The Wolf's Daughter (The Tala Chronicles 1) (9 page)

“Sorry, but I
just had to tell you. Lock your doors and windows. Lucy just told me Vinnie was
released today.”

“Believe me,
Vanessa, they’re locked. Oh, by the way, Maeve cornered a rat tonight in the
kitchen, and Edgar came over and shot it.”

“Gross! You’re
lucky he was willing to do that.”

“Yes, and I
asked him why he was being so nice to me. He said I reminded him of his
daughter. Did you know that Jenny Bolton, the murdered woman, was his daughter?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you
tell me?”

“Tala, I just
didn’t think about it. Listen, I probably can’t talk you out of going on your
little caper tomorrow, but—”

“No, you can’t
talk me out of it.”

“Oh, I saved the
best for last. Matt was brought in for questioning today.”

“Poor Matt. I
hope he’s not guilty. I just can’t get over him, Vanessa.”

“I know, but it
doesn’t help that everyone in the restaurant saw his odd behavior that night.”

“I can’t argue
with that. Vanessa, I have to go. I’m falling asleep.”

“Okay. Please be
careful tomorrow. Call me while you’re on the trail, and let me know you’re all
right.”

“Sure.”

Tala drifted off
into a sleep interrupted by her flopping from side to side, unable to get
comfortable. Maeve purred loudly, pressed up against her back, whichever side
she was on. The clock registered two fifteen. Tala almost took a pill, but the
need for morning alertness won out.  

The next thing
she knew, she was walking through the woods. She could barely see in front of
her, the fog was so thick.

“Stay close to
me.” It was Edgar’s voice.

Tala stumbled,
and he reached back and helped her up. They walked a little more before twigs
cracked near them.

The sky grew
darker. Then wolves surrounded them, about three times the usual size. Their bloodied
fangs exposed, they stared with eyes from hell, glowing red. The largest
approached. So close, the hot breath on her face. The wolf leaped, fangs
sinking into her neck. “Edgar!”

Tala woke to the
sound of Maeve growling. The room had become a black cave.   

Then a slight
sound like footsteps from the stairs. She grabbed her cell phone. Opening it
resulted in feeble light. Someone stood in the doorway. The intruder wore a
black ski mask...and had a knife in his hand.

Tala dialed 911
and scrambled to get out of bed on the opposite side, dropping the phone in the
process. Darkness overtook the room again, and hands grabbed her.

She pulled away
and found the phone. Tala screamed, “Help.”

“What is the
nature of your emer—”

“Help!”

“Get it off me,”
the intruder yelled. “Get it off me.”

Maeve yowled and
spat with the sounds of a struggle unmistakable. Then a noise as though Maeve
had fallen. Then footsteps pounded down the stairs.  

“Maeve.” A
little mew answered her. “Oh no, you’re hurt.” She scrounged around for the
phone.

The dispatcher
said a squad car was on its way. In what seemed like hours, the police car
drove up. She used her phone again for light and went downstairs to let them
in.

“I won’t answer
any questions until you make sure my cat gets medical assistance.” 

The officers called
an emergency vet clinic that would pick Maeve up. The EMTs then arrived and
tried to get Tala to the hospital.

“No, I’m not
going. I’m fine.”

She cried when
the vet’s emergency van took Maeve. The police then asked her what happened.
She told them, having to stop intermittently, realizing then how upset she was.

“He cut the
wires to the house and then broke into the window in the kitchen,” the
dark-haired officer said. “I know someone who would probably help you with
fixing that window right now. Do you want me to call him?”

The doorbell
rang fifteen minutes later, and Edgar walked in.

“Edgar, you came
to my rescue again.”

The cop said, “Hey
Edgar, still saving the world, huh?”

“All in a day’s
work, Harry.”

Edgar took tools
out of his bag and while measuring the window said to Tala, “You’d better try
to get some sleep. I’ll let the police out and make sure the door’s locked.”

Tala rubbed her
face. “No, I’ll be okay. I don’t think I can sleep tonight, anyway.”

Edgar looked at
her as though he wanted to say something. Finally, he said, “Tala, I think we
should forget about the trip tomorrow. Not just because of tonight. I saw the
owls on my way over here. I think they’re trying to warn me.”

