The Werewolf Whisperer (The Werewolf Whisperer Series Book 1) (6 page)

With two clear gestures she divided the Hounds into teams,
astonishing the onlookers. She threw the ball up in the air and called out, "Play
Ball!" Then all she had to do was get out of the way.

The Hounds played with abandon. Tirelessly they chased the ball,
going round and round the grass. There was no goal, no way to keep score. The
game was mostly an intense game of keep away, though it was clear that the
Hounds worked in teams. The audience seemed delighted, hanging on every step
and wiggle of the exhibition game and cheering for every move.

Lucy noticed Xochitl waving her
arms and pointing at a dark haired man with a mic and a crew. Enrique Baldwin.
Lucy knew him from the local news, but thought he looked even shorter in
person.

Baldwin stepped up to Lucy and shook her hand before she had a
chance to say anything.

"So nice to meet you. Can I call you Lucy?" Baldwin
wasted no time. "We're all set up. We'll be going live in a sec, so watch
what you say."

Lucy took a step back and momentarily considered just bolting.

The red light blinked on the camera, and Baldwin flashed his
trademark smile.

"Yes, Cathy, hello to you in the studio." He paused
for a second, listening, and then continued. "We are here at the beautiful
Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills for the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce's
special
Family and Wellness Expo
."
He nodded, listening again.

"We do have a very special treat." He waved his hand
toward Lucy who just stood still and smiled stiffly, hoping it would be over
soon.

"Meet the silver lining in our werewolf apocalypse, Lucy
Lowell, The Werewolf Whisperer." He glanced at Lucy. "So, Lucy what
are we looking at here?"

Lucy froze for a moment and watched the playing Hounds.

"These are...um...Hounds. Playing. A game." She could
see Xochitl jumping up and down behind the
camera, making a strangulation gesture.
Lucy searched Enrique
Baldwin's face, finding the total absence of a personality in his eyes. She
took a deep breath.

"We trained these Hounds over the last week. They have
learned to be social and can be taken out in public without any problem."

"Would you say you've trained the Hounds or the Hound
parents?" He surprised her with the astuteness of his question, but then she
spotted his producer standing next to the camera, waving a small tablet with
the question written on it in bold block letters.

"I'd say both. It takes total commitment but as we like to
say, 'Happy families have happy Hounds.'"
She forced a smile she knew must have looked waxen and
bizarre but couldn't stop herself.

She turned away from Baldwin and called the Hounds, ending the
game. They ran to her and lined up in a row, each waiting to be thrown a treat
before being dismissed. Applause ran through the crowd.

"And there you have it. Enrique Baldwin reporting from
Beverly Hills." He smiled his plastic smile. "Back to you in the
studio, Cathy." He waved off his camera crew.

"That ought to do it," Enrique said and disappeared
into the crowd for testimonial interviews.

Lucy took a very small bow and made her way back to the table
where Xochitl waited with the box of dog toys.

"You were great!" Nicolette sounded out of breath as
she sprinted up to them in her impossibly high heels. "But you should get
out of here."

Lucy and Xochitl looked at her, puzzled.

"Why's that?" Lucy asked, growing uncomfortable. She
slipped on her bomber jacket and grabbed the box of dog toys from Xochitl.

"Just some, you know, protestors, you know, in the parking
lot." Nicolette looked only slightly abashed. "We'd gotten some
threats before, you know, the Expo. About inviting you." Her cell rang,
and she pointed a long finger, telling Lucy and Xochitl to hang on. "The
Anti-Werebeast Commission? Peranuht shune kakneh! Do something!" Nicolette
sounded off in a most unladylike fashion.

"Protestors? Let's bounce," Xochi said, unwilling to
put their safety in the smooth hands of this up-and-coming Beverly Hills
business diva.

"Let's go 'round that way," Lucy said, scanning the
formal garden's back wall. "Behind that wall is a walkway to the old,
bricked-over pool. I saw it in the brochure."

