Blood of the Pride

by Sheryl Nantus

  The pencil scribbled across the empty page. “But you have seen some large ones, yes?”

  Henry shifted in the chair and took a deep swig from the bottle. “I’ve seen some nice big pussies in my time.” He leered at his wife beside him, who shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “And you can quote me on that.”

  Bran returned the wide grin. “I hear you, man. I hear you.” He matched the man, leer for leer. “Great quote.” Bran looked around the room, casually zoning in on the pictures. “You got a boy? Any chance of talking to him? Maybe he’s seen something.”

  Henry shrugged. “Don’t know if he’ll have anything to add. He’s always shutting himself up in that room of his.” He turned to his wife. “Where is Tony, anyway?”

  “He’s at school still, honey,” Kathy said in a soothing tone, as if to a child.

  Henry looked at his watch and tapped his forehead. “Twelve-hour shifts fuck up your mind. I keep getting misplaced.” He looked up at us, pride in his eyes. “He’s a good boy.”

  “I’m sure of that.” I nodded toward Brandon, edging to the door.

  “That all you want?” Henry got to his feet with a groan. “Sorry I can’t give you more, but these damned dogs are killing me.” He pointed downward. “On my feet all shift and I ain’t getting any younger, and if I pull these off you’ll be writing about a lethal gas attack.”

  We all chuckled at the joke. I glanced at Kathy, seeing the relief on her face. Her secret would stay safe, at least for the moment.

  “I just need to know how you spell your last name.” Brandon continued the charade, boldfaced to the end. Damn, the man had charm to spare.

  As the weary man began to recite the letters, I pulled Kathy aside. “If Tony shows up, please call me.” I handed her my business card. “Don’t call the cops, don’t call anyone but me.”

  She nodded. “Please.” A fast glance toward her husband brought out a sigh. “Henry’s a good man but if he thinks Tony is in trouble he’ll just…” The sentence trailed off.

  I smiled. “I hear you. We just want to get Tony some help. Call me.” I raised my voice as Brandon stepped toward me, flipping his notebook closed. “And be sure to call if you see that large cat again.”

  Kathy nodded as her husband stepped beside her and wrapped his meaty hand around her waist. “We sure will.” The pair escorted us out the door onto the porch and left us standing next to a stack of boxes and a short step away from the dying grass.

  “That was smooth.” I exhaled.

  “Thanks.” Bran beamed as he walked down the steps and offered me his hand. “I figured that he’d be more likely to be happy talking to a reporter than to someone looking for his kid.” He hefted the knapsack back up onto his shoulder. “Sad thing is that they didn’t even recognize their kid’s bag. Sort of disconnected from the boy’s life.”

  “Well, it’s sort of obvious to me that there’s no time in that household.” I shuffled along the dry grass toward the gate. “I can’t imagine growing up and hitting puberty without having someone around to help deal with being Felis.”

  We walked through the small fence and back onto the street. Bran turned toward me. “Is it really that tough?”

  I shrugged while we walked down to the corner. “It’s just rough going through that time of life regularly—there’s a whole lot of hormones fluxing around.”

  I spotted a small park nearby and steered us toward the single empty bench. The two of us sat down near a passel of mothers watching their kids scramble over monkey bars and a playground that didn’t resemble anything I had growing up. The mixture of faux wood, bright plastic and various rope nets had me wondering if they would handle my weight.

  “So now what?” Bran stretched out his arms along the wooden back. “We’ve got the parents aware, we’re not calling in the dogs, so to speak, and now we’re here in a lovely quiet spot.” The knapsack sat at our feet.

  I opened the bag and began stacking notebooks on Bran’s lap. “Maybe there’s something here that’ll tell us where he hangs out.”

  “Definitely not his bedroom,” Bran said as the stack grew higher. “Every kid has some hangout to go to when life gets rough. And if anyone owes him cash he’ll be looking to collect it before he leaves town.”

  “Exactly.” I dug deeper, coming up with a well-worn business card. “Bingo.”

  Bran grinned as I turned the card around and pointed it at him. “Brad’s CyberCafe. About three blocks from here.”

