Hit List(84)
“You knew his father?”
Socrates nodded. “Went to high school with him, but the gangs and the drugs got him.”
The two men looked at each other. I just tried to be quiet and invisible between them, because this moment wasn’t about me, it was just them.
“I coach a city school; we lose a lot of kids.”
“Too many,” Socrates said.
“Does your nephew play locally?”
“No, they’re in Detroit.”
“What’s his name?”
Socrates told him.
It was Em who said, “I know him. We were at football camp together. He was the only guy as big as me, and as fast.”
Wade nodded. “I remember him. What schools is he being scouted by?” And just like that, they started talking football, and there was no more us vs. them, it was just guys and sports. I’d never been so happy to listen to people talk about sports in my life.
Socrates moved Wade and Em off to one side to talk football and colleges. Robert moved up and took Laila’s hand. I came to the other side and put my hand over hers where it lay on the sheets. She looked a little startled. We didn’t know each other that well.
“I don’t wanna go steady or anything,” I said, “but I want you to know that there’s nothing wrong with you. You’re good, Laila.”
She shook her head, and moved her hand so she could hold my hand. The tears began to trickle down her face. “I’m not good. I’m going to lose my badge.”
“I told you, they can’t take it yet.”
“But they will.”
“Maybe,” I said, “probably. I won’t lie to you; if you keep your badge you’ll be the first full lycanthrope to ever manage it, but right now you are a U.S. Marshal of the preternatural branch, and thanks to having lycanthropy you’re healed, right?”
She nodded. “They kept me because they’re trying to talk me into a government safe house where I won’t be a danger to others.”
“Bullshit on the safe houses. They’re about to lose a Supreme Court decision this year, for unlawful detainment among other things. You’re not a danger to others, Laila.”
Her voice squeezed down, and she said, “I will be.”
I shook her hand, made her look at me. “Yeah, for the first few months, or even the first couple of years near the full moon you’ll need your pack to make sure you’re in a safe place, but that’s part of what they do for new members.”
“My pack?”
“Your animal group. What flavor of wereanimal are you?” I asked.
“Flavor?” She blinked up at me, still crying.
“Kind of animal?”
“Wolf. I’m a werewolf.” She said it like she didn’t quite believe it yet.
“Then pack is the right word. Different animal groups have different words for the group.”
“I know some of that from class,” she said.
“Yeah, you’ll have a step up because you’ve studied werewolves.”
“Their crimes,” she said, and started crying again.
Her brother patted her arm while he was still holding her hand. He looked at me as if to say, Do something. I was strangely used to large, athletic men looking to me to fix things.
I shook her hand again, and when she didn’t look up, I said, “Laila, look at me.” She still didn’t. “Marshal Laila Karlton, look at me!” Maybe it was using the title, but she finally did what I wanted, and looked up at me with so much pain in her eyes, so much loss.
I had to swallow hard and realized there were tears underneath somewhere in me, too. There are always tears. “Do you want to catch the man who did this to you?”
She frowned, and then nodded.
I held her hand tight for another moment, then let go and gave her the stern look she needed. “Then get up, get dressed, get your gear, and let’s go catch the bastard.”
“I can’t . . .”
“You were stabbed four times, but thanks to the lycanthropy you’re well. Hospital beds are for sick people; you’re not sick. Get the fuck up, get dressed, and help us catch the monster that tried to kill you.”
She looked startled.
Mr. Karlton behind me said, “Language,” as if it were automatic.
I didn’t apologize, as earlier had been about him and Socrates, and now was about Laila and me. “Do you want to catch the guy that did this to you?”
“Yes,” she said, her voice a little breathy.
“Then get up and let’s do it.”
She looked at me, startled almost, and then the ghost of a smile touched her face. “You mean it?”
“Hell yes, I mean it. Get dressed, we’ve got bad guys to catch.”