All's Fair in Love and Wolf

by Terry Spear

  “Which makes me feel it’s still related to the case. How often do you get stray wolves up here near your home?”

  “Rarely. It just seems too coincidental to me.”

  “I can’t imagine what these guys hope to accomplish by following us. He has to know I’m about to clear my name so whoever is responsible takes the blame.”

  “Why not try to stop you? If he didn’t want you to clear your name, I would think he’d have wanted to stop you before now.”

  “Financial fraud is one thing. Murder, quite another. Maybe he doesn’t have the stomach for killing anyone.”

  “Or he’s afraid of you if he knows I tracked you to Silver Town, armed to the teeth, and you took me hostage instead.”

  “If you must know, I was as gentle as I could be with you, given the circumstances.” He began looking through her fridge. “Scrambled eggs or omelets okay?”

  “Omelets, bell peppers, ham, and cheese.” She began pulling out the other ingredients, while he grabbed the carton of eggs.

  After finding the skillets and olive oil, he cracked some eggs and started cooking them, while Jenna cut up the bell peppers and ham. The cheese was already shredded.

  “Coffee or tea?” she asked.

  “Coffee, milk, and sugar.”

  She began making a pot of coffee, filling a teakettle with water and heating it. “I’ll call Mom and let her know we’ve got another wolf in the area. Dad will go out and check on it, as long as he isn’t working a case this morning.”

  “I would have continued to search for the wolf in the other direction if I didn’t have to meet with the lawyer this morning.”

  “Well, that’s our priority. I agree. I wanted to know where he got out of the river and took off to.” She got ahold of her mom and said, “Sarandon and I took a wolf run this morning and smelled the scent of another male wolf in the area. We followed him to the river, but he must have swum in it for some time to hide his scent. We searched south on the river but couldn’t find where he got out. We had to return home for the lawyer’s meeting. Did you want to ask Dad if he could check it out? Okay, thanks, Mom. We’re just having breakfast and heading over to see the lawyer after that.”

  She got off the phone and fixed the coffee and orange tea.

  Then Sarandon served the omelets.

  “You’re a really good cook.”

  “We had to fend for ourselves after our mom died and my dad gave up on raising us. Now I think I know why. He was off seeing Ritka but trying to keep it secret. Eric, my oldest brother, learned how to cook from several of the women in the pack. Bertha Hastings runs the bed-and-breakfast in town, and she taught him how to make all kinds of different meals. He wasn’t about to be our full-time mother, so he taught us how to cook too and we took turns making meals. We learned to do the laundry, yard work, and everything else we needed to do so our pack members wouldn’t feel obligated to come by to see us all the time.”

  “So you lived by yourselves in your home?”

  “Yeah. It worked out fine. As long as we didn’t roughhouse and end up injuring one another.”

  “Did you?”

  “Sure. Four boys? What do you expect.”

  She smiled and set the table.

  When they sat down to eat, he hoped he hadn’t left any shell fragments in the eggs. Sure way to ruin her impression of his cooking.

  “These are delicious.”

  “Thanks. I make a great pot roast too.”

  “Hmm, sounds heavenly.” She forked up some more eggs. “Okay, so after we go to the hearing later this afternoon, what’s next on the agenda? We’ve been focused on clearing your name, but after that’s done?”

  “We’re going after this guy. Or the two guys. We need to locate both Alex and Burt Dreyfus.” Sarandon’s phone rang, and he saw it was his brother CJ. “Yeah, CJ? I’m putting this on speaker so Jenna will hear what’s going on too.”

  “Stanton sent me a picture of Burt Dreyfus, and I ran it over to show to Sam, Silva, Lelandi, and Eric. Sending it to you now. Was this the guy you saw at the tavern?”

  Sarandon looked at the photo. “Yeah, looks like him. What did everyone else say about him?”

  “They all confirmed it was him,” CJ said.

  “What about the dates he was missing that Stanton was angry about?”

  “He was gone about the time the suspect cut his GPS ankle monitor off.”

