“I’m packed and ready to go. I even bought new hiking boots last week.” She sighed. “It won’t be the same without you.”
“I’m sure you’ll have a great time with Cole. Don’t forget, you promised to take photos of the wolves.” I crossed my fingers. When Kaleb and I talked on Saturday, he’d promised to check on Wendy and her friends when he patrolled in wolf form. With any luck, she might get a photo of him as a wolf. It was something I wanted to see again.
“Did you call Jenny?” Bill asked, entering the main dining area from the hallway. He grabbed the coffeepot and poured the rest of the coffee into a mug.
“It went straight to voicemail,” Wendy said.
Several hours ago, Bill had called Uncle Henry to ask if I could work at the café, since Jenny was a no-show. She had been due back from Dover on Sunday, but she’d called Bill asking for more vacation days. She needed to take care of a family issue and promised to be at work on Wednesday night.
“Did you leave a message?” He asked, dumping several packets of sugar into his coffee.
She shook her head. “Her voicemail’s full.”
“I bet she forgot to charge her cell phone.” I tried to come up with a valid reason to why Jenny’s voicemail box might be full. Bill had already left her two messages, and when she didn’t call back within an hour, he’d asked Wendy to call. I guess he thought Jenny might answer if someone other than her boss was calling.
He drank his coffee and looked at the clock on the wall. “Wendy, why don’t you head home? I need to talk to Sienna.”
“Okay. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” She grabbed her bag and left the café.
I switched off the neon Open sign and waved to Wendy as she pulled her car onto Main Street.
After closing the window blinds, I walked to Bill at the front counter. “Is everything okay?”
“Jenny’s missing.” He set his mug on the counter. “I didn’t want to say anything in front of Wendy. Not until I speak to the sheriff.”
I shook my head. “I’m sure Jenny’s fine. Her phone—”
“I called her parents an hour ago. She left Dover on Sunday, and they haven’t heard from her since. They didn’t even know she’d asked for more vacation days. Did she say anything about a boyfriend?”
“No. I mean, she’s had a few dates, but I don’t know who the guys were.” I didn’t want to believe something had happened to Jenny. So what if she’d lied to Bill about why she needed more vacation days and if she hadn’t shown up for her shift tonight? She could be shacking up with one of her many guys and lost track of time. Maybe she’d met Mr. Right. “She’s probably staying with a friend. She does that sometimes.”
“I hope you’re right.” He handed me my purse. “Tell the Elders we have another missing girl. Everyone needs to be on high alert.”
Bill locked the café’s door behind me as he called the sheriff on his cell phone. By tomorrow morning, everyone in Woodlake would know Jenny was missing. Hopefully, she’d stayed in Dover for a few more days and hadn’t come back to Woodlake. I figured she’d show up tomorrow with a lame excuse for missing her shift.
At least, that’s what I hoped. Woodlake didn’t need another missing girl.
Movement in the bushes caught my attention as I hurried to the Jeep. I glanced over my shoulder at Main Street; there was no sign of anyone. The other businesses had closed an hour ago. A chill crept down my spine as I got this feeling of someone … or something … watching me.
My heart jumped when I saw Kaleb. He stood by the Jeep, looking sexier than I thought possible.
“I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.” I opened the Jeep door and tossed my purse onto the passenger seat, feeling a little shaky, but I was relieved to see him.
“Bill wanted to see me. Aren’t you supposed to be off tonight?” Kaleb looked at me and pulled me into his arms. “What’s wrong?”
I tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go. “What if someone sees us?”
“I don’t care.” He kissed my forehead and kept his arms wrapped around me. “Something’s wrong. What is it?”
“Jenny’s missing.”
His body stiffened. “What do you mean she’s missing?”
“She didn’t show up to work tonight. That’s why I’m here.” I sighed. “Her parents said she left Dover on Sunday, but no one’s heard from her. That doesn’t mean she’s missing, right? She could’ve met a guy in Dover and lost track of time.”
“Jenny’s not in Dover. I saw her Sunday night at a party.”
“Was she with someone?” I pulled away from him, still worried someone might see his arms around me.
