Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
W e watched her until we were sure. Quack paused and spoke to the guards, both of whom were different werewolves to the ones I’d seen last night. She seemed to be on better terms with these two and chatted for several moments, at one point throwing her head back with what sounded like genuine laughter.
Even from this distance it was obvious that her nose was still bruised and swollen though she’d removed the bandages and done her best to disguise it with make-up. Quack wanted to appear tough; she would already have lost considerable respect by allowing herself to be bested by a little old cat lady. From the way she was acting, she was doing her best to butter up the guards and keep them on side. Doubtless she had a lot of ground to make up.
‘Could she have tried to poison Alexander MacTire because she wants to make her own bid for alpha?’ Thane sounded unsure. ‘She’d be opening herself up to a world of agony if she tried that. Believe me, I know what it feels like – and it wasn’t even the Barrow alpha that I killed. I recognise her face. She’s never appeared particularly ambitious or capable. I’ve not seen her look so … schmoozy until now.’
‘Schmoozy? Is that even a word?’
He waved a hand. ‘You know what I mean. There's no need for the grammar police,’
I grinned: he was right about Quack’s manner and I’d take the rest under advisement. But we were only seeing part of the picture. ‘Do you know who Samantha MacTire is?’ I asked.
‘I've seen her around and Nick mentioned her from time to time. He said she’s a scary bitch. She’s the blonde, the MacTire beta wolf, right?’
‘Yep. And Nick was right, she’s definitely scary. She's also intelligent, strong and about a million times more capable than Quack.’ I shook my head. ‘There’s no way Quack would make an alpha run with someone like Samantha in the mix.’
However, if I hadn’t intervened both Alexander MacTire and Samantha would have been poisoned. There was a slim chance that Samantha had been the main target but surely if Quack wanted Samantha out of the way, she wouldn’t have risked taking Alexander down too. Either he’d been the target or they had both been.
I conceded Thane’s point. ‘It’s possible she was the target. I don’t know where Quack ranks in terms of the MacTires’ pack but she’s not as good as she thinks she is. Maybe the MacTires are weaker as a whole than they pretend to be. I’m not convinced about that, especially given the timing, but we can’t rule it out.’
Thane scratched his chin. ‘That’s what I thought.’
We stayed where we were while Quack waved goodbye to the guards and went through the main gate. She paused on the street and glanced in both directions, almost as if she were expecting to be approached, then put her hands in her pockets and turned right, moving briskly with her dark brown ponytail swinging behind her.
Thane and I didn't need to speak. He clambered down the drainpipe to the ground. I followed hot on his heels, then we were both running in Quack’s direction.
We picked up her trail quickly and fell in behind her as she marched along the old, cobbled street. If I'd been on my own, I might have been tempted to hold back and see where she was heading before I went for her, but I could tell from Thane's brisk steps and stiff spine that his patience had almost run out. He wanted answers – and so did I. I was still no closer to finding Nick and the sensation that his time was running out was growing stronger. Sometimes there was no choice but to act.
Quack turned left, abandoning the busier thoroughfare for a narrower side street. It was devoid of people and I knew this was our chance. I nudged Thane and pointed to the parallel street. Thankfully he understood and took off, sprinting away so he could curve around and block Quack from the front while I approached her from behind.
It was a classic pincer move that reminded me there were occasional benefits to working with a partner. It didn't mean I'd be signing up for a permanent double act any time soon, though, and I suspected Thane felt the same, but it was nice to know I had reliable backup even if it was only temporary.
I held back for several breaths, allowing him time to run around the block and reach the other end of the street, then I started in Quack’s wake. I’d gone less than ten metres when I saw her back stiffen and her head rise a fraction. She didn’t immediately turn around but I knew she’d scented me; we’d spent enough time together that she’d recognised my smell.
She continued walking, albeit more slowly, whilst I did the opposite and picked up speed. She knew I was behind her so there was no longer any reason to be circumspect. I watched her fists clench and unclench: Quack was preparing for a fight. That was good because so was I.