Tala shook her
head. “I just have trouble believing in that, but if you don’t want to go, I
certainly understand. I’m worried about Maeve, too. The intruder injured her,
although probably not as much as she injured him.”

Edgar smiled. “I’ll
think about it tonight and pray for a dream that will tell me what we should
do.” He went back to fixing the window.

“Okay, we’re
done here,” one of the officers said.

Tala thanked
them and walked them to the door. 

She went back into
the kitchen and searched the pantry. “Oh no!”

Edgar turned
around. “What is it?”

“The diary is
missing.” She sank down in the chair. “Why would he take the diary?”

“I guess you’re
not the only one who has questions about Gregory.”

“But how would
anyone know about the diary? Well, I’m answering my own question. My mother.
She must have told someone. And I bet that someone is Willis Sharp.”

“We have no
proof of that.”

Tala shrugged
her shoulders. “Who else could it be?”

Edgar shook his
head. “This trek is getting more and more interesting.”

“Well, are you
on?”

“I’ll let you
know after the dream.”

***

Edgar picked up
the dream catcher his father had given him. It had been in the family for
longer than anyone could remember. He ran his hand lightly over the willow
hoop, and touched the moonstone in the center of it. Three owl feathers hung
from the frame.

He sat at the
side of his single bed. He’d made his peace with the loss of his daughter a
long time ago. Tala reminded him so much of her that he wanted to help her. And
protect her.

What if Gregory had
killed his daughter? He’d never believed it, and if he had, he would have gone
into the woods a long time ago. Yet what if it were true? In his long life, he
had seen many things that surprised him.

He and Tala weren’t
the first people to search out the cabin. The police had investigated after the
murder. No sign of Gregory. If he were still alive, he was most likely living
in the woods, only using the cottage intermittently. Evidently, he had learned
well the art of survival without detection—animal skills.

Edgar lay down
and put the dream catcher on his chest. He closed his eyes. Then night birds
called under the full moon.

He walked
through the woods, the trees, black signs telling him to go back, their snakelike
branches held out in warning. He kept walking. Did he just imagine footsteps behind
him? He stopped and looked around. The noise disappeared, and he continued. Then
the snap of twigs made him stop again. “Who’s there?” Nothing. “Who’s there?”

Only the silence
answered him.

Then from behind,
something clawed his back and fangs plunged deeply into his neck.

Edgar woke with
sweat running down his face. A crushing weight on his chest. He dialed 911.

Chapter Nine

Tala paced in
the kitchen that smelled like burned coffee. She glanced every few seconds at
the clock with the yellowed plastic frame. It was six already. Where was he? She’d
called him five times. The leprous green walls closed in on her. If he didn’t
show up in ten minutes, she’d leave without him.

Tala punched in
Vanessa’s numbers. “Hey, I need a big favor. Will you look after Maeve? She was
injured last night by an intruder.”

“What? Wait a
minute. Back up. What intruder?” Vanessa’s sleepy voice became clearer with
each word.  

Tala told her
about the night’s happenings and gave her the phone number of the vet’s office.
“Hold on, I’m getting another call.”

“Is this Tala Martin?”

“Yes.”

“This is Edgar
Owl’s nurse at St. Francis Hospital. He wanted you to know he’s in ICU and had
a heart attack.”

“Oh my gosh,
what room is he in?”

“I’m sorry, but
the doctor doesn’t want him to have any visitors yet…or phone calls. I’ll let
you know when it’s okay, though.”

“Please tell
Edgar I’m so sorry, and I hope he’s feeling well soon.”

Back with
Vanessa, Tala told her of the new development.

“This is getting
more and more complicated. I hope you’re not even thinking about going into the
woods by yourself.” Vanessa used her serious adult voice.

“Don’t lecture
me, Vanessa. And yes, that’s exactly what I’m thinking of.”

“But you were
never even a Girl Scout. And your foot isn’t completely healed. So, you’ll be
limping around. The whole idea is crazy.”

“It’s the only
way. I just have this strange feeling that I’m running out of time.”

“But how are you
going to find the cottage?”

