Page 7 of Squirrel Hunt
Konrad winced. “We’re not mobsters, Farris. You don’t have to call me Boss.”
“Don.”
Snorting, Konrad ran a hand over his face. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but I have a weird feeling, so I thought I’d call.”
“Weird how?” Konrad struggled to sit and winced as he glanced at the clock—3:18.
“I don’t know. I feel as if something is going to happen. I don’t think it has anything to do with us, but I don’t want to be caught in it.”
They didn’t have any conflict with the Ordbury pack, but there was a new alpha, and it was always good to stay informed about what was going on. “And you think it’s something that will reach you, not some struggle about position or something?” Those things happened. Konrad kept an eye on all the wolves in Doson, and the other neighboring packs, so he’d know when to expect a challenge. They were few and far between, thank God.
“Could be, but there was a bear meeting with Varg today.”
Varg Cadman hadn’t been alpha for long, and Konrad missed Gustav Emerson, who’d been alpha before him. Gustav had been calm and level-headed, worked to the greater good of his pack, and hadn’t had any plans to expand his territory. That was the reason Konrad now wanted a man in Ordbury at all times. He didn’t trust Varg not to glance in their direction. The Doson pack wasn’t big, but Konrad would not allow it to get swallowed by some young hothead wanting to appear stronger than he was.
“A bear?” There was no animosity between the species, but they weren’t close.
“Yeah. Weird.”
Konrad hummed. It was a little weird, but not cause to worry. Maybe Varg had friends in unconventional places. “You think he’s up to something with the bears? Which bears? The Ordbury sleuth?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know which bears belong where. Some of the Doson bears I’d recognize on sight, but I doubt any of them would come to Ordbury.”
Konrad had to agree. Bears in general weren’t social, and while there were family bonds and matings across cities and sleuths as with any other species, he didn’t think they had to keep track of what the Doson bears were up to. Or the Ordbury bears, for that matter. “I have a hard time believing anything the bears are up to would affect us.”
Farris grunted, but it was almost drowned out by a car honking.
“Where are you?”
“Following a group of youngsters. They’re up to something.”
Konrad held in a sigh. Maybe sending Farris on a mission had been a bad idea. “Up to something?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “They’re drunk. When I couldn’t sleep, I went down to the bar on the corner of my block, and they were there. Already too out of it to notice me, but they were whispering and urging each other on, so I’m following them to make sure they don’t harass someone.”
Nothing big then. “I see.”
“Most likely a harmless prank, and they’re not at their stealthiest, so I doubt they’ll be able to pull it off, whatever it is.”
“You’re babysitting.”
Konrad could picture Farris shrugging. “If they aren’t up to anything, then no one will ever know I followed them. If they do something and I interfere, I earn points with Varg. I don’t trust Varg, so getting closer to him would be good.”
His words had Konrad’s skin shrinking, and the sense of unease he’d carried all evening came crawling back. “Yeah, it would be good.” He didn’t trust Varg either.
* * * *
Dahy woke to someone banging on the door. Fear shot through him, and he almost shifted on the spot.
“Dahy!” Myka was calling from outside, and he relaxed a fraction. He wrapped the cover around himself since he’d thrown his clothes in the drier after he’d washed them the previous evening and had left them there.
Hurrying down the stairs, he glanced out the window to make sure she was alone, then he unlocked the door.
“Hi! Sorry to drop by so early.” She pushed past him into the house. “I work an early shift, but I wanted to make sure you had some breakfast.” She handed over a big to-go cup and a bag with a cream cheese bagel. “Were you able to sleep?”
He nodded, then cleared his throat. “Yeah, I had a bath.” He gestured in the direction of the bathroom. “Did you know this wolf dude has romance books?” He nodded at the stacks of books he’d put on the coffee table and winced. How would he be able to put them back in their right place?