The Sookie Stackhouse Companion

to touch the side of one of the fallen dogs. Flies were swarming now, and though I hadn’t noticed their buzzing before, it droned in my ears. His dark eyes met mine, and I shivered. I was glad we were on the same side.
    “I have to go back to the house and tell them,” I said. “What will happen at the wedding if people are this determined to do them harm?”
    “That’s the big question, isn’t it?” Trish said. She was pulling herself together. “Quinn says you’re a friend of the shifters and the vampires though you’re human.”
    I saw Quinn twitch out of the corner of my eye.
    “But you’re not completely human, right?” Trish persisted.
    “No, ma’am.” My bloodline wasn’t exactly her concern, I figured, so I stopped at that.
    “If you’re Sam’s friend, you’re special already,” she said, nodding to indicate she’d made a quick decision. I felt absurdly pleased. “Well, Sookie, Togo roams through every few weeks, and he and I are the scandal of the county. I’ve known Quinn, here, for years. Together, maybe we can hold back this hatred long enough for the young people to get married. After the wedding’s over, I’m hoping like hell that feeling dies down and things go back to normal.”
    “Did you come out?” I asked. “With the other wereanimals?”
    “This town’s always thought I was a wild card, and no one was that surprised.” Trish smiled broadly. “Bernie—she shocked everyone because she always seemed like Hannah Housewife; she and her first husband had such a great marriage, such good kids. Then, after she married Don . . . That was the trouble, Don’s going nuts like that. His reaction was so violent and public, though I don’t think he was in his right mind. Look, let’s get out of here. All of this is making me sick.”
    I glanced at Quinn, and he nodded. “Togo and I’ll come back later and dig a pit,” he said, answering a question I hadn’t wanted to ask.
    To my surprise, Togo brought out a digital camera and began taking pictures. “My brothers and sisters need to know,” he told me when he saw me watching. “This is to post on our own websites.”
    This just got more and more interesting.
    “I’ve got to get back. I’m sorry I can’t help you clean up,” I said, which was a total lie. I was hugely relieved to have good reason to avoid burying the poor dogs. “Where are the cats?” I asked, struck by the fact that all the corpses were canine.
    “I keep the cats at my place, thank God,” Trish said, and I could only say Amen to that.
    I walked back through the little building. When I got to the parking lot, I leaned against Sam’s truck. The awfulness of the morning rolled over me again like a heavy wave. It was abominable that someone had slaughtered innocent dogs in a vicious attempt to ruin a day that should be happy. I felt the swell of a huge anger. I’d always had a slow temper. I didn’t get really angry very often. But when I did, I did it right and proper. Since my time in the hands of the fae, my control over that anger seemed to have slipped. The second wave, the weight of my rage, threatened to pull me under. I’m not myself, I thought distantly.
    It took a moment for the feeling to pass. When I was sure I was in control, I opened the door of the truck, dreading my return to the Merlotte house with the burden of my bad news.
    What a lousy, rotten way to start the day.
    “Sookie,” Quinn said, and I turned to show him my face. I paused with one foot on the running board.
    “All right,” he said carefully. “I get it that you’re way upset now, and so am I. But I’ve got to talk to you sometime.”
    “I understand,” I said with equal care. “And we’ll try to make the chance. Putting all personal issues aside, I’m glad you’re here. Sam’s family is up against more than we know. You’re willing to help?” My eyes were telling him I’d think less of him if he wasn’t.
    “Yes,” he said, surprised. “Of course I’ll help. Trish will put out a bulletin on the Web. It’s probably too late for much of anyone to come, since Wright’s out in the middle of nowhere, but we’ll all help. And I’m putting personal problems aside. For now.” I looked up into his eyes, and I read in his head that he was serious, determined, and unswerving.
    “I’d better go,” I said. “You know where Bernie lives?”
    “Yeah, we followed you at a distance. You spotted us, right? I hope you didn’t call Eric.”
    I was a