‘Hi there!’ I called out in my most cheerful voice. ‘Fancy meeting you here!’
She stopped walking but didn’t turn around. Her body was rigid and I knew she was scared. That pleased me even more.
‘Can we have a wee chat?’ My voice echoed around the narrow street, making it louder than I’d intended. A flicker of movement snagged my eye and I glimpsed a skinny tabby cat peering over the edge of a building to my right. He yawned, displaying a fine set of sharp teeth; doubtless he’d been snoozing up there and my shout had disturbed his nap.
I raised my hand, half in acknowledgment and half in apology, and he blinked at me but continued to stare. I guessed he was hoping for a show. I shrugged and returned my attention to Quack, who had finally turned to face me.
I drew closer until the gap between us was only a few metres and grinned; unsurprisingly, she didn’t smile back. ‘You’ve been following me,’ she said with a soft snarl.
I didn’t bother to deny it. ‘We need to talk.’
‘My orders are to leave you alone.’
‘For your own safety, I imagine,’ I nodded towards her swollen nose.
Her eyes narrowed. ‘You’re looking for round two?’
‘I’m looking for a chat.’
She folded her arms. ‘I’m busy.’
‘It won’t take long.’
‘I’m very busy.’ Her gaze was hard and I matched it with my own stare. Her nose twitched then she spun around and started to sprint away. I guessed I’d won the staring contest.
I stayed where I was. Quack didn’t get very far; she hurtled fifteen metres down the street to where Thane was already waiting. He reached out and snagged her arm .
Quack exploded. ‘What the fuck?’ She tried to wrench away but he held her fast. She kicked and lashed out with her fists, twice landing blows that would have sent a weaker man flying, but Thane was stronger than he looked. He tightened his hold on her then raised his head and smirked at me.
As he started hauling her back to me, Quack fought him every inch of the way. ‘You don’t know who you’re messing with,’ she spat. ‘One word from me and the entire MacTire pack will be after you. You’re dead meat. I know who you are, loner, and I know who she is. You’re going to regret the day you laid eyes on me.’ She kicked him again. ‘Let me go.’ Her voice rose. ‘Let me go, you fucker!’
She was making an incredible amount of noise. We weren’t so far off the beaten track that her yells wouldn’t attract attention and that was the last thing we needed. ‘Be quiet!’ I commanded.
She looked at me. ‘Fuck you!’
I lifted my hand and smacked her on the side of the head. It was little more than a glancing blow but even so she howled. I cursed. Goddamnit, I wanted her to be quiet, not raise more hell. ‘Shut your trap!’ I commanded.
She struggled against Thane. ‘The fuck I will. My alpha is going to bleed you dry for this.’ She opened her mouth and gathered her breath, clearly preparing to scream.
I jumped in before she brought half of Coldstream to her side. ‘You mean the alpha who you tried to poison two nights ago? Alexander MacTire? That alpha?’
With that, the fight was over; Quack’s scream died in her mouth and she stared at me mutely.
‘Oh yeah,’ I said. ‘I know all about that.’
Her eyes darted from left to right; now she was wondering if Alexander MacTire himself had put me up to this.
‘He doesn’t know,’ Thane murmured .
‘ Yet ,’ I added menacingly.
He rolled his eyes at me. ‘We won’t go running to him if you tell us what you’ve done with Nick,’ he whispered to Quack.
Her expression slackened with astonishment and my stomach sank. She didn’t know; she didn’t know about Nick’s abduction. From his position behind her, Thane couldn’t see her face. ‘Tell us where he is and we might forgive your involvement,’ he said.
Quack stopped struggling and looked at me. ‘Nicholas is with you.’ She paused. ‘Isn’t he?’
