beef, fish, and chicken.”
“How much weight do you think that would add?”
“I can guess, since I do my own shopping and cooking. Let’s see, by my estimate, a cubic foot of equal amounts of those items weighs about twenty-five pounds. That’s fourteen hundred twenty-five pounds. Combined with the weight of the freezer itself, you would have had to pick up and carry about one ton. Is that even humanly possible?”
