Mercy Thompson 01-05 - THE MERCY THOMPSON COLLECTION

people might think it odd that Warren is Adam’s best friend, though Darryl is higher-ranking. But they are heroes, both of them, two peas in a pod—well, except Adam isn’t gay.
    The rest of the pack weren’t all happy when Warren came in. It helped a little that most of Adam’s wolves are even younger than he, and the last few decades have seen a vast improvement over the rigid Victorian era. Then, too, none of the pack wanted to take on Adam. Or Warren.
    Warren didn’t care what the rest of the wolves thought, just that he had a pack, a place to belong. If Warren needed friends, he had me and he had Adam. It was enough for him.
    Warren would never betray Adam. Without Adam, he would no longer have a pack.
    â€œI’ll give him a call,” I said with relief.
    He picked up on the second ring, “Warren, here. Is this you, Mercy? Where have you been? Do you know where Adam and Jesse are?”
    â€œAdam was hurt,” I said. “The people who did it took Jesse.”
    â€œTell him not to let anyone else know,” said Samuel.
    â€œWho was that?” Warren’s tone was suddenly cool.
    â€œSamuel,” I told him. “Bran’s son.”
    â€œIs this a coup?” Warren asked.
    â€œNo,” answered Adam from the backseat. “At least not on Bran’s part.”
    â€œExcuse me,” I said. “But this is my phone call. Would you all please pretend that it is a private conversation? That includes you, Warren. Quit listening to the other people in my van.”
    â€œAll right,” agreed Warren. Having heard Adam, his voice relaxed into its usual lovely south Texas drawl. “How are you today, Mercy?” he asked sweetly, but as he continued his voice became gradually sharper. “And have you heard the startling news that our Alpha’s house was broken into and he and his daughter disappeared? That the only clue is the phone message left on the damned Russian witch’s phone? A message that she has refused to let anyone else listen to? Rumor has it that the message is from you, and no one can find you either.”
    Samuel leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and said, “Tell him you’ll explain when we get there.”
    I smiled sweetly. “I’m doing better all the time, Warren. Thank you for asking. Montana is nice, but I don’t recommend a November vacation unless you ski.”
    â€œHaven’t put on skis for twenty years,” murmured Warren, sounding a little happier. “Has Adam taken up skiing during this jaunt of yours to Montana?”
    â€œHe has skis,” I said, “but his health wasn’t up to it this time. I brought back a doctor, but the two of us found out that we need to go out tonight and were wondering if you were up for a little nursing.”
    â€œGlad to,” said Warren. “I don’t work tonight, anyway. Did you say Jesse’s been kidnapped?”
    â€œYes. And for right now, we need you to keep it under your hat.”
    â€œI drove by your houses on the way back from work this morning,” Warren said slowly. “There’s been a lot of activity there. I think it’s just the pack watching, but if you want to avoid them, maybe you all ought to spend the night at my place.”
    â€œYou think it’s the pack?” asked Adam.
    Warren snorted. “Who’d call and talk to me about it? Darryl? Auriele called to tell me you were missing, but without you, the women are mostly left out of the business, too. The rest of the pack is supposed to be keeping their eyes out for you—all three of you—but that’s all I know. How long do you need to keep them in the dark?”
    â€œFor a day or two.” Adam’s voice was neutral, but the words would tell Warren all he needed to know.
    â€œCome to my house. I don’t think that anyone except you and Mercy even know where I live. I’ve got enough room for all of you—unless there are a couple of people who haven’t spoken up.”
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    Each of the Tri-Cities has its own flavor, and it is in Richland that the frenzy of the dawn of the nuclear age has pressed most firmly. When the government decided to build weapons-grade plutonium here, they had to build a town, too. So scattered over the city are twenty-six types of buildings designed to house the workers for the nuclear industry. Each kind of house was given a letter designation beginning with A