Forging Day (Crucible of Change Book 1) (19 page)

“We’re trying to keep this informal here, Olivia. Whether this goes any further is really officer discretion. We came here to give you a chance to give your side of the story,” said Officer Curtis.

I really didn’t want us to end up giving formal statements if I could possibly avoid it. “Okay. Here’s our side of things—okay, Kat?”

“We didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “Go ahead.”

“Like Kat said, her boss fired her for not being Human and told her to come get her stuff. More specifically, he said to have someone else come get her stuff. We got there, and her boss brandished his crucifix at us and made us wait outside. He locked the door and went in back. He was a total dick. Kat waited at the car. He came back out with a box. He dropped it on the ground, and kicked it toward me. He was glaring at me, and then stared down and I noticed smoke coming from his apron. I guess he must have brushed against something when he was getting Kat’s stuff. He slammed and locked the door before I could say anything, so we left.”

“He claims you’re a demon and set him on fire.”

“You said last night that the Changed still have equal rights in the eyes of the law. I never laid a finger on him. I was really pissed at him, but I didn’t touch him. I certainly didn’t intend to set him on fire. How am I supposed to have done it? I don’t even carry a lighter.”

“He didn’t know, but he was sure it was you.”

“I don’t know what else to tell you. He obviously didn’t want us in there at all. I thought it was pretty offensive that he was trying to ward me off with a crucifix. He’s lucky Kat doesn’t sue him for discrimination.”

Sharon and her partner looked at each other a while before turning back to us. “I don’t see the need for this to go any further,” Sharon said. “Even he admits that you never touched him. I am going to advise that you not go back there. I can’t enforce that, of course, but I feel it would be safer for everyone if you avoided that particular business. You have every right to shop there, but sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.”

I hated when she used one of my dad’s favorite quotes on me.

“Thank you for your understanding, Officer Curtis, Officer Webster,” said Kat. “I don’t intend to go back there. It’s not worth the trouble.”

“I’m glad we were able to work this out,” said Sharon. “Before I forget, the neighborhood watch orientation meeting is tomorrow evening. We’re meeting at six back at the same place in the park. We thought people would be more comfortable meeting there than coming downtown.”

“Thanks. I’ll be there.”

I walked them to the door. Officer Webster left first, but Sharon stopped and turned to me. “Olivia, please don’t set people on fire. Even if they are jerks.” Without further ado, she followed her partner out the door.

I went out to close the gate and make sure we were buttoned up, using my phone to snap a quick picture of them pulling away. I hadn’t bothered Cordie for at least of couple of days. She probably missed me.

“Hey, Cordie, guess what? Almost got arrested for allegedly setting some jerk on fire. Hope you’re having fun at Zombie Central. xoxo Olivia.” I attached the picture of the patrol car and hit send. Some family moments just write themselves.

My phone rang about ten minutes later. It was Mikah, and he sounded a little harried.

“Olivia, why do you taunt your sister?”

“What, no hello?”

“You’re supposed to stay in the house and out of trouble. You’re also not supposed to talk to the police without me, your attorney, present.”

“It was just Sharon and her partner. We stayed at least eighty percent out of trouble. And for the record, I did not set anyone on fire. He was only smoldering.”

“Olivia, please. I am way past my ass in alligators today. If you hold me in any regard, stop taunting your sister.”

“I’m sorry, Mikah. I really didn’t think she’d call you. You could always block her number,” I suggested helpfully.

He sighed. “Stay home. Stop taunting your sister. Do I have to leave Tessa at home to keep you busy?” I heard a muffled, “No, I am not serious. Keep writing.”

“I’ll be good, Mikah. I won’t go anywhere unless it’s really important. Bye.” I quickly ended the call, figuring he’d be much too busy to call back and argue.

Dances with Dinosaurs

Ted was standing there when I hung up the phone. He didn’t look anything like his usual happy self. “Do you have a minute?” he asked.

“Sure. What’s going on?” I sat on the couch and he joined me.

“It’s those dinosaurs.”

Korembi looked up from where he was reading.

“Did someone get eaten?” I asked.

“Not yet. I don’t know how long we can just keep them locked in the basement. The little ones have gotten into everything. The big one figured out how to open the deep freeze and ate all the roasts. And Doctor Evil is stalking the big one. I don’t know why it hasn’t killed him yet.”

