Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance (4 page)

light. The surrounding aspen grove lay in murky darkness,

giving off a surreal sense of foreboding.

With a sigh brought on by fatigue, Laura retrieved her

luggage and carried it to the front door. She found it secured

with an old, rusty padlock. Laura fumbled with the key hoping

it would indeed open the lock. Fortunately, the lock had been

opened recently and turned with no problem. When the

creaking door swung open, Laura was met by thick darkness.

Laura blindly made her way through the room until coming

to a lamp. She switched it on and the room was filled with the

dim glow of false light. The living room was sparsely

furnished, but what furnishing there was looked antique. A

large stone fireplace took up one whole wall, but since it was

summer, she figured she wouldn't have need of it during her

stay.

Satisfied that her accommodations were adequate, Laura

retrieved her bags from the porch where she'd left them

before entering. After locating the bedroom she began to

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unpack. Pulling open the top drawer she was startled to see

that it was full of men's underclothes. Puzzled, she checked

the rest of the drawers and found that they all contained

clothes.

Laura checked the cabinet as well, and was not surprised

when she found clothes hanging in it too. Judging from their

size, she guessed that the clothes were Mitchell's.

Why had he left without his clothes?

Had he ever left

The unbidden thought crept into her head, filling her with

apprehension. Laura was becoming queasier about this

Beaver Creek job by the minute. Somewhere out in the

darkness, a wolf howled and a tingling sensation crawled

across her skin.

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30

Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance

by Lorraine Kennedy

As soon as she walked through the door, Laura opened all

the windows, hoping to air out the musty odor that plagued

the office. She took several bottles of cleaning agents from a

paper sack and went to work.

It was just before lunch when Jessup finally made his

appearance. He was covered from head to toe in Wyoming

dust when he came through the door.

"Hello." Laura climbed down from the stool she had been

standing on while cleaning the windows.

He mumbled something totally inaudible as he walked

through the office and down the hall to the restroom. Laura

heard the water running along with a few loud curses.

Jessup was drying his face with a small hand towel when

he came back into the office. Mindless of Laura's work, he

tossed the wet towel onto his freshly cleaned desk.

Jessup's expression was grim when he finally spoke to her.

"Had two more men run off last night."

"What do you mean?"

"They're just gone. They didn't show up this morning and

now we're short again."

"Hmm." Laura bit at her bottom lip as she contemplated

the problem.

"You'll be needing to get us some more men." Jessup

plopped into the chair behind his desk.

"I'll get on it right after lunch."

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"Just make sure you get someone here. I don't intend to

spend all day tomorrow in the field." A slight smile brightened

his weary face. "It's days like today that let a body know

when they have made it over the hill."

Laura returned his smile and nodded. Abruptly her

dilemma the night before jumped into her thoughts. "Why

would Mitchell leave all his clothes behind?"

Jessup was clearly startled by her question. "I don't know.

Why do you ask?"

"I'm renting the cabin that he occupied while he was here,

and last night when I went to unpack, I found all his clothes

still there. It's as if he never left."

Jessup leaned back in his chair and stared out the window,

mulling over what she had just told him. "Maybe it's time we

go to the police?" His grim mood was evident in his voice.

"What do you think could have happened to him?" Laura's

eyes mirrored her nervousness.

"Don't know, but I've had a gut feeling all along that Dan

wasn't doing things on the straight and narrow with this deal.

It's possible he may have had to get out in a hurry."

Laura smiled, attempting to reassure herself as much as

him. "I'll make a trip to

Acton to check on the temp services ... if you'll be kind

enough to have lunch with me in that wonderful little saloon

in Brantic City." Laura didn't relish her time alone as of late

and having Jessup's company for a while would be pleasantly

refreshing.

The duo occupied a corner table in the dimly lit saloon.

Laura savored each bite of the barbequed meat and potato

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Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance

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salad. She'd ordered the house special and was glad that she

did. Using a paper napkin, Laura wiped away a trace of sauce

from her mouth and resisted the impulse to order more.

She let out a deep sigh of regret, but it had been too easy

to overindulge in the last few weeks.

"Girl, you really must have been hungry," Jessup

commented.

Laura smiled. "My appetite has gotten out of hand lately. It

must be all the fresh air here."

"That ... and hard work will do it to you." He shoved the

last bite of salad into his mouth.

The brassy sound of a bell alerted them of someone

entering the building. Laura's breath caught in her throat

when her eyes fell on the man who came through the door.

His mere presence filled the room with some form of vibrant

power—at least that is what Laura's senses were picking up.

Though he was nowhere near their table, she felt

overwhelmed by his nearness. Justin removed his mirrored

glasses and seemingly took in everything with scarcely a

glance. His eyes rested on Laura for only a fraction of a

second. It was the only sign he gave of recognition.

In that short span of time, Laura felt those odd colored

eyes pull at something buried deep inside her. They were the

darkest eyes she had ever seen, but with a strange golden

sheen in them that made them appear to radiate light.

Justin took a seat at the bar and it was obvious that his

presence set the Nugget's patrons on edge. A few people got

up and left, casting nervous glances over their shoulders. This

didn't seem to faze Justin in the least.