“I wasn’t paying attention.”
“I bet she met up with a guy. It’s the only thing that makes sense.” I got into the Jeep, closed the door, and rolled down the window. “You need to tell Bill about the party. Somebody knows who she left with. Did Markus talk to her?”
“He didn’t go to the party.” He rested his arm on the Jeep door. “Don’t worry about Jenny. I’ll talk to Bill, and we’ll find her. Promise me you’ll stay home tonight.”
I smiled. “Only if you promise you’ll be careful.”
“Of course.” He uttered a soft chuckle, then leaned in and kissed me. It was a quick kiss, but unexpected and sweet.
“Will I see you tomorrow?”
“Nothing could keep me away.” He stepped away from the Jeep, and I pulled out of the parking lot and drove down Main Street.
In the rearview mirror, I watched Kaleb enter the café as Markus walked out of the woods. A cop car pulled up in front of the café. Two men, one of them the sheriff, got out and walked over to talk to Markus.
Soon, the café and all the other buildings disappeared as I sped toward the community. I turned the radio on and sank into the driver’s seat as I thought about Jenny and Paige.
That’s two missing girls in Woodlake. Assuming their disappearances were related, what did they have in common? Both were teenagers and had graduated from high school last year, but Paige had traveled from Ohio for a two-week hiking trip around Lake Sweeney, while Jenny had moved to Woodlake last year. Jenny had no interest in hiking, unless cute guys were involved. They didn’t look alike. Jenny was short with blonde hair, and Paige was tall with dark brown hair.
A country song came on the radio; I lowered my gaze and switched stations until a well-known pop song played. When I looked up, a large wolf stood in the middle of the road.
I quickly turned the steering wheel and screamed as I hit the brakes and swerved off the road. Something bumped the Jeep’s undercarriage, causing the Jeep to roll down a ravine and straight into a pine tree. Glass shattered, flying in all directions. As I dangled upside down in the driver’s seat, blood rushed to my head.
I groaned. Please tell me I didn’t just run over a Norwood wolf.
Wincing, I struggled with the seat belt and finally got the button to release. I fell to the ground, landing hard on my arm and hitting my forehead against broken glass. I needed help.
Darkness surrounded me. It was too dark to see my cell phone. When I touched the ground, tiny bits of broken glass clung to my hand. If I couldn’t ring for help, I needed to flag someone down, but the road was barely visible. No one driving past could see the Jeep.
I reached up and turned the headlights on but nothing happened. Not even the horn worked. I crawled out of the Jeep and stood, holding onto a nearby branch to steady myself. My arm ached and my legs felt numb. I needed to get to the road.
I grabbed a branch and worked my way up the side of the ravine. I thought of Kaleb with his super-hearing powers. The café was only a few miles away. If I yelled his name, would he hear me?
“Kaleb.” The word came out hoarse. I took a deep breath, cleared my throat, and cried out, “Kaleb, I’m hurt!”
Within seconds, the outline of a wolf with glowing yellow eyes appeared at the top of the ravine. He tilted his head and whined. Was this the wolf from the middle of the ro
ad? Maybe he knew Kaleb. Maybe he could help.
Chapter 20
Tears stung my eyes when the wolf growled. He wasn’t friendly.
“Kaleb!” I yelled louder. Should I go back to the Jeep? I was already halfway up the ravine. No way could I make it to the Jeep in time, and I didn’t have my hunting knife. Being with Kaleb these past few weeks, had made me feel safe—safe enough to forget monsters existed.
I needed to fight back. I needed a weapon.
Keeping my gaze on the wolf’s outline and two glowing eyes, I picked up a large rock. The wolf growled again and stalked toward me as my heart pounded in my ears.
After a few steps, the wolf stopped and turned his head toward town. Then he ran off in the opposite direction.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I sank to the ground. Someone shouted my name. Another wolf appeared at the top of the ravine, alongside a shadowy figure I recognized.
“Sienna.” Kaleb slid down the ravine, his tone filled with worry.
“You came for me.” The words choked out of my mouth. “I wasn’t sure if you’d hear me.”
