Vendetta (Legend of the Ir'Indicti #4) (6 page)

"Somebody is coming from California, I heard. Another one from Colorado and the third from Kentucky. They made the short list."

"Do we know anything else about them?"

"Two are werewolf, one's a shapeshifter."

"Wow. They found a shapeshifter?" Ashe turned curious blue eyes to Trace's brown.

"Yeah. Don't know what he is when he turns, but he's a shapeshifter. The one from Kentucky is a female werewolf. If she gets the job, her husband will come with her."

"You're not giving the shifter a chance?" Ashe frowned at Trace.

"Ashe, it would take a really tough shifter to deal with werewolves, don't you think?" Trace turned his face forward again.

"So, a bumblebee bat just wouldn't be tough enough? Is that what you're saying?"

"Ashe, you know how they treat you. The other kids, that is. Even the shifter kids think it's a joke. I'm telling you that as a friend, not as a werewolf or a bigger shifter. Kids get bullied all the time because they don't fit into some cookie cutter ideal the others hold. Believe me; I know what I'm talking about. The Principal of any paranormal school has to demand respect. And get it. That way, when he challenges somebody for making fun of another kid, they'll back off and listen."

"And there I thought academic credentials and personal integrity were the guidelines," Ashe muttered sarcastically.

"It helps if they can read," Trajan ran up beside Trace. "Stop scaring the help," he jerked his head at his younger brother before dropping back to run beside Sali and Marco.

After his run on the beach, Ashe trotted homeward to shower before getting with Andy to see what the job was for the day. Coming out the front door later, he watched Sali climb into his car and drive away. Breathing a frustrated sigh, Ashe loped down the street—Winkler's house and the community center were on the other side of the canal. He suspected that memories had been altered again. Shaking himself, he rang the doorbell at Andy and Buck's house.

"These are past year accounts," Andy handed a pile of file folders to Ashe when Ashe walked inside their makeshift office. "See if you can find anything wrong with any of them. And we'll see about getting a bigger desk—you're just too damn tall," Andy said with a grin. "On the bright side, though, Winkler says we can get a new computer for you. We'll take a trip to Corpus this afternoon and pick it up."

"Really?" Ashe felt a bit of excitement over buying a new computer.

"Yep. Get to work and we'll drive down after lunch."

Ashe took the pile of folders to his tiny desk and began to sort through them.

* * *

"These are the plans," Buck unrolled the large sheet of architectural drawings so Adele could see them. "We'll put the freezers here," he tapped the sheet where the kitchen lay. The building would take up the entire lot, including the back yard. "And Winkler asked me to tell you that he's buying a restaurant on the water in Port Aransas. He wants to hire you to run both."

"I think I'd like that—Ashe and I ate at Victoria's not long ago. We loved it."

"Funny you should mention that—Victoria's is the one he's buying. The owner wants to retire and just put it up for sale. Winkler got wind of it and was interested. He's got a lot of property in the area already."

"I'd like to keep the same menu," Adele said, offering Buck a smile. "We loved the shrimp and fish we got."

"There's a local shrimping business that's werewolf owned. They'll supply fresh shrimp and seafood, I'm sure. The Sheridans grow enough produce to keep two restaurants in business, plus some. And we have a line on any other fresh fruit and vegetables you want."

"This is exciting to me, Mr. Wilson," Adele said. "Please tell Mr. Winkler that I appreciate this opportunity."

"It's nothing. And call me Buck," he said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "We're starting on this one tomorrow," he tapped the sheet again. "If the weather cooperates, we'll have it built just before school starts."

"That's wonderful. Thanks, Buck."

"No problem, Adele."

* * *

"Money's no object," Andy said as they looked through computers at the electronics store. A solicitous employee stood nearby, hoping for a very good sale. Ashe was busy reading the specs for two that he'd narrowed down.

"I want a better printer," Ashe said, pointing out the desktop he'd selected.

"Not a problem," the employee agreed.

