Hunt Mates

by Mary Hughes

  Emma stared. It did have a hole in it—because the battery was missing.

  “Oh.” A totally inappropriate laugh rose in Emma’s throat. She kept it down, but she could feel her face get red. “Well, um…I’ll just go get someone to help you.” She raised the gate and spun out—only to nearly run into an impressive chest covered by yards of sweater vest.

  Gabriel Light.

  He’d heard the whole exchange.

  Emma wanted to melt into a puddle of embarrassment. So much for impressing him. “Oh, Dr. Light. I’m glad you’re here. This customer needs some laptop help.” She raised her gaze.

  “I see.” His blue-green eyes twinkled behind his glasses. Laughing at her—or with her? He turned to the customer with graceful aplomb. “Ma’am, I’m Gabriel Light. We’re here to help.”

  Nothing Emma and Brant hadn’t done, but coming from Dr. Light, the phrases seemed almost magical. The customer’s red face ebbed and, for the first time, she smiled.

  “What Brant and Emma were about to say is that you need a battery to power your laptop. Mr. Crandall, check in the back for part number…” He named a series of letters and numbers. Seeing Brant just standing there, Emma quick reached over the counter, grabbed pencil and paper, and jotted the part number down.

  When she raised her gaze, Dr. Light was smiling at her. “Ms. Singer, if you could help him?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Thank you.”

  Just then Carol swept up. “Dr. Light, the man from the insurance company is here.”

  “Ah, the claims adjuster. That was quick. Please take him to my office, and I’ll meet him as soon as I’m done here.”

  * * *

  After getting the battery and seeing off a now-satisfied customer, Emma ducked back behind the wall separating the public and private section of Base.

  Several hours later, she was quietly working when she heard a voice.

  “I’m worried, Pan,” Carol said from the other side of the wall. “I don’t know what happened. The Wrapphone was here last night when I went home. Maybe it just got moved?”

  “Dr. Light and I searched the whole store. It’s definitely gone.”

  The bass voice was roughened by a growl. It reminded Emma of the tall, black-haired man whose panther’s grace had been interesting—until Dr. Light’s entrance had wiped it, and everything else, from her mind.

  “And you saw the detective,” the man called Pan continued. “He’s treating it like a crime scene.”

  “He didn’t say it was stolen.”

  “He won’t give anything away until he’s come to his conclusions.”

  “Maybe. But he keeps glaring at me. Like he suspects me. It makes me nervous.”

  “Don’t worry. If he accuses you, Dr. Light’ll set him straight.”

  A brief silence. Then, sounding tentative, Carol said, “What did you think of the insurance adjuster?”

  “Dickwad,” Pan growled.

  Carol laughed, but it sounded a little nervous. “He seems to think one of us took the phone.”

  Emma’s hands froze on the keyboard.

  “Yeah, well, it makes unfortunate sense,” Pan said. “The building is locked after hours, and there’s no indication of a break-in.”

  “But an employee theft? It’s ridiculous. None of the staff that’s been here for any time at all would do that to Dr. Light.”

  “They all know not to cross him,” Pan said.

  “Or you.” Carol’s voice held a shudder. “There’s a reason you’re first assistant manager. Your chewings-out are legendary.” Another silence, extremely uncomfortable for Emma. “But if not one of the permanent staff, then…”

  “Yeah,” Pan growled. “It has to be one of the new hires.”

  All the feeling left Emma’s limbs. Her hands dropped to either side of the keyboard, suddenly too heavy to move.

  Tentatively, Carol said, “Brant?”

  “The kid?” Pan snorted. “He’s not smart enough. Even if he managed to unlock the Wrapphone from the display, he’d be standing out in the middle of the store with the thing.”

  “But that leaves…”

  Carol left the name unsaid, but Emma knew the answer.

  That left her.

  Oh, why had this store been the test market? If the phone had already been a commodity item, several billion sold, instead of one of a kind, she wouldn’t be in danger of worse than losing her job.

  Being declared a criminal. She shuddered.

