Page 7 of Dead Wrong

“At least he went out with a bang,” Xander said, prompting a disapproving growl from Anna.

“That had to be hard to witness,” I said.

“I only wish I understood what happened,” Bert said. “It was like he triggered a land mine.”

West looked at me. “We swept the area already. There was no evidence of any explosives. No traps either.”

“Do you think something came through the crossroadsand attacked him?” I asked.

Bert shrugged. “It’s always a possibility, but we didn’t see anything actually attack him.”

“Plenty of monsters have cloaking abilities,” I said. Especially in a dark forest. “Has anybody searched today?”

“We’ve been searching for pieces of Chutney, but I think we found all we’re gonna find at this point,” Anna said. “If you think there’s more, knock yourself out.”

That wasn’t a scavenger hunt I wanted to join. “I wasn’t talking about Chutney. I meant the mysterious animal. You’re wolves. Can’t you track it?”

“The snow and the lack of a scent make it harder,” Bert said.

“Harder, but not impossible,” I countered.

Anna grunted. “I wouldn’t bother. Even if Bert’s right, it wouldn’t be the first lost dog in Wild Acres and certainly won’t be the last.”

“Aren’t you concerned the dog won’t make it another night in subzero temperatures?” I asked.

Xander answered for them. “Sometimes you gotta let nature take its course. Survival of the fittest and all that.”

I glanced at West, expecting their compassionate leader to kick the legs out from under Xander and insist he care about the fate of lost dogs, but West only repeated his earlier statement about their sweep of the area.

West nudged my arm. “Come on, Clay. I’ll give you a ride back to that pile of blue stones you call home.”

“It’s a work in progress,” I said, once I was buckled in the passenger seat.

“It’s a work in something. I’m not sure progress is the right word.”

“This cold weather is slowing me down,” I said. “Snow makes me want to curl up in a ball under a blanket and wait for the thermostat to hit sixty.”

West grinned. “You picked the wrong place to settle if you’re looking to avoid winter. Should’ve headed farther south.”

“This hair isn’t cut out for heat and humidity.” My gaze drifted in the direction of the Devil’s Playground as we drove past the access point, and I forced my attention back to West.

The werewolf seemed to notice. He glanced at me with a look that bordered on sympathy, which I didn’t love. “Last I heard, Dantalion and Josie are still running the place.”

I kept my tone neutral. “Makes no difference to me. I prefer Monk’s.”

“Yeah, me too.” He paused. “Nobody knows why Kane took off. Don’t suppose you’d know the answer to that.”

“Why would I? He and I don’t know each other very well.” Of course, Kane knew more about me than I’d prefer, but there was no putting that goddess back in the bottle. I’d told him my identity, and now I had to suffer the consequences of a runaway demon.

West parked outside the gate to the Castle. “I owe you one, Lorelei.”

“Why? I didn’t do anything.”

“You came with me when you could’ve stayed home. You didn’t have to do that.” He nodded toward the house. “If you still need help with your budget planning, say the word.”

“Thanks, but Nana Pratt is on the case.” The ghost had expressed her displeasure when she learned I’d also sought assistance from the werewolf. Ray said she wanted to feel useful, so I told her she was hired as my official bookkeeper.

“How about I drop off a few bags of salt later? If this weather keeps up, you’ll need them.”

---