After Ashe and Andy packed the new computer and accessories into a Winkler Security van, Andy drove to an office-supply store.

"Pick out a desk. You'll get the office we're in right now. I'm moving my office to the media room. Buck is putting a TV in his bedroom so you won't have to share your office."

"Really? I feel special," Ashe grinned.

"Yeah. Come on; let's find something that will accommodate those long legs of yours."

"This is as good as Christmas," Ashe said later, rolling an ergonomic chair across the tile floor. "I like this one."

"We'll take it. And the desk and credenza," Andy told the salesclerk. Another load went into the back of the van. "I think Winkler wants to talk to you again when we get back," Andy said quietly as they climbed inside the vehicle.

"What about?" Ashe couldn't imagine what the Dallas Packmaster might want this time.

"Not sure," Andy lied. Ashe knew that Andy knew but wasn't going to point it out. He was used to it.

"All right." Ashe buckled up, settled into his seat and watched the van drive past gulf waters.

* * *

"Ashe, I know we've asked an awful lot of you, and I realize your age, but I have a proposition for you," Winkler said.

"What's that?" Ashe was certainly curious.

"You took the SAT already, didn't you?" Winkler asked.

"Yeah—took it at the end of the school year, as practice. Did pretty good on it, too."

"Good. That's what I was hoping for," Winkler nodded. "Now, what I really want to propose is this; take and pass the GED, start taking online college courses and work for me part-time, permanently."

"What?" Ashe stared at Winkler. "I thought you had to be eighteen or older to get your GED."

"There are conditions for a sixteen or seventeen-year-old to get one, but I can pull a couple of strings. We can get a waiver, but you have to pass the test on your own. Besides, young prodigies and geniuses get into college all the time. Take the GED, Ashe. Pass it."

"I can pass," Ashe muttered, staring at his hands.

"Yeah. I know that too," Winkler said. "But the college courses are a must. I want you to enroll in at least nine hours and pass with a B average or better. I'm paying."

"You're serious about this?" Ashe lifted his eyes. Winkler's dark-brown eyes were quite serious. "What about Mom and Dad?"

"I talked to your mother this morning while you were out running. And with the way things are going with your classmates," Winkler shrugged.

"Yeah." It still stung that Ashe had been ignored by Sali, both the night before and earlier in the day. "Mom was okay with this?"

"She didn't object. She said Aedan would have to agree, but there's really not much of a downside, in my opinion. I don't doubt for a second that you can do this, Ashe. It's like testing out of your junior and senior year. They give the GED test at a community college in Beeville—it's the closest place," Winkler said. "Think it over, Ashe. Talk to your parents if you want, but I think this is a very good solution. You can travel with me, too. Between here, Dallas and a few other places. I have meetings coming up in D.C. with Matt Michaels. I want to be in on the questioning of Jack Howard, as Weldon's representative."

"I see," Ashe said softly. Ashe's talents might get Winkler more information than normal questioning might ever get.

"I see the wheels turning, Ashe," Winkler said. "Go home for the day. You can let me know tomorrow."

"Thanks, Mr. Winkler." Ashe stood and turned to go.

"Tell your mother that we'll be settling on Victoria's restaurant earlier than we thought. She'll have it next week."

"Wow—you're buying a restaurant?"

"It came up for sale. It's a good investment," Winkler laughed. "Your mother will be managing two for me, when all's said and done. She's proven that she can manage a business and turn a good profit. It'll be fun and I don't have to pay for my meals if I show up in either place," he added.

"But there's COG to think about," Ashe waggled a finger at his employer.

"Ashe, I'm not surprised you know what Cost of Goods is," Winkler grinned. "Go home. We'll talk tomorrow."

* * *

"Sali, I didn't think you remembered who I was," Ashe grumped when he let Sali in the door fifteen minutes later. He'd just settled down to watch his mother prepare spaghetti sauce for dinner.

"I remember," Sali said.

