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Alarm bells drowned out my other thoughts. “Wait. You know Keith from the mainland?”

“Sure do. We served in the Dogs of War together. Never expected to see him again. Life’s funny like that.”

I was familiar with the secret werewolf-only paramilitary organization. Somehow the fact that Keith had served missed me completely. “And he came by to catch up? Reminisce about old times?”

“He didn’t seem much interested in reminiscing. I told him Knox was here, too, but I said it was unwise to drop by his place unannounced. Knox doesn’t like surprises.”

Knox was a rare white wolf who lived alone in a first-floor condo. He’d been a pack leader in his former life but was more than happy to leave his leadership days behind him.

“What did you and Keith talk about?” I asked.

“Not much. He wanted to touch base and let me know he was here. I wouldn’t have recognized him if he hadn’t told me his name. He looks so different.”

“In what way?”

“Bigger, for starters. He’d been one of the runts in our unit. More confident, too.” His eyes shone as he eyed the rifle. “He was jealous when he spotted this. Wanted to know how I got around the strict rules. Told me to safeguard the rifle, that a wolf like me was born to defend ’til the day I died.”

Defend what? “That’s high praise,” I said, to keep him sharing.

“Keith was always generous with his compliments.”

Not to women, I’d wager. “When did you start to feel unable to part with the rifle? Before or after Keith’s visit?”

Chaz stroked his smooth chin. “Not sure. Guess I’d have to say it was after he told me to hold on to it.”

My gaze flicked to the rifle. “What do you think would happen if I tried to take the gun from you?”

Chaz drew an unsteady breath. “Honestly? I think I might attack you.”

“Well, we wouldn’t want that, would we?”

Genuine pain flashed in Chaz’s eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on with me. I wouldn’t want to hurt you, Maya.”

“It’s okay. We’ll figure this out together.” But first I needed to find Keith.

“What should I do about the rifle?”

“Keep it safe until you hear from me. You were born to defend, remember?” Whatever that meant.

I stepped outside and called Justine. Her assistant answered, which I expected. Lionel would do.

“It’s Maya. I need you to tell me where I can find Keith Irwin right now.”

“Anything Justine should know?”

“Not at the moment.” I heard the clickety clack of his computer keys as he performed the search. “His card swiped in at the Palmetto pool forty-five minutes ago.”

“Perfect. Thanks.”

The Palmetto pool was hopping. If I were a social Neighbor, this was exactly where I’d want to be right now. And in the center of it all, like a black hole sun sucking planets into its orbit, was Keith Irwin. I spotted Louise feeding him grapes, while my neighbor Edith Evans cooled his face with a small portable fan.

Louise Perry would never—and I mean never—feed a man by hand. Keith was up to no good; I felt it in my bones. Louise would be furious later, when he let her off his magical leash. If I was willing to wait, the witches might serve their own brand of justice, but that wouldn’t be fair to them. It was my job to protect them all. Keith and his nonsense were my responsibility.

I cleared my throat as I approached the scene. “Good afternoon.”

Louise peered at me with her one good eye. “Afternoon, Maya.”

I decided to test the waters. “Mind if I have a grape?”