He kneeled in front of me, pushing my hair out of my face. “Are you okay?”
“My arm hurts.” I took a deep breath, wishing I could see his face in the dark.
“We’d better get you to a hospital.” He wrapped his arms around me and picked me up.
“But I—” I couldn’t get the words out. I didn’t know what I wanted to say.
“Don’t worry. You’re safe now.” He walked up the ravine as I rested my head against his chest.
As we reached the road, I remembered I hadn’t told Kaleb about the wolf. “Wait, there was—”
“Is she okay?” Bill asked, opening the back door of his SUV, surprised to see Kaleb carrying me.
“She needs a doctor.” Kaleb put me into the backseat and buckled my seat belt. “Markus is pushing the Jeep up to the road. He’ll meet us at the hospital.”
“You can’t come with us,” Bill said. “Let me take her to the hospital. I’ll make sure they—”
“I’m not leaving her,” Kaleb snapped.
Bill lowered his gaze, not daring to look at Kaleb. “You know that’s not a good idea.”
“He’s right. We can’t show up together.” I leaned back against the seat and touched Kaleb’s arm. “I’ll be okay.”
Kaleb sighed. “I’m still coming to the hospital.”
Bill walked around the SUV and jumped into the driver’s seat. He glanced into the rearview mirror as Kaleb kissed my cheek.
“I won’t be far behind.” Kaleb closed the door.
Bill drove toward Woodlake’s hospital at the other end of town. “I didn’t realize you and Kaleb were close. That day in the tent … was he there to hurt you like everyone said?”
“He’d never hurt me.”
“I see that now.” He glanced at the road. “There were skid marks on the side of the road. Did you hit something?”
“A deer.” The words came out before I could stop myself from lying.
“Are you sure? The deer don’t usually stick around with the wolves in town.”
“Yes.” I bit my lower lip, wondering if lying was a mistake. Kaleb trusted Bill to drive me to the hospital. Should I tell him about the wolf? But if Bill told the Elders about the wolf, they’d be upset, especially after Kaleb had come to the fortune-telling tent. However, right now, I had more important things to think about. “Will you tell Henry?”
“I’ve already called him. He’s meeting us at the hospital.”
“I meant about my friendship with Kaleb. Will you tell Henry?” My voice cracked. “The Romanies are afraid of him. They’ll never understand.”
“I won’t tell anyone,” Bill replied. “Maybe your friendship is what this town needs.”
* * *
“Is this really necessary?” I glanced up at the CT machine. I wanted to leave the hospital and be done with these tests. The nurse had already stitched my forehead, and there were no broken bones. I only had a banged-up arm with bruises, and a small cut on my forehead.
“We need to check for swelling in your brain.” The doctor tucked cushions on either side of my head as I stared at the stethoscope hanging around his neck. “Don’t move your head.”
“I bet these tests are expensive,” I mumbled. I didn’t need to worry about Uncle Henry learning about Kaleb and me because as soon as Uncle Henry saw the hospital bill, I’d be dead. Why hadn’t I paid attention? Animals were always on the road at night.
“Don’t worry about the bill.” Bill looked over the nurse’s shoulder at the computer screens. “The café’s got it covered.”
I closed my eyes as the CT machine made clicking sounds.
When we’d arrived at the hospital earlier, Bill had told the nurse he needed to stay with me until Uncle Henry got to the hospital. The more Bill insisted and refused to leave me, the more I wondered if he was following orders. Did Kaleb have that much authority over Bill?
“See, that wasn’t so bad.” Bill smiled as he helped me into the wheelchair.
The doctor glanced at his pager. “Bill, can you take Sienna back to her room while I’ll look at these images? I’m sure Henry’s anxious to see her.”
Bill wheeled me out of the CT room and down the long hallway. He talked to several nurses along the way, charming them.
Woodlake’s three-story hospital had a large emergency room, a gift store, and a small chapel. With so many tourists hiking around Lake Sweeney and visiting Norwood Isle, the hospital had the all the latest equipment.
I couldn’t help but smile as we entered the room. Kaleb stood near the bed, while Markus sat in one of the chairs.