“Because I tell Stella she not eat the pets,” said Korembi. “You know that cat be crazy?”

“Agreed. Only Kat thinks Doctor Evil is normal.”

“I be thinkin’ you’re right, though. They not going to stay in the basement much longer. I can’t be askin’ Mikah to feed Stella and it not be fair to them, locked away all the day.”

“What can we do?” I was hoping he had an idea. I didn’t think an animal shelter would welcome them. I started wondering if they were litterbox trained, which made me shudder. I force my attention back to Korembi.

“I called Cliff—Oaken—and he be willin’ to take the dinosaurs into their sanctuary. He say if we can get ’em there, he be takin’ ’em in.”

“If that works for you, Korembi, it sounds like a decent plan. When did you want to do it?”

“I be thinkin’ today, if we can manage.”

“Okay by me. Um… will Stella fit in your car?”

“I didn’t think of that. No.”

“She’s not going to fit inside my hatchback. Berto took the van to work. It’s about three miles. Do you think we could walk it?”

Ted finally chimed in. “Have you lost your mind, Olivia? You cannot walk a raptor through the middle of town. I don’t think leash laws cover this situation.”

In my mind’s eye, I pictured Stella pouncing a poodle, leaving nothing but a pink leash hanging from her mouth. “You’re right. Walking is not a good plan. We need someone with a large van who would ask a minimum of questions, or is at least somewhat flexible.”

I was still racking my brain on how we were going to do this, when I heard a terrible yowling from the basement, followed by a screeching roar. We all bolted for the basement door, but I let Korembi go first. Stella liked him.

The lights were already on. There were spatters of fresh blood everywhere, and the compys were whimpering off in the corner. Doctor Evil perched on one of the utility shelves, eye to eye with Stella. The raptor roared again, and Doctor Evil swatted at her muzzle, leaving bloody scores. Stella, finally at her breaking point, lunged for the cat that suddenly wasn’t there.

There was a
pop
, and the Persian appeared on a shelf above Stella and leaped down onto her back, digging in her claws. Stella thrashed wildly, and shelves went flying and boxes crashed to the ground.

“Fluffy—
no
,” I yelled. I pointed at the cat, pretending I had a squirt bottle of vinegar. I don’t know why I thought the cat would hear it over the din, but I still made the squirting noise—and a jet of smelly water sprayed from my hand, striking the cat square in the face.

There was one yowl of pure horror, and the cat disappeared with another
pop
.

Ted and I stayed out of the way while Korembi approached Stella. “There, there,” he said. “You be okay, Stella. That demon cat be gone now.”

Her head swiveled and she looked at him a long moment. I started to think he was next on the menu, until she made that little
creeling
noise at him and let him approach.

I whispered to Ted, “Go grab the first aid kit.”

Ted came back with the kit, with Frank in tow.

“Good thinking, Ted. Extra hands can’t hurt,” I told him.

“I used to do first aid at the digs,” said Frank. “Of course the most first aid we ever did on the dinosaurs then was keeping the related bones together.”

Korembi talked softly to Stella the whole time, his eyes never leaving hers. He took the kit from Ted, and with Frank’s help, carefully cleaned her wounds. He scruffed her a bit, and her eyes closed in pleasure.

I found a couple of steaks in another freezer and gave them to Korembi to feed her.

While she was eating, Frank started tending the little compys. Happily, they were in better shape than Stella had been. Maybe Doctor Evil hadn’t found them enough of a challenge. Either that, or they’d been too fast for him.

Finally, we were able to leave them in the basement and go upstairs. Korembi and Frank scrubbed up and we all had iced tea in the kitchen.

I laughed. “Well, that explains how the damn cat kept getting in the basement to harass the dinosaurs. I wonder if this is a new talent or cats could always teleport?”

“I swear my old cat could walk through walls,” said Frank. “Zenobia was a house cat, and I always left her inside. Doors were closed. Windows were closed. Every day I got home from school, she’d be on the front porch with a tiny blonde plastic doll. It was the craziest thing I’d ever seen. Sonya, she used to laugh. She said my cat had a thing for blondes.”

Abruptly, his animated face shut down. “Excuse me. I need to check on something upstairs.”

I watched him walk away, shoulders slumped. “Korembi, has he talked to anyone about Sonya? I know they were a couple, from what she said back at the Faire.”

