Raven’s Instinct (A Day Care for Shifters #6)

15. Alan

15

ALAN

A lan was wild with curiosity. Was Kendra living in her van with Amy full time? Why had she lied about having a home address? Did Cherry know? He still wanted to ask about Amy’s father, and at the same time, wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer.

“You know about the abduction of Jackson Royal,” Alan started.

Kendra nodded impatiently. “Yes, we covered that part. Evil gene company, Stork Limited or whatever.”

“Stork, Inc.,” Alan corrected out of habit. “On the surface, it’s a medical research facility using gene treatments to combat genetic disease, especially in children. Super squeaky public image, lots of touching commercials about brave kids and exciting breakthroughs. They’re funded by grants and donations…on the surface. One of our operatives got deep enough into the company to realize that they were also doing highly illegal gene manipulation for people with deep pockets who wanted perfect kids. A cool three million will guarantee your child has all the genetic advantages. Pick their eye color. Pick their hair color. Pick their…powers.”

“People can make their kids shifters ?” Kendra sounded horrified.

“Not yet, but they are getting dangerously close. A lot of adults have the gene marker to be a shifter, but it never actually develops. They’re looking for clues in the kids who do shift, trying to crack the code for making it happen , not just possible .”

“So, they’re looking for more shifting-age kids to kidnap now? That’s why you’re here?”

“That’s one reason,” Alan said reluctantly.

Kendra groaned and the chair beneath her creaked as she restlessly changed positions. Alan’s eyes had long since adjusted to the dark. Kendra was wearing a wool hat, and her pale hair had dried and fluffed up around her face like a soft mane of feathers. She had a warm padded flannel and light gloves on. Alan wished he’d worn a heavier coat and brought a hat. He hadn’t anticipated sitting outside for so long and he was trying very hard not to shiver unmanfully.

You could shiver ravenly , his raven joked. That’s better than manfully!

“So, are you just going to tease me with that little dangler, or are you actually going to tell me?” Kendra snapped as Alan was still gathering his thoughts.

“We detained the man responsible for abducting Jackson,” Alan continued. “But as you noted, that was nearly a year ago, and we couldn’t keep him indefinitely without a legal trial. We can’t make the actual crime public, so we got him on a technicality that a new lawyer has now overturned. We’re being pressured to release him, and we’re pretty sure he’s going to want revenge.”

“He has history with Addison, doesn’t he?”

Alan nodded. “We’re afraid she might be a target, if not for purely personal reasons, but also because of her involvement with the kids at Tiny Paws. She’s also pregnant with a kid who is almost certainly going to be a shifter.”

Kendra muttered something under her breath, then sighed. “Okay, so potentially, this guy walks or talks and Nickel City becomes a target for mad scientists looking for kids like Amy. Tiny Paws looks like a tasty snack.”

“There’s more.”

“Oh, great. ”

“There was another attempted abduction just this fall, of a filly-shifting four-year-old who also attends Tiny Paws. We have one of the perpetrators in custody, but we’re again having challenges in making charges stick without having to reveal certain confidential details, and there are some conflicting warrants. We have a home invasion report on this one, but there’s some shady custody and criminal activity that definitely complicates things.”

“You think she was being kidnapped for Stork, Inc?”

Alan hesitated. This was where his explanations went off the rails. “Stork, Inc. isn’t the only player on the field looking to crack the secrets of shifters for nefarious reasons.”

“Another gene company competitor?” Kendra guessed.

“Stork, Inc. is using science for their goals, but there’s another collective that thinks that magic is the key to unlocking the secrets of shifters.”

“Magic?”

Alan found himself prickling at the skeptical note in her voice. “We’re part of a world that science can’t fully explain or understand. We ourselves do things that defy physics and biology. There are powers even beyond shifting that are stronger and deeper and older, but unmistakable. It’s conceited of us to believe we can define everything with our science when there are wonders out there that we should be embracing!”

Alan didn’t realize how vehement he’d gotten until he heard how loud his voice was in the quiet darkness and echoes came back from the gravel pit. Slick, he told himself. Real slick.

His raven was only entertained. Shout dirty words! he suggested.

Kendra was quiet in the wake of his outburst. “Okay, magic. I’ve had to accept weirder things in my life. What do we do to keep our kids safe? Should we leave Nickel City?” She glanced anxiously at the van door. Amy had been quiet for a while, though the hum of her cartoons continued.

Alan wished he had answers for her and wasn’t sure how to ask, “Is it just the two of you?”

Kendra’s sharp look was wary. “Yes. Just the two of us. Living in a van . Are you going to report me to child services? Because it’s safe and sanitary and she’s not in danger.” Her voice suggested that Alan might be and he guessed that this was a delicate topic for her.

Alan was still trying very hard not to shiver, and his toes were completely numb by now, despite his efforts to keep wiggling them. “I would never report you,” he said firmly. “And I know you’d do what’s right for Amy. We aren’t sure that Tiny Paws is an immediate target, and I’m there in case anyone tries anything. I will protect you —er, Amy. Tiny Paws.” He recognized that his delivery stuttered at the end, and that it wasn’t helped by chattering teeth.

“You’re freezing,” Kendra said, and she stood gracefully from the low chair. “You’re going to frostbite your ears, and I’ve got to get Amy down to bed or she’ll be impossible for you tomorrow.” She didn’t invite him in.

Alan stood also, nearly folding the chair beneath him as he pushed off of it. “Will you do something for me?” he asked.

Kendra looked up at him, and Alan thought her eyes were impossibly bright in the darkness. Kiss me , he wanted to say. She looked so warm and beautiful, and her lips were slightly parted like she might not protest. But he only said, “Take this,” and he took the raven from his pocket and held it out to her.

“What is it?” Kendra made no move to accept it.

“I made it,” Alan said. “It will let me know if you are in danger, and where you are. I think. Oh, but don’t let Amy have it, I’m sure it’s a choking hazard.”

“You weren’t kidding about magic,” Kendra said, as she cautiously took it from his open palm. She did it without touching him, but Alan still thought he could feel the warmth from her fingers. “Okay, that’s a little weird . It tickles. You made this?”

It was a small bird with outspread wings, carved from moose antler. It was white like her owl, but the distinct shape of a raven. Alan could see every flaw in the execution, every graceless line and imperfect grain. Part of him wanted to snatch it back in shame.

“Is it a…fetish?”

Alan winced. “That word has other connotations.”

“Totem?”

“Same, and even closer to home. I’ve been calling them tokens. I’ve made one for every member of my team.”

“It’s beautiful. Thank you.” Kendra closed her fingers around it and Alan felt like something snapped into place between them. Was it just the act of accepting his gift? His raven was thrilled.

“You’re welcome,” Alan said, teeth still chattering.

“Do you need to come in and warm up?” Kendra asked in concern. “There’s not a lot of space, but…”

“No,” Alan insisted. “I’ll shift and fly around to warm up. I don’t have night vision like an owl, but I’d like to make sure there’s no one around.” After his glorious, far-too-loud speech about magic, he really should make sure that there weren’t any inadvertent witnesses.

Kendra looked like she might protest, then nodded. “Good night, then.”

Alan waited until she went into the van and shut the door behind her before vaulting into the sky.