Fox Play (13 page)

I spoke over the noise. "Don't wait for them to take us over. Take them over."

And then I curled into Lara and let the conversation happen around me. After a while I whispered into her ear, "I'm tired, but I don't want to leave you."

She immediately said, "I have a few suggestions. First, I think we should break and let these ideas percolate. We can talk about them in smaller groups, and I think we have a few things we want to start right away. We can get started on those. I suspect if we take some time, we can build on these ideas." They liked that.

"The other suggestion I have is going to be controversial. I think we should seriously consider inviting Michaela as a non-voting member of this council."

"Oh god, no," I said.

Elisabeth chuckled.

"We have her," Lara said. "We could really use her perspective. She doesn't think like us."

"This idea has merit," Vivian said. "But I do not want to rush this decision."

"Neither do I!" I added.

"Ms. Redfur," said Mr. Berg. "Are you going to continue to have these intriguing ideas for us to discuss?"

I sighed. "Probably."

"I believe that the fox is already in this issue up to her whiskers," he said. "And it would be foolish of us to give her up now. After this has been resolved, we can discuss at greater length the alpha's suggestion."

Not everyone was comfortable with the idea, least of all me, but in the end they agreed they wanted me there for the duration of the current crisis.

I sighed. "And now I am going to demonstrate why you just agreed to that. You need to give them a reason to believe they're going to have their chance at the alpha. Set up another poker night, here a few weeks for now or something." I turned to Lara. "If you hinted you are getting bored with me, that I'm too clingy, and maybe hinted you might be willing to sell me, that may do it."

"That isn't going to happen!" she thundered, yanking me into her arms possessively, earning me a few bruises in the process.

"Can't breath," I said. "Can't breath." When she relaxed slightly, I told her, "Just hint. If he thinks you'll let him win me in the poker game, you know he'll be here. Put it off later or something. We're trying to buy time to make them hurt, so they don't do anything until we're ready."

"It's a good idea," Elisabeth said.

After that, I zoned out. They had enough to think about, and my head hurt.

Humans With Surprises

I sat in on Lara's telephone conversation with Durian. Durian repeated his demands for us to come to Chicago for a rematch in two weeks.

"I have an alternate suggestion," she said. "We could have our rematch in two months, here."

"I was hoping to show you our city," he said. "It really is our turn to host, after all. And I was hoping that our spirit of friendly competition could continue sooner than two months."

"I understand, but the schedule doesn't work for up. But I think I might be able to sweeten the pot, Durian."

"Oh? I don't mind a sweetened pot," he said.

"My little fox. She is getting clingy. I only keep her around because she has her moments, and she is very good in bed. But it may be that two months from now, it may be she isn't just at the table, but ON the table, if you catch my meaning."

"Oh, I do," he said. He tried to be nonchalant about it, but he failed. "That is definitely a sweetened pot. Are you sure we couldn't achieve something sooner in Chicago?"

"We could try, but I just don't see how it's going to work out. The fox is popular within my pack, and it will take me some time to undermine her popularity. If I trade her to you now, it would cause political problems for me. I do dislike unrest."

"I understand," he said.

"And of course, she is a unique find, I believe you will agree. This gives you an opportunity to think of your own sweetener for the pot. I certainly would not part with her for money, after all."

"Of course you wouldn't," he said. "All right. Two months in Madison."

They hung up, and I hugged her. She pulled me tightly to her. "I won't let him touch you," she said.

"I know you won't. We were just buying time. Two months is plenty."

* * * *

My boss received a phone call from the US Marshall's office. He was asked to allow a certain amount of flexibility in my schedule, that I would get my job done, but perhaps not on a fixed schedule. He was very cooperative especially when he was told there were threats against my life due to my cooperation with an investigation completely unrelated to my job.