  My heart skipped a beat. “And within spitting distance of the alley and his school. A perfect place to watch the cops and watch me.”

  Bran winced. “Saw you go in under the crime tape and followed you home after that. Probably figured you were a police detective.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Of course. Why would he think I’d be a private investigator or worse yet, another Felis.”

  Bran let out a sigh. “All this is going to make confronting him a hell of a lot harder. Are you going to be able to sell the idea of going to the farm and handing himself over to Jess instead of turning himself in to the cops?”

  “I’m not sure,” I said. “Part of me wants to thrash the kid into snail snot…”

  “And part of you wants to hand him over to the Pride for proper training and teaching him how to understand his gifts.”

  I sniffed the air. Something was wrong.

  “Stay here.” My lips pulled back from my teeth in a snarl as I spun around, seeking the source. “I think there’s a plan here.” I pushed him down onto the seat and tossed the book bag into his lap. “A really, really bad plan.”

  Chapter 19

  I sprinted across the playground, headed for the shadow behind one of the low hedges.

  A cigarette dangled from Jess’s mouth like some sort of Western flashback, matched by her cowboy boots. The kids scattered in front of me, mothers snatching their precious cargo out of danger—probably thinking I was chasing down some terrorist or child abuser.

  Jess smiled as I pulled up. She took a deep drag on the cig and blew it over us. “Good senses, Reb. I wasn’t sure you’d catch me. I’m still upwind of you.”

  My teeth were still bared. “Don’t ever spy on me again.” I grabbed hold of her light-blue blouse, my mind automatically labeling it as expensive and thus a prime target. “I mean it.”

  Jess laughed and brushed my grip off with a swipe of her right hand. “Girl, you really don’t want to get into it with me.” Her eyes flashed. “I went easy on you the last time.”

  Brandon chugged up, still carrying the knapsack. “Ah, the cavalry. Or at least the horse.” His eyes went to the lit cigarette. “Those things’ll kill ya.”

  “Thanks,” Jess said dryly. She turned her attention back to me. “Did you really think we would let you handle the hunt on your own? Just give me his name and we’ll be done here. Leave it to us to bring him in. We’ll take care of him.”

  “You’ll kill him.”

  The older woman pursed her lips. “Maybe. Maybe not. Not your decision to make either. Belongs to the Board.”

  I moved into the shadows, feeling the tension in my shoulders. “You want him? You work with me to get him.”

  “Why?” The question slapped me across the face as if I were a kit again.

  “Because that was the contract we agreed to. I find the one who murdered Janey Winters.”

  “And you did.” Jess took another long drag and blew smoke rings toward the crowded playground. “Now we’ll bring him in for you. Not a bad deal. You’ll still get paid.” The end of the cigarette shone a bright red as it bobbled from her lips. “Look, this isn’t the way we thought it’d go. We thought you’d find some crazed family member who hated Janey or some crackhead who managed to get past her defenses. We’re dealing with a rogue male, a wild animal who took out a full-grown woman.” Her eyes scratched over my body. “He’d take you out in the right circumstances, and you know it. You’ve gotten lucky twice—do you really want to go for the trifecta
?”

  I swallowed past the sudden ache in my stomach. “He’s good, but he’s had no training.”

  “He was still good enough to toss you down the stairs.” Jess nodded to Bran. “You know I’m speaking the truth. You want to protect her, as do I.” A smile twitched the edges of her mouth upward. “Don’t need Felis senses to tell that much.”

  Bran looked at me. “He can Change, Reb. You can’t. I know you’re good but why not leave this to the experts.”

  “Because it’s my job.” I shook my head. “I don’t leave a job half-done. I promised Mike Winters I’d find who killed his wife and bring him in.”

  Jess chuckled again then dropped the cigarette on the ground and ground it under her heel. “You’re even more stubborn than you used to be. Didn’t think that was possible.” She licked her lips. “Okay, go get your kit then but I’ll be around for backup.” One salt-and-pepper eyebrow rose. “Don’t push it.”