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As she served him a beer, Olivia Lambert's face was set in

an emotionless mask. It was only her eyes that darted about

nervously.

Justin placed some money on the bar. Picking up his glass,

he turned around, his eyes coming to rest on Laura. A hint of

a smile played on his lips as he made his way to where she

and her boss were seated.

Justin pulled up a chair next to Laura and flashed her one

of his dazzling smiles. Jessup was obviously curious, but he

nodded politely to the stranger who sat at their table.

"So, Miss Ellison, did you take my advice and get your

vehicle repaired?" His exotic eyes seemed to be able to pull

her right into them.

"No ... ah ... I haven't gotten a chance yet, but I'm sure I'll

get around to it soon," Laura stammered, a little upset that

she found it impossible to muster as much nonchalance as he

appeared to possess.

The room felt as if it was charged with energy that only

she could feel. Laura wondered what it was about some guys

that could take a normally assertive woman, and turn her to

jelly. But that was not quite true. Scanning her memory,

Laura could not come up with a time that a man had ever

affected her in this way.

Justin drained his glass and set it on the table in front of

him. The smile he gave

Laura bordered on seductive.

"I sure hope so. I might not be there to rescue you next

time." He rose from the chair and walked to the door. Turning

back in Laura's direction, he nodded and then was gone.

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Jessup's gaze was full of questions, but all he said was,

"How about a drink before we leave?"

Laura nodded.

Jessup motioned to get Mrs. Lambert's attention. "Two

beers," he told her.

The woman brought two frosty mugs of beer to the table.

She was a little rougher with Laura's when setting it down.

Laura was not sure if it was just fancy that made it seem as if

the woman's eyes contained a little more hostility than what

they had a few moments before.

"How do you know Justin?" The woman's eyes narrowed on

Laura.

"I had some mechanical problems yesterday and he was

kind enough to help me." Laura thought the woman's

behavior was getting stranger by the moment.

Olivia's eyes widened as if the very idea shocked her. "He

did, huh?" She became quiet, as if she needed to think about

what Laura had just told her. "Well ... in any case, I'd steer

clear of him if I were you."

"Why's that?"

It appeared as if Mrs. Lambert wanted to tell her

something of some importance but changed her mind. "He's

just no good, that's all," she muttered instead.

Once they were back out in the bright midday sun, the

past few moments felt almost like a dream. Laura took a deep

breath hoping it would help to clear her head.

Jessup patted Laura on the back. "I wouldn't pay any mind

to her. She's probably just crazy. Most folks around here

seem to have a few screws loose."

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"I never noticed." Laura smiled.

Under different circumstances, Laura might have found it

enjoyable to be having a conversation with such an attractive

man, however, at the moment she found herself becoming

very angry.

"Sheriff, we have two people who have disappeared from

the same area at about the same time. I don't know about

you, but I find that a little strange. Isn't it about time that the

Sheriff's Department looked into this?"

His baby-blue eyes were full of skepticism. "If you will file

a missing person's report, we will do what we can. But really

Miss Ellison, the only problem there seems to be is that he is

a little late showing up at your corporate office. I really think

you might be jumping the gun a little," he winked at her.

Paul Moss often used his blond good looks and charming

smile to disarm suspects and witnesses alike, but it was not

working on this hellcat.

Laura glared at him. "Then explain to me Sheriff, why he

would leave all his personal belongings and skip out on the

rent he still owed for the cabin he was staying in? Not to

mention, the Chief of the Beaver Creek people is missing as

well."

Paul appeared a little agitated but he attempted another

smile. "Maybe your employee plans to come back. Did that

thought even cross your mind?" He was becoming very

impatient and wishing he could end this interview.

He thought about the fresh apple pie and coffee that

awaited him at the Cougar

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Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance

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Inn, and just maybe he could manage a few moments to

get to know that cute little waitress who just started work.

The thought brought a smile to Paul's lips.

Fire blazed in Laura's eyes. "Do you find something

amusing?" Her voice was like ice water, bringing him back to

the present. "I know where you are staying, Miss Ellison. I'll

be in touch as soon as I have any information." Paul stood,

letting her know that their meeting was at an end.

Lengthening shadows made the thick forest appear even

more foreboding than it already did. The further the road took

her into the mountains, the higher her tension mounted. She

had been under the impression that Beaver Creek was not

far, but maybe she had been wrong.

Her trip into Acton had produced no results. The

employment service had been as uncooperative as the sheriff

had been. They had politely told her that they would be

unable to place her with any employees because no one

wished to work for Duccini. The man whom she had talked

with had not put it in quite those words, but close.

Cresting a hilltop, Laura brought the Bronco to a stop.

Leaving the engine running she got out and scanned the area

for any sign of Beaver Creek. The road curved sharply to the

right, past a small cemetery that was enclosed by a very old

wrought-iron fence.

Sighing, she got back into the vehicle and continued until

reaching the cemetery. From here the road forked away from

the one she had been traveling, but there were no road signs.

The road veered off into the midst of thick pines that