Chernobyl Werewolf, Team Greywolf Series, Book 2 Page 7

  “There must be a reason. After all, your father took care of you while you recovered from Ebola.” Maggie scoffed. “My parents are germaphobes. They’d have worn a hazmat suit and stayed behind a germ proof glass if I had Ebola.”

  “Howard volunteered to be with me while I was contagious, so I’ll give him that.” She scoffed. “Or as a doctor, he had more medical interest on how one recovers from Ebola.”

  “Maybe Jim is right. Your father is part of some secret government group.”

  Rachel furrowed her brow. “Wait. What if something happened to him? Who would contact me in the event he was dead or hurt?”

  “Trust me. He owns a home and probably has life insurance. You would know.”

  “Yet, I’ll never know what happened to Lev.”

  “Actually, I think you might.”

  “I doubt I was in Lev’s will.”

  “I know of a brilliant psychic who will know.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “No, I’m not. I know it sounds hokey, but Madam Adele Montfort is the real deal. She does readings in the back room of a voodoo shop.”

  “And you know her, how?”

  “She was my nana’s friend. And literally lives only a few blocks away. Trust me, if Lev is dead, she’ll know.”

  Am I that desperate? “I don’t know.”

  “I’ll call and tell her you knew the man who saved so many from the terrorist bombing.”

  “I guess it couldn’t hurt.” At one time, she would have scoffed, but during her travels she’d seen a lot of juju. I’m that desperate.

  “Finish eating, I’ll call her now.” Maggie rushed off to get her phone.

  Rachel nodded and sipped her coffee. Talking to Madam Montfort might give her closure before she left New Orleans. She’d decided to tell Maggie she’d leave by the end of the week. Since working with Howard wasn't in the foreseeable future, she planned to look into working in Nepal. She’d have time to travel before she committed to applying. Winter time would be perfect. Less people travelled there during the winter and it would test her resolve to live under such conditions.

  No matter how kind Maggie and Jim were, she wanted them to enjoy their nuptials alone.

  “Good news, she’ll see you in an hour. I just need to call work and let them know I’ll be coming in a little late.”

  “No. Don’t. Just give me the address.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, absolutely. I’m a big girl. Besides, you can’t call in late to your new job willy-nilly.”

  “Good point.”

  After breakfast, Rachel quickly dressed. She checked for emails just in case Howard had contacted her. She scrolled through all her messages. Twice. Nope. I wonder if the psychic can tell me about Howard. Rachel braided her hair, brushed her teeth and then raced down the stairs. She stopped in the kitchen on her way out. “I’m leaving.”

  “Text me when you get there,” said Maggie from behind a stack of small boxes.

  Rachel rolled her eyes and laughed. “Yes, Mom.” She went out the back and into the alley which took her directly to a small hidden away voodoo shop, Bernard’s Authentic Voodoo Store. Black drapes instead of window displays of dolls or other voodoo artifacts gave it a creepy don’t-go-inside vibe. No sign they were open. She looked at her mobile to double check the name and address. Not very inviting, but this is it.

  Rachel took a breath and knocked on the door. A tall older black man with white hair opened the door. “Come in. Madam Montfort is expecting you.”

  “Thanks.” The place looked authentic with botanicals, jars of creepy critters, voodoo fetish dolls and other magical items. No prices listed. Must be the real deal and not a tourist trap.

  He pointed. “At the very end of the hall to the right.”

  Her pulse quickened with each step. Maggie wouldn’t arrange a kidnapping would she? A bamboo curtain blocked the view of the opened door. Kind of cheesy. Not spending more than a hundred bucks on this.

  “Come in, Rachel.”

  She moved aside the bamboo curtain and walked in. A small plump woman with her white hair pinned up wearing a red dress sat at a round table. The chamber had a small couch and tables adorned with candles and other magical fetishes. Old bricks made up the walls, dating it several centuries. “Hi, thanks for seeing me on such a short notice.”

  Her eyes widened as if Rachel had an extra head. Madam Montfort blurted, “Rougarou.”

