The Patient Wolf (Wicked Urban Fantasy #1) (14 page)

Chapter 22

Ana shook her
head in denial. “Yes, the coincidences are mounting up. But it’s still not enough. How do you know about Halworth’s watch being missing, also? And how do you know the watch Alexander wears is Jason’s? Okay, it’s not the most common watch, but still, I’m sure a lot of them were sold. Other people must own that same model watch.”

“I was one of the officers questioning people at the park the morning Halworth’s body was found,” Shannon said. Ana could tell the memory bothered her. She stood up and began to pace the floor. “Fontaine was there watching the scene; I was the officer who interviewed him. He told me he was just jogging by and stopped to see what was happening. That’s when I saw the watch he was wearing. I knew it was Jason’s. It had a scratch on the glass in the exact same spot where Jason’s watch had been scratched. I swear, I almost lost it right there. I almost tore it off his wrist.”

Chris stood up and put his arms around his sister to comfort her. “When she came home and told me about the watch I started looking into Fontaine. I was skeptical at first, but it all fits. His books, his lifestyle. I checked the cities where he lived. He’s moved around a lot over the years. And everywhere he has lived there have been ‘stray dog’ killings within a few miles of his home.

“And they’ve always stopped once he moves away.”

Shannon took up the story. “I contacted the families of some of the other victims we found. I asked if the victim had been wearing a watch at the time of the attack, and if it had been found. Of course, several of the family members didn’t know, or didn’t remember. But I found enough of them who did. At least ten people in the past three years, in Chicago, in St. Louis, and now here in Rivelou.”

“Okay, I’m convinced,” said Ana. “But how are we going to stop him? You just said we can’t go to the police. They’ll never believe it.”

“I was hoping your grandfather would take action,” said Chris.

“I said I was convinced, but I don’t think it will be enough for Grandpa. He’s going to want more evidence. He’s going to want something tangible. He’s convinced Alexander is the victim—your victim, Chris. He thinks you are the one who is trying to frame Alexander.”

“Then we’ll just have to get him some evidence otherwise.”

“Then it had better be good. He’s introducing him to the pack tomorrow, on Halloween night. He wants everyone’s approval of Alexander as a new member, and he’s going to get it. But he doesn’t just want Alexander in our pack, he wants him as a grandson-in-law. And he’s practically arranged the wedding already,” Ana added, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

“We’ll see about that,” Chris said ominously.

His obvious anger at the thought of Alexander marrying her made Ana feel warm all over. But this was not the time for her to get sidetracked with a discussion of Chris’s feelings for her.

“And how are we going to get all of this additional evidence?” she asked, taking them back to the most important subject at hand. Are we supposed to simply go up and ask him for his collection of the watches he stole from his victims?”

“Not exactly. I thought I’d just break in to his apartment and find them. I’ll take some photos and you can give them to your grandfather.”

“That’s crazy!” his sister exclaimed. “Not only is it way too risky, I’m a police officer. You shouldn’t even be talking about something like that in front of me.”

“Then put your hands over your ears and say ‘la la la’ if you don’t want to know about it,” Chris put her down harshly in the way that only siblings can. “You have exactly the same information that I have. And you know we can’t go to the police with it.

“Remember what we agreed? You take care of the monsters the law can catch. I take care of the monsters that the law can’t.”

“I know, but I’m afraid for you. How are you going to do this without getting caught? Not just by Alexander, but by someone seeing you breaking in and calling the police. How is it going to look for me if my brother is arrested for burglary?”

“It would be easier with your help, but I can break in without it. I’ve done it before.”

“More things I don’t need to know,” Shannon muttered, then threw up her hands. “All right. All right. What do you need? I can’t believe I’m saying this!” she muttered in exasperation.

Chris just grinned and patted her on the shoulder. “Like old times, sis. Just like when we were kids You’ll be the lookout. I’ll do the breaking and entering.”

Ana was watching them, back and forth, as if it were a tennis match. The enthusiastic law-breaker was a side of Chris she hadn’t known about.

“And just when are you going to break into his apartment? How are you going to know he won’t walk in on you?”

“That’s where you come in, honey. This big deal seminar you are helping him with, it’s tomorrow, right? It’s a couple of hours, plus he’ll probably be tied up before and after. And you’re going to be with him the entire time. You’re going to stick to him like glue. If for any reason he leaves the seminar early, send me a text. I’ll have plenty of time to get out of his apartment before he can get there.”

Chapter 23

Ana shouldn’t have
had time to be nervous on Monday. Between her regular work and the last minute preparations in the auditorium for the seminar, neither she nor Monica had a minute to spare. She missed lunch, but that was fine. How could she eat, she asked herself, when she had this sick feeling in the pit of her stomach the entire day?

Of course she would have been a little nervous if it had just been the seminar. It was her job to make sure everything went well, and Dr. Tormisano, who disagreed with the whole idea in the first place, was now acting as if the seminar was his own pet project. He was as fussy as a wet hen about every detail, and he spent the day driving her, Monica, and every professor in the department, crazy.

And on top of everything else, she was worried about Chris and Shannon, too. What if they were caught? The least that could happen was that someone would see them breaking in and call the police. Shannon would lose her job. They might go to jail.