"But
what
do you remember?" Ashe muttered despondently.

"Ashe," Adele gave the warning without turning away from stirring the sauce. Ashe figured she was cooking for Mr. Winkler and the others—the pot was huge.

"Who do you think we'll get as Principal this time?" Sali accepted the soft drink Ashe offered and took a seat at the island.

"You heard what Trace said this morning. The shapeshifter probably doesn't have a chance," Ashe said. "That's too bad. I think I'd like to see a shifter in charge of the school."

"What do you mean; the shifter probably doesn't have a chance?" Adele placed a lid on the pot and turned the heat down.

"Trace said a shifter would have to be capable of staring down the werewolves," Sali answered. "Can't see a bat doing that," he snickered. Ashe sighed helplessly at Sali's statement. He now had solid evidence that Sali remembered the bat—and nothing else.

"It may interest you to know that the Grand Master recommended this particular shifter," Adele informed Sali, who straightened up right away. "The letter was with his application."

"The Grand Master recommended him?" Ashe stared at Sali. Sali shrugged. "Mom, what is his animal?"

"We don't know, hon. How about setting the table for Mr. Winkler and the others?"

* * *

"Sali, things may be different this school year," Ashe said. He and Sali sat on the deck behind the house, eating plates of spaghetti and garlic bread. The others were eating and talking in the dining room inside.

"How?" Sali swiped the last of his sauce with a piece of bread and stuffed it in his mouth.

"Mr. Winkler wants to keep me on part-time and asked me to take online college courses. That means taking the GED and skipping the rest of high school."

"What?" Sali swallowed his food and stared at Ashe.

"What I said," Ashe blew out a breath. "He likes my work, I guess. Enough to keep me on."

"Dude, that's just, that's just—wow. No more high school homework? That's outstanding."

"But there's no graduation, either. Not from high school. College maybe, somewhere down the road."

"I'd be happy to give that up," Sali insisted.

"You can do me a favor, though," Ashe said.

"What's that?"

"Drive me to the bookstore in Corpus, so I can buy a GED study guide."

"I'll go with them," Trace volunteered when Ashe walked inside to get permission from his mother. Marco went as well, and since Sali's car wasn't large enough, Adele allowed Ashe to drive Aedan's SUV. Ashe weighed different versions of the study guides later in Corpus Christi's largest bookstore.

"Here," Marco handed a frozen coffee drink to Ashe. "It's decaf."

"This is good—now I know why everybody gets addicted to these things," Ashe slurped at the caramel mocha concoction.

"Dude, aren't you done yet?" Sali walked up with an identical drink in his hand.

"I can't decide which one to get," Ashe said, tapping the books under consideration.

"Get both, Winkler's buying," Trace said, holding up a company credit card.

"Good. I can get the new book in my favorite series, too," Ashe laughed. "Winkler can get these," he handed both guides to Trace, "and I'll buy what I want."

"You read entirely too much," Sali grumped.

"Wait till you get in college," Marco teased.

"Dad won't let me out of it?" Sali begged.

"Don't give me pitiful puppy eyes. You're going," Marco said.

"Winkler won't hire you without college credit," Trace whispered beside Sali's ear.

"Really?" Sali sucked on his frozen drink.

"Yep. So get to work, slacker." Marco slapped Sali's back.

"Sal, your grades are decent so far," Ashe pointed out. "And if you worked at it, they'd be even better. That could get you into any school you want. Think of the girls."

"Yeah," Sali sounded bitter.

"Ixnay on the irls-gay," Marco made a cutting off motion with his hand.

"Huh?" Ashe stared at Marco.

"Let's go find that book you wanted," Marco hauled Ashe away from the reference section. "Sali and Wynn broke up this afternoon," Marco hissed when they arrived in the sci-fi section. Ashe pulled the new hardcover he wanted off the shelf as he listened to Marco. "You saw the bracelet Wynn bought Sali for his birthday? He didn't want to wear it all the time. She got upset and now they're history."