  Rachel looked behind her, expecting to see a zombie. No one. “Huh?”

  “No, no. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” She sighed. “Sit, please.”

  You were the one who looked scared, not me. Rachel took a seat directly across from her. A velvet red tablecloth covered the round table, but no cards or a magic ball for divination. Thankfully, no voodoo dolls. “What did you say earlier?”

  “Give me your hand.”

  “You don’t use Tarot cards.” Rachel presented her hand and she grasped it.

  “I’m clairvoyant.” Madam Montfort squeezed Rachel’s hand and closed her eyes. “You belong to a rougarou. A wolf man. He protects you, but cannot be with you.”

  After seeing a wolf outside her kitchen window, what Madam Montfort said prickled Rachel’s scalp. “A werewolf?” She was either the real deal or savvy enough to have checked the police blotter.

  “The wolf will come for you.”

  Rachel pulled her hand away. “Not anymore. I’m calling animal services.”

  Madam Montfort cackled a laugh. “You think they can capture a rougarou?”

  “No offense but what I saw was a real wolf.” Granted a large wolf, but not some Hollywood horror creature.

  She met Rachel’s eyes. “It’s in your blood.”

  Did she think she was cursed? Why not humor her? “I’m not turning into a werewolf, am I?” Or did she mean her father was a werewolf? Like those old movies where the cursed werewolf leaves his love interest and family so as not to kill them during the full moon. Ridiculous, but based on Howard’s behavior the thought rang true. Except for the fact, werewolves didn’t exist.

  “Give me back your hand.”

  Rachel furrowed her brow. Maybe, if she did a further reading, she’d learn more about where the mysterious wolf had come from. “Okay.”

  Madam Montfort’s breathing grew rapid. “Danger.”

  Could she have read in her face, the countless nights she woke in a sweat, thinking she was back in Africa at the hands of terrorists? “You are picking up on how I was taken by the Boko Haram, but rescued and survived Ebola.”

  She shook her head, her eyes still shut. “No. That is the past. I see the present and the future.”

  “I came here to ask about my friend, Lev. He saved people at the fireworks event from a huge bomb. Is he alive?”

  “Yes.”

  Rachel’s heart skipped a beat. Alive? But was it false hope to believe a voodoo shop psychic? “I was told no one could have survived the blast. Are you sure?” Dumb question since she had no hard evidence to confirm her statement.

  “He is rougarou. Powerful. You belong to him. He took the bomb away to keep you safe.”

  “Not just me, but everyone.”

  “Yes, of course. The Russian wolf is protective.”

  Her blood chilled. “Russian?” Then again, Lev was a Russian name. Everyone knew that.

  “From the old line of wolf.”

  “You picked up on my sighting of a large wolf not too long ago, but Lev is a normal man.” Poor woman, no wonder she didn’t give readings in a more open area. She had psychic abilities, but no doubt influenced by mental illness. How could she believe Lev was a werewolf? Or still alive. Was there even a point asking about her father?

  Madam Montfort dropped Rachel’s hand and shot her a scolding look. “You don’t believe me.”

  “I’m a doctor and to be honest, I don’t believe in the legend of the werewolf or local folklore.”

  “It’s in your blood. They will co
me for you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She took her hand again and closed her eyes. “Your father, he wants to keep you away. Safe. He loves you and fears for you.”

  “Why? And what do you mean by blood?”

  She rocked and shook her head. “Danger.”

  “Should I not travel abroad?” The terrorists who abducted her were all dead. Anyway, she wasn’t returning to her old assignment.

  Madam Montfort opened her eyes. “Leave New Orleans.”

  “Because of the werewolf?”

  “Maggie. Danger.” She let go of her hand. “Call the police before they take her.”

  After the break-in, Rachel freaked and jumped up, the chair creaking menacingly. “Okay. How much do I owe you?”

  “On the house. Go!”

  Alarmed, Rachel raced out and ran toward home, her phone out, but not quite committed to calling the police.

  Lev sat at Team Greywolf’s situation room table. Ten off-duty members attended, including Cricket and Slade, his friends.