When I didn’t answer, she started to laugh. ‘Oh, you’re so screwed! It doesn’t matter what I’ve done. When Alexander MacTire hears you’ve lost his last remaining blood family member, you’ll be dead meat.’ She laughed again. ‘Is he actually dead?’ she asked. ‘Or only missing?’
Something sparked in Thane’s green eyes and he opened his mouth to speak. I shook my head; we didn’t need to provide her with any more ammunition against us. And she still had questions to answer.
‘Why did you try to kill your own alpha?’ I demanded.
Quack paled.
‘Answer me.’
‘I didn’t try to kill him, you stupid bitch.’ She hawked up a ball of phlegm and I raised my hand, preparing to smack her again. Fortunately she saw the light and swallowed it.
‘Last time I checked,’ I said conversationally, ‘death-cap mushrooms induce death.’
Quack squinted. ‘What are you talking about?’
Thane gave her a shake. ‘You know exactly what she’s talking about.’
I nodded. ‘You dropped powdered death cap into Alexander MacTire’s coffee pot.’
‘No, I didn’t. ’
‘You did.’
‘I didn’t.’
‘You—’ I sighed. This could go on forever. ‘I saw you do it.’
Quack was shaking her head, alarm lighting her eyes. ‘I spiked his coffee, but not with fucking death cap! I don’t want him dead! He’s my alpha! Why would I want to hurt him?’
‘Why do you think I’m asking you that question?’ I returned, but doubt was creeping in. ‘I had the liquid tested. It was death cap.’
‘No, no, no! It was maca and gingko with a sprinkling of extra magic. That’s all.’
‘Maca and gingko?’ I asked disbelievingly.
‘Aphrodisiac herbs. Designed to increase virility and desire,’ Thane said.
Quack nodded vigorously. ‘He’s single, he has no children and he’s getting older. We need him to start living up to his responsibilities and establish a proper dynasty.’
The corner of Thane’s mouth lifted. ‘With you?’
‘With anyone!’
‘But you hoped it would be you.’
Quack muttered something under her breath, but she didn’t deny it.
‘Let me get this straight,’ I said. ‘You decided to spike his coffee so he would mate?’
‘Yes!’
I pressed on. ‘Who gave you the idea to do that?
‘A friend.’ She bared her teeth. I wasn’t impressed. She’d need to do more than show me her pearly lupine whites if she wanted to intimidate me.
‘Did this friend also give you these supposed aphrodisiac herbs?’
She nodded. Thane and I exchanged glances. ‘Who?’ I asked. ‘Who was it? ’
‘It was just maca and gingko!’ she protested. ‘It wouldn’t have hurt him!’
‘I can assure you it was not maca and gingko that you dropped into his coffee,’ I told her firmly. ‘Not to mention that you spat in the pot first.’
Quack swallowed. ‘I shouldn’t have done that. I was pissed off that he’d bawled me out and I wasn’t thinking straight. But I definitely didn’t try to poison him. I wouldn’t – I couldn’t!’
My voice was flat. ‘You did.’ There was nothing concrete to link this apparent poisoning with Nick’s abduction, but the two events could easily be related. ‘Who gave you the powder?’
She stared at me. ‘It was really death cap?’ she whispered.
‘Yes.’
I hadn’t thought it was possible for Quack to go even paler but she did. ‘Oh shit.’ And then some.
Thane shook her. ‘We need a name.’
Quack finally found the words. ‘I met him in a pub a few weeks ago. We got on well. He listened to me, paid me attention. He…’ Her expression altered and her voice dropped, as well as the proverbial penny. ‘Bastard. He manipulated me from the beginning. It was a set up.’
Yeah, yeah. I was growing irritated even though she’d finally seen the light. ‘Who is he?’ I demanded.
She looked defeated now. ‘A druid,’ she said. ‘His name is?—’
A sharp crack rang out and Quack’s body went rigid. Her jaw worked, she blinked twice, then her knees buckled and she collapsed in Thane’s arms as bright red blossomed across her chest.