“No, Olivia,” he said. “Roz, she try to talk to him, but he always say he fine. They bunked together on the digs, but were more friends than anything. Still, you be right. He’s takin’ it hard.”

“Maybe I can try to talk to him later, after we get something settled with the dinosaurs,” I told him.

“I hope he be listenin’ to you, Olivia. His family, let’s say they not be as welcome of change as yours.”

I hated to make this call, but I was pretty sure we’d reached the tipping point with the pet wars. I got my phone and hit a seldom-used number.

“Officer Curtis.”

“Hi, Officer Curtis. Sharon, it’s Olivia. Sorry to bother you again, but I kind of need to ask a favor.”

“Olivia? This is probably not the best day to be asking for favors.”

“If I had another option, I’d call them. This is sort of a public safety issue. We can fix it, but we need to borrow a large van for just a little bit.”

“What kind of public safety issue?”

“We need to transport something to a place of safety. Look, I really can’t go into detail on the phone.” Much to my—and everyone else’s—surprise, I started crying. “I’m sorry. Please. I need help. I don’t know how to fix this myself. Everything’s gone to hell and I’m afraid Stella is going to eat someone and Doctor Evil is trying to take over the world. Oh, never mind. We’ll figure it out.” I ended the call and dropped the phone.

I heard, “Olivia, why does my cat smell like vinegar?” and warm arms slid around me as Kat hugged me. “It’s going to be okay.”

I hugged her back, but I couldn’t stop crying. I wanted my mom. I wanted my dad. I wanted Leo. Crom help me, I even wanted Cordie. I was still snuffling when the intercom announced another visitor. Ted came in with Officer Curtis. She pulled a chair over next to us. “Talk to me, Olivia. Let me help.”

Korembi stood up and shook her hand. “I’m Doctor Korbin Byers. I’m a paleontology professor at the university in Wyoming. Stella is my fault. On our best dig ever, we found a raptor skeleton. The university agreed to make two casts of the bones and gave me one. I had her assembled and took her with us as a mascot to campouts and digs. The problem was that the Change brought her life. We’ve been keeping her and the compys in the basement, but we’re having issues with Olivia’s pets. I have a friend over at what used to be the zoo. He can give them all homes, if we can get them there safely.”

“That’s why we need the van,” I said. “We need to get them there without people seeing them on the street.”

Sharon blinked a few times. I think we finally gave her something new to process. “May I see them, or is there anything else?”

“I trust you,” I tell her. “My dad trusted you. I’m talking to you as a friend. We had a really hard time with the Change. We were up camping. There was a group at camp that would have killed us after they finished with us if Stella hadn’t been there. Then we ran into this other group outside of Lyons.” Kat and Korembi froze, staring at me. “They killed two of our people and two of the compys, and one of them assaulted Aspen. He told us he was going to rape her. Stella and the compys saved us then, too. Stella deserves to go to the sanctuary. You can’t turn her over to animal control.”

“What happened to the bodies?”

“Stella ate the one where we were camping. We left the attackers on the side of the road outside Lyons. We left our fallen at the sanctuary in the redwoods. I don’t know their real names. Matt was the first name of Aspen’s boyfriend. He was trying to defend her when they shot him. The woman they shot was Sonya, but I don’t know anything else about her.”

“She was one of my grad students,” said Korembi. “Her name was Sonya Washington. I know she had a sister. Frank, her boyfriend, called her when we got to Denver. She never talked about her parents, so I don’t know about them.”

“Can you tell me a little more about the people that attacked you?”

“They were all dressed in different types of camo, like hunters wear. They said they wouldn’t allow ‘our kind’ to go through their town, but they wouldn’t let us turn around and go back either. They didn’t wear masks and they called each other by name. There’s no way they were going to let us go.”

“You’re probably right about them not letting you go, but it’s still a mess,” said Sharon. “First things first. Let’s look at your dinosaurs.”

Once more, we let Korembi lead the way to the basement. It was pretty quiet, so Doctor Evil was probably elsewhere, plotting my destruction, no doubt. Korembi whistled softly, and the compys came running. They really were adorable—deadly, but adorable. Stella finally poked her head around the corner and creeled at Korembi. I could tell Sharon was torn between running and shooting, but to her credit, she just stood there, staring.