“Is he still in the house?”
“No. I hit him. Baseball bat. He jumped out a window.”
“Okay, ma’am. I’ve sent the call to the dispatcher and help will be there as soon as possible. I’m going to stay on the phone with you until they arrive. I need you to answer some questions for me. Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” the dispatcher said. “Do you feel safe staying on the phone with me? Are you injured?”
“I’m not hurt. He, um, tried to choke me, but I didn’t pass out, I mean . . . I’m okay, I think. What if he comes back? My wol—my dog ran after him. I hit him, but he got in once . . . what if he comes back?” Mara’s chest tightened, her breath wheezing. She had to calm down and breathe.
“Do you have somewhere you’d feel safe?”
“I don’t know. Bathroom maybe. I can lock the door.”
“Okay, can you stay on the phone with me in there?”
“Yes.” Mara dragged herself across the hall into the bathroom and closed and locked the door. “Okay.”
“Can you describe the man?”
She could do this. She was safe. Help was coming. “Uh . . . it was dark. He was big. White. His eyes were dark. He had a mask on, but I saw his eyes.”
“How big? Was he fat? Muscular? Tall?”
“He was muscular. He held me down. He was trying to choke me. I couldn’t move him off me.”
“What about his clothing?”
“Dark. His shirt was tight. Long-sleeved. I tried to scratch his arms, but it was all fabric. I don’t know about his pants. He was only on me for a minute. Bud . . . my dog . . . he attacked the guy.”
“Is your dog dangerous? Do the officers need to worry about him?” The dispatcher’s voice changed and became the cold steel of a knife, designed to focus her, to pare down her words to what was important.
“No. Bud only attacked because the guy was hurting me. He’s about the most docile animal you’d ever meet.”
“Where is the dog now?”
“He chased the guy. I don’t know. He’s not here. I need to find him.” Fear drenched her in a cold sweat, roiled around in her belly, and squeezed tears from her eyes. She pushed herself up and unlocked the door. The initial shock had worn off and she had to find her wolf. She needed him.
“Ma’am, the officers are nearly at your door. You should hear the sirens now. I need you to go let them in. Can you do that?”
“But my dog . . .”
“Ma’am, you need to be examined by the paramedics and you need to let the officers in. Until they’ve secured the property and we know if you need to go to the hospital, finding your dog is secondary.” The dispatcher rattled off a badge number for Mara and asked her to repeat it. She did and stumbled out into the hallway when she heard the knock at the door.
The two uniformed officers quickly took control of the scene and of her. They led her to the kitchen table and searched her house. The younger officer got her a glass of water. The paramedics followed quickly and checked her blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing, asking her dozens of questions to verify her mental state.
A female EMT named Sylvia with deep laugh lines around her mouth and kind brown eyes patted her hand. “Mara, you don’t look well. I’d like to transport you to the hospital. We’ll bring in a gurney—standard procedure. Is there anything you need to bring with you? Phone, keys, medication?”
The wolf. Mara stifled a groan, thankful she’d managed not to say that out loud. He was all she needed. He’d help more than another hospital visit. She’d had enough of those lately. “I’m okay. I’d rather stay here.”
“You’re pale, your blood pressure is too low, your heart rate is too high, and you’re shaking like a leaf. You need to be admitted. You’re in shock.”
“It’s not the attack. I’m sick. Dying. It’s some sort of weird blood disorder that no one can figure out. But it’s not imminent. I’m okay. I get dehydrated really easily and stress makes it worse. I promise you, I’m not about to pass out or anything. I need more water and to be warm. And I need my dog. He ran off after the guy. He helps with the stress.”
The younger officer, a pretty blond man named Denton, got her another glass of water and a blanket from the cruiser. The EMT made her sign a waiver. Eventually, the tremors stopped and the exhaustion settled in. “Can I go sit on the couch? I’m going to fall asleep soon,” she murmured.
“I need you to tell me what happened first,” Officer Denton said. The paramedics packed up their gear and headed out after strongly urging her to get checked out by her doctor the next day.
