"What's going on? Why are you looking for Mom? Isn't she at home?" Randy looked from Marcus to Nathan curiously.
"She stabbed Adele Evans earlier this evening, before running away as werewolf," Nathan said evenly. "If we find her, I'm afraid she will be questioned before facing werewolf justice."
"What?" Randy stared at Nathan in alarm. Werewolf justice meant one thing in a homicide or attempted homicide—death.
"You will return to Star Cove with us. If we have to place compulsion to keep you from warning your mother, we will do so. We will also place compulsion for you to reveal your mother's whereabouts, if that is known to you." Marcus' voice became a growl. Randy backed against the small island in his kitchen.
"But," he began.
"Randall, your mother attempted murder tonight, against someone we thought she cared for. We will find her and learn the truth of this. You will not interfere." Compulsion lay thick in Nathan's words.
* * *
Ashe couldn't sleep, so he pulled a book off a shelf and carried it to his bed. The Return of the King always made him feel better, somehow. He opened the book to a favorite chapter, and an envelope dropped out.
"What's this?" Ashe lifted the envelope with unsteady fingers. He was the only one who touched his books, and he certainly hadn't placed an envelope inside. The stationery was expensive, in a pale, cream color. Ashe lifted the flap, which wasn't sealed, and drew the single sheet of matching paper out.
You're welcome was written in lovely, handwritten script across the top.
Chapter 12
"Did you sleep at all, kid?" Trajan sat beside Ashe at breakfast the following morning. It was Saturday, and most people might be sleeping in or thinking about how to spend their weekend. Ashe only wanted to see his mother. To make sure she was all right—even if she failed to recognize him as her son.
"Not much. I read a book," Ashe replied.
"Young man, you should take better care of yourself," Flossie Thompson admonished before setting a bowl of oatmeal and a plate holding three link sausages in front of Ashe. "Want milk or juice, hon?"
"Milk," Ashe said, spooning brown sugar into his oatmeal. "Aren't you supposed to be off today, Mrs. Thompson?"
"I was, but Mr. Winkler called and asked me to do breakfast and lunch today. He explained what happened last night to Amos and me, so of course we'll help out."
"Thank you, Mrs. Thompson," Ashe nodded. "This is a better breakfast than a bowl of cold cereal."
"It is. Cold cereal is for late-night binges. Isn't it?" She smiled at Ashe.
"I always like it for that," Trajan laughed.
"Yeah." Ashe agreed. Trajan reached over and ruffled Ashe's hair.
* * *
Ashe was escorted to Star Cove by Ace, Trajan and Winkler. Winkler was in a grim mood, so Ashe didn't ask questions. He wanted to know when Andy's funeral might be. He wanted to know what was happening with Peyton Miller. Most of all, he wanted to know who'd hurt his mother and how Adele survived the ordeal. If Mr. Winkler knew anything, he wasn't sharing.
"She's sleeping." Sharon O'Neill met them at the door after Winkler parked his SUV in the Evans' driveway. Ashe stared at the dried blood on the carpet as he walked through the front door.
"That belongs to the Elemaiya," Winkler whispered. Ashe nodded and swallowed with difficulty.
"What did they do with them?" Ashe asked softly.
"Shirley's wolves picked them up, too."
Ashe didn't reply; he nodded instead. Mostly the house looked the same, except for the bloodstains on the foyer carpet and those on the stairs leading to the bedrooms. "There's a werewolf-owned carpet store in San Antonio. They're on their way," Trajan murmured next to Ashe's ear. "We'll have this out of here and new carpet laid before the day's out."
"Ashe, it's good to see you," Sharon O'Neill smiled at him. "You, too, Ace. Heard you had a bit of excitement your way last night as well."
"We did, Mrs. O'Neill," Ace nodded respectfully. "Is Wynn all right?"
"Wynnie's fine. She's probably having breakfast if you want to go visit."
"Go ahead," Winkler gave permission. Ace was through the door as fast as possible without appearing disrespectful.
* * *
Adele woke when her bedroom door creaked open. She was surprised to see Sharon O'Neill, closely followed by Winkler, Trajan and Ashe.
"Honey, where have you been?" Tears slipped down Adele's cheeks as she held her arms out to Ashe.
Ashe was beside her on the bed in seconds while Adele held him as tightly as she could. "Mom, what happened?" Ashe mumbled as he hugged her and wept.
"Honey," Adele let him go and leaned back to look at her son's face, "Dawn Smith showed up right after I got home from work last night. I thought she needed something. She stabbed me with something sharp and ran away. I can't explain any of this."
"Mr. Winkler," Ashe turned to Winkler and Trajan. "Dawn Smith is Zeke Tanner's informant. No, I don't have any of my stuff back yet," Ashe held up a hand. "I've known this for maybe a couple of weeks. Might have suspected before then, but suddenly it all came together. She was supposed to get caught with Josiah Dunnigan, but she punked out on him during the full moon."
"And you're telling us this now?" Winkler wanted to growl. He didn't.
"Because of Randy," Ashe hung his head. "Randy's always gotten a bad deal from the werewolf community. His dad died. I didn't want to take his mom away, too, unless she got caught in the act. I was hoping she'd finally turned things around, when she didn't participate in Dunnigan's attempt at murder. If I get my ability back, she's toast." Ashe clenched a hand in anger.
"Randy's here in the community, with a guard," Winkler sighed. "He's at his mother's house. Marcus has extra guards around the community, but Dawn probably won't be back. She'll face werewolf justice if we find her."
"Randy will lose his job," Ashe muttered, unclenching his hand.
"I'll have a state senator call the newspaper's owner. He'll still have a job when this is over. If he wants it."
"Yeah." Ashe knew Randy would likely get as far away as he could if the werewolves executed his mother.
"Mrs. Evans, Buck was wounded last night. He asked about you, first thing," Trajan said gently.
"That's awful." Adele brushed wisps of hair from her face with a sigh. "I was thinking about telling him it wasn't going to work. Ashe, do you know where your father is? I want to talk to him."