Mercy Thompson 01-05 - THE MERCY THOMPSON COLLECTION

conclusion that since coming out is inevitable—it is imperative to control how it is done.”
    See? Werewolves are control freaks.
    â€œHow many people . . . how many wolves know about this?” I asked.
    There was a pause. “This is pertinent to the attack on Adam?”
    â€œI believe so, yes.”
    â€œMost of the wolves here would know,” he said. “I haven’t been keeping it a secret. Next month at the Conclave I am going to make a general announcement.”
    He didn’t say anything more, just waited for me to tell him what I’d been thinking. It was pure speculation, and I was opening myself up to ridicule by saying anything at all. I sat on that stool and realized that I had my loyalties, too. I was not a werewolf, but Bran was still my Marrok. I had to warn him.
    â€œI have no proof,” I told him. “Just a theory.” And I told him what I thought had happened and why.
    â€œI don’t have any idea who it is,” I told the silence at the other end of the line. “Or if I’m right.”
    â€œIf it is a werewolf who is unhappy about revealing himself to humans, it seems odd that there would be humans working with him,” Bran said, but he didn’t say it like he thought my theory was stupid.
    I’d almost forgotten about the humans. “Right. And I don’t have much of an explanation about the drug tests that Mac told us about either—other than maybe they were worried about dosage or side effects. Paying for new-made werewolves seems like a lot of risk with very little benefit.”
    â€œWhen two wolves are fighting, having one of them drugged could greatly influence the outcome,” said Bran. “I like your theory, Mercedes. It isn’t perfect, but it feels like you’re on the right trail.”
    â€œHe wouldn’t have to worry about the loyalties of humans,” I said, thinking out loud.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œAdam says that one of the wolves who attacked his house was someone he knew, a wolf who shared his rebirth.”
    â€œDavid Christiansen.”
    â€œYes.” It didn’t surprise me that the Marrok would know who I was talking about. Bran managed to give the impression that he knew every werewolf anywhere personally. Maybe he did.
    â€œDavid works with humans,” Bran said slowly. “But not with other werewolves. I wouldn’t have thought he would ever be a part of a plot that included rape—Changes like that experienced by your Alan MacKenzie Frazier. Still it is something to consider. I’ll call Charles and see what he makes of it.”
    â€œHe’s still in Chicago?”
    â€œYes. You were right; it was Leo. Apparently his salary wasn’t enough to support the kind of living he wanted to enjoy.” Bran’s voice sounded neutral. “He didn’t know the wolf he sold the young victims like your Alan MacKenzie Frazier to—there were six of them altogether. He didn’t know what they wanted the young ones for, either. Stupid of him. The Alpha’s second is the one who set up the deal, but Charles is having difficulty getting any more information out of the second because he has left town. It may take us a while to find him. The rest of the pack seems to have been unaware of what was going on, but we are breaking them up anyway.”
    â€œBran? If you hear from Samuel or Adam, will you tell them to call me?”
    â€œI’ll do that,” he said gently and hung up.

chapter 13
    I was in no mood for working on the Beetle after talking to Bran, so I closed up shop and went home. Bran had thought my ideas had merit, which was all well and good, except it did not answer the tightness in my belly that told me I should have gotten a call by now. My nose had told me that Adam hadn’t found Jesse at the empty house in West Richland, but it didn’t tell me where they’d gone afterward.
    I paused again on my porch at the smell of death that still lingered there. I decided Elizaveta Arkadyevna was punishing me for not telling her what was going on. I’d have to clean the porch myself or be reminded of Mac’s death every time I walked in my house for the next few months.
    I opened the door, still thinking of Mac, and realized what else my senses had been trying to tell me a moment too late. All I had time to do was drop my chin so that the man who’d been standing behind the door didn’t get