Mara recounted everything she could remember. “There’s a fair bit of blood in your bedroom,” the officer said. “Where did that come from?”
“My dog bit the guy. He dragged him off of me.”
“Is he likely to bite any of the other officers?”
“No. He’s not aggressive. I knew he was protective of me, but him attacking the guy was unexpected. I think he saved me.”
Officer Denton helped Mara to her feet and guided her over to the couch. She sank down and curled her legs under her.
“Is there someone you can call to come stay with you? Or take you to a hotel? Your house isn’t going to be quiet for a few more hours,” Officer Denton said. His partner, Officer James, was currently showing the crime scene tech the spare bedroom.
“I spent the past six hours with my friends and family. And I really want to find my dog. What about my window?” Mara cast a worried glance towards her guest room. A stiff breeze was currently invading her house and it wasn’t helping her nerves.
“We typically tell folks that they can board up the window themselves, but you don’t look like you’re in any shape to do that tonight,” Officer Denton replied. “I really think you should call someone. A neighbor?”
“The house next to me is vacant. I can go check across the street. They’re two college guys. They should be able to help.” Mara got up from the couch but the room spun around her and she sank back down again. “Or not.”
Officer Denton grabbed her arm. “I can take a couple of minutes and walk over there with you.”
“Thanks.”
It took an hour for the two college kids to secure her window, during which time the crime scene technician, a young woman named Daisy, processed her bedroom and the inside of the guest room. “What kind of dog did you say you had?” Daisy asked.
“Um, a husky. Why?”
“This doesn’t look like any dog hair I’ve ever seen.”
Mara sputtered. “He’s sort of a half-breed. A mutt. He saved my life,” she whispered.
Daisy made a skeptical harrumph.
Officer Denton wrote up his report at her kitchen table. He asked her questions from time to time.
“Do you think the man will come back?” Mara twisted the hem of her flannel pajama top with nervous fingers.
“There’s been a string of home invasions in North Seattle over the past month. Guy’s a coward. He targets women living alone. I’m surprised he bothered with you since you have a dog.”
“I, um, only got him a few days ago.”
The blond-haired officer nodded. “That’s probably why then. If he’d known, he never would have risked it. He usually leaves the women tied up in a closet. Terrifies them, but never seriously hurts them other than a few bruises. The strangulation . . . he doesn’t go so far that the women pass out. It’s a control tactic. Make the women understand that he’s strong enough to kill them and then he ties them up, gags them, and goes about his business. He takes jewelry, electronics, cash.”
Mara snorted. “Well, he would have been sorely disappointed. I’ve got less than fifty dollars in my purse, my laptop is relatively new, but my TV is mounted to the wall. I hardly wear any jewelry, and the most valuable thing currently in my house is probably my espresso machine. Dying really makes you re-evaluate your life choices. I don’t own a lot.”
Officer Denton looked away,
uncomfortable. People usually did when Mara joked about dying. She chuckled. “It’s okay. Really. Laughing about it is good for me. Now, what am I supposed to do? Stay until you all are done? Go to a hotel? Both?”
“Most folks don’t want to stay in the home the night of a break-in. We do need you to stay until we’re done. But as soon as the crime scene tech clears out, you can go to a hotel. You’ll be allowed to pack a bag, or I can pack one for you if you know what you need.”
Mara gave him a short list of items. She wanted to go look for the wolf, but she was too tired to drive and the thought of calling Adam, Jen, or Lillian left her cold. They would insist she come to stay with them and she couldn’t feign happiness any more tonight. Each of them had begged her to move in with them but she couldn’t stand the thought of not being on her own. Not yet. Not when she still had days she felt okay. While the crime scene tech finished up with her bedroom, she curled up on the couch and fell asleep.
“Ma’am?” A gentle hand shook Mara’s shoulder.
“Mmm-huh?” She blinked several times, trying to focus. She was in bad shape. She knew it. The stress of the break-in had sapped whatever bit of energy she had left after her last transfusion. She’d have to go to the hospital tomorrow. But for tonight, she only wanted to find her wolf and sleep.