  Cricket sat beside him followed by her over protective mate, alpha Prince Slade. An odd mating. She was born a runt and he, heir to the Yukon pack territory. He gave it all up to be with the sexy petite she-wolf. Lucky bastard. Cricket smiled. “You have made an amazing recovery.”

  “Thanks to Dr. Becker.”

  Slade regarded him. “Not to mention your mutant strength.”

  Cricket elbowed him. “We’re all worried about Dr. Becker.”

  Lev smiled. “After the meeting, I hope to visit him.”

  “Good luck getting passed Selene,” said Cricket.

  He winked. “Don’t worry, we are good friends.” He sniffed and glanced around. “Where is my tovarisch, Nik?” The other newest member, like him was Russian and a lone wolf, just learning to work within their pack society.

  “He left yesterday morning in one of our helicopters.”

  Lev nodded. “I see.”

  Rylee entered, and they all bowed in respect. “We are fortifying our security and must find out who the beta mole worked for.” She turned on the wall screen, displaying the mole’s mug. “We have yet to learn her real name. Whoever she was, she went through a lot of trouble to remove a tattoo from her shoulder.” The next photo showed a burnt patch where a laser had peeled the tainted skin off. “I believe she’s one of many undocumented werewolves who escaped our radar. Maybe a member of the Nazi werewolf pack who got away, or even a rogue wolf gathering information for some deviant human organization. Perhaps even The Keep.”

  “Is it possible members of the Russian werewolf mobsters were never on the submarine we sunk?” asked Lev.

  “Nik and his team of betas are following that lead in the Arctic area.”

  Svetlana! If the evil human female who carried Stallo’s blood survived, she must be long gone from the north and hiding far from where werewolves roamed. But if anyone could follow her tracks, it would be Nik.

  “The mole may have been brainwashed by The Keep,” said Cricket. The secret group of men who supported global wars had restarted a program to cull werewolves, but since Cricket’s last mission they’d gone dark.

  Rylee turned to her. “I’m expecting a call from our agent on the inside.

  “Good to know, ma’am,” said Cricket.

  “Dr. Becker is out of the woods, and out of his induced coma. Lev? Selena just notified me he’s up for visitors.” She quirked her eyebrow. “You and I will see him.”

  Lev sighed. Happy his friend was mending well.

  “I’ve notified all packs to fortify their territory and the wardens to check on the whereabouts and current status of all lone wolves. In addition, all enforcers are looking up past disciplined betas to see if our mystery she-wolf comes up.”

  Slade spoke. “Why isn’t Dominic, our enforcer, here?”

  “I just talked to Dominic and he gave me the go ahead to share some good news.”

  “What?” asked Lev.

  “Mia, Dominic’s human wife, is pregnant.”

  Cricket gasped. “She hasn’t said a word.” She had become Mia’s best friend so she seemed the most surprised.

  Rylee laughed. “The doctor confirmed the pregnancy just an hour ago. Mia was under Dominic’s orders to not breathe a word.”

  “She carries a human werewolf baby.” Lev’s eyes widened. “To be born without the change.”

  “But with the ability for offspring to bite others to undergo the change.”

  “Like Svetlana’s get.” Lev’s heart raged.

  “Anton became addicted to her blood, but since Mia is a good person, she would never use Dominic to do evil like Svetlana did.”

  Lev smirked. “Mia does have a way of taming the Big Bad Wolf enforcer.”

  Rylee nodded. “Indeed, she does.”

  Rachel slowed her frantic run to a leisurely walk. What was she thinking? This was the good old US of A, not Nigeria. She was safe. Enough. And so was Maggie. Madam Montfort was a charlatan. She must have read the police blotters. Found out she reported a wolf in her neighborhood and used that information to freak her out. Why would she say she was in danger? Especially Maggie, who led a very clean normal life. And where did she get off saying Lev was a werewolf? Yet, Madam Montfort hadn’t taken her money.

  She turned the corner and froze. Shit. An ambulance idled in front of their home. Maggie!

