Read Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance Online
Authors: Lorraine Kennedy
light. The surrounding aspen grove lay in murky darkness,
giving off a surreal sense of foreboding.
With a sigh brought on by fatigue, Laura retrieved her
luggage and carried it to the front door. She found it secured
with an old, rusty padlock. Laura fumbled with the key hoping
it would indeed open the lock. Fortunately, the lock had been
opened recently and turned with no problem. When the
creaking door swung open, Laura was met by thick darkness.
Laura blindly made her way through the room until coming
to a lamp. She switched it on and the room was filled with the
dim glow of false light. The living room was sparsely
furnished, but what furnishing there was looked antique. A
large stone fireplace took up one whole wall, but since it was
summer, she figured she wouldn't have need of it during her
stay.
Satisfied that her accommodations were adequate, Laura
retrieved her bags from the porch where she'd left them
before entering. After locating the bedroom she began to
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Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
unpack. Pulling open the top drawer she was startled to see
that it was full of men's underclothes. Puzzled, she checked
the rest of the drawers and found that they all contained
clothes.
Laura checked the cabinet as well, and was not surprised
when she found clothes hanging in it too. Judging from their
size, she guessed that the clothes were Mitchell's.
Why had he left without his clothes?
Had he ever left
The unbidden thought crept into her head, filling her with
apprehension. Laura was becoming queasier about this
Beaver Creek job by the minute. Somewhere out in the
darkness, a wolf howled and a tingling sensation crawled
across her skin.
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Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
As soon as she walked through the door, Laura opened all
the windows, hoping to air out the musty odor that plagued
the office. She took several bottles of cleaning agents from a
paper sack and went to work.
It was just before lunch when Jessup finally made his
appearance. He was covered from head to toe in Wyoming
dust when he came through the door.
"Hello." Laura climbed down from the stool she had been
standing on while cleaning the windows.
He mumbled something totally inaudible as he walked
through the office and down the hall to the restroom. Laura
heard the water running along with a few loud curses.
Jessup was drying his face with a small hand towel when
he came back into the office. Mindless of Laura's work, he
tossed the wet towel onto his freshly cleaned desk.
Jessup's expression was grim when he finally spoke to her.
"Had two more men run off last night."
"What do you mean?"
"They're just gone. They didn't show up this morning and
now we're short again."
"Hmm." Laura bit at her bottom lip as she contemplated
the problem.
"You'll be needing to get us some more men." Jessup
plopped into the chair behind his desk.
"I'll get on it right after lunch."
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Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
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"Just make sure you get someone here. I don't intend to
spend all day tomorrow in the field." A slight smile brightened
his weary face. "It's days like today that let a body know
when they have made it over the hill."
Laura returned his smile and nodded. Abruptly her
dilemma the night before jumped into her thoughts. "Why
would Mitchell leave all his clothes behind?"
Jessup was clearly startled by her question. "I don't know.
Why do you ask?"
"I'm renting the cabin that he occupied while he was here,
and last night when I went to unpack, I found all his clothes
still there. It's as if he never left."
Jessup leaned back in his chair and stared out the window,
mulling over what she had just told him. "Maybe it's time we
go to the police?" His grim mood was evident in his voice.
"What do you think could have happened to him?" Laura's
eyes mirrored her nervousness.
"Don't know, but I've had a gut feeling all along that Dan
wasn't doing things on the straight and narrow with this deal.
It's possible he may have had to get out in a hurry."
Laura smiled, attempting to reassure herself as much as
him. "I'll make a trip to
Acton to check on the temp services ... if you'll be kind
enough to have lunch with me in that wonderful little saloon
in Brantic City." Laura didn't relish her time alone as of late
and having Jessup's company for a while would be pleasantly
refreshing.
The duo occupied a corner table in the dimly lit saloon.
Laura savored each bite of the barbequed meat and potato
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Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
salad. She'd ordered the house special and was glad that she
did. Using a paper napkin, Laura wiped away a trace of sauce
from her mouth and resisted the impulse to order more.
She let out a deep sigh of regret, but it had been too easy
to overindulge in the last few weeks.
"Girl, you really must have been hungry," Jessup
commented.
Laura smiled. "My appetite has gotten out of hand lately. It
must be all the fresh air here."
"That ... and hard work will do it to you." He shoved the
last bite of salad into his mouth.
The brassy sound of a bell alerted them of someone
entering the building. Laura's breath caught in her throat
when her eyes fell on the man who came through the door.
His mere presence filled the room with some form of vibrant
power—at least that is what Laura's senses were picking up.
Though he was nowhere near their table, she felt
overwhelmed by his nearness. Justin removed his mirrored
glasses and seemingly took in everything with scarcely a
glance. His eyes rested on Laura for only a fraction of a
second. It was the only sign he gave of recognition.
In that short span of time, Laura felt those odd colored
eyes pull at something buried deep inside her. They were the
darkest eyes she had ever seen, but with a strange golden
sheen in them that made them appear to radiate light.
Justin took a seat at the bar and it was obvious that his
presence set the Nugget's patrons on edge. A few people got
up and left, casting nervous glances over their shoulders. This
didn't seem to faze Justin in the least.
