Hounded

antecedents if you want people to follow you. «
    She smiled and then held up her hands. » Listen, you’re going to need a drink and time for a long story. «
    » Well I’ll have a Smithwick’s, then, but I don’t have much time. I’m meeting my lawyer here in a few minutes. «
    » Gonna sue them, eh? « She grinned as she went to pull a draught for me.
    » Yes, I’m thinking that they deserve a nice lawsuit. «
    » Okay then, maybe you can hang out for a little while afterward and I’ll let you talk to her again. « She placed the dark beer down on my napkin and smiled again. I melted inside and began to wonder if it was Granuaile that had this effect on me or whoever it was she had hitchhiking in her brain.
    » You’ll let me? Seemed like whoever it was chose her own time to speak up and you didn’t have much say in the matter. «
    » She doesn’t do that often, « Granuaile said, brushing off her temporary possession as a minor irritation, as if it were a mosquito bite. » Usually she’s very polite about leaving me in control. «
    » A name. Give me a name. Who is she? «
    Before she could answer, Hal and Oberon entered the pub, both of them greeting me loudly, though only Hal could be heard and seen by everyone else. Oberon was still in camouflage, but I could see flashes of color shimmering rapidly in the air—he must have been wagging his tail like mad. Someone was bound to notice if that kept up; it wasn’t as if Rúla Búla was empty during the lunch hour.
    › Atticus! I’m so happy to see you! Werewolves have no sense of humor! ‹
    » Hi, Hal, « I waved, then switched mental gears for Oberon’s sake.
    I’m glad to sort of see you too, buddy. Go hide under the table of an empty booth really quick before someone sees your tail wagging and wonders if they’ve had too much to drink. I’ll come pet you and get some sausages for lunch. Be careful not to run into anyone .
    › Okay! Wow, I’ve missed you! ‹
    I told Granuaile we’d settle up later when I settled down for a nice long talk. She nodded and waved as I followed Hal to a booth where Oberon was waiting, his tail thumping loudly against the seat. People were looking around, wondering what was making the noise.
    » By Odin’s beard, get that hound to calm down, « Hal growled.
    » All right, I’m on it, « I said as we slid into the booth. I found Oberon’s head and began scratching him behind the ears.
    Okay, buddy, you need to calm down. Your tail is giving you away .
    › But I’m so excited to be with you again! You have no idea how bitchy werewolves can be! ‹
    I have a pretty good idea, believe me. And I appreciate your being good all that time. That’s why I’m getting you two orders of bangers and mash, but you need to chill out, because we’re starting to get unwanted attention .
    › OH! Okay! I’ll try! But it’s REALLY REALLY hard to chill! I want to play! ‹
    I know, but we can’t right now. Back up and trap your tail against the wall—there. Now, did you behave perfectly while you stayed with Hal?
    › Yes, I didn’t leave a single mark on his upholstery, and I didn’t break anything in his house either. ‹
    Aren’t you leaving something out? Hal told me you ripped up his air freshener .
    › I was doing him a favor! No self-respecting canine enjoys the smell of citrus! ‹
    Heh! You have a point. Quiet now, here comes the waitress .
    We ordered two plates of the finest fish and chips and two plates of bangers and mash for Oberon. The poor dog was about to go nuts—I really needed to let him run somewhere until he collapsed.
    » Thanks for your patience, Hal, « I said after the waitress left. » He’s just happy I’m still alive and all that. «
    » Snorri fixed you up, then? «
    » That and a night in the park worked wonders. I feel great. «
    » Try to feign some pain when the Tempe police see you, please. You have a bandage on your chest, I hope? «
    » No, but I can put one on if I need to. «
    Hal nodded. » I think it would be wise. It will be tough to press our suit if they see no evidence of you being shot the day after. «
    Hal reviewed with me what the security camera revealed—namely, that we had the most airtight case possible against the Tempe police for shooting a citizen for no probable cause—and we spent some time hashing out how to deal with police questions, the nature of the suit, and how much we’d ask for.
    » Look, I’m going to give you my instructions now, « I said.