Page 12 of The Doctor's Wolf: Part Two
Before he could say anything else, Adler’s phone rang in his pocket.
“Oh, fuck,” Adler said when he saw Maxim’s name flash over the screen.
Mil perked up.“You’re not supposed to overuse that word, Grandma says.”
“Uh, right.Sorry.”He answered the phone and walked out of the kitchen.“Terrible timing, Maxim.”
The vampire hunter should have been busy with whatever it was he did when not actively hunting.Crocheting for all Adler knew, or maybe he liked model trains.He wouldn’t put anything past Maxim.
“Oh, Detective Adler, don’t think you were the only one pulled from something you’d rather be doing.In my case, I was explaining to Heath why I dislike, intensely, when he lectures me about taxes and such.But in your case, you can bring the lover along, seeing as how he is presumably awake and caffeinated at this time of day and thus a tolerable medical opinion machine.I have a need of that, you see.There is death, and he knows it best.”
Adler tried to take a calming breath.He failed.“Look, Maxim, there’s a bit of a situation here.”
Which clearly got the hunter’s interest piqued.I keep forgetting there’s a reason Maxim and Willa are friends, those damn gossips, Adler thought.
“Oh,situationsare like your only child’s opinions and tax forms.They pop up in the most unexpected circumstances and are normally uncalled for.Elaborate, Detective.”
“Well, see, there is this young, orphaned wolf living in my building with her grandmother.Who had a stroke this morning.And Willa decided it would be best for Milea to stay with me and Gordon while her gran recovers at the hospital.”
“Ah!You had a visit from the stork!Congratulations, Adler, that is one lucky wolf girl.It will give you two the opportunity to make up your minds about lengthier, dare I say permanent, parenthood.It’s not a small responsibility.My baby boy has often talked about moving out and such, and each time I had to discourage such childish thoughts.Obviously, you cannot bring the poor darling pup to a murder scene.However, I do need you and my favorite corpse whisperer.Drop the kid with Clement,” Maxim said.“I’ll tell him to expect you at the house.”
Adler sighed.“Look, she’s still in shock I think.Can you make do with Gordon or myself so one of us can stay with her at least?”
Maxim sighed.“Wish that it were so, but no.Leave the young wolf with the old barkeep, and with any luck, the latter’s languishing lot will distract the former from the situation.”
Adler rubbed his temple.“Fine.Just—text me the crime scene address, and we’ll get there asap.This better be good, Maxim.”
“It’s bad, Adler.Why else would I call you when you are clearly needed there?”For once, there was no humor in the vampire’s voice.
Chapter 8
Gordonwasfastergettingdressed, and so it fell to him to accompany Mil across the hallway to her granny’s home so the little wolf could put on clothes as well.Inwardly, Gordon was freaking out.He had been very truthful with Adler; looking after children wasn’t anything he had any type of experience with.
“Are you taking me to work with you?”Mil asked, her voice sounding smaller in the echoey hallway.
“Not today.I only take interns,” Gordon said.
Mil dropped her head.“Can I be your intern?”
Gordon held the apartment door for her, and she walked inside.The place Mil shared with her grandma was nice, although Mil’s was a lace-loving grandma as was obvious in the curtains and patterned throw pillows.Gordon had also noted a warm scent in here when he’d been over earlier, something like ginger cookies or a type of herbal tea.It was a comfortable place, and Gordon hated that Mil had to leave it.
“You’re too young to be my intern, but maybe in about ten years or so.Uh, you’ll have to go to NAU though.This is your room, right?”
Mil nodded and went ahead into the colorful bedroom that was a blend of things for children and things not so, at least at first glance: on the desk that had felt tip doodles on one leg, there lived a small tower of books more appropriate for older readers.Gordon was delighted to see Discworld on that pile.Next to the bed, on a shelf, there was a woman’s purse, too big to be Mil’s and too high end for a child.A carpet laid out in front of the bed clashed as well, the colors dark, not the light green and yellow on the wall.
Gordon looked around.“Okay.You need clothes.Do you, erm.Do you need help getting dressed?”
Mil looked up at him.“No.But the nice sweaters are on a higher shelf.Do I need to bring my nice sweaters?”
Good fucking question.“We’re taking you to a bar so…”
“Where people drink?Like in movies?”
“Well.Technically.But it’s probably fine.It’s a childcare bar.Do you want to wear a nice sweater for that?”
Mil hesitated, then gave a nod.She went over to the wardrobe and pointed at a shelf above her reach.“Can I get that brown one there?Grandma says maroon, but maroon sounds ugly.It’s not really ugly.She bought it for me, and I really like it.”
Gordon nodded and pulled out the requested sweater.Behind that, he saw a set of black clothes, all the way in the back.He didn’t know, wasn’t going to ask Mil, but by the look of them, they were funeral clothes, maybe the very ones Mil had worn for her parents.