Without
pausing
Xochitl
headed straight for the stone passage half hidden on the side of the yard by
the great fountain. Lucy and Xochitl didn't speak but kept an eye on their
surroundings, watching people flee the area through the courtyard and up the
slate stairs toward the parking lot.

As Lucy and Xochitl made their way down the small stone steps to
the pool house, they could hear shouting and chanting from the parking lot
level.

"NO WERES NOWHERE! NO WERES NOWHERE! NO WERES NOWHERE!"
The rhythmical chant swelled as they crossed the brick plaza and hustled to the
hillside next to the Roman pool house.

"TO HELL WITH HOUNDS!" "NOT IN MY BACKYARD!"
"WEREBEASTS KILL!" "TURN BACK THE CLOCK!" "NO HOUNDS
OR WERES ALLOWED!" "GET RID OF THE FUR BACKS!"

Lucy and Xochitl climbed through the bushes, arriving slightly
above the parking lot, but remained hidden from sight.

The lot had filled up considerably, protesters marching in
droves on foot up the long driveway. The people who'd attended the event
scrambled to their cars, honking and flashing their brights.

"ARREST THE WEREWOLF WHISPERER!" "NO
WEREBEASTIALITY!" "NO ONE IS SAFE!"

"Yeah, I'm clearly their biggest problem," Lucy said,
seeing a large poster with her picture inside a red circle with a slash through
it.

"I like that one," Xochitl said pointing to a homemade
Occupy Werewolves
sign. "I don't even know what that means, but I
like it."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "All kidding aside, we've gotta get
outta here."

Xochitl and Lucy regarded the hundreds of people crowding the
parking lot, protesters strutting about and guests trying to leave.

"I think fire road," Lucy said, considering their
location. From their vantage on the hill, she could see a dirt road a few feet
from the parking lot. She couldn't tell for sure, but it seemed to connect to
the large driveway leading to the gargantuan estates perched above Greystone.

"Off-road?" Xochitl's eyes sparkled. "Hells yeah!"

"Just have to get to El Gallo." Lucy pointed to a
group of protestors with "
NO WERES NOWHERE
" splashed across
their red shirts. They swarmed El Gallo, staging what looked to Lucy like an
old-fashion sit-in.

"Asswipes!" Xochitl spat. "If they as much as put
a scratch on my car, voy a romperles los
boney
armas de sus dirty hippy cuerpos!"

"So, the plan is...walk to the car, get in and drive off?"
Lucy asked with skepticism.

"Sounds like a good plan." Xochi began to unsheathe
her Karambit knife.

"No blood, Xoch," Lucy said and pulled on her worn
leather ranch gloves, juggling the box of dog toys.

"Okey dokey." Xochitl bent down and picked up a
fist-sized rock from the ground. "Let's go."

Lucy let out a heavy sigh. She knew in a crowd situation things
could go sideways quickly, and judging by the mob pouring into the lot this
would only escalate. Lucy imagined Enrique Baldwin already saw himself
accepting a Peabody Award. All she wanted was to get out without having to
throw a punch.

Lucy and Xochitl made their way down the hill toward El Gallo.
The crowd parted reluctantly, but shooting out from the bushes, Lucy and
Xochitl had the element of surprise on their side. Indiscriminate shoving
helped get people out of their way faster.

Lucy bonked a sitting protester on the head with the box of dog
toys, taking the moment of his rising to complain as an opportunity to slip
into the car and lock the door. Xochitl had made it into the driver's side
without a problem, but Lucy saw she no longer carried the stone she had picked
up on the hill. Lucy decided not to ask.

El Gallo roared twice as if getting ready for a street race.

"You fuckers better know I'm serious!" Xochitl yelled
and flashed her brights. Lucy worried about Xochitl just running over people,
but the protesters didn't give her the chance. Provoked, they jumped up and
circled the front of the car, banging on the driver and passenger side windows.

