Mercy Thompson 01-05 - THE MERCY THOMPSON COLLECTION

Well, I’m probably never going to be rich either.
    â€œOkay,” I said. “What kind of deal are we talking about?”
    â€œI called the Politzei ,” Zee said. He knew what Tony’s name was; he even liked him, though he did his best to hide it. He just disapproved of letting the human authorities get too close. He was right, too—but I don’t always follow the rules of wisdom. If I did, I wouldn’t be hauling two werewolves in my van.
    â€œWhat did he say?” I asked.
    â€œHe said that she has an older boy who’s been looking for work after school.”
    I let him say it; it was just too fun to listen to him squirm. He liked to play the gruff, nasty old man—but he had a marshmallow heart.
    â€œWith my Tad gone, you’re short a pair of hands.”
    And with Mac dead. I lost interest in teasing the old gremlin.
    â€œIt’s fine, Zee. If you talk to her, you can tell her that her son can work off the bill. If he works out, I’ll offer him Tad’s job. I assume you’ve already fixed the car?”
    â€œJa,” he said. “You’ll have to talk to the lady yourself, though, unless you need me tomorrow, too. She works day shift.”
    â€œNo, I won’t need you. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I’ll leave the shop closed—if you would remember to put up a sign in the window.”
    â€œNo problem.” He hesitated. “I might have a lead for you on Jesse. I was just getting ready to call you. One of the fae who is still in hiding told me she might be able to help, but she wouldn’t tell me without talking to you.”
    â€œStill in hiding” meant either that the Gray Lords hadn’t noticed her yet, or that she was of the terrible or powerful sort.
    This time it was Adam who growled. Such are the joys of trying to have a private phone call in the presence ofwerewolves. Somehow it didn’t bother me so much when I was the eavesdropper.
    â€œWe’re about an hour out of town,” I said. “Could you set up a meeting tonight at a place of her choice?”
    â€œAll right,” he said, and hung up.
    â€œYou caught all of that?” I asked them.
    â€œAdam can’t go,” Samuel said firmly. “No, Adam, you know it yourself.”
    Adam sighed. “All right. I even agree I’m not fit to be on my own—but I want Mercy there. We can call Darryl and—”
    Samuel held up a hand. “Mercy,” he said, “what caused you to bring Adam all the way to Montana rather than calling on his pack for help?”
    â€œIt was stupid,” I said.
    â€œMaybe, but tell us anyway.”
    â€œI was trying to get in touch with Darryl, and I suddenly felt uneasy. I remembered a snippet of conversation between Ben and Darryl earlier that night, but in retrospect it wasn’t much.”
    â€œWhat were Ben and Darryl doing talking to you?” asked Adam in that mild voice he used to cozen people into thinking he wasn’t angry.
    â€œI can take care of myself, Adam,” I told him. “I was taking the trash out and ran into them. All Darryl did was tell Ben to leave me alone. He said, ‘Not now.’ I don’t know why I decided it meant he knew that something was going to happen.”
    â€œFirst you felt uneasy,” said Samuel. “Then you came up with this stupid reason.”
    â€œYes.” I felt my face flush.
    â€œHow do you feel about his pack now?”
    I opened my mouth, then shut it again. “Damn it. Something’s wrong. I don’t think Adam should go to the pack until he can defend himself.”
    Samuel settled back with a small, smug smile.
    â€œWhat?” I asked.
    â€œYou noticed something,” Adam said. “A scent or something at my house that makes you think someone from mypack is involved. Instincts.” He sounded grim. “I thought it was odd that they came so soon after my wolves left.”
    I shook my head. “Look, I don’t know anything.”
    â€œWe’re not going to kill anyone,” said Samuel. “Not on the basis of your instincts, anyway—but what’s the harm in being careful? Call your friend back. We’ll see to his information tomorrow, when Adam has enough control to be on his own.”
    â€œNo,” said Adam.
    â€œDamned if I will.” It felt odd not to be arguing with Adam. “The faster we find Jesse, the better.”
    â€œI