  And then her phone buzzed. Premonition making her heart sink, she took it out.

  New text.

  —Pls come to my office. GL—

  Chapter Five

  Emma stood in front of Dr. Light’s closed office door, nerving herself to knock. Less than two weeks ago, when she interviewed with Carol Palmer, this door had stood open, a doorway representing a new opportunity.

  Now she was suspected of a crime and the door was closed. She feared the symbolism was all too plain.

  She raised her fist. Before she could knock, the door suddenly flew open to a broad, heaving chest barely confined by its polo and sweater vest.

  Her startled gaze flew up…and up. At over a foot taller than her, standing so very close, Gabriel Light was a big man indeed. From his white nostrils and narrow eyes behind his glasses, the big man was also an angry man.

  Angry he’d gone to so much trouble to get that phone here, only to have it stolen?

  Probably angriest at her, as the most likely thief.

  “Ms. Singer. Please come in.” His tone, in contrast to his tense frame, was polite. So he was angry, but controlling it well. Already he was a step above most of the wolves in her pack. He moved back, waving her inside.

  She cleared her throat as she crossed the threshold. “Please, call me Emma.”

  “Emma.” One corner of his mouth quirked, as if that made him smile despite his anger. Then the grim line of his lips was back. “This is Mr. Omniss.” He stabbed a hand in the direction of a fussy little man perched in the big chair behind the desk. “He’s with the company insuring the Wrapphone.”

  Or maybe her boss’s rage was directed at the insurance adjuster who was in Dr. Light’s chair, lording it over his office. She knew alpha wolves who would have ripped off Omniss’s head for such an affront.

  “Emma Singer.” The man didn’t even bother looking at her. He ticked a box on the sheet of paper before him with an accusatory scratch. “You just started last week. How convenient.” Now he did flick up a pointed glance to match the sneer in his words. “Sit.” He pointed his pen at the guest seat, which was squared with the big desk like an electric chair.

  She quailed.

  “Please sit, Emma.” Dr. Light sliced Omniss a rebuking glare then gently pulled the chair out for her, turning it slightly away from the adjuster, as if trying to spare her having to confront the man directly. As she eased onto the cushion, he touched her shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry. We’re simply interviewing all the employees to see if they remember anything.”

  She perched on the chair with a grateful smile, relaxing. He smiled gently back.

  Then he spoiled it by starting to pace. He was really worried. She knotted her hands in her lap. Burped in her nervousness. A smell like rancid beef hit her.

  Darn. She knew she shouldn’t have had that leftover burger for breakfast.

  “I bet you remember something, Emma.” Omniss bared teeth at her, leaning threateningly toward her. “I bet you remember everything.”

  The aggressive question threw her. Any rancid beef scent flew from her head. “I-I don’t know what you mean—”

  “Omniss, watch your tone.” Dr. Light stopped abruptly, arms crossed over his chest, and hit the insurance man with such a narrow stare, Emma was surprised Omniss didn’t bleed. “That’s my employee you’re talking to.”

  “That’s my prime suspect.”

  Emma’s heart leaped into her throat. “I didn’t take the phone.”

  �
��So you say. But you have an employee keyfob, don’t you? You had access—that’s means and opportunity, two of the detective’s golden trinity. And Carol mentioned you made no secret of needing this job, which means you’re strapped for cash.” His eyes glittered, small and mean and triumphant. “So you had motive—”

  “That’s enough.” A single long-legged step brought Dr. Light to stand beside her. Wedging himself as a shield between her and Omniss, he leaned knuckles on the desk and scowled at the adjuster.

  His narrow eyes were joined by a clenched jaw, white knuckles, and a low, thrumming growl, signaling such clear and present danger that Emma’s iota wolf tucked tail. Even Omniss flinched.

  Barely heard through his clenched jaw, Dr. Light ripped out, “You will treat my employees with respect or you will leave. Am I clear?”

  “Clear,” the adjuster whispered.

  “Good.”