“We’re done, ma’am. Are you sure you don’t need to go to the emergency room?” Officer Denton knelt next to the couch. Mara shook her head.
“I want to sleep.” The gray light of dawn was breaking. “It’s morning. I’m going to sleep here, okay? If my w—dog comes back, I want to be here.”
“Okay, ma’am. I’m going to send an officer around later today to check on you.”
“Thanks.” Mara stumbled to the door, following Officer Denton, and locked the door behind him. Within minutes, she was back asleep on the couch.
She felt like she’d only been asleep for seconds when a scratching sound at her front door startled her awake. She scrambled off the couch and raced for the entrance. A quick check of the peephole and Mara flung open the door.
The wolf leapt for her and practically knocked her over. Mara wrapped her arms around his sleek, warm body. He nuzzled her neck, inhaled deeply, and growled. “It’s okay. I’m okay. You’re okay.” The wolf growled again, but Mara distracted him by running her hands all over his body. When she didn’t encounter any wounds, she breathed a sigh of relief. “I worried you wouldn’t come back.”
He made a sorrowful sound, a vocalization she took as no and grabbed the sleeve of her top, tugging her gently away from the door.
“What are you doing?” She got to her feet, stumbling a little, and let the wolf lead her back to the couch. He’s better than a man. Feels like he’s taking care of me.
When Mara collapsed onto the cushions, the wolf didn’t wait for her to say it was okay. He jumped right up and lay down next to her. Her arms came around his chest and she buried her face in his fur as she drifted off to sleep. “Thanks,” she whispered. “I think you saved my life.”
Six
Mara was drowning. She couldn’t breathe. Every muscle strained as she fought her way to the surface. When her head broke through, it was sunrise and she was in the middle of a vast, endless ocean. Waves crashed over her head, plastering her hair to her face. She screamed for help, but only the roar of the wind greeted her. She was naked, and the chilly water prickled like ice picks against her skin. How did I get here? There was no land in sight.
The wind howled again, and it seemed to form words. Accept this.
Accept what? Death? Drowning? “No!” she cried out. “I want to live!”
The wind whipped around her. Accept who you are. Mara clenched her fists even as she tried to tread water. “I know who I am, goddammit! Who are you? How did I get here?” She demanded answers from the wind, but it had none to give.
Mara spun around as she churned her arms and legs to stay afloat. At least she was in water, a place where she felt almost normal again. She could tread water for hours. She scanned the horizon. There had to be land around. She’d come from somewhere. Her burning eyes focused on a slightly darker spot in front of her, far away. Land. She put her head down and started to swim. Over and over and over she stroked, sighting with every breath. She swam until her arms burned. She wanted to sleep. She had to sleep, but if she slept, she’d die.
She couldn’t bear to swim any longer. She floated on her back and looked up at the sky. “Help,” she whispered. She was so tired. She let herself slip under the waves and everything went dark.
She sat up with a gasp. She’d been dreaming. She sucked in great lungfuls of air and looked around. It was light. The clock on the wall read eleven. An inquisitive sound from her wolf had her reaching down to rub his broad head. She swore he looked like he was smiling.
While he checked all around her yard and took care of his needs, she programmed a cup of espresso with steady hands. Despite everything she’d endured the night before, she felt good today.
The doorbell caused her to flinch and spill a bit of her coffee. “Goddess, get a hold of yourself,” she muttered. She turned towards the door and a key slid into the lock. With the stress of the break-in, she’d forgotten her transfusion appointment. The wolf padded back inside as Lillian came in the front door. He looked up at Mara and growled softly, questioning her.
“It’s okay,” she told him, stroking his head. Lillian stopped in her tracks as she took in the proud animal next to Mara.
“Mar? Can you put the wolf outside?”
“Come on in, Aunt Lil. He won’t hurt you.” Mara looked at her wolf. He wouldn’t take his eyes off of Mara. “Will you?” The wolf lay down and tucked his nose under his paws.