  I nodded. “Done.” It was still early afternoon, the children racing around with seemingly endless energy. I envied them. “Just don’t let him scent you. He knows me, but another strange Felis is going to send him skittering underground and then we’ll never find him. He’s a kid, a scared, lost kid. Emotions all mixed up, a mess inside. Let me at least try to do it nicely before you call a hunt.”

  Jess took a step back, blending into the growing shadows. “Your way first, because you asked so nicely. But if he blows you off or tries to get away—our way.”

  Then she was gone. I sniffed the air but she had blended back into the darkness and the cigarette smoke had effectively blinded me.

  “My, she’s a charmer when she puts her mind to it,” Bran said while we walked back across the playground. “Sort of like the big sister who beat you up in the back yard whenever your parents weren’t watching.”

  I felt like someone had punched me in the chest, the memories of the Challenge and of Jess beating me rising from the backwaters of my mind. “I don’t want to talk about that right now.” Mentally I slapped the rush of emotions and images surging forth. This wasn’t the time to dissect that mess. “Not right now,” I repeated, using the mantra to complete the cycle. “Not now.”

  Bran stopped on the sidewalk, the book bag hanging from his right shoulder. “Okay.” The words held a sense of sadness, pain and more than a little affection. “Let’s go get this kid before someone else gets hurt.”

  Brad’s CyberCafe sat between a flower shop and a corner market. Two floors held enough neon lights to put Times Square to shame, with a handful of computers available for rent. A few kids were there, already playing the latest first-person shooter game, screaming and swearing while getting blown away by some crack shot in Taiwan. Adults were restricted to the guy behind the counter selling overpriced coffees and herbal teas, and a pair of lovebirds sitting in the far corner cooing to each other while their respective sons and daughters played the video games at the far end of the café.

  “Nice place.” Bran glanced around the first floor. “All it needs is a jukebox.”

  I laughed. “And a pinball machine.”

  “Bah. These kids don’t know what they’re missing with their newfangled video games and fancy-dancy music tunes.” He winked at me, putting a smile on my face.

  A waitress appeared within minutes of us sitting at one of the rare empty tables. The menu was simple, a photocopy stuck in a plastic holder. Bran let out a low whistle while he scanned the words.

  “Fried mac and cheese. Yum.” He beamed at the waiting woman. “I’ll have an order of that. And a diet cola.”

  “Just a diet cola for me.” I couldn’t help letting out a sigh as the young woman disappeared into the back. “Diet soda? With fried mac and cheese? You do see the silliness in that, right?”

  Bran shrugged. “Sue me. Besides, I find the regular stuff too sweet.” His eyes went to the bar. “Heads up. Guess he didn’t see or smell you on the way in.”

  A thin young man swung the door open, almost smashing it into the wall. Without looking around, he strutted to the counter and rapped his knuckles on the faux wood. The barista got to work in silence and a minute later a tall latte with plenty of foam appeared in front of the teenager. He pulled a cell phone out of an inside pocket and began texting, his fingers flying over the tiny keyboard at a furious rate.

  “Probably calling in all his IOU’s.” Bran leaned in, whispering. “Tell you what—let me go and see if I can chat him down. Too many civilians around for you to start something here.”

  I pressed my lips together. The café wasn’t packed, but full enough that a fight wouldn’t go unnoticed or without some casualties—to people or furniture. “Go.” I grabbed his arm as he started to get up. “Sit on his left side.”

  “Why?”

  “Because that’s downwind. He’ll smell me on you if you don’t stay downwind.” I couldn’t help feeling sheepish. “It’s sort of obvious.”

  “Ah.” Bran grinned.

  “But don’t forget who and what he is.” My nose twitched. “Don’t forget.”

  “I won’t.” Bran patted my arm and grabbed one of the small macaroni bites that had just been dropped off at our table. “Damn, those are good.” He picked up his soda and took a sip, carrying the glass with him.

  He strode to the counter and sat down on the stool next to Tony. The teenager turned slightly to assess this newest entry into his world. His nose twitched—he’d learned fast how to assess a potential enemy. As long as Bran stayed downwind he’d be safe.

  “Hey.” Bran nodded. “How’s it going?” The conversation was so low that if I hadn’t been concentrating and had a bit more skill than the average human, I wouldn’t have heard anything.