  The moment stretched, as if Dr. Light was barely keeping himself from tearing the man limb from limb.

  Emma cleared her throat tentatively. “The phone was secure in its display yesterday. I didn’t look at it this morning, but I was working one aisle over from a little after seven until Dr. Light made his speech, and I didn’t smel…” She caught herself barely in time. Smelling the thief wouldn’t make sense to mundanes. “I didn’t see or hear anyone.”

  Dr. Light released his clenched jaw, lifted his fists from the desk, and stepped back. But he didn’t release the fists as he folded his arms over his chest, for once not bothering to hide his height or strong, muscled body. “I gave a short address half an hour before the doors opened at nine.”

  The insurance adjuster glanced at him, then met her gaze. “So you’d have us believe the thief struck either before seven this morning or after eight thirty.” His rolled his eyes.

  “Yes, sir. I’d have at least heard him or her snap the cable.” Emma said.

  “The cable wasn’t broken,” the man said sharply.

  Emma’s cheeks heated. She hadn’t considered that there might be more evidence than the timing pointing to an employee. But then she realized, “Unlocked? But that proves it wasn’t me. I’m a trainee. I don’t have a security unlocker—”

  “You have access to them, don’t you?”

  There was one in every sales station drawer or cabinet. “All employees do,” she mumbled. She wanted to sink into the chair and disappear.

  “We’re done here.” Dr. Light strode to the door and threw it open. “Thank you for coming, Emma. Could you send Brant in next?”

  “Yes, sir.” She got unsteadily to her feet. “I’ll go get him.” She managed to stumble to the door.

  As she passed him, he bent and asked softly, “Are you okay?”

  * * *

  Are you okay?

  No. And I haven’t been for a long, long time.

  At one time Emma had been better than okay. She’d been the beloved daughter of a doting father. Sure, she had an older brother who called her “Mouseturd” and a mother who mostly ignored her, and her parents ritual mating meant they weren’t soul mates. But Emma’s father was a favored lieutenant in the pack, and as status meant everything to Emma’s mother, they were reasonably happy.

  Then Dickie Bloodfang killed their alpha, took over their pack, and ritually slaughtered all the old alpha’s lieutenants. Including Emma’s father.

  Leaving Emma’s family lowest of the low. Vulnerable.

  Emma’s mother tried to raise their status by bedding Dickie’s brother. Emma, misunderstanding, interfered spectacularly, nearly killing Dickie’s brother. Emma’s mother immediately moved the family out of state, to her birth-pack.

  But ever after, Emma was treated differently. She’d already been her mom’s least-favored child of the family. Now she was barely tolerated. Living in a strange town, running with a strange pack, didn’t help her sense of alienation.

  She learned to say “I’m fine” because nobody cared if she wasn’t. She learned to always be helpful because that was the only time she wasn’t hated.

  She learned to win approval through actions. It wasn’t love, but it was the next best thing—and the only way she ever felt wanted.

  * * *

  Are you okay?

  “I’m fine.” The words came out automatically. She was anything but fine.

  Dr. Light hesitated. “All right. Send Brant.”

  As she left, he closed the door firmly behind her. She felt it like a hit between her shoulder blades.

  Carol met Emma coming out of the office. The assistant manager’s eyes were wide and sparkling.

  “Wow. You must’ve really pissed that prissy little man off.”

  Emma’s shoulders hunched. “I didn’t mean to. But he thought I was the thief—without any proof. How did you know?”

  “I heard Dr. Light all the way in the break room. That was his ‘Nobody messes with my employees’ voice.” Carol smiled.

  His employees. It made Emma feel slightly better. Sure, she wasn’t loved, but as one of Gabriel Light’s employees, he’d protect her. After the spectacular mess she’d made of her family, she felt that was better than she deserved.

  Emma tagged Brant, making sure the teen was on his way to the back office before she returned to the Techie Titan Base. She picked up the computer setup order she’d been working on, but after a few half-hearted pokes, she leaned back with a sigh. The insurance adjuster unfortunately had a point. Means, motive, and opportunity shone a spotlight squarely on her.

