With that settled, they’d returned to Stump River with Lucy’s casket. Everyone mourned the loss of the friendly waitress, especially Armand. The twinkle was gone from his eye and he literally shuffled about The Broken Antler. After the memorial service, he disappeared for a week and Mel wondered if he had shifted into his bear form and was wandering the woods. Were his emotions any less intense when he was an animal? Or was he scratching trees and ripping open logs, trying to work the grief out of his system? Whatever the case, he eventually returned looking a bit haggard, but seeming to have found some inner peace.
Beth and Josh ran a long article in the paper, featuring quotes from the various citizens and random pictures of Lucy at several town functions as well as a full colour picture on the front page. It was nice to have the picture, giving them a last look at the young woman they were all fond of. The service had a closed casket, Ryne having stated that Lucy was always proud of her appearance and wouldn’t appreciate people gawking at her. Mel agreed it was best this way.
Ruth declared that Lucy was a hero who had been trying to protect Mel’s apartment and everyone else in town concurred. It wasn’t the complete truth, but Mel knew the hero part was correct. While she’d never know exactly what happened that fateful day, she suspected that Lucy had been trying to defend her.
Life in Stump River slowly fell back into its usual rhythm, though there were a few changes. Ruth’s seemed quieter,The Broken Antler a bit more subdued. On the positive side, the Loberos moved to town and that caused quite a stir of speculation. And Ryne had some business to finish off with regard to the Keeping...
*****
Ryne sat down with Bryan and talked to Kane. They were trying to tie up all the loose ends.
“We have to take care of Aldrich. He knows too much.” Kane’s voice was firm as it came over the speaker phone.
“Agreed.” Ryne rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I tried to get into the hospital several different times last week, but security around him was too tight. Greyson—the guy he shot—was a multi-millionaire and there’s a big investigation going on. Since the police already knew what I looked like from seeing me at Melody’s apartment, I didn’t dare get too close.” He growled in frustration. “Too bad the butler went looking for Greyson as soon as he did. If he’d waited just a bit longer, Aldrich might have been dead before the old man found him. At least the bastard won’t be saying anything right away. The report Daniel hacked from the hospital’s computer states that Aldrich has been unconscious for almost a week with severe damage to his windpipe and vocal chords.”
Bryan chuckled. “Too bad Mel couldn’t have held off a bit longer until you finished him off.” Ryne flashed him a dirty look and he quickly qualified his answer. “Not that it’s her fault in anyway, of course.”
“Right.” Ryne glared at Bryan once more before continuing. “He’ll probably keep the story to himself since without proof, people will think he’s crazy, but we can’t take any chances.”
Kane agreed. “I’ll contact a pack I know in the area. Maybe they can find a way to get someone through that security net. We’ll have to try to get them to burglarize the estate as well. I want the picture back before it can cause any more trouble.”
“And we’ll deal with the girl.” Ryne suggested.
“Sounds good to me.” Kane could be heard pacing in his office.
“A bit anxious, Kane?” Ryne teased.
His brother growled in response. “You know damned well I am. Elise is still away and I need her back here with me. The sooner we get Aldrich taken care of, the sooner I can allow the dispersal groups to return home. Until such time... Let’s just say, it’s best to give me a wide berth.”
Ryne chuckled. “You could always go visit her and ‘relieve’ some of that tension.”
The sound of pacing ceased. “You might be on to something, Ryne.”
Ryne and Bryan exchanged glances, but kept their laughter in check. Both were aware of how devoted Kane was to his mate and knew the forced separation was hard to deal with.
Once the conversation was over, Ryne sighed heavily and rubbed his hands with his face. “That young girl—Cassandra—she’s just a kid and likely scared spitless over seeing her uncle murdered, let alone watching me transform and attack Aldrich.”
“You said Greyson apparently raised the girl since she was an infant and knew all along she was a werewolf? I wonder where he found her and how he knew what she was?” Bryan got up and started to pace the room.