  “He could have helped the suspect leave Colorado Springs,” Sarandon said, carrying his empty plate into the kitchen.

  “He could have. I’m interviewing Burt this afternoon. They’re filming a show right now.”

  “At the ski lodge?”

  “No, another location. I’m on my way there now.”

  “Okay. Someone’s been running as a wolf here, so if Burt has been in Silver Town all this time, it’s not him. But the wolf is driving Burt’s SUV.” Unless the wolf had been here in the middle of the night, but then he probably wouldn’t have made it back to Silver Town in time for the filming. “Where are they filming?”

  “In Colorado Springs, so he is in your area.”

  “All right. Then he’s definitely a possibility. Where are they exactly?”

  “They’re at a fast-food hamburger place, one of the major chains. An employee fatally shot her manager some years back, and strange happenings continue to occur there. Chairs put on top of tables are mysteriously placed back on the floor when the cleanup crew isn’t there, according to employees. Some have seen a ghostly woman in the kitchen and other things moved around that no one can explain. Stanton said he wants to do shows on a dozen places in the Colorado Springs area—two haunted high schools, a hotel, an old cowboy night club, tunnels, a school for the deaf and blind, just all kinds of places. Which is good, because that means the ghost hunters won’t be here sensationalizing any of our haunted spots for a while.”

  “That’s good. We’re not sure about the wolf who was near Jenna’s house. Logan, Jenna’s dad, is trying to track him down. We lost his scent at a river and had to stop tracking him because I have a meeting with the lawyer this morning. The wolf has to be a shifter if he’s trying to hide his scent.”

  “Yeah, sounds like you’re right. You’re only about fifteen minutes from Colorado Springs, correct?” CJ asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m going to try to get to Colorado Springs early. I left Silver Town at three this morning.”

  “Jenna’s family got me the lawyer, so we’ll be in town for that first thing,” Sarandon said, helping Jenna put the food away, though she kept waving him away so he could talk freely with his brother.

  Then they headed out to the car.

  “That doesn’t sound good,” CJ said.

  “He’s a great wolf lawyer, and he’s only going to be there in case I run into trouble. We have the hearing this afternoon too. I’ll let you know how it all goes.”

  “Okay. Let’s get together once I get in. I won’t be able to interview Burt until this evening now. I’m trying to track down his family to see if they belong to a pack. Stanton says he has no idea if Burt belongs to one.”

  “He doesn’t even know where Burt’s from?” Sarandon couldn’t believe it.

  “You know Stanton. Prima donna. He’s only interested in himself.”

  Why wasn’t Sarandon surprised?

  “I’ve told Stanton not to tell Burt I need to talk with him or anything about this business. I don’t want him running if he’s involved,” CJ said.

  “Okay, sounds like a good plan. Talk to you later, CJ. And thanks.”

  “You’ve got a whole pack here waiting to hear the results. So let me know soonest.”

  “Will do.”

  When Sarandon ended the call, Jenna asked him, “Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your pack? Like everything you do or say is being monito
red? Or that you have to keep them posted at all times?”

  He laughed. “I’ve grown up with it, so it feels right. I guess for an outsider it would seem that way. If anyone’s in trouble, everyone’s there to help out.”

  “How are you feeling about seeing the lawyer and the hearing?”

  “Ready to get all of it over with.”

  Chapter 13

  While Sarandon was in the preliminary court hearing, Jenna waited outside the courtroom, praying everything would go well for him. Jeb, the lawyer, had gone with him, and she knew Sarandon was in good hands. She wished they’d learned about the fingerprint results though.

  Jenna began searching Google on her phone for anyone named Dreyfus who lived in the area. She found a few who lived within an hour’s radius of Colorado Springs. She called several of the numbers, pretending she was trying to locate a Burt Dreyfus who had won some contest money, stating this was the phone number he had given, but so far, no one knew of a Burt in the family tree.

  “Are you sure the name you’re looking for isn’t Bernard?” one elderly woman asked. “I’m sure Bernie must have won it. Maybe he used his Burt nickname.”

