Page 32 of The Alpha Dire Wolf
“Town hall?”
“A’yup. Afer sumthin’ weird like that? The mayor be speaking, bet you me. Gun be mighty interest’n, I’d say.”
“Yeah,” I said as he walked away. “Mighty interesting indeed.”
I stared down Main Street, chewing on my lower lip. This was too much. It was too much of a coincidence.
My grandmother’s note. The timing of it, this wild animal marathon, the giant wolf, my sexy lumberjack mystery man. All of it. It’s connected. I couldfeel it.
I just didn’t know how.
Without thinking, I started off down Main Street. I wasn’t alone. Lots of others from stores and offices were making their way as well. Everyone seemed to know where to go.
Maybe I could ask some of them about the “curse of the woods” the old shopkeeper had mentioned. Because something was going on in New Lockwood. It just didn’t make sense.
Not in the “real” world at least …
Chapter Thirteen
Sylvie
Following my instinct without delay was a smart move. Although it was less than a ten-minute walk to town hall, by the time I arrived, there was already a veritable stream of people heading inside. Others besides just the surplus store owner were expecting the mayor to speak.
“Half the town is here,” I muttered to nobody in particular.
“Those that care,” said an elderly woman stepping out of a bright blue Cadillac. I eyed the pristine blast from the past with the giant rear fins and sparkling chrome. I couldn’t have placed the year, let alone the decade, but I knew a lovingly cared-for machine when I saw one.
“Care? Care about what?” I asked, waiting as the gray-haired woman manually locked the door and stepped away, moving much more spryly than I would have guessed, given the wrinkled skin and age marks covering her.
“The well-being of the town, of course.”
“Right.” I frowned. It was still a quick response to make a beeline for town hall. To be that automatic, people would need to be familiar with it. “Does this sort of thing happen often around here?”
“A wild animal stampede?” The woman laughed. “No, that’s a new one by me, and I’ve been here all my eighty-one years.”
I looked around at the steadily growing crowd, with still more making their way from all directions. “Then how does everyone know to come here?”
“A stampede is new,” the woman conceded, starting to make her way to the building to join the line forming outside the doors. “But this is New Lockwood. There’s always been a strangeness about it. Weird happenings that nobody can’t quite explain. Which means the mayor will speak to everyone afterward. Assure us that it’s okay and that it’s nothing to worry about.”
“Ain’t nothing okay,” the person in line in front of us muttered, glancing over his shoulder. He was also on the older side of things. As, I noticed now, were many of those attending.
“Hush,” the woman said.
“It’s the truth. Them woods is cursed. We all know it.”
“Cursed?” I leaned forward. “What does that mean? It’s the second time I’ve heard someone say that today.”
The old lady’s eyes narrowed. “You aren’t from around here. Are you?” The suspicion on her face was plain to see, emphasized by the added wrinkles and guarded tone. She peered closer at me.
“I was born here,” I said, uncomfortable to be on the defensive. “My parents took me away when I was ten. I came back a few days ago for my grandmother’s funeral.”
The line shuffled forward.
“Funeral?” the strange woman repeated. Then her eyes opened. “Oh, you’re Helen’s granddaughter! Lovely woman. Truly a shame to hear about her passing. I remember now. I sawyou at her funeral. I’m very sorry, my dear. She used to play bridge with us once a month or so. Absolute hoot.”
I grinned as the suspicion evaporated, replaced by friendly comradery as we approached the doors, our line funneling through inside with paced efficiency. “That is one way to describe her, yes. Thank you.”
“Come on then, let’s get inside and see what the mayor has to saythistime.”