“You shouldn’t—” Bill didn’t complete his thought, and the room fell silent. Whatever Kaleb had said to Bill through transference made him lower his gaze and sit down next to Markus.
“You need to stay off your feet.” Kaleb pushed a button on the side of the bed, raising the upper part on an incline. He held my hand, helping me get into the bed.
“Thanks for coming for me.” I glanced at Kaleb’s hand still holding mine, and then looked at Markus. “Both of you. Thanks.”
“It’s my fault.” Markus stood. “I’m supposed to watch over you. If I hadn’t—”
“What do you mean watch over her? You can’t—” Bill’s face twisted as Kaleb glared at him.
“Did you see the wolf?” Kaleb asked.
I bit my lower lip. Kaleb knew about the wolf in the road, and he didn’t care if Bill knew. I’d lied for no reason.
“What wolf?” Bill asked.
“I caught a wolf’s scent by the Jeep.” Markus glanced out the door. “No deer around for twenty miles.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. Markus and Kaleb had heard my conversation with Bill when he drove me to the hospital. How could I have forgotten what Kaleb had said? No conversation in Woodlake was private. “It happened so fast. I didn’t get a good look.”
“I knew it,” Markus muttered under his breath as he left the room.
Kaleb kissed my cheek. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”
“I know,” I squeezed his hand, and Kaleb disappeared into the hallway. I looked at Bill, his gaze meeting mine. “I’m sorry for lying.”
“You didn’t know if you could trust me,” Bill replied.
“Where is she?” Uncle Henry’s voice sounded angry, frustrated, and not too far away.
I closed my eyes, preparing myself for the unknown. At least Bill had offered to pay for the hospital tests, but when Uncle Henry heard about the wolf, everything would change. The Elders would think working at the café was too dangerous, especially now that Jenny was missing.
Heavy footsteps entered the room. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” Bill replied. “We’re waiting on a few test results, but the doctor’s optimistic. No broken bones or concussion. She just has a bruised arm and a few stitches in her forehead.”
“What happened?” Uncle He
nry asked.
“She hit a deer,” Bill said.
My eyes flew open. I found myself staring at Uncle Henry’s back. He stood in front of Bill, blocking my view of him. Why hadn’t Bill told Uncle Henry about the wolf?
“Are you sure it wasn’t Kaleb?” Uncle Henry asked. “I saw him in the parking lot. What are the wolves doing here? If he tried to—”
“Kaleb didn’t do this,” I interrupted. “He was the one who found me.”
Uncle Henry looked at me and then at Bill, confused. “I thought you found her.”
“Kaleb was with me. We were checking a few things, and he heard Sienna cry for help. You know how the wolves are. They have excellent hearing.” Bill paused as Kaleb appeared in the doorway, holding a paper bag. “Isn’t that right, Kaleb?”
“I thought it might be Jenny screaming.” Kaleb handed the paper bag to Uncle Henry without looking at me. “That’s everything from the crash site. We pushed the Jeep back to the road, but you’ll need to call a tow truck.”
Uncle Henry’s eyebrow rose as Kaleb left the room. “Who’s Jenny?”
“She’s one of the other waitresses at the café.” Bill cleared his throat. “She’s missing.”
“Missing?” Uncle Henry’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
Bill nodded. “Sienna was coming home to tell you. It’s why Kaleb’s in town. They’re checking a few places where she likes to hang out. No one’s seen her since Sunday night.”
“I’ll tell the Elders.” Uncle Henry looked toward the doorway, as the doctor walked in carrying a folder. Unlike earlier, he wore a green surgeon cap and no stethoscope.
“Tests came back clear,” the doctor said to Uncle Henry. “Sienna should get some rest, but she’s fine.”
Uncle Henry nodded. “Thank you. We’ll figure out a way to pay—”
“It’s taken care of,” the doctor replied, and he left the room.
“This wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t sent Sienna home early. Paying the hospital bill is the least I can do.” Bill stood and looked at me. “Why don’t you stay home tomorrow? My wife can help at the café. If you need more time to rest, that’s fine.”
Romani Blood (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 1) Page 13