“I have the
rough map Edgar drew after we talked to Gunther. Besides, Gregory is probably
not in the cottage. It’s more a case of his finding me.”

“Oh, that makes
me feel so much better. Tala, I think you’re really losing it.”

“Thanks for your
concern, but it’s the only way. I’m tired of secrets, and I want to help Matt.
I’m willing to risk the consequences.”

“Just make sure
you keep in touch with me.”

Tala assured
Vanessa she would and then put on her backpack. She took a deep breath and
walked outside. Each time she breathed in the cold air, ghosts escaped from her
mouth. The knots of the blackthorn tree stared at her. She hurried past it.
When she went by Debbie’s house, pang of sorrow coursed through her…along with
a stab of fear.

The woods
started three blocks from the house. As soon as Tala entered them, the
atmosphere changed. It wasn’t just the temperature. An aura surrounded her. It
heightened her senses. Fear and energy surged through her at the same time. She
hobbled over to a boulder. Was it the one from the map? Tala explored its rough
surface with her fingertips, outlining a faded etching. If she squinted, she
could almost see the amulet’s design—a fierce animal with threatening fangs.

Each snapping twig
made her jump. After walking for about three hours, she reached a brook whose
black water bubbled like liquid in a witch’s cauldron. The narrow brook, however,
proved easy to cross on the large flat stones.

She reached the
other side and a different sound than the gurgling water thundered through her
ears—a growl. She sniffed. A different odor, maybe from an animal. Or animals. The
bushes about twenty yards ahead of her shook. Her heart invaded her throat, and
she tried to stay perfectly still. Then she reached into her pocket for her
cell phone, realizing what a waste of time calling anyone would be. Whatever lurked
would get her before help arrived.  

The bushes quieted,
and the growling stopped. Then stronger rustling made her strain to see its
source. Had she glimpsed dark fur? The rustling sounds became softer. Convinced
of the retreat, Tala stayed quiet for a long time anyway. But would it return?

Pine trees stood
like bars blocking her path. A carving on one caught her eye—the same beast on
the amulet. And then a narrow trail overgrown with thorny bushes stretched
ahead of her. The wolf trail Gunther mentioned? She hoped so.

Through the tree
canopy meager sunlight prevailed. What time was it? She checked her cell phone.
Past nine. How long would it take to reach the cottage? A desperate hope—that it
would be before darkness moved in. But she also feared staying there at night,
whether or not she found Gregory. And her black-booted foot made her move half
as quickly as anyone else could.

***

Willis Sharp
smiled as he opened the diary, but he said to Tony, “You idiot. I shouldn’t
even pay you. You didn’t get the amulet, and you didn’t finish her off. Then
again, I suppose it’s my fault for sending in a boy to do a man’s job.”

“Hey, I didn’t
know there was a cat in the house, or I wouldn’t have taken the job. Look at my
face. It scratched me right through the ski mask.” Angry red lines and scabs
covered his face.” I have a thing about cats. I can’t help it. One attacked me when
I was a kid. It was so bad, I wound up in the hospital, and it had rabies. I
had to get those shots. The really painful ones.”

Sharp handed him
an envelope. “Quit sniveling and get the hell out of here.” He shook his head. “Idiot.”

After Tony left,
Sharp turned his attention back to the diary, half of what he wanted. He’d
given Tala’s mother all that money just for that and the amulet, which he swore
he’d get one day, too.

***

Tala’s cell
phone rang. “Hello.”

“Oh, thank God,
you’re all right.”

She recognized
Vanessa’s nervous voice. “Yes, I’m okay, but my foot is really starting to bother
me.”

“Why would that
be a surprise? Maybe you should just turn back.”

“I can’t,
Vanessa.”

“It’s just too
dangerous.” Her voice leaped in decibels. “What if Gregory is a nut job? No, I
take that back. Gregory
is
a nut job. And wolves are probably in the
woods, too.” She let out a loud sigh. “You know what wolves are, right? They’re
not cuddly dogs. They travel in packs. Wild animals that would be delighted to
eat you for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Or a snack.”

“I can’t go on
living my life without answers, especially since I know now that Matt will
always be the one I love. And if I can find a solution to what happens when we’re
together, maybe then he’ll feel the same way about me.”