Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Big Bad Wolf) by Charlie Adhara

Author:Charlie Adhara [Adhara, Charlie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2020-03-01T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Of all the possibilities Cooper had prepared himself for when rushing after Nielsen and Paul through the locker room and down the dark steps to the basement, Park being shoved up against the wall aggressively by Ranger Beck was not one of them.

“Get off of him,” Cooper said immediately, striding toward them. Single-minded fury burned across his skin like wildfire. He had almost reached them when a hand grabbed his arm and tugged him back.

“Wait,” Nielsen’s voice hissed into his ear. “Just wait.”

“...stay out of this. I’ll handle it. Is that clear?” Beck was saying, keeping a tight grip to Park’s sleeve, near his shoulder.

Park wasn’t even looking at him. He was staring intently over Beck’s shoulder. Across the dark room, Reggie was doubled over, Dr. Joyce at her side, murmuring something in a calming tone. Even from where Cooper stood, he could see Reggie was trembling. Her back was bent oddly and she seemed to be having a hard time getting her legs under her well enough to stay upright.

Clack.

Cooper almost thought he’d imagined it. But no, there it was again. The distinct, flat sound of rock bumping rock.

“She’s losing it,” Nielsen murmured. There was a hint of excited fascination in his voice.

Clack.

“For fuck’s sake,” Paul said hurrying in front of Reggie and Joyce, a vain attempt to block Beck’s view. “What is going on here?”

“Mr. Claymont, could you please inform your guest here that he’s interfering with a crime scene?”

“Crime scene?” Paul choked.

“Figured out why your generators weren’t working.” Beck held up a largish clear plastic bag. An evidence bag. Inside Cooper could make out some neon-green fabric. The same neon green Monty had been wearing yesterday. Except this one was torn up and eighty percent stained with rusty, brown blood. “Found this shoved in the cooling system. That’s a Montclaire Mill shirt. What do you want to bet it’s Lee Llcaj’s? Double or nothing it’s Llcaj’s blood, too.”

Another shuddering gasp sound came from Reggie and another clack echoed through the room.

“What the hell is that sound?” Beck muttered, looking around.

“Pipes, maybe,” Park said, voice blank. “She’s obviously upset. Dr. Joyce, take Reggie outside for some fresh air.”

“No, no one’s going anywhere,” Beck demanded. “There you go playing policeman again. I don’t know what you people are trying to hide, but keep in mind that concealing a crime is also a crime.”

Park’s attention slid coolly to Beck, and Cooper saw the man take an instinctual, hasty step back at the look in Park’s eyes. Not angry or frightened as one might expect from someone being manhandled, but devastatingly unbothered. Like a tiger just now noticing a twittering bird pecking at it. “What exactly do you think we’re hiding?”

All four wolves had gone eerily still and watchful. Even Reggie was frozen in her bent-over position. Looking up through her lashes, shoulders hunched like this, Cooper could clearly imagine what she’d look like in fur.

“I—” Beck was clearly unnerved by the utter lack of emotion and the different, strange tension in the air.

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