"Were sluts!" a man Lucy recognized as Fat Dan Walters
shouted and threw himself on the hood of the car.

"Splat goes the lard ass," Xochitl sang brightly to
the tune of
Pop Goes the Weasel
and threw the car in full reverse. El
Gallo bounced over the curb, crushed a few saplings in his wake and flew onto
the dirt road. The protesters stood in shock; no one moved for a moment, giving
Xochitl the chance to straighten the car and scream down the dirt road away
from Greystone and back toward the Boulevard.

Chapter 4

911 Operator
: "911. What is your emergency?"

Caller
: "Please you have to help!"

(screaming and
roaring in the background)

911 Operator
: "Sir?"

Caller
: "Oh, my God!"

911 Operator
: "Try to stay calm, sir. What is your
name?"

Caller
: "It killed Randolf!"

911 Operator
: "What killed Randolf, sir?"

Caller
: "The monster! We made a monster!"

911 Operator
: "I'm sorry, sir. Did you say monster?"

Caller
: "The KV project. Dr. Kyon. His arm! We need..."

911 Operator
: "Sir? Sir? Are you there, sir?"

24 months ago

Xochitl
leaned against the squad car, waiting for Officer Lowell to put her in the back
seat. The street outside her bar reminded her of a disaster movie. Cop cars and
barricades blocked access to the area. Red and blue lights rotated, flashing in
a constant rhythm, setting the scene. Helicopters flew overhead, their
searchlights scouring the area, as the continual thwap, thwap, thwap of their
blades provided the soundtrack.

News
crews swarmed the perimeter, which was cordoned off by neon yellow police tape.
Reporters shouted queries at anyone who appeared remotely important.

Pinche
vultures! Here to pick at the bones of the dead.

"You
ready?"

Xochitl
felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Officer Lowell standing in front
of her, the car door open. Xochi nodded and walked around Lowell to the back
door. As she lowered herself into the vehicle, Xochitl felt mildly irritated as
Lowell held her left arm and placed a hand on her head, pushing her down onto
the seat.

"Really?"
Xochitl looked up at Officer Lowell.

"Sorry,
habit." Lowell smirked, withdrew her hands and stepped around to close the
door.

Shrill,
slurred squeals pulled the attention of both women toward the opposite side of
the building. Through the windshield, Xochitl watched a pair of SWAT officers
hoist a petite, middle-aged Mexican woman in a nightgown up by her armpits.
Kicking and screaming slurred profanities, the woman was carried off toward a
parked paddy wagon.

"¡Ay
carajo!" Xochitl slapped her hand to her forehead.

"Isn't
that—"

"Anita."
Xochitl scooted out of the back of the police car and stood next to Lowell. "My
stepmother."

"Figures!
Crazy bitches," a male voice said behind Xochitl.

She
turned and saw a stocky officer, not much taller than her, pass them.
Recognizing him as the cop who had tried to arrest her earlier that night,
Xochi balled her hands into fists, preparing to lunge at him. But Officer
Lowell placed a hand on Xochitl's shoulder, stopping her.

"If
you can't play like a good little doggy, Kaplan, I might have to put you down,"
Lowell said.

Kaplan
postured up in what Xochitl thought of as an attempt to appear taller. "Oh,
yeah, Lowell? You and what army?"

"Don't
need an army. Just my trusted friend here." Officer Lowell pulled a Taser
gun from her belt and waved it in front of Kaplan. "50,000 volts should be
more than enough for someone your size."

"You're
just as crazy as this one." Kaplan nodded toward Xochi, who smiled, amused
by the wavering bravado of the cop.

"Yep.
Now, go." Lowell aimed the Taser at Kaplan's chest.

"Up
yours, Lowell!" Kaplan spat, but turned and walked away just the same.

Xochitl
heard Lowell mumble "asshole" as she holstered the Taser once more.

"Should
we go see about your stepmom?" Lowell closed the car door and faced
Xochitl.

