Marked In Flesh

CHAPTER 16

Windsday, Juin 13

“Pull into the customer parking lot,” Monty told Officer Debany. Kowalski was taking a couple of personal days to move into the two-family house across from the Courtyard, so Debany was standing in as Monty’s driver and partner.

Many police officers in the Chestnut Street station supported the idea of cooperating with the Others, of keeping things peaceful with the beings who controlled most of the world and had the final say in what happened to humans living in Lakeside. But being supportive wasn’t the same as being willing to stand on the front line and interact with the terra indigene on a daily basis—especially when family members could be ostracized by their friends and neighbors because of the officer’s decision. That was a real possibility—as Louis Gresh and his family well knew. So far no one had stepped forward to be Michael Debany’s new partner and the fourth member of the team assigned to deal with the Lakeside Courtyard.

Monty didn’t know what to do about that. Apparently, neither did Captain Burke. Or maybe Burke, understanding that the assignment wasn’t just about another officer in the patrol car, didn’t want another personality added to the mix right now because in the back of the minds of the officers who were already closely involved with the Others was a single word: extinction.

The other concern about assigning a new officer left a bad taste in Monty’s mouth, but he had to acknowledge the truth: they couldn’t afford to have an officer who belonged to the Humans First and Last movement infiltrating the Courtyard and spying on the Others so that the HFL leaders could plan effective attacks.

As he and Debany walked to Howling Good Reads, Monty paused and studied the two-family house. “How is the move going? Wasn’t Karl picking up his furniture and possessions yesterday?” He’d heard what happened with Ruth; he wondered if things had been that bad for Karl.

Debany hesitated. “Karl’s parents aren’t bad people. Lawrence and I and a few other officers were at a cookout at their house last summer, and it was great. But now they’re blaming Karl’s assignment for everything from the butcher selling the last pot roast before Mrs. K. got to the shop to the price of gasoline. His brother, Tim, was halfway drunk when Karl got to the house yesterday morning, and abusive because of it. Karl wasn’t getting any help loading the furniture—and some of that stuff you really couldn’t lift alone. Then Henry and Blair drove up in the pickup. Didn’t say anything; just loaded furniture in the back of the pickup while Karl packed the van with boxes. Then they drove off.”

“Did Karl’s parents say anything about the terra indigene helping out?”

Another hesitation. “Probably, but he won’t talk about it.”

Monty kept his eyes focused on the building across the street. Gods, his men were taking an emotional beating for doing what they knew would help everyone in the city. “What about you and your family?”

“My folks are worried, especially after Lawrence was killed at the stall market, but they’re supportive. They’ve taken some flak about me being a Wolf lover, which ticked them off.” Debany gave Monty a sheepish smile. “My sister wants a job where she can ride a horse and work with animals, so she keeps asking about the River Road Community—what sort of job skills are they looking for, when are they taking applications.”

“Why don’t you talk to Roger Czerneda? As a fellow officer, he might have more information and be willing to tell you something.” Monty sighed. “Well, let’s hope that Karl’s and Ruth’s families come around.”

“Karl’s not holding his breath.” Another hesitation. “They postponed the wedding.”

He had wondered why nothing had been said lately but thought Karl and Ruthie had just decided to keep the ceremony private and have a party to celebrate once they moved to their new place.

“I don’t think their families were going to show up anyway,” Debany added.

It made his heart heavy to hear that—and it made him wonder if his mother and sister coming to Lakeside was such a good idea.

As he started to turn toward Howling Good Reads, Monty realized the For Sale signs were gone from the front yards of the two stone apartment buildings on either side of the two-family—confirmation that the Courtyard’s purchase of the buildings was going through. So far there had been no protests about the Others owning property outside of the Courtyard, but sooner or later someone would make that bit of information available to the TV and radio news. Monty suspected that the current owner of the apartment buildings wanted his money before he started stirring things up.

“Why don’t you pick up something at A Little Bite, get a feel for anything that might become a problem,” Monty said.

“Yes, sir. Are we talking about human problems?”

“Anything and everything.” He wanted to talk to Kowalski about things that weren’t being said. But first he needed a word with Simon Wolfgard.

