Page 33 of War Games

Dirk turned down a dirt road, and I was grateful we picked his truck for the trip, as the road wasn’t great.

“We’re nearly there…” Dirk rolled his window down since we were out in the country. He would pick up scents on the wind much easier. I followed suit because while my nose wasn’t as good as a werewolf’s, it was still pretty damn good.

It was a myriad of scents, growing thicker as we approached the main house on the property. Olivia Kesslar lived on nearlythree hundred acres, an amazing bit of land. It would be a great farm, but much of it seemed left to nature. The main home was small, but the property was interesting because there were three other buildings and large sections of tall chain-link fences like you’d see in a zoo to keep the animals in.

“What have we found out here?” I asked softly.

“No idea, but it’s something.”

I couldn’t help but snort at the comment that mimicked my thoughts on the drive.

We pulled up to the front, and I went to the door with the specific report for Olivia Kesslar in one hand. Dirk kept watch down the stairs, the briefcase with all the reports inside so he could put it away when I handed it off. I knocked hard, which started a cacophony of sounds. Birds started squawking, dogs barked, and I was fairly certain I heard some coyotes begin to vocalize. The door didn’t open, though.

“Hello?” I called out.

“Oh, hold on! I’m sorry! I’ll be right there!” The feminine voice was frantic and surprised. It took another minute before I could hear someone walking to the front door, the soft steps barely audible under the music of the animals all around me. When the door swung open, a young woman with big doe eyes and long brown hair stared at me.

“I’m sorry! I was settling in some orphaned possum joeys that were found. I’m Olivia Kesslar of the Magical Animal Rescue,” she said, pushing her lengthy hair from her face, and I caught the scent of hand sanitizer. “Before you ask, the animals aren’t magical. I just find rescuing them to be a magical thing to do.”

“I see,” I said softly, nodding. “I’m Jacky Leon, member of the werecat ruling family.”

I watched her eyes go even wider.

“Hi…” she said, her energy changing into something more subdued. “Is there something I can do for the… werecat ruling family?”

“I’m following up on the Tribunal investigation. They spoke to you some time ago, and I’m just… going back around.” I held up the specific report with her name on it, only long enough for her to possibly see her name, then held it back for Dirk, who tucked it away quickly.

“I see,” she said, sighing heavily. “Still haven’t figured out how those witches did it, huh? I’m sorry to hear that you need to ask around again like this.”

“We had some developments recently. You seem well informed, even though you live way out here.”

“It was explained to me. I just figured if anyone could figure out what happened and how, it would be the Tribunal. That’s their job, isn’t it?” Olivia stepped back and held the door open. “Come in. Feel free to get comfortable. I won’t be foolish enough to offer a drink. You wouldn’t take it.”

“That’s very insightful.” I stepped in, and Dirk followed me, hovering closer to the door while I went toward the living room.

“Working with animals, I know wounded ones might not want to eat or drink if they don’t trust the person offering it,” she said, then sighed again. “Not that you are animals, obviously. This is what I get for not talking to people often enough. I don’t choose my words carefully. I grew up in a city with a werewolf pack, and I noticed when I was young that there’s something about the body language and…” She shook her head. “Neither here nor there.”

“Moon Cursed have some more instinctual or animalistic tendencies,” I said, shrugging. “You know how to read them.”

“Thank you for understanding.” She seemed immensely relieved that I got it.

“Do you know why you were on the Tribunal’s initial investigation target list?” I asked, looking around her living room for a moment, taking in the almost sterile way she kept it. Nothing that a puppy could eat and choke on; the vacuum was used regularly.

“Two reasons… my training and my land out here.” Olivia shrugged. “It’s what I get for not staying in touch with other witches. No one really knows what I’m doing until they get out here… and then, most witches think what I do is a complete waste of time.”

“What do you do?” I asked, looking back at her.

“I rescue animals. I rehab them and adopt them to good homes if they are a domestic variety, or I release them back to the wild if that’s where they were from.” Her smile was gentle and loving as she looked out the window. I walked closer, moving slowly to look out the same window and saw an enclosure where a bird of prey I couldn’t name was sitting on a tree that the enclosure must have been built around.

“That’s… that’s really lovely, actually,” I said softly, looking over my shoulder at Dirk. “I’ve rescued a few of my own wild animals if you ask anyone close to me. People think what I do can be a complete waste of time, too.”

Dirk started to shake as I looked over my shoulder at him.

“I think I heard about that,” Olivia said, her gentle smile becoming a grin. “A pack of wolves, right? You keep them in your territory and everything.”

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. I was glad to confirm a bit more of what she knew. “So, they were interested in the facilities and your education. Care to take us on a tour? We have to verify the initial investigation. Perhaps while you show us around, you can tell me about the education and training you got that made them look into you.”

“Oh, absolutely. Day-to-day stuff keeps me busy, but if you’re okay with watching me work while we talk, then let’s go.”

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