  Burt? “I thought Bernie was his nickname.”

  “Uh, well, he goes by both.”

  “How old is he?”

  “Oh, he had to give his birth date?”

  “Yes.” Jenna knew the man they wanted was about thirty, and she was certain it wasn’t anyone named Bernard or Bernie.

  “June 15, 1943.”

  “Sorry. That’s not it.”

  “Are you sure? Maybe he gave the wrong birth date. He’s always doing that.”

  Jenna smiled. “No. Sorry. Thanks for your time.”

  “But—”

  Jenna ended the call and checked with the next Dreyfus listed, this one in Cañon City, thirty-five miles from Colorado Springs. Lots of woods for running as a wolf out there too.

  “Hello, I’m calling from Johnson and Johnson Contest Winners, looking for a Burt Dreyfus. Is he home?”

  “The younger or the older?”

  Yes! Jenna’s heart was pounding with excitement at possibly finding the right family. She quickly said, “The form doesn’t ask for a birth date, but he had to share a photo for verification purposes, and he looks like he’s about thirty.”

  “Okay, well, my son works for a TV personality, and he’s on an important assignment. I can’t tell you what it is about exactly, but he even did a program at the St. Cloud Hotel here in Cañon City. It’s haunted, you know. I don’t know why he would have entered a contest. Then again, he does a lot of things I don’t know about. I’m surprised he gave our number and not his own cell number.”

  “I wouldn’t know. Do you have his cell number so I can get ahold of him?”

  “Sure.”

  The woman gave it to Jenna, and then they ended the call. Jenna was so excited that she wanted to burst into the hearing and tell Sarandon she’d found where Burt’s parents lived. If Alex was part of the family’s wolf pack, maybe they could discover where he was now.

  The door to the room where the hearing was being held opened and Jenna stiffened, holding her breath while she waited to see Sarandon emerge. She prayed he’d look ecstatic or at least relieved.

  Jeb was on his phone as he left the court hearing but ended his call. He came to stand beside her and patted her on the back, smiling. “That was a call from the police. Sarandon’s fingerprints came back and are definitely not the same as the suspect’s they had in custody.”

  Sarandon came out of the hearing and smiled broadly at Jenna. Then he scooped her up in his arms and swung her around, stopping only to lean down and kiss her.

  She hadn’t expected his exuberance to go this far, not in the courthouse, but she totally understood it and was glad he showed it. She was over the moon for him. She kissed him right back and heard some chuckles as people passed them in the hall. Sarandon set her on her feet, put his arm around her shoulders, keeping her close, and shook Jeb’s hand. “Thanks for everything.”

  “You were innocent, Sarandon. You had enough verified witness statements, all from credible witnesses, and your fingerprints proved you were not the same man. You did it all on your own. I’m glad to take the credit. And the payment for my services.”

  Sarandon smiled at him. “I hope I never have to have a lawyer in the future, but if I need one, I’ll give you a call.”

  After they said their goodbyes, Jenna gave Sarandon the good news about locating Burt Dreyfus’s parents. “They may know where Alex and Burt live.”

  “That’s great news. We need to speak with them in person.”

  “When is your brother going to see us?”

  “I’m here,” CJ said, stalking down the hall. “Sorry I didn’t make it any sooner than this.” He eyed the way Sarandon had his arm around Jenna’s shoulders.

  “I’m cleared of any wrongdoing,” Sarandon said, smiling.

  “Hot damn!”

  “And Jenna found Burt Dreyfus’s family’s home. Should we all go out there and pay them a visit?” Sarandon asked.

  “Hell yeah.” CJ was wearing his deputy sheriff uniform, probably to impress Burt with how serious this was when CJ interviewed him.

  Jenna was impressed.

  “Do you have enough time to go with us to Cañon City and then return for your interview with Burt?” Sarandon asked his brother.

  “Yeah, and dinner with you before we head back. That way, you don’t have to fly back,” CJ said. “You can ride back home with me when we’re ready to leave.”