"Anita...Do
we have to?"

"Up
to you."

"Shit.
Fine. Let's get this over with." Xochitl fell in behind Officer Lowell as
they made their way toward the prisoner transport van.

"Hey,
Ramos," Lowell called after a pudgy, bald officer who stood next to the
truck with a clipboard in his hand.

"Officer
Lucy Lowell." Ramos grinned from ear to ear.

What a pendejo! He looks like a chubby,
lovesick puppy.

"You
got an Anita Magaña in there?"

Ramos,
the stupid grin still on his face, reviewed the list of perps attached to his
clipboard. "Yeah. I've got her listed as East Los Locos."

"Nah,
she's not East Los. She's my CI's mom." Lowell nodded in Xochitl's
direction.

She's
acting very chummy with this guy.

"Stepmom."
Xochi corrected.

Lucy
shot Xochitl a "shut up and let me handle this" look.

Is
she trying to flirt with Gordito? This ought to be entertaining.

Xochi
rolled her eyes at Officer Lowell but moved off to the side of the van,
relegated to spectator.

Lowell turned back to Officer Ramos. The
man, not so slyly, inched closer.

Ick.

Xochitl pursed her lips.

Lowell continued to milk the situation
awkwardly.

This
is amusing.

Xochitl leaned against the prisoner van.

"Is
there any way we could release her? She's no threat," Lowell cajoled.

"No,
just a drunk," Xochi mumbled.

Obviously
ignoring Xochitl, Lowell placed her hand on Ramos' arm. "Of course, I'd
take full responsibility for her."

Ramos
gazed at Officer Lowell's hand, and Xochitl could have sworn she saw him blush.

¡Híjole!
Is this chubby pendejo actually buying what she's selling?

Clearing
his throat, Ramos seemed to regain some of his composure. "I'm sorry,
Officer Lowell—"

"Come
on, Ignacio. It's Lucy."

"Okay...Lucy."
Ramos averted his eyes to his clipboard.
 
"I'm sorry, but it says here she assaulted an officer in an attempt
to resist arrest. She'll need to be processed."

Oh,
well.

Lucy
put her hands on her hips, hanging her head in feigned defeat.

Oh,
nice change up, Officer Lowell. Who would've thought you had it in you?

"I'm
sorry, Ms. Magaña. Officer Ramos is very good at his job and correctly follows
regulation. I'm just sorry I won't be able to help you with your mother."

Xochitl
cringed again at the word "mother" but decided to play along with
Lowell.

"Oh.
Okay. It's just...Never mind." Xochitl dramatically turned her head away
from Lowell and Ramos.

"What,
miss?" Ramos asked.

The
concern in Ramos' voice made Xochitl's body shake with laughter that she
quickly passed off as sobs.

Xochitl
turned to Ramos. "It's just that my little brother will be so scared if
his mother, our mother, was gone when he woke up in the morning."

The
women waited as Ramos mulled over Xochi's plight.

Xochitl
knew her damsel in distress act had just put the last nail in the poor man's
coffin.

Sweet little sap.

After
a moment, Ramos smiled triumphantly, scribbled something down on his clipboard
and looked up at Lowell and Xochi.

"Here."
Ramos passed his list to Lowell.

Xochitl
moved closer to Officer Lowell and read over her shoulder.

Anita Magaña — Public Intoxication

"She'll
get a night in the drunk tank. Might have a court date but nothing more
serious. She'll be fine. Best I can do," Ramos rambled.

Officer
Lowell patted Ramos on the back. "You're a good man, Ignacio. Thanks."

The
little round man blushed once more.

Lowell
nudged Xochi in the ribs. "Oh, yeah. Thanks officer."

Lowell
gave Ramos one last smile, then grabbed Xochitl's arm, escorting her away. When
they were far enough from the wagon, Xochi shrugged Lowell off her, putting
distance between them.

"What's
with you?" Xochitl chuckled. "Gordito over there never knew what hit
him."