When I called my boss, he asked me what was going on. "I was visiting friends in Madison and stumbled upon information on a Chicago crime boss. He found out. No one is sure why. It's a very hush-hush investigation. I'll be around, but I'm going to have like four hundred bodyguards until it's over. It might be a few months. I'll get my job done. Angel has been working out great, and I have offers from her school for more interns through the end of the summer. I've been training them in their science classes already, and I know we can work together."

He liked the idea I had free help and told me to use my judgment. "Michaela, we need more citizens like you. I applaud your courage. I will let you know personally if there are issues from this."

After that, Francesca gave me permission to approach her students. The students, especially Scarlett, were more than enthused to help. Lara and I sat down with the students and all their parents and explained what was going on, what we hoped to do, the benefit to the students, and the steps being taken for their security.

"Why are we having this conversation?" Serena asked. "They threaten a member of our pack. That is unacceptable. I trust the alpha will protect our children, and I believe this is at the same time an excellent training opportunity."

That was the consensus.

"I think we should give the outward appearance of normality," I said. "This is a field trip. The reason we have all the adults along is because we're treating it like a vacation. Complete with sailing, fishing and kayaking as well." And after that I let Elisabeth worry about the security.

She was earning her money.

* * * *

We stayed on high alert through Friday. I stayed up Thursday night on outdoor patrol, furry wolves nearby at all times. Elisabeth and Gia kept me company and entertained.

The Chicago wolves left us alone, and by afternoon on Friday, they were out of our territory. For now.

When I got the word I almost collapsed in Elisabeth's arms, thanking her over and over for keeping me safe. Then I hugged and clung to all the other enforcers, in and out of fur. Rory especially seemed to enjoy it.

That was when Gia approached Elisabeth about joining the enforcers. At first, Elisabeth turned her down flat. Gia was not a large wolf. So then she approached me.

"I am good at coordinating information," she said. "I can work with the humans. I'm closer to standard size for a human, so they won't be as put off by me. Michaela, I am at loose ends. I have almost no status in the pack, so I am left as a gopher. I can do far more than that, and if I'm doing it, it means one of the real enforcers doesn't have to."

So I pulled her into a meeting with Elisabeth and Lara. Elisabeth just said, "No," before I could even open my mouth. I ignored her and presented Gia's position. It was easy to say "no" to Gia, but much harder to do so with me.

When I was done, Elisabeth said, "You can not be an enforcer."

Gia's expression dropped.

"But you and Michaela are right," Elisabeth said. "You would be excellent at those duties. But we would have to call you something else."

"I don't care what you call me," she said. "I would be good at this, but I would need the authority to do it. Please, Alpha."

"I will accept Elisabeth's decision on this," Lara said.

"For the record, I don't take orders from Gia," I said. Everyone snickered. "I think I should be involved in what she is doing, too. Alpha, perhaps I am sort of a free floating consultant. I'll see things no one else does. I don't want authority to order anyone around, but I want to be able to ask questions and not have to wait to get answers."

"Yes on Gia," Elisabeth said. "Alpha or council decision on Michaela, as that is more far reaching."

"Do it, Michaela, whatever you want. I'll talk to council. This is temporary. It may become permanent, but it's just for the current emergency."

"I don't want it permanently. I want to go back to a nice peaceful job where the biggest danger is poison ivy and rabid chipmunks."

"Ever met a rabid were chipmunk, fox?" Elisabeth asked. "Those are nasty."

I threw a pillow at her. She had me on my back and her mouth over my throat two seconds later. I was shocked beyond belief but she had me pinned and tightened her hold. I started trying to beat her away, so she grabbed my hands and increased the pressure until it was on the edge of painful. I whimpered and she climbed off of me immediately.

"Lara?" I asked. "You're going to let her do that?"

"Me and her, Michaela," Lara said, offering a casual expression. "That was the agreement you made." I looked around and Gia was smirking.

"Never thought you'd see that, Gia?"

"Not when we first met, no."

"Michaela," said Elisabeth. "When a dominant wolf has you by the throat, submit first and ask questions later." She had moved away and was watching my expression warily.

