Page 53 of The Healer and the Wolf: Part One

Thankfully, if any of them were shifters, there was no way they would be able to smell Leo over the sheer amount of manure in the hot compost. That would have made everything so much more complicated. I wasn’t some experienced super spy who knew how to hack a security system or find weak points. I was simply a grocery clerk who was great at finding the right keywords for certain questions on the internet. And growing plants—that part was important too.

“You’re about twenty minutes later than you should have been,” one of the guards said as he approached my truck. I didn’t recognize him, but they all looked so alike: tall, well-muscled, with sunglasses and baseball caps that obscured most of their faces. Most likely ex-military. Chadwicke indeed had a type for everything.

“Didn’t Haelena call you?” I murmured nervously. “I blew a tire on the highway. Had to pull off on a service road and change it myself. I sent her video proof and everything.”

That video was just me putting the spare tire on, but whatever, it worked. Leo had made sure to put a long shred into the tire to sell our story in case anybody came poking around.

“We ain’t heard shit,” he groused, already heading toward the back of the covered truck. I tried not to panic or look too alarmed, which was pretty fucking difficult to do when my plan was about to go wrong right out the gate. Or rather right into the gate.

But then another guard called out, “Call just came in! She’s good.”

Phew. Thank God. To think my plan had almost gone to shit just because my boss took her time finding the right contacts in her phone. I really needed to go into her settings and increase the font size for her because she was too stubborn to admit she needed new glasses.

“All right, you can head in, but get this taken care of before the party starts. We don’t need guests smelling shit when they’re trying to enjoy themselves.”

“Understood.”

Considering the whole party was to celebrate Chadwicke getting away with a bunch of crimes, yet again, perhaps the guests did deserve to smell all the excrement I could heap on them.

Maybe another time. Hopefully karma would give them what they deserved. Right now, we were more concerned with the warlock and finding Ricky.

From there, it wasn’t that long of a drive to the eastern corner of the estate where the compost piles were kept along with several brewing setups. I wrinkled my nose at the smell of fermenting hops, having never really been a fan of that particular scent. Once I parked the truck in one of the small garages, I hurried to the back, holding my breath as I peeked under to check in on Leo.

He didn’t look happy. I gave him a sheepish grin before whispering, “Do you hear anyone?”

He squeezed his eyes shut, then shook his head. When he opened them again, they were a blazing green so bright they couldn’t be human.

“All right, you do what you have to do. I’ll keep on my duties so no one gets suspicious.”

Leo nodded, then slid out of the truck. I hurried away, giving him the space to transform without being enveloped in all that hot steam.

I almost didn’t see Haelena until I nearly ran into her at the promenade closer to the manor. She was deadheading the hibiscus bush that dominated the cottage garden

“Ah, Valencia, there you are! Again, I have to say thank you for coming in clutch with that tire. I wouldn’t have known what to do in that situation. Not exactly skills they taught in my etiquette class.”

“I’m sure you would have figured it out,” I said, trying to act natural—well, Valencia-natural, since Ven-natural was something entirely different. It was easier said than done.

“You give me too much credit. I would have had to call a tow truck or some sort of repairman, or at least one of the men on staff. Definitely not a solution that would have things handled before the party.” She gave me one of those old lady pinches that wasn’t about pain and more an expression of fondness. “Oh! Speaking of the party, I need you to change out of that sanitation uniform and do some work out in the tea garden.”

“Tea garden?” I frowned. “Isn’t that awfully close to where the party will be?” Why would Chadwicke want one of gardeners present where people could see?

“Yes. Word came in just a bit ago that the head of staff wants one of our groundskeepers at every arranged area where guests might wander in case they had any questions. And, you know, to make sure they don’t ingest anything that could hurt them in case they’re trying for some sort of litigation.”

I desperately wanted to roll my eyes. “Shouldn’t they have security on that detail?” I really,reallydidn’t want to be so visible. While I did maintain that there would be innocent guests, there was likely to be just as manynotso innocent guests as well. I’d prefer it if those people didn’t see my face.

“Security don’t know what’s edible or not, so they’d have to just carpet ban eating anything. Apparently, the master of the house really wants to show off all the new additions to his garden. You know, the rich so often like to play-act at sustainability.”

Oh,boy, was I particularly aware of that. While I supported anyone who made steps to be a better steward to the planet, it always struck me as odd when the wealthy elite did the same stuff as poor people did. They had the resources and ability to make change on a much greater scale.

“You don’t have to be nervous. Trust me, most everyone will ignore you, and those who don’t will have a genuine interest in the tea garden.”

I supposed she had a point, but still, it made me really nervous. Part of me wanted to object, but if I refused, she might send me home, and I couldn’t have that. I had to be around in case Leo needed me.

How I would help him, I didn’t know. Still, I wouldn’t abandon him.

“Okay, then. I’ll go put this sanitation suit in the laundry chute, then head out there. Anything else I should know?”

“Just be your normal, planty self, dear! Oh, and you don’t have to stand around looking presentable. You can do some work as long as it doesn’t get any dirt onto any of the walkways. Passive stuff, you know.”

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