Page 7 of Woodland Web

“I’m trying to figure out where it could be. Maybe I should check with Millie to see if there have been any unexplained attacks in the past week?” Millie Tuptin was our local chief of police. A German shepherd shifter, she was good at her job, and we’d had altogether too many discussions over dangerous cases.

“That might be a good idea,” Tad said.

I pulled out my phone and called her. Wonder of wonders, she was at her desk. “Hey, Millie, I have a question for you, and it’s not just rhetorical. Has anyone reported any unexplained attacks or scary encounters as of the past week or so?”

“Hey, January. Nice to hear from you, and yes, actually, now that you mention it, we’ve had two reports of townsfolk being attacked by something they didn’t recognize. Two men were hiking in Devil’s Gulch and encountered a monster they couldn’t identify. Well, the one left alive couldn’t identify it. Whatever it was, it wasn’t human—or humanoid—and it blends into the shadows and just seems to vanish.” She paused, then asked, “Why did you ask? Do you know what this thing is?”

“Maybe,” I said. “Can you come over to the office now? I’m back at work, at least part time, and I think this is a case we should discuss in person.”

“I don’t like the sound of that,” she said. “I’ll be over in fifteen minutes.”

As she hung up, I turned to the others. “She’ll be here in fifteen. She said there have been cases of unexplained attacks in the past week by something that isn’t humanoid. I’m thinking it’s the sluagh. According to the references, the creature feeds on human flesh.”

“I’m almost hoping that the encounters are related. That would give us a direction in which to look,” Tad said.

“Me too.” Hank rose to pour himself another cup of coffee. “Anybody else?”

Caitlin raised her mug. “I’ll go for another.”

I took the opportunity to call Killian. He was on his lunch break. “Hey sweetie, I just wanted to let you know that I’m at the office.”

“You’re at work?” He sounded surprised, but not concerned.

“Yeah, I’ve decided I need to start back to work again. I’ll begin with part time and see how my ERS handles it. I think I should be fine. I’ve got a lot to tell you tonight, so I’ll bring home pizza for dinner and it will keep till you get home.”

“Don’t bother saving dinner for me,” he said. “We’re going to order in here since it’s going to be a long evening.”

“No worries. I can always eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.” I blew kissing noises through the phone, then hung up. “While we’re waiting for Millie, what’s the news? I feel like I’ve missed out on a lot.”

Tad and Caitlin glanced at each other. “Shall we tell them?” he asked.

Caitlin nodded. “Since January’s here, yes.”

“Tell us what?” Hank asked.

“I hoped Wren would be here too, but given how her schedule is so erratic lately, I’ll just call her,” Caitlin said.

Tad slid his arm around Caitlin. “We’re getting married!”

I jumped up and clapped, hugging first Caitlin, then Tad.

“Woohoo! I figured once you two actually got together that it would go fast.” Over the past couple years I’d watched the pair orbit around each other, never quite meeting. I had also known—thanks to their confidences—that they were both interested in each other, but they’d been afraid of spoiling their friendship. Finally, I meddled a little, they took the plunge, and now—they were getting married.

“I knew you two were right for each other,” Hank said. “I’m so pleased!”

“Pleased enough to be my best man?” Tad asked.

Hank blushed and ducked his head. “You want that, given the…” He motioned to Tad’s cane. Tad had recently discovered that his recovery had progressed about as far as it was going to. He’d needed liver surgery after Bigfoot just about killed him, and now he was stuck walking with a cane forever. He’d sustained a lot of damage other than his liver, as well.

“Of course. You’re my bro, you know?”

Caitlin turned to me. “And would you be my matron of honor, January?”

I blinked, tearing up. Caitlin had been ousted from her Pride when she broke away from an arranged marriage. She literally had no family left who claimed her. “Of course I will. I’d be happy to stand by you.”

At that moment, the door opened and Millie entered the office. She glanced over at Wren’s desk. “Walter having another bad day?” she asked. Her voice was soft. Everybody who knew Wren adored the woman, and we all watched, feeling helpless, doing what we could, when we could. But it never felt like enough.

“Yeah,” Tad said, frowning. “It’s getting more frequent. I hate to say it, but I don’t think…”

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