I walked over and brushed my body against her like a wolf in fur would do, squeezing her arm. "Did I offend you throwing the pillow?"

"No, but I thought you needed the reminder."

"I probably did."

She nodded. "Don't get physical with a wolf, Michaela. Stick to your words. They are your best weapons anyway."

"You're right. Thank you." I looked at Gia. "Would you have done that to her if she'd tossed a pillow at you?"

"Probably not. Gia doesn't need reminding."

* * * *

Together, Elisabeth and Gia began contacting human information companies, specifically voiding any located in Chicago. The pack used its network of businesses to get referrals, and those referrals went up food chains, and finally we reached some companies that were operating by former members of military special forces. On Tuesday, we sat down with a group of two members of a company called "Lima Consulting."

Greg Freund was the president of the company; Hillary Iverson was one of his top project coordinators. We met in the conference room in the barracks.

"Let's cut to the chase," Greg said to Elisabeth. "You're werewolves." He looked at me. "I don't know what you are."

Elisabeth stared at him in shock. "Gia, find the alpha." Gia fled the room. The four of us remaining stared at each other without speaking until Gia returned with Lara. Lara introduced herself, and then she and Greg eyed each other carefully.

"Do you want to explain how you came to that ludicrous conclusion?" Lara asked him.

"Let's not insult each other," he said. "That one," he said, pointing to Elisabeth, "referred to you as the alpha. I know what that means. We had wolves in special forces, and I have a half dozen in my organization now. Wolves are very solid and very direct. Not very subtle."

Lara and Elisabeth eyed each other. It wasn't a good look.

"Let's hear what he has to say," I suggested.

Lara nodded and waited.

"All right," he said. "I am making guesses. You came to us. You spent some effort finding the best, or someone amongst the best. My guess is you have a problem with another wolf pack. Chicago, Minneapolis, something like that. You need humans because we can go where you can't. No one notices another human, but the wolves would recognize another wolf. How am I doing so far?"

"Let us say you're doing all right," Lara said. "How do we know you aren't working for this other mythical werewolf pack?"

He smiled. "Because I have an impeccable reputation. I never work both sides. You would have checked my references before inviting me to visit. I am currently not doing anything with any wolf packs that have indicated any interest in the mid-west, although I do have clients on both coasts and a few overseas."

"So you do not expect a conflict of interest?"

"None."

"I am inclined to trust him, Elisabeth," Lara said.

"This might actually be even better than expected. They would know what they're getting into. We wouldn't have to protect them."

I sighed a breath of relief. We all settled down at the table, and Lara said, "How does this work?"

"You give me an exceedingly high level overview. I decide if I want to help. You do not provide names or details. If I decide to help, you tell me everything. You answer every question I ask. We agree on what I can do and what it will cost."

Lara nodded. "You summed it up. Hostile takeover attempt. The ones attempting the takeover are unwelcome. This isn't just me wanting to keep my job. There is not a wolf in Wisconsin that would want this change. Furthermore, they also wish to kidnap Michaela."

"Why?"

I spoke up. "You are right. I am not a wolf. I am very rare and represent a rare and, to me, fatal form of entertainment."

"In other words, they want to hunt you, and you are challenging enough to be interesting."

"Yes."

He turned back to Lara. "So you want, what? Information on their plans?"

"Yes, and surveillance. And assistance going on the offensive."

"What type of offensive?"

"Financial leading eventually to regime change."

"And you will become their alpha?" he asked.

"No. We were thinking a younger son, although he may hate us too much for our safety. But if not, he would be a good leader and a good friend."

"All right," he said. "What about enhanced security. Something like this can drag on for weeks, and it is difficult to maintain the level of alertness required if a surprise arrives."

"Your humans won't be much good during a wolf attack."

"Don't count us out. We can discuss details if this is part of what you're asking for?"

"Yes," Lara said. "All of it."