Animal Heart(54)
“Well I can't say I'd be sorry to be rid of Bill and Philomena Stevens... But to be honest, I don't want them dead! They're just pains in the ass. What if we go to Calgary or deep in the forest? Will they be safe?”
“You ain't listenin' man! She don't know about distance. They could be in London, Moscow, or Cairo. She'll get 'em. Mark my words. If she's like killer Liam. But she could be Mother fucking Theresa for all I know... And I don't know, do I? The only way we'll know for sure is to wait and look at the fallout tomorrow, because none of us are gonna be watching her, are we?”
Maddy sat in the truck, between their guest, big biker Cal, and Aden, feeling strangely relaxed and calm. She couldn't understand why the rest of them were so jittery. She had seen them concentrating hard, furrowing their brows deeply, and keeping back their urges to transform. Whatever being a shifter meant, it had positive aspects to it. She had no difficult issues with the moon cycles. At least, not yet.
On the other hand, it might be better if she did. It'd stop her from dwelling on things. Her parents mainly. She kept remembering painful little things about them. The way her mother took ages to apply her mascara and picked at her lashes with a pin to separate them. How her father lined his books in perfect size order on his bookshelf. Her mother's perfect pastry, she prided herself on that. No one could make pies like her mother. Shane and Aden would have loved her cherry pie and other silly little things. Like the special way she folded the towels in the bathroom. They curled over the towel hoop like cute little tulips. Her father's immaculate stripes on the front lawn. How he loved his scotch on the rocks and listening to his ghastly German brass band symphonies full blast. Those odd little things made them who they are. Or were. She felt their loss so badly. It hit her like a heavyweight punch in the gut. She suddenly burst into tears and didn't seem able to stop. Aden patted her leg lovingly and handed her a handful of tissues, as she bawled her eyes out and snuffled for the umpteenth time.
“Hey Maddy love. I'm so sorry for your pain. But I'll tell 'ya this. It'll pass, and ya'll remember the best things. Lost one of mine in the same way. A good few years back now. My pa was a big part of my life. Didn't think I'd ever get over it.” Cal gave her a quick hug that damn near squeezed every ounce of breath from her body.
“I know, I know... It's gonna take time. But I can't stop my tears. I fill up the minute I think about them.”
“Yeah. It's hard. Losin' both 'ya folks like that, honey. I feel for 'ya. Have a good cry, it'll help.”
She gradually quieted down and tried to think of other things. Anything, to take away the hurt.
They pulled into Ted's bar and they all piled out. Aden went in first. She'd noticed that already. He tended to lead the pack wherever they went.
Ted, the owner, called out in greeting.
“Hey... Guys!”
“Hiya Ted... Run a tab will you. I'll pick it up in a few days.”
“Yeah, I know... the usual three days of boozin' and you pay me in full. My lady says she often sees ya'll going back to the ranch in the mornings, where the hell do 'ya sleep at night, eh?”
“We sleep it off in cheap rooms,” Aden replied cheekily.
“We ain't got any cheap rooms in Heart... I bet you crash in that truck of yours, dontcha?”
“What, that old crate? We've got much nicer places to stay, don't we guys? Deluxe rented rooms...”
They all replied with a resounding laugh.
After a few drinks and even a few more, Maddy was feeling happy. She still had no urge to change at all. She noticed a few patches of fur and orange eyes amongst their pack. In fact Jamie had a snout forming at one stage. Thankfully there weren't any others in the bar. It was early, before sundown. Ted was pre-occupied, serving and clearing up, so he wasn't aware of anything amiss, or extraordinary occurring within his clientele.
Aden rounded them up at seven. The sun would be setting soon. They all piled back into the truck in good humor, a little trashed, and set off. They approached the yard, literally two minutes outside of town, and prepared to get out. As they pulled into the front of it, they all stared in horror. Suddenly, they became very sober. There was no yard. The fences had gone. The containers had gone. All that was left was their winter ski gear, sleds, and some fodder abandoned on the concrete before them. A large crudely painted sign sat on top that read, “Legal Seizure”.
A piece of paper was pinned to the sign, fluttering in the breeze. Aden got out of the truck and stalked across to it. He plucked it from its nail, read it, and brought it back, shoving it in her hand, with a grim expression.
“All containers removed by order of Mayor W. Stevens, in collaboration with RCMP - K Division, Sergeant P. Stevens – Subject to forensic investigation for illegal contraband including possible live animal trafficking.”