  Tony glared at him. “What’s it to you?” With a sneer he turned away and took a sip of the fancy coffee.

  “You know who I am. You came to my penthouse and slipped that picture under my door,” Brandon said.

  Tony put the cell phone down. “Did I?”

  “Brandon Hanover.” Bran stuck his hand out. Tony didn’t return the gesture. A second later Bran rubbed his chin, ending the attempt.

  “Whatever.” Tony took another sip.

  “Before we go any further I know who and what you are.” Bran kept his voice low, neutral. Tony’s head snapped back as if he’d been slapped. “I know what you did. A helluva lot more than just taking a picture.”

  “You printed it.” Tony reached back and pressed his greasy dark hair back down with the palm of his hand. The kit needed a shower badly, with a shave and a new set of clothes. “You thought it was real.”

  “I know it was real. I know you’re real.” Bran shifted his weight to one side, taking yet another submissive pose. The bastard must have spent a lot of time watching Animal Planet. He was working it like a pro. I fluctuated between feeling proud of his survival skills and terrified that he’d pegged it so quickly.

  Tony slurped more coffee. “Nothing’s what it seems.”

  “I know you sent that photo to me to expose what they are. What you are.” Bran continued, not allowing Tony to interrupt. “What I want to know is how you ended up in the alley with your teacher in the first place.”

  Tony shrugged. “Got lucky. She wanted it and I gave it to her.”

  “No, you didn’t.” A sad smile touched Bran’s lips. “You didn’t rape her. You couldn’t do that. But you were hot for teacher, weren’t you?”

  Tony’s cheeks went scarlet. Bran continued, “Hey, it’s cool. Listen, there isn’t a man alive who hasn’t gotten excited seeing some hot woman up at the front of the classroom.”

  The rogue replied with a short laugh. “Mrs. Winters, she was a good lady. Really good legs, you know?”

  “Sure.” Bran playfully dug his elbow into the teenager’s ribs. “Bet you liked it when she kept her back to you, you know? Get you all thinking about what she’d be like, eh? Bend ’er over the desk and do her right there in the classroom.”

  I knew Bran was just trying to be
smart and sympathetic to the kid, but I was about to walk over there and crack their heads together like a pair of coconuts.

  Tony nodded again. “She was one sweet looker.” He stared at his hands, placing them both on the countertop, palms down. “But I never thought… I mean…”

  “You caught a whiff of her scent and went nuts, didn’t you?” Bran took a swig of his cola. “Tell ya, it’s not just you Felis who get it going at the smell of a woman. There’s nothing like it, that delicious sweet ‘come and get me’ smell.” He let out a low wolf whistle. “Let me guess. You know she’s like you and you follow her for a bit and then decide that day, that day you want to talk to her about maybe getting together. No one needs to know, just you and her.” The words tumbled out of his mouth as if he were sketching a picture. “You call her over, she comes to see you in the alley.”

  Tony let out a weary sigh, almost a sob. “Do you know what it’s like growing up…growing up like this?” His fingers flexed on the table and scratched the cheap varnish. “My mother told me it wasn’t from my father, my stepfather, that is. Some dumb fuck she screwed a few times and never to speak of it again. Told me to keep it inside, keep it secret and don’t talk about it to anyone, ever.” The right hand lashed out and gripped Bran’s wrist so tightly the skin started to turn white from lack of blood. “Told me to do it in the bathroom if I really had to go furry. Like I’m some sort of pervert.”

  I sighed. Kathy might have meant the best for her son but she’d gone about it all wrong, turning Tony’s Felis abilities into something dirty and shameful. I wasn’t sure how much Felis he had in him but I knew it couldn’t be denied and shut up forever.

  “Mrs. Winters figured out I was like her as soon as we started talking. She hadn’t realized it before ’cause I sat in the back and away from her. She barely remembered my name. I went furry for her. I wanted to show her it was okay, just the two of us. She was the first woman I’ve ever felt close to.” The fingers increased their grip on Bran’s wrist. “She didn’t understand. She told me that I needed to get help, that there were rules we had to follow. Said we had to stay secret, stay silent,” he growled. “Like I’ve been told to do all my life.”