But what if Alexander caught them? Jail would be nothing to what he would do to them. He would kill them—he would tear them from limb to limb. Ana shook her head to get the pictures of Chris and Shannon, bloody and dying, out of her head. Her hands shook as she arranged the seminar programs on a table near the door of the auditorium.

She jumped when she heard Dr. Tormisano’s voice. “Ana, do you have everything set up for the VIP table?”

It must be the hundredth time he asked her this. It was six o’clock, an hour before the seminar was to start, and people were already milling around in the foyer of the auditorium. A local television truck was outside and a pretty young news reporter and her photographer were getting ready to film an interview with Alexander.

“Yes, sir. Everything is set up and ready to go.”

“And the information for the press?”

“It’s on the table at the entrance.”

Dr. Tormisano preened. “This is going to be quite an event. The history department is going to look very good tonight, Ms. Dugan. I must say I’m glad I had this idea. Yes, it was an excellent idea that I had. Excuse me now, I must get over to the press table. I’m sure they will want to interview me next.”

He bustled off and Monica, who had been standing a few feet away, burst into giggles. “He’s going to be very disappointed. The reporter already asked me who ‘that obnoxious little man’ was. If he bothers her again I’m pretty sure she is going to go hide in the bathroom.”

“And did you notice how this was suddenly all his idea? Hard to believe, isn’t it? Well, as long as he is happy with the outcome, our lives will be easier, I suppose. But I’ll be so relieved when we get this over with,” Ana replied.

“But then you won’t have as many excuses to see the gorgeous Dr. Fontaine throughout the day,” Monica teased.

“Oh look, there’s my grandparents. I’d better go say hello,” Ana quickly slipped away before she had to answer her friend.

Just then her phone pinged.
I’m in
, read the text from Chris.

“This is quite a show,” her grandfather said when she reached them.

“Yes, we’ve gotten great publicity. My boss is really pleased.”

Alexander made his way over to them as they headed down the aisle toward their seats.

“Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand. How delightful to see you here. I know this is a busy evening for you, with everything you have planned for later tonight.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it, my boy. I’m anxious to hear your talk,” Hank said.

Ida patted him on the arm. “Of course we wanted to come see everything you and our granddaughter put together. We always support our family.”

Ana blushed and quickly glanced at Alexander. This was his affair; she was just helping. She wondered how he would react to her grandmother somehow equating her role to be just as important as his. “Grandma, I’m just his assistant,” she protested.

“But your grandmother is right. I couldn’t have done it without you, Chérie.” Alexander gave her a quick kiss on the cheek; it took all of her willpower not to cringe at his touch. He mustn’t suspect anything was wrong. Not now. Not with Chris breaking into his apartment at this very moment.

Ida patted Alexander on the arm again. “You go on, dear. I know you are busy. We’ll see you at our home after this is over. We can’t wait to introduce you to the rest of the family.”

Just then Alexander’s phone pinged. He took it out and looked at it with a frown of concern.

“Yes, of course,” he said to Ida. “I’m looking forward to it.” He seemed suddenly distracted and walked quickly down the aisle, still staring at his phone.

“I hope everything is all right,” said Ida.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Ana replied.

Her grandfather interrupted. “You are picking Sophie up and bringing her tonight, right, Ana?”

“Of course, Grandpa, I haven’t forgotten. I’m getting her from Lindsey and Joe’s house as soon as this is over. She’s not happy about missing trick or treating with her friends in our neighborhood, though,”

“Don’t worry, honey. Her cousins will be there. They’ll see she has a good time,” her grandmother said. “But we’d better sit down, it looks like it is about time to start.”

As her grandparents got settled, Ana slipped out the side door of the auditorium so she could head backstage and wait in the wings in case any of the speakers needed anything.

The lights were dimmed and the audience quieted. She heard Dr. Tormisano start the introductions as she left the main auditorium and walked quickly down the hall and around the corner to enter at the backstage door.

“…and now I’d like to introduce Dr. Alexander Fontaine,” Dr. Tormisano was saying as she entered the wings.

The polite applause went on for a couple of minutes and slowly died out. Ana, wondering what was happening, hurried over to peak out onto the stage. Where was Alexander? There was an empty chair where the featured speaker for the event was supposed to be sitting.

“Dr. Fontaine,” Dr. Tormisano said again, sweeping his hand toward the curtain where Ana stood, as if hoping to make him magically appear.

Ana shook her head and shrugged her shoulders as her boss looked toward her. She didn’t know where Alexander was either.

Where could the man be? He had to be somewhere close by. This was his big night. He wouldn’t miss it. Ana took a quick look around backstage. She could hear Dr. Tormisano making excuses and beginning the seminar with one of the other speakers. He was going to somehow make this her fault. But that was the least of her worries right now.

Where was Alexander? What had the message on his telephone been?

She headed back out the door into the hallway and grabbed the first male student she could find. “Could you check the men’s room please, for Dr. Fontaine?” she asked him. “It’s time for the seminar to start.”

She tapped her foot impatiently as she waited outside.

“He’s not in there,” the student reported a minute later.

Somehow she had known that would be his answer.

I can’t find Alexander. Get out now,
she texted quickly to Chris, then headed back into the auditorium. Surely he would be inside when she got there.