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Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
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As she served him a beer, Olivia Lambert's face was set in
an emotionless mask. It was only her eyes that darted about
nervously.
Justin placed some money on the bar. Picking up his glass,
he turned around, his eyes coming to rest on Laura. A hint of
a smile played on his lips as he made his way to where she
and her boss were seated.
Justin pulled up a chair next to Laura and flashed her one
of his dazzling smiles. Jessup was obviously curious, but he
nodded politely to the stranger who sat at their table.
"So, Miss Ellison, did you take my advice and get your
vehicle repaired?" His exotic eyes seemed to be able to pull
her right into them.
"No ... ah ... I haven't gotten a chance yet, but I'm sure I'll
get around to it soon," Laura stammered, a little upset that
she found it impossible to muster as much nonchalance as he
appeared to possess.
The room felt as if it was charged with energy that only
she could feel. Laura wondered what it was about some guys
that could take a normally assertive woman, and turn her to
jelly. But that was not quite true. Scanning her memory,
Laura could not come up with a time that a man had ever
affected her in this way.
Justin drained his glass and set it on the table in front of
him. The smile he gave
Laura bordered on seductive.
"I sure hope so. I might not be there to rescue you next
time." He rose from the chair and walked to the door. Turning
back in Laura's direction, he nodded and then was gone.
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Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
Jessup's gaze was full of questions, but all he said was,
"How about a drink before we leave?"
Laura nodded.
Jessup motioned to get Mrs. Lambert's attention. "Two
beers," he told her.
The woman brought two frosty mugs of beer to the table.
She was a little rougher with Laura's when setting it down.
Laura was not sure if it was just fancy that made it seem as if
the woman's eyes contained a little more hostility than what
they had a few moments before.
"How do you know Justin?" The woman's eyes narrowed on
Laura.
"I had some mechanical problems yesterday and he was
kind enough to help me." Laura thought the woman's
behavior was getting stranger by the moment.
Olivia's eyes widened as if the very idea shocked her. "He
did, huh?" She became quiet, as if she needed to think about
what Laura had just told her. "Well ... in any case, I'd steer
clear of him if I were you."
"Why's that?"
It appeared as if Mrs. Lambert wanted to tell her
something of some importance but changed her mind. "He's
just no good, that's all," she muttered instead.
Once they were back out in the bright midday sun, the
past few moments felt almost like a dream. Laura took a deep
breath hoping it would help to clear her head.
Jessup patted Laura on the back. "I wouldn't pay any mind
to her. She's probably just crazy. Most folks around here
seem to have a few screws loose."
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Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
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"I never noticed." Laura smiled.
Under different circumstances, Laura might have found it
enjoyable to be having a conversation with such an attractive
man, however, at the moment she found herself becoming
very angry.
"Sheriff, we have two people who have disappeared from
the same area at about the same time. I don't know about
you, but I find that a little strange. Isn't it about time that the
Sheriff's Department looked into this?"
His baby-blue eyes were full of skepticism. "If you will file
a missing person's report, we will do what we can. But really
Miss Ellison, the only problem there seems to be is that he is
a little late showing up at your corporate office. I really think
you might be jumping the gun a little," he winked at her.
Paul Moss often used his blond good looks and charming
smile to disarm suspects and witnesses alike, but it was not
working on this hellcat.
Laura glared at him. "Then explain to me Sheriff, why he
would leave all his personal belongings and skip out on the
rent he still owed for the cabin he was staying in? Not to
mention, the Chief of the Beaver Creek people is missing as
well."
Paul appeared a little agitated but he attempted another
smile. "Maybe your employee plans to come back. Did that
thought even cross your mind?" He was becoming very
impatient and wishing he could end this interview.
He thought about the fresh apple pie and coffee that
awaited him at the Cougar
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Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
by Lorraine Kennedy
Inn, and just maybe he could manage a few moments to
get to know that cute little waitress who just started work.
The thought brought a smile to Paul's lips.
Fire blazed in Laura's eyes. "Do you find something
amusing?" Her voice was like ice water, bringing him back to
the present. "I know where you are staying, Miss Ellison. I'll
be in touch as soon as I have any information." Paul stood,
letting her know that their meeting was at an end.
Lengthening shadows made the thick forest appear even
more foreboding than it already did. The further the road took
her into the mountains, the higher her tension mounted. She
had been under the impression that Beaver Creek was not
far, but maybe she had been wrong.
Her trip into Acton had produced no results. The
employment service had been as uncooperative as the sheriff
had been. They had politely told her that they would be
unable to place her with any employees because no one
wished to work for Duccini. The man whom she had talked
with had not put it in quite those words, but close.
Cresting a hilltop, Laura brought the Bronco to a stop.
Leaving the engine running she got out and scanned the area
for any sign of Beaver Creek. The road curved sharply to the
right, past a small cemetery that was enclosed by a very old
wrought-iron fence.
Sighing, she got back into the vehicle and continued until
reaching the cemetery. From here the road forked away from
the one she had been traveling, but there were no road signs.
The road veered off into the midst of thick pines that