Debany went into A Little Bite. Monty went into Howling Good Reads. The Residents Only sign was on the door, but he was, for the time being, a temporary resident, so he went in. Kowalski, dressed in sweat-darkened T-shirt and cutoff denim shorts, stood at the display table in the front of the store, reading the cover copy of a book. He looked up when Monty walked in.

“Aren’t you supposed to be arranging furniture?” Monty asked. Karl looked a little strained, but Monty couldn’t tell if that was because of family pressures or from moving into a new place.

“Oh, please,” Kowalski groaned. “How many times can you move one piece of furniture?”

Monty smiled. “That’s a trick question.”

“Yes, it is, especially since Ruthie is working today, interacting with the guest Wolves. Pete Denby and I are the muscle, and Eve Denby is supervising the placement of the big pieces based on notes Ruthie left with her, but Eve is a bit distracted because Jester Coyotegard is in the downstairs apartment watching the three kids. The third time she told us to move the couch because we’d put it in the wrong place—which meant putting it back where we’d had it the first time—Pete and I rebelled. That’s why we have a thirty-minute break. Plus, Eve has to negotiate with Jester on his choice of babysitting activities. He’s been teaching the kids to howl.”

Monty sighed. One of those children was Lizzy.

“Kowalski.” Nathan walked up to them, trailed by a teenage boy who was dressed in a short-sleeve pullover shirt, jeans, and sneakers. The boy clutched some paper in one hand and looked ready to bolt.

One of the guests, Monty decided. Nothing obvious about the boy’s looks, except the amber eyes, but he couldn’t quite pass for human.

“Nathan,” Kowalski replied, smiling at the enforcer and then at the boy.

“Kowalski is a police officer.” Nathan turned his head enough to make it clear he was addressing the young Wolf, but he kept his eyes on Kowalski and Monty. “He is not in uniform today.”

“Officer Debany is in A Little Bite if you want to see an officer in uniform,” Monty said.

Nathan nodded, then focused on Kowalski as he pointed at the paper. “We have a question.”

Kowalski held out a hand. After a moment’s hesitation the boy gave him the paper, which had been folded to make a four-page document.

Monty moved closer when he saw the banner for the Courtyard’s newsletter. The majority of the newsletter that Lorne Kates printed each week held lists of new books and movies that were available, as well as what movies were being shown in the social room located in each gard’s complex.

“It’s on the inside,” Nathan said.

Kowalski opened the newsletter. “The ‘Others Etiquette’ column?”

Nathan nodded, then tipped his head toward the juvenile Wolf. “He wants to know if that’s true.”

Monty read over Kowalski’s shoulder.

Dear Ms. Know-It-All:

Last night a human female invited me for dinner and some four-play. (It turned out to be two-play since no one else showed up.) After dinner she wanted to sit in the back of her car to play. Since this was my first social interaction with a human, I was trying to be polite, so I didn’t point out that the nearby field provided a lot more room to run around. I also didn’t point out that she didn’t have any toys. Anyway, she started patting me with her hands and licking at my mouth. When she put her tongue in my mouth, I thought she was hungry despite having just eaten a large dinner. So I obliged and gave her a mouthful of pre-chewed food.

After she got done spitting and screaming, she told me to get out of the car. Then she drove off, and I had to walk home.

Why did she do that?

Signed,

Baffled Wolf

Dear Baffled,

One of the challenges of interspecies relationships is that a particular gesture or signal can mean two very different things. As a Wolf, you responded as you would to a puppy who licked your mouth: you provided food, and your confusion about her reaction is quite natural. However, humans do the licking and tongue maneuvers as play to stimulate the urge to mate. So your companion wasn’t asking for food; she was sending out an invitation to experiment with the first stages of sex. That is what she meant by foreplay. (This is not the same as four who are playing, although Ms. Know-It-All’s research indicates that humans sometimes do that too.)

The Dimwit’s Guide to the Female Mind might assist your efforts in understanding human females. But it must be pointed out that this subject can be a dangerous adventure and should be undertaken with extreme caution. After all, human males have been trying to understand their females for generations, and most of the time they come away from these encounters looking like someone stuck their tails into an electric socket.

Kowalski kept making sounds like something was stuck in his throat. Finally, he managed, “Yeah.” He handed the newsletter back to the boy. “Yeah, that’s true.”