  Jenna had forgotten that part of the plan—that Sarandon would fly home when he was done here. She really didn’t want to see him go. Besides, he’d said he would help her track down the suspect. Alex might still be in the area. She was about to say so but then held her tongue. It was up to Sarandon to tell CJ what he was going to do. Stay or leave. She sure hoped he’d want to stay.

  When had she started wanting a partner to help her recover fugitives? When Sarandon thwarted her from taking him in and took her hostage instead. She smiled.

  “I promised Jenna I’d help her find the suspect and turn him in. Besides, I have to make her pot roast. Thanks for the offer.”

  She took a relieved breath, and Sarandon rubbed her shoulder, giving her a smug smile. He knew she wanted him to help her on this.

  “Pot roast?” CJ asked. “You’re staying with her?”

  “Yeah. Her parents live right next door, so she’s safe.”

  CJ smiled a little at that. “You didn’t tell me you were getting serious.”

  “I’m surprised you couldn’t have guessed. Besides, it was all on the condition that I cleared my name first.”

  Still smiling, CJ just shook his head.

  “So, if Burt is here, why was he following us?” Sarandon asked.

  “Maybe he wasn’t. The Wernicke brothers left Silver Town about the same time you did to get here for their show. Maybe he was just headed in the same direction around the same time and seemed to be following you. The route you took was the fastest to reach Colorado Springs.”

  “Okay, that’s plausible. But he returned to the town we stopped in. And what about the wolf we smelled in Jenna’s family’s territory? He was driving Burt’s SUV. We didn’t know the wolf’s scent, but the St. Jameses don’t usually have unknown wolves running in the area. The wolf was brown. Can you ask Stanton if he’s ever seen Burt as a wolf?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine. I can ask his boss if he’s ever seen him as a wolf. I thought you’d seen Burt before.”

  “I’ve seen him twice, but I’ve never been close enough to catalog his scent,” Sarandon said.

  “Okay. So it could have been him. Or Alex, for that matter. Or anyone else. A real wolf, even.”

  “Neither were real wolves. The one was driv
ing the black SUV, and the other tried to hide where he was going by swimming in the river.”

  Jenna got a call from her mom and felt bad she hadn’t called her right away to let her know how the hearing went. “Sarandon’s name has been cleared, and we—”

  “Mate him.”

  Jenna glanced at Sarandon as they walked outside the courthouse with CJ. “We’re officially courting each other. He’s making me pot roast for tomorrow. We’re on our way to check out a man’s family who might be with a pack that the suspect was staying with. Or raised by.”

  “Oh, that’s good news. We want you to come over for supper again, if you’d like to.”

  “Sarandon’s brother CJ is here. He’s a deputy sheriff in Silver Town, and he’s going with us to Cañon City to check out the lead we have. Sarandon and his brother might have plans for tonight.”

  “Tell them they’re coming over for supper. Dad is grilling steaks.”

  “Okay.” Jenna told the brothers, “My mother has invited you both over for steaks on the grill. Dad’s cooking, if that’s all right with you.”

  “We’ll be there,” Sarandon said. “It has to be after CJ interviews another person of interest.”

  “Did you hear that, Mom?”

  “I sure did. We’ll wait to hear what time that will be. I’m so glad for Sarandon too. I’ll tell the rest of the family.”

  “Thanks, Mom. Oh, and did Dad locate the wolf’s trail?”

  “Oh, yes, well, it led to a dirt road and then it was gone. Tire tracks were in the dirt next to the road.”

  “So, it was a shifter, like we figured.”

  “Yes. The wolf is no one we know.”

  “Okay, see you later.” They ended the call.

  “I’d say we should drive just my vehicle, but if I have to take someone into custody, it would be better to have two cars,” CJ said.

  “I agree. Is having supper with Jenna’s family all right with you?” Sarandon asked, even though Jenna had already ended the call with her mother.

  “Steaks? When have you ever known me to turn down grilled steaks?”

  Sarandon smiled. “Thanks.”