"I
was doing you a favor."

"Yeah,
right. Like I give a shit what happens to that drunk."

"Then,
I was doing a favor for your brother," Lowell said. "He just might
give a shit if his mother does time for hitting a cop."

Miguel
would be better off if she did.

But
Xochitl knew Lowell was right.

Miguel
loves Anita. He'd be torn up if something bad happened to her.

Xochitl
couldn't let him suffer like that. She looked over to Lowell and nodded.

"Good."

They
were almost to the car when Lowell halted. Xochitl turned to see her eyeing the
ambulance carrying her partner. A female paramedic was latching the back door to
the truck as the engine revved to life.

"Wait
here a minute." Lowell jogged over to the woman, who was making her way to
the front of the rig.

Too far away to hear their conversation, Xochitl watched
Lowell gesture frantically, pleading for the emergency responders to wait. The
paramedic kept shaking her head "no." Officer Lowell paced back and
forth in front of the ambulance, her hands balled into tight fists.

She's losing it.

Lowell slammed her hand against the side of the truck.
"Open the fucking door, now!"

Holy crap!
That paramedic better move or she's gonna get pummeled.

The woman backed away slowly.

Lowell's outburst had caught the attention of her fellow
officers, including her captain, who stormed over to the ambulance.

Burch's anger seemed equally matched to Lowell's.

She's gonna get herself cuffed if she's not careful.

The two police officers squared off face-to-face and
toe-to-toe in a heated argument.

¡Está loca!...But loyal.

"Fine!"
Lowell threw her arms in the air in frustration and stormed away from Captain
Burch.

"Lowell,
you're treading on thin ice. Get back to the station!" Burch barked as he
signaled the EMTs to leave.

Lucy
kept walking and without looking back at Burch, gave a curt wave in response.
Behind her, the ambulance lights cast a blood red hue over her, and Lowell's
body noticeably stiffened as the ear-piercing siren blared.

In
spite of herself, Xochitl could not help but ache for Lucy Lowell. The look of helplessness
written all over Lowell's face was one Xochi knew all too well.

Xochi felt an overwhelming urge to go to Lucy Lowell —
to help her — but stopped short as Lowell approached.
Her eyes stared directly through Xochitl
and seemed to momentarily flash a vibrant, almost translucent blue. A shiver
ran down Xochi's spine even as she tried to dismiss the sight.

"We're
leaving," Officer Lowell stated coolly, never stopping, as she passed
Xochi and the squad car.

"So,
we're walking
?"
Xochitl stepped hesitantly away from the black-and-white.

"We're
taking mine." Lowell headed for a K-9 cruiser parked on the corner.

"Then
I'm sitting in the front," Xochitl mumbled as she shook off her remaining
heebie-jeebies and hurried to catch up to Lowell.

*

Lucy
ground the key into the ignition of her cruiser and yanked the wheel sharply
while putting a lead foot on the gas.

"Son
of a bitch, bitches," Lucy grumbled just above a whisper. "Don't
follow the ambulance! Eat me!"

Lucy's
illegal U-turn spun the head of every officer on scene, and she purposely
forced the tires to into a high-pitched squeal, marking the street with a trace
of rubber.

"Hey,
Speedy Gonzales, you always drive this fast?" Xochitl asked, sounding
tense. In response, Lucy floored it and switched on the light bar. The siren
blared, and the cruiser screamed through an intersection after the traffic
light had already turned red. Xochitl jumped in her seat and grasped the dash
with both hands.

"That's
not the way to the station," Xochitl said, her voice sounding flat.

"We're
not going to the station." Lucy volunteered nothing else.

Lucy
knew she should say something comforting and felt bad about dragging Xochitl
along on this fool's errand, but she owed it to Gabe. He was her partner, and
he was in trouble.

Lucy
had guessed they would take Gabe to Silverlake Hospital, but as the ambulance
wound east she realized they were not going to the closest trauma center.