  So she was under suspicion—prime suspect, really. She desperately didn’t want to go to prison, or lose this job. Strangely, almost as important, she didn’t want to disappoint Dr. Light.

  She knew she wasn’t the thief, but the insurance investigator was convinced it was her, and he might convince everyone else. What could she do?

  Well, it was obvious. Find the thief herself.

  Her whole being perked up at the thought. She could clear her name by doing her own investigation. Resolutely, she pushed the laptop away and got to her feet.

  The more she thought about it, the better she liked it. She had the advantage over the police and the insurance adjuster because she knew she was innocent. Heck, she’d probably do a better job because she could use her wolf.

  She trotted to the area where the Wrapphone had been on display, in the prominent cutout area at the head of a double-wide aisle.

  The display table was fenced off by four posts joined by yellow crime scene tape. A crew of men and women in paper booties and hoods swarmed the area with measuring tapes and fingerprint brushes and cameras.

  She hesitated. Investigating now would attract unwanted attention.

  She’d have to wait until after they’d gone.

  Actually, if she wanted to make sure she was undisturbed and could use her full wolf senses, she’d have to wait until after the store was closed and all the employees were gone.

  Okay, but wouldn’t hiding out look suspicious?

  Then she remembered the Wrapphone had already been stolen and she was the prime suspect. How could she get in hotter water than that?

  She returned to Base and finished setting up the computer, chafing inside as she waited for closing. After working her shift, she went out to pick up some dinner. The Choice Buy was in a strip-mall park, and there were plenty of options, from a burger joint to a sandwich shop to her favorite coffee bar. Tonight she grabbed a quick cheeseburger, returning with her supper to the Choice Buy employee lunch room. She ate her burger and slurped her chocolate shake, pretending to read an ebook but really she was just chafing some more.

  As the last customer left, she went to hide in the ladies’ room. While Carol did her final sweep, Emma sat on the tank in the restroom, feeling foolish and excited and anxious and determined, until the assistant manager clicked onto the store intercom with the all-call. “Anyone still in the building, please let me know…” Emma counted slowly to sixty five times, to give the assistant manager time to set the store alarm. Then
she crept out of the stall and into the store proper, worried momentarily that she’d trip some internal alarm.

  All was still.

  A little more confident but still ultra alert, she trotted toward the main phone display area.

  Though the police investigators had finished dusting for prints and taking photographs long ago, she still smelled powder in the air. And the tape was still up.

  Crime Scene—Do Not Cross.

  She hesitated. Suddenly she realized if she went into the cordoned-off square, she’d look like she was returning to the scene of the crime to gloat—or get rid of evidence.

  No, all the evidence had already been collected. Besides, she had to get closer if she wanted to sort out the different scents.

  Right. Doing this.

  Ducking under the tape, she took in the table display. Everything looked normal except for the empty phone stand. Sure enough, the anti-theft cable dangled, uncut, pointing very firmly to an inside job.

  Time to use her wolf nose to scent the area. She took a delicate sniff. Traces of scent intrigued her, none strong enough to identify, although she caught the edges of what might have been adolescent male, and a touch of a rancid beef scent, although that could have been her dinner.

  I need more information.

  She sucked in a deep breath—got a noseful of fingerprint powder and sneezed.

  A deep voice came from behind her.

  “Bless you.”

  Chapter Six

  Heart leaping into her throat, Emma jerked around.

  Her big boss stood there on the other side of the tape, a slight smile on his handsome face.

  “Oh! Dr. Light. I was just…I, er…” Her brain fogged with an odd combination of embarrassment and excitement. Her tongue felt like it belonged to someone else. Her wolf was happily wagging its tail.

  “Investigating? Me too.” He lifted one leg and stepped easily over the tape barrier. “I don’t trust that Omniss to get it right.”

  She blinked at him. Besides the casual display of leg strength that made her wolf wag its tail harder, he’d not only understood what she was doing, not only approved, he was doing it too?