  Rachel dashed in. Maggie lay on the sofa while one paramedic took her vitals and the other entered notes into their tablet. Jim paced, running his hand through his messed hair and mumbling. “Jim, what happened?”

  “I don’t know. I came home and found her tied up on the kitchen floor with a blindfold. Someone knocked her out.”

  “No way. Not Maggie.” Was this somehow related to the Boko Haram? Maybe they wanted revenge for the death of the terrorists who had kidnapped her. Was it possible they recruited a lone wolf to do the deed? She’d never forgive herself if she brought this down on her friend.

  “That’s what I said.”

  “Jim,” Maggie slurred.

  Rachel walked up to the paramedic. “I’m a doctor.”

  “Ma’am. Her vitals are good now.”

  Rachel knelt and unconsciously touched her wrist, taking her pulse just to assure herself. “Maggie, what happened?”

  “I was in the kitchen clearing a cabinet when a man grabbed me from behind. I smelled the chloroform.” She blinked. “I thought he was going to kidnap me.”

  Rachel furrowed her brow. “It smelled sweet and felt icy.”

  “Yep, classic. My head aches and I’m still lightheaded.”

  “Rest.”

  “But work.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll call,” said Jim.

  Rachel sighed. “I’m sorry. This might have to do with that last break-in.”

  “Not your fault. Just some weirdo.”

  Jim took Rachel aside. “Police are on their way.”

  “Any sign of a break-in?”

  “Her wallet and pictures were strewn on the floor. Her license left on the table. Stuff tossed everywhere, which is why I called the police.”

  “Did they take money or her credit cards?”

  “No. But you should check your stuff upstairs.”

  He got teary eyed. “No sign of rape either.”

  Maggie still wore the clothes Rachel saw her in just an hour ago. Had it only been such a short time? If she had been here, could she have prevented this, or would they both have been attacked?

  A detective knocked and entered, displaying his badge. “I’m Detective Watts. I’ve been assigned to your case.” Great. After the bombing and her further communication, they probably thought she was somehow involved. Or under some voodoo curse.

  “We’ll take you to the hospital to get checked out,” said a paramedic.

  “Good idea,” said Rachel. “Chloroform is extremely toxic.” At least the idiot didn’t leave the cloth on her face. While she was unconscious, he had blindfolded her, so basi
cally no identification could be made. Probably saved Maggie’s life.

  Jim held Maggie’s hand. “I’ll go with her. You don’t mind staying to talk to the police?”

  “Not at all. Go and keep me posted.”

  Detective Watts looked around. “Someone is definitely interested in your friends, or you.”

  “So it seems.”

  “Mind if I look around?”

  Rachel nodded. “Please do.”

  He checked the kitchen. “Interesting.”

  She joined him. “What?”

  He picked up a picture of Rachel and Maggie on a river cruise. “Whoever broke in laid this picture next to her license. Are you two sisters?”

  “No, but we look alike, until you notice our eye color and facial characteristics up close.”

  “I have a gut feeling the perp was after you, not your roommate.”

  A chill travelled down her spine as Madam Montfort’s warning of danger drummed in her head. “I should check my bedroom.”

  “Let me go in first.” He drew his gun, which made her shadow him farther back.

  Her closet and drawers hung open, her clothes thrown on the floor as if they had been looking for valuables. She glanced at the small desk. “My laptop!”

  “Are you sure it’s not somewhere in the house?”

  “No. I always leave it in my room.”

  “Was it new?”

  “No. Had it for four years. In fact, I planned on getting a new one. Who would want it?”

  “Good question. Any banking or other important information on your computer?”

  “No, only on my phone. Although I do keep photos, my tax info on it and my job applications and resumes, which sucks. Good thing I keep everything backed up in the cloud.” Shit. He could still use her information for identity theft.

  “I noticed Maggie’s laptop in her room. Untouched.”

  “And fairly new.” Rachel bit her lower lip. Yep, this had something to do with me.

  “I suspect you have a stalker.”

  According to Madam Montfort, werewolf Lev. Not likely. As far as she was concerned, he had an open invitation to visit her. Time to be rational. Rachel gulped. “Who?”