Page 26 of The Doctor's Wolf: Part Two
“Well apparently she has Adler.And me, that is.”
Corinne’s eyebrows rose.“Wow.”
Gordon switched on the lights in his office, and the comfort of his collectibles aligned on shelves washed over him.
“Corinne, do I hear judgment?”
Gordon plopped into his chair and put her report to the side to be read later.He started scanning the Williamsons’ autopsy report, the dictation the new and shiny program had converted to text.
Corinne sat down in one of the chairs across from the desk and went for the Lord Helmet cookie jar directly without Gordon having to do any prompting at all.He smiled.The herby richness of fine cannabis cookies scented the air, and Corinne bit down on a cookie.
“That has to be weird.I mean, I’m not judging, but you know I took that seminar—”
“Supernatural Society and Culture Specific Reactions?The one for which you left the lab for most of the week?”
Gordon had missed her, even if the corpses had been good company.None of the new interns came close to Corinne though.
“Yeah, that one.”She chewed her cookie thoughtfully.“According to that guest lecturer—and I found his ideas about vampire and human relationships offensive by the way—but according to him, wolves and vampires don’t mix all that well because of the pack structures.”
Gordon snorted while he typed a few additional notes into the autopsy file.“I think I had that same guest lecturer when I first took that seminar.”
Corinne nodded.“I figure I should ask your hunter buddy for a second opinion.”
Gordon glanced at her, then broke out laughing.“That’s a great idea, actually.I didn’t know Maxim that well back when I first went to that seminar, but he will probably take your offended feelings more seriously than the powers that be here at the Forum.”
“So I figured.Does the kid mind?Does she mind you, I mean.”
“Ouch,” Gordon said.“But I don’t think so.”He shrugged.“Then again, I wouldn’t know how to tell whether she minds or not.As I told Detective Adler, I am very familiar with child and adolescent anatomy, less so with their psychology.”
Corinne rolled her eyes and groaned as she devoured the last bit of her cookie.
Gordon cocked his head.“What?”
“Boss, a kid isn’t a problem that you need to figure out or understand.It’s just a person who needs you to hold their hand while they figure shit out themselves.Maybe hand them a tissue if they end up with a bloody nose.That kind of thing.”
Gordon sent off his preliminary report to Maxim.“That actually makes sense.”
Corinne shrugged.“I have a sister who’s ten years younger than me.She thinks she is the source of all my wisdom.I learned to never leave food unattended in her presence unless it’s broccoli.”
“Ah.”
Before Gordon could ask her more about younger people, his phone rang.Maxim.
“Well, I’m done for the day.”
Corinne left Gordon to his phone call, her pupils slightly enlarged.
Gordon waited before she closed the door behind herself, then picked up.“Maxim, hi.”
“I see you and the corpses got on well,” the hunter said.“Are you quite finished there?If so, join us back at my house.”
“Is Adler there?”
“Adler, your mate is asking for you!He is ensuring you are here.”
Gordon heard Adler’s grumbling voice in the background though he couldn’t make out the words.A warm shiver ran over his skin.
“I take that as a yes.I’m on my way.”He hung up before Maxim could rhyme at him.
