Page 28 of Cuddles for the Bear
“Because, despite all the technology they have,” Cyrus said, “there’s a limit to what their technology can do. Sure, they can trace dodgy IP addresses and things like that, but most people who use those sorts of forums all use a VPN as it is, and it’s notlike they can just magically unlock where a VPN is coming from. Your Wren is one of their only leads.”
“Then the agency needs to find another one. They can get somebody else to infiltrate the forums or groups and work through leads that way. Set somebody up undercover as a buyer, whatever. I don’t know. That’s not part of my job description, and Michael’s shit has absolutely fucking nothing to do with Wren.”
“I understand why you feel that way,” Cyrus said quietly. “But you’re not seeing the big picture here. The agency still feels that Wren can offer some leads. Like, how did he end up at Michael’s in the first place? Surely there’re some leads there.”
Devon, who had been pacing up and down his kitchen floor, slumped down into a chair. “Shit. They’re really not going to let this go, are they? All Wren has told me is that he was living with his grandparents, there was a harmless incident, and his grandfather called a pastor. Two men came and took him away, and he ended up at Michael’s.”
“See, there’s a clue right there,” Cyrus said. “Who were the grandparents? Who was the pastor? These are questions the agency needs answers to. Was this a random thing or just a coincidence, or was that one action part of a bigger system?”
“How the hell would I know? Our conversation at the time was related to something else, which is none of the agency’s business.”
Cyrus chuckled. “I can imagine.”
No, you really can’t.But Devon had been giving some thought to Wren’s parentage, because there were parts of Wren’s story – while true – that didn’t make sense in the context of shifter society.
“Consider this,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “We know Wren didn’t know anything about the paranormal world before he came here. He wasn’t lying about that. Is there a chance that his grandparents weren’t actually related to him in the first place? That maybe they were just some religious couple who took on a child that was found abandoned somewhere, or something like that? There’s no evidence that Wren has even got any connection to the people who raised him.
“And you know this.” Devon hammered home the point. “Shifters do not let go of their children. They’re not like that. Even religious shifters are not going to turn away their children, and definitely not sell them off or throw them away, the way his grandparents clearly did. A shifter’s animal spirit would not allow that to happen. It goes against every instinct a shifter parent would have.”
On the other end of the phone, Cyrus whistled. “Yeah, I don’t think anyone at the agency considered that, although that idea could tie in with what the agency has already found, or should I say, not found. The agency has checked through the shifter records at the Paranormal Council, but could find no listing for any chameleon parents. None at all. That report came through this morning after I reported Wren had finally revealed his shifter side. That’s another reason why they want to talk to Wren. There’re no other listed chameleon shifters anywhere on the American continent.”
“That’s all the more reason Wren needs our protection. Cyrus, I’m really trying very hard to keep my patience here,” Devon said quietly. “I know you’re just the guy stuck in the middle. But surely you can see Wren doesn’t deserve any of this shit. It was not his fault if he was raised by people who weren’t related to him. It’s not his fault, he didn’t know anything about the paranormal life. Nothing he’s gone through is his fault, andit is only through his chameleon’s desire to survive that the chameleon stayed hidden for so long.”
“Unfortunately, that little tidbit about the chameleon is actually a flaw in your argument. Believe me, I do know what you’re saying, and I would be as protective of my mate as you are being with yours. But from all accounts, and admittedly, I didn’t see it, but your mate can shift into any darn animal he pleases, including the big ones.
“Which would suggest, if Michael did try and force his shift, then wouldn’t he have just shifted into an elephant and stomped on the damn snake’s head?”
“I don’t know why he didn’t,” Devon said, “and I doubt very much that Wren even knows. For whatever reason, his animal side decided to stay hidden. It’s what a chameleon does. So why on earth would anybody expect him to be an aggressor in any situation? His scent has changed so much in just a few days. It was so faint when I met him, and it only got stronger once he was free and actually safe.
“I don’t think Wren understands why it happened, and again I don’t see why he needs to be pushed and challenged about stuff that has nothing to do with him.”
“We need to know more about the pastor,” Cyrus said. “If you can give me some information about that, it would help. More information about his grandparents would also be useful. The agency can use the resources they do have to track them down and see if they are even alive. If they were already older and human, there’s a good chance they’ve died while Wren was a captive, but from a security perspective, it would be handy to know either way.”
“That’s the agency’s job to work all that out, not mine. I’m a simple assassin. They seem to forget Wren is the victim in all ofthis. He’s finally coming into his own. He’s finally gaining the confidence to live his life the way he pleases. Why the hell would I jeopardize that?”
“There’s a chance the agency could get pushier. Do you really want to walk away from all of this?”
“You’d threaten my job for protecting my mate?” Devon didn’t even have to think about it. “If that’s what it took to keep my mate safe, then I’d walk away in a heartbeat. I don’t want to. Me and my bear struggle with what we do sometimes, but I do know we’re the good guys. And you and the others are the closest thing I have to a family. But Wren’s safety and comfort absolutely have to come first.”
“I do understand that,” Cyrus said. “I understand probably more than you know. But the fact that Wren is alivingvictim is why he’s so important to the agency. Any hint, any clue, any tiny bit of information at all could help save so many other people who are in similar situations.”
“Don’t do that,” Devon growled. “Don’t lay the guilt shit on me. Bad shit happens all the time. Me and the rest of us, we all do our bit. But we’re the ones who get told where the boundaries are and where our job ends. None of this has anything to do with Wren. Michael’s dead – thanks to Python – so technically the job is over. End of story.”
“Not in this case.”
Devon sighed. Cyrus was an amazing handler and a good friend. He wouldn’t be so persistent if the agency wasn’t pushing him hard. “I’ll talk to Wren, not immediately, but I’ll talk to him. And I’m doing that for you, not for the agency. I don’t know what the agency expects. Why don’t they just get one of the gods they’ve got on speed dial to work all this out and leave me and Wren out of it?”
Cyrus laughed. “That would probably push their non-interference law, the gods all live under, too far. For what it’s worth, I’m on your side and think this whole business is a crock of shit. But if there’s the slightest possibility that the pastor could be a clue to a bigger pattern or network that might still be operating, then anything we can learn about him would be vital.
“Between you and me, I think one of the things upsetting the agency so much is that there is no record of Wren ever existing. No records of any other chameleon parents either. It’s as if he were dropped like an egg in the middle of the desert somewhere and just left.”
“Maybe he was,” Devon said. “Who the hell knows, and how would you expect a baby to remember things like that? This is something I think the agency is forgetting. For most of this time, when Wren was a victim, he was a child. He didn’t know he was going to be grilled for information when he was saved.
“Why hasn’t the agency gone through Michael’s things? Why haven’t they searched his computer or phone? Why haven’t they scoured that apartment? There must be clues or something there. It’s not like Michael had a chance to hide anything before Python got him.
“Has he got safety deposit boxes? Another residence? There are so many other things the agency could be chasing instead of hassling you to get to Wren. You can’t tell me the agency is thinking about Wren’s well-being, or they wouldn’t be pressuring you and me.”
“I’m sure they’ll be as considerate as they can be under the circumstances.
