Page 27 of Crimson Moon Falling

Emmett laughed mirthlessly. “I’m a bear shifter, so I’d be the last person she’ll want to see. I’ll ask Donna. What’s the cat’s name?”

“Ed.”

“That’s… different.”

“It’s short for Edwina. Let me know if Donna finds her.”

Later that evening, I sat at the kitchen table, studying the coordinates from the receipt. Gunnar stood at the window, his wide shoulders tight with tension.

“Something hit me this morning. When Langston was blathering on yesterday, he said Fergus was aware Langston was here to take you in.”

“I remember. He also said Fergus approved it.”

Gunnar ran his meaty hand down his face. “Why didn’t Fergus call and warn us?”

“Maybe he didn’t have time. Or Langston was lying to us.” I calculated possibilities. “You think he deliberately didn’t warn me?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”

Fergus had been one of my dad’s best friends. “He and my dad were close.”

“People change over sixteen years,” Gunnar countered. “And friends can turn on you when there’s enough money or pressure involved. Don’t forget what happened with Henry.”

I wondered how the late ranger’s little girl was doing as my mind calculated the likelihood of Fergus betraying us. It would mean the corruption ran deeper than we suspected. It was a depressing thought. I needed to talk to Conall and maybe ask Drew, the Pack’s tech expert, to quietly investigate Fergus.

A dull ache formed in my chest. “I think we should operate under the assumption that we can’t trust him until proven otherwise. Have you talked to anyone else?”

Gunnar shook his head. “Thought I’d talk to you first.”

I appreciated his uncharacteristic tact. “I need to go to Denver for the FBCI debriefing tomorrow. But after that, I want to find this site.” I pointed to Viggo’s coordinates.

Gunnar stuck his little pinkie in his ear and dug around as he talked. “One of my cousins lives near the Grand Teton National Park, and she owes me a favor. She could get us gear. I figure we shouldn’t use official channels if we don’t know who to trust.”

The reality of our situation hit me. “How long will it take to get the equipment?”

“Not long. I’ll head out tomorrow while you’re with those FBCI assholes.” He hesitated, his gravelly voice dropping. “You sure you trust them? They might do more than ask questions.”

The implant at the base of my skull seemed to pulse in response to his concern, as if agreeing. “I don’t have a choice. If I don’t show up, they’ll arrest me. Conall will be there. Besides, maybe they’ve figured out a way to remove this thing.”

Gunnar looked at me dubiously. “What if they find out you’re slowly going cold? Or worse, decide to detain you?”

“It would be stupid to try anything with Conall there and the Pack Council backing him.” It was a calculated risk. If the FBCI discovered the implant was still active, they might claim I was compromised or dangerous. They might even decide I needed to be contained.

Or eliminated.

“Just be careful, Blackthorne,” Gunnar rumbled. “I’m gettin’ used to you as a partner. You don’t suck.”

From the troll, that was high praise.

Chapter 9

Riley

Conall leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Are you worried?”

“Some. But I don’t think it’s all from me.”

He tilted his head. “What do you mean?”