The boy looked at the newsletter, said “Huh,” and walked over to the archway that led into A Little Bite.

Nathan gave the men a nod, then followed the boy.

“The Dimwit’s Guide to the Female Mind?” Monty asked. “Is that a real book?”

“They have one for sale here, and there’s one in the Market Square Library. That one’s been chewed on, so I think someone tried to read it.”

“Have you read it?”

Kowalski choked on a laugh. “Gods, Lieutenant.”

Monty took that to mean no. “You’re getting moved in across the street?” He knew the answer, but the question was an invitation for Karl to tell him some of the things that were going unsaid.

The momentary light mood vanished as if it had never been. Kowalski gave him a look, then focused on the display table, his back to the checkout counter.

Nobody in sight, but that didn’t always mean much with the Others.

“We went to MacDonald’s house this morning to pick up Ruthie’s things,” Kowalski said quietly. “Eve Denby busted ass to get the apartment cleaned and painted for us, and we’ll help her and Pete do the same in the downstairs apartment. Simon Wolfgard came through with his promise to fetch their personal possessions from their old place in the Midwest. The terra indigene in that area packed everything they could, starting with the things that the Denbys had indicated were most important.”

“Personal things,” Monty said just as quietly.

Kowalski nodded. “A lot was left behind. Big stuff like the appliances. Couch. Mattresses.”

Monty understood the outlay of cash that would be required to start over. He was looking at the same. His ex-lover, Elayne, had kept all the furnishings they had bought for the apartment they had shared in Toland. Elayne’s brother had been found dead, and her mother was still listed as missing, so he wasn’t sure who would have to deal with the liquidation of Elayne’s estate.

He supposed Lizzy was now Elayne’s next of kin. He should have a chat with Pete Denby soon to make sure Lizzy’s interests were protected.

“Has Eve or Pete Denby talked to you about registering Lizzy for school in the fall?”

“No.” Monty studied his partner. “Is there something I should know?”

“Eve went to talk to the principal of the school that Sarah and Robert should be attending next fall.”

Monty felt a chill. “Should be?”

“She was told that her offspring had no right to use up resources needed for proper humans.”

“How did they know she wasn’t a proper human?”

“She gave them her new address. I think the school administrators were waiting for the opportunity to reject Eve’s children and use them as a test case for refusing any children whose parents were Wolf lovers.”

“They can’t do that,” Monty protested. “It’s not a private school. We’re talking about a public school run by the city.”

“Ruthie saw a small article in the Lakeside News about a vote that’s about to be taken to privatize all schools. If that happens, they will be able to choose who is admitted.”

“Gods above and below.” Another twist of an emotional knife. How many parents would become members of the HFL if that was the only way their children could be educated?

“Thought you should know,” Kowalski said.

“I appreciate the heads-up.”

“I’d better pay for this book and get back to work before Eve comes looking for me.”

“I’ll see you at the station tomorrow,” Monty said.

“I’m so ready to come back.”

Monty smiled. His smile widened when he heard Simon Wolfgard’s voice coming closer.

“The library is a place where you can borrow books your Courtyard or pack has purchased for everyone to read,” Simon said as he entered the front part of the store, followed by five Wolves. “But a bookstore like Howling Good Reads is where you buy books you want to keep for yourself instead of giving them back.” He walked behind the checkout counter and looked at Kowalski.

“Just this one today.” Kowalski set the book on the counter, then pulled his wallet out of the back pocket of his cutoffs.

“What book did the human buy?” one of the Wolves asked, looking at Simon.

Kowalski held up the book so the Wolves could see the cover.

“Alan Wolfgard wrote that book.”

“Yes. I enjoy his stories.”

The Wolves stared at Kowalski before venturing another comment. “There are bad humans in his stories.”

“Sometimes there are bad humans in stories written by humans,” Kowalski countered.

Another long stare before the Wolves looked at Simon.

“I can show you some of the authors who write those kinds of stories,” Simon said. “Lieutenant Montgomery?”

“A minute of your time, if you can spare it,” Monty said.

Simon nodded before leading the pack of guests to the shelves that had the thrillers. Kowalski waved and left.

“Looks like you’re busy,” Monty said when Simon returned to the counter.

