Part 33 (1/2)
”Bleddyn, you can't just shrug this off.”
Meredythe glanced around. Where was Rhys' voice coming from?
”And what should I do-go to New York and lend credence to what this fool says?”
Her gaze zeroed in on the back wall, a wall shared with the shed where Bleddyn kept the wolves' food. She crawled into the kennel and leaned against the wall.
”What's he going to do, Rhys, publish his findings in a medical journal? He'd be laughed out of the profession.”
”But he has proof, Bleddyn. DNA. Yes, most in the medical community will laugh at him. But some will listen. They'll study and research more. Eventually they'll come to you.”
The frustration in Bleddyn's voice was unmistakable. ”What do you want me to do -kill him?”
Covering her mouth with both hands, Meredythe waited.
”Of course not, but-”
”But nothing, Rhys. This Jon Bowers undoubtedly has his material backed up in at least fourteen different places. All I can do is ride this out. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to feed the wolves.”
Dropping her hands, Meredythe slid to the straw-covered floor of the kennel. Jon Bowers. The black hairs from the pimp's body. He said he was going to run another DNA test to see if it was a wolf or dog.
”Oh my G.o.d. Jon knows about Bleddyn.” She looked up at Shadow. ”I have to do something. I have to talk to him.”
Are you leaving again?
She pushed herself to her hands and knees and crawled toward the entrance. ”I have to, Shadow. If I don't, Bleddyn could be in danger. If people find out he is a werewolf, that werewolves really exist...” She glanced up at him. ”Well, bad things will happen.”
He followed her. You must take me with you.
Once outside, she rose to her feet and looked back at the wolf-dog. ”I can't do that, Shadow.”
He leaned against her thigh. Then you must take Bleddyn.
”Yeah, as if he'd ever listen to me,” she answered, not caring if Shadow understood sarcasm or not.
Then I must go with you. There is danger.
She headed for the gate. ”Shadow, I said no.”
Then I will tell Bleddyn what you are planning to do. He will not allow you to leave.
Turning, Meredythe stared at Shadow. He was sitting on his haunches, his tongue lolling out.
”I don't have a choice, do I?”
No.
Sighing, Meredythe turned back toward the gate. Animals were running her life now. ”Come on then. We have to leave now, before Bleddyn has a chance to stop us.”
Stepping out of the kennel, Meredythe looked around. Bleddyn was outside, back in the enclosure with his wolves. Her car was in the center garage. Bleddyn said he left the keys in the ignition. With a little luck, she'd be gone before he knew it.
She made it to the garage without being seen. Opening the back door, she motioned Shadow in. ”Stay down. If someone sees me, I'll tell them I'm just driving into Winterbourne to the shops.”
Trying to be as quiet as possible, she lifted the garage door, cringing at the grating noise. As soon as the door was up, she hopped into the car, backed it out and turned toward the driveway. Bleddyn was striding out of the wolf enclosure toward her.
Rolling down the window, she shouted, ”I'm going into town. Be back soon.” She stepped on the gas and roared down the driveway.
Standing at the top of the driveway, Bleddyn watched as Meredythe's car disappeared. She had said something about visiting the shops when he'd taken her to dinner. Turning, he headed into the house.
Damian was sitting at the table reading the paper. Bleddyn c.o.c.ked an eyebrow.
”Comfortable?”
Looking over the top of the paper, Damian grinned a toothy grin. ”Quite.”
”Why is Meredythe going to town?”
”How should I know? She's your woman, not mine.”
A tired Meredythe pulled into her parking garage late that afternoon. She should have been home hours earlier, but a nasty traffic accident then a quick stop at a pet store for a leash and collar had kept her on the road much longer than she'd planned.
Pus.h.i.+ng her tired body out of the car, she opened the back door and Shadow jumped out.
”Hold still, Shadow,” she said as he growled. ”And you have to wear the collar and leash while we're in the city. Two blocks and we'll be home.”
With a sigh of relief, Meredythe rounded the corner to her street. She'd go see Jon tomorrow. First she'd find out what he knew. Then she'd figure out how to keep him from publis.h.i.+ng the information.
Shadow's growl brought her out of her musings. Three police cars and an ambulance were parked in front of her building. She paused at the edge of the small crowd, searching for a familiar face.
”Mrs. Scandelli, what's going on?”
”Meredythe? Meredythe! You're all right. Officer, look, here she is. She's not dead.”
A policeman turned toward them. ”Meredythe Welsh?”
”Yes.”
”Come with me, please.” He started to reach for her arm but stopped when Shadow growled.
”Ah, follow me.” Pus.h.i.+ng his way through the small crowd, he led her through the door of her apartment building, muttering a blasphemy under his breath when he discovered the elevator was out of order.
Meredythe ignored his grumbling. ”What's going on, Officer?”
”There's been a break-in.”
She sprinted up the stairwell, Shadow at her side. When she reached the third floor landing, she shoved the door open and dashed into the hallway.