“I’ll stay over here, thanks,” Lillian said warily. “I’m with Adam, hon. That’s a wild animal. Not a house pet.”
“Look at him. Does he look wild to you?” Mara knelt and scratched the wolf behind the ears. He pressed closer to her.
“He looks like he’d kill anyone who tried to hurt you.”
Mara laughed. “Well, you’ve got that right. But you’re not going to hurt me so you’re safe. You probably do want to sit down,” she said. “Let me make you some coffee. We need to talk before we go to the hospital.”
While the coffee beans ground and the water heated, she filled a bowl with a mix of beef and bison and set it on the ground for the wolf. He dug in greedily, slurping and chomping loudly. Mara set the steaming mug in front of her aunt and sat down at the table with her. “Someone broke into my house last night.”
“What?” Lillian slammed her coffee cup down. The wolf looked up and cocked his head, but when Mara smiled at him, he went back to eating. Mara laid her hand over Lillian’s. Pale, wrinkled, paper-thin skin covered bony, fragile hands. Lil had aged a decade since Mara had gotten sick. She was doing too much: shopping, driving her to appointments, even cleaning her house. Clasping her aunt’s hands tightly, Mara forced brightness into her voice.
“The wolf chased him away. He protected me. You see? He’s not going to hurt me. I can’t explain it, but he’s not normal. I think he understands me, and he’s definitely been domesticated somehow.” The wolf finished his breakfast and sat next to Mara. He watched Lillian keenly, but his body was relaxed and calm and he laid his head on Mara’s thigh.
Lillian glared at Mara. “You’re movin’ in with me. You’re not stayin’ here another night.”
“I’m fine here. Especially now. I feel better today than I have in months and I only got about four hours of sleep last night. I’m not even sure that I need a transfusion today. I’ll go, because it’s today or wait until Monday, but I really feel pretty good. And this is my home. I’m staying until I can’t take care of myself any longer. The wolf—he saved my life last night.”
“You do look better,” Lillian mused. “Look. I’m not happy about him,” she said, gesturing to the wolf. “But as long as you don’t expect me to take him in when . . .”
“When I d
ie. You can say it, you know. I’ve accepted it. Despite my little outburst last night. Sometimes I think I’m the only one who has.”
Lillian looked uncomfortable. “You’re so your mama’s daughter. That was her way, you know. That directness. Fine. As long as I don’t have to take him in when you die, I can’t stop you. But if he ends up attackin’ you and killin’ you, I’m gonna come hunt you down in the afterlife and kick yer ass.”
Mara laughed. She wrapped her arm around the wolf and leaned down to whisper in his ear. “You’ll win her over.”
Lillian drove Mara to the hospital and stayed with her while she donated a pint of blood for study. When the transfusion needle entered her arm, she lay back and closed her eyes. Lillian prattled on the entire time, telling her stories of Mara’s mother. Mara nodded and made various noises of acknowledgment when it was required, but her mind was elsewhere. Would this be the day that the doctor told her the transfusions were failing? For the past several months, she’d gradually felt worse and worse, but ever since she’d spent the night on Orcas, she’d had periods of time when she felt great and then other bouts where she felt truly horrible. The last few days had been so odd. Her body couldn’t make up its mind and the constant hammering of her emotions wasn’t helping.
“Mara?” Doctor Pendergast’s deep voice roused her from her reverie.
Her eyes flew open. “Goddess, doc. Are you psychic? I was wondering if I’d see you today.”
Lillian took her hand. The doctor coming to see her in the transfusion center couldn’t be good. Mara forced a smile. Doctor Pendergast pulled up a thin plastic chair next to the two women, flipped open a folder, and shook his head. “Mara, I don’t know how to explain it, but your red blood cell numbers improved this week. Not by a lot, but we’ve seen a marked decrease every time we’ve transfused you until today. You’ve got a three percent improvement since last week.”
Mara grinned. “That’s good, yes? I feel a little better. Ever since I got back from Orcas, I’ve felt better.”
A Shift in the Water Page 8