“I am. We are.” Simon paused. “No one had considered that the gaggle of girls would have as many questions as the Addirondak Wolves.”

“Gaggle?”

“It doesn’t sound as dangerous as ‘female pack,’” Simon grumbled. “And Charlie Crowgard arrived last night to visit for a couple of days. We got to hear his song about Teakettle Woman and Broomstick Girl. Charlie told the Wolves that the song was based on Meg and Merri Lee thwarting an attack here in the Courtyard, and that Merri Lee was Teakettle Woman. After that, none of the Wolves wanted to get near her while she was holding a coffeepot.”

Monty laughed. Dealing with the Others was dangerous work, no mistake about that, but the absurd moments like a column in a newsletter or the reaction to a song gave him hope that humans and the terra indigene could still find a way to work together. Then he sobered. “I’m here to ask a favor on Captain Burke’s behalf.”

“What kind of favor?”

“His cousin is visiting for a few days. Shady Burke assisted in bringing some special girls safely to land.” The Others had diverted a ship bound for Cel-Romano that had cassandra sangue as part of its cargo, bringing the “lost” ship to Brittania. Shady had participated in the girls’ rescue.

“I remember.”

“Shady would appreciate an opportunity to interact with some of the terra indigene to better his own ability to work with them when he returns home.”

No response. Then, “Different forms live in different parts of Namid. The Shady Burke may not meet the same forms here. Although the Crowgard may live in Brittania. They live in many places.”

“He understands that. But Shady has never seen a Courtyard.”

A thoughtful silence. “Charlie Crowgard is going to play some music tonight in the Market Square. Theral is going to play some songs on her fiddle. This would be a good time for Captain Burke and his kin to come to the Courtyard. They could have food at Meat-n-Greens.”

And be another kind of entertainment? Monty thought. “I’ll let them know.”

“Simon?” a Wolf called out.

Monty didn’t move aside to let Simon vault over the counter to talk to his guests about books.

“Something else?” Simon asked.

Did he really want to ask? Was there a choice? “My mother is going to spend some time here with me, helping me look after Lizzy. And my sister and her two children may join her for a visit.”

Those amber Wolf eyes studied him. “Is that your whole pack?”

“I have a brother, but we haven’t heard from him in a while.”

“Simon?” the Wolf called again.

“I’ll be there in a minute.”

Monty couldn’t even guess what Simon was thinking. A Wolf pack might be quite comfortable in a one-bedroom apartment, but it wouldn’t work for three human adults and three children.

“Where is your mother now?” Simon asked.

“She lives in Toland. So does my sister.”

A long silence. Monty could hear someone talking behind the shelves. Someone else must be helping the Wolves.

“Humans have important papers,” Simon said, not looking at him. “Things they need to keep.”

“Yes.”

“Your mother and sister. They should come soon, and they should bring the important papers with them.”

“They don’t need to bring such things for a visit,” Monty said, smiling. But that was a good thought if his mother was going to relocate to Lakeside.

Simon looked at him. “They should come soon, Lieutenant, and they should bring whatever is most important to them.”

Another chill went through Monty. This wasn’t a misunderstanding about what humans brought when they visited someone. This was a veiled warning.

Simon walked away from the checkout counter and disappeared among the shelves.

Monty went into A Little Bite and bought a cup of coffee. Instead of taking it with him as he usually did, he sat at a table near the window, ignoring Debany’s puzzled looks.

Typical of Simon to give him a veiled warning. But the message was clear enough: get your family out of Toland because something is going to happen soon.

If it hasn’t already started, Monty thought, remembering the news report about dead fish washing ashore around Toland and two other East Coast cities.

He finished his coffee, brought his cup over to the counter, then signaled for Debany to join him as he left A Little Bite.

“Where to, Lieutenant?” Debany started the patrol car.

“Back to the station. No.” Monty got out of the car. “Wait here. I have to make a phone call. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Monty went up to the efficiency apartment, where he would have privacy. Pulling out his mobile phone, he called his sister’s residence and wasn’t surprised when his mother answered.

“Mama? It’s Crispin.”

“Crispin? Are you all right? Why are you calling at this time of day?”

“I’m fine, Mama.” Monty took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m fine. But I need you to listen very carefully.”