Chapter 52: Loose Ends

Warrior Rick’s POV

Hermantown, MN Gander Mountain

We met at our cars in the parking lot of the store as I watched the police move in on Jack Coffey. I’d made a quick call to Alpha Rori, warning her that Coffey was here, and Teri was still on the line with 911. “Mabel, give me your keys,” I said. She handed them over without delay.

“Teri, take our car and take Mabel with you,” I told my mate.

“I’m a warrior. I should stay here with you,” she said.

“Alpha’s orders. I’m staying here to watch what happens. My orders are to stay out of sight, specifically not to engage Coffey. He’s a law enforcement problem now.”

I could feel her disappointment. “FINE. If they let you in eventually, buy the clothes we left in the cart.”

“I love you, baby.” I felt the buzzing of my cellphone as cops started to flood into the parking lot. It wasn’t a number I recognized. “Hello?”

“Rick, it’s Peter from Oxbow. Your boss updated my boss on the situation, and asked me to help you with the problem since I’m a little closer and not being watched.”

Beta Peter was a good wolf and ran Oxbow’s security. “Of course, sir.”

“What’s going on now?”

“I’m outside the store, and the police are arriving quickly. My orders are to remain and observe.”

“That’s good. Work you way close enough that you can hear the radio calls for the police, and stay put. I’m bringing three cars of people, just in case. We’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

“He’s in the back of the store and alone, sir. He won’t get away this time.”

Seven minutes later, I was eating my words. “Teri, where are you now?”

“Just passing the Target on Highway 53.”

Too far. “Turn around and go back to Haines Road north, then west on West Arrowhead until you hit 53 again. Fucking idiot SHIFTED behind the store and attacked a cop. He’s on the run, and we need to know where he’s going. Keep the windows open and let me know where he crossed.”

“Do you want me to shift and follow him?”

My stomach lurched at the thought of having a former Alpha turn and attack my mate. “No, it’s too risky to be in wolf form in a populated area. Just keep the map going and see if you can follow his path. Alpha Ulfson is bringing warriors and trackers to help. DO NOT get too close to him, love. I don’t want you guys getting hurt.”

“I love you too. We’re heading that way.”

I called Beta Peter back. “Sir, a huge dog just attacked a Sheriff’s Deputy behind the Gander Outdoors and ran off into the trees,” I said. “The cops are freaking out, since their man disappeared on them.”

“DAMMIT,” he yelled back. “It keeps getting worse and worse. Did the Deputy get bitten?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve sent my wife in a car to see if she can spot the runaway dog. What are your orders?”

“Do what you have to do to keep things quiet, I guess. See what else you can overhear. I’ll let your boss know.”

“Thank you, sir. I’ll update you with any spottings.”

“In the middle of the fucking town. It’s like he WANTS to ruin everything,” Peter said. “Call me with any changes.”

I put my phone back in my pocket and walked towards a lone officer. The police set up their lines in the parking lot, with Mabel’s old car just inside them. There were a bunch of people standing around who had evacuated the building but hadn’t been allowed to return to their vehicles yet. A van from the local TV station was already here, and I could hear a helicopter coming. I had done what I could to stay close, but I couldn’t hear much. There was a lot of action behind the building where Jack had made his escape, but I couldn’t get anywhere close to that. Teri linked me with an update, and I called Peter back. “They caught the scent of him crossing under West Arrowhead Road. He’s following Miller Creek.”

“Got that, are they moving north to intercept?”

“Yes, they are heading for Swan Lake Boulevard.” A siren blared in my ear as it went past, the police line opening for it. “The ambulance is here, and they just took the dog away in a squad car.”

“The dog is not my worry; it’s no worse than any other dog fight for one of them. I need you to follow the ambulance and wait at the hospital for further instructions,” Peter said. “Have Teri call me directly. We’ll take over the search, but my boss doesn’t want my people in contact with any of the locals.” It made sense; our Pack and Alpha was in the middle of all the shit going on, but Oxbow Lake had kept a low profile.

“I understand, sir. I’m heading for my car now.”

“Call me when you get to the emergency room.”

“Yes, sir.” He hung up, and I headed towards the young officer standing just the tape. “Sir?” He looked over at me. “That’s my car, and I’m late for work. My boss is going to fire my ass if I don’t show up.”

“Sorry, I can’t let anyone in,” he said.

“Just move the tape over a few feet, and I’m out of here. It’s not like I can tell my wife I got fired because I was buying a new rod and reel, AGAIN.”

He took pity on me, looking around. “All right,” he said. The police tape stretched between a light pole and a cart corral; the officer moved the tape from one end of the corral to the other, just enough to move it to the other side. I got into Mabel’s piece of shit car and waved my thanks. I prayed to Luna it would start up, and smiled when it did. I pulled away, using Siri to ask for directions to the nearest Emergency Room. Both were in Duluth, with Saint Luke’s being the most likely destination. I pulled out of the lot and headed east, needing to get ahead of the ambulance.

This car wasn’t going to keep up.

I was on the outskirts of Duluth when the ambulance, escorted by State Patrol, blazed past me. I pulled out into traffic and continued to the hospital. I knew I guessed right when I saw three police cars parked out front. I found a spot I the lot and walked inside, taking a seat in the waiting room near the officers standing there.

“The EMT said he’d be fine, but that arm was all fucked up,” one of them said. “He’s going to be out of action for a while.”

“This sucks. How does a canine officer get bit by a dog,” the other asked.

“I hope Max pulls through. Mark would be crushed if his partner has to be put down,” the third said.

“They took the dog to Miller Trunk Veterinary Clinic, I’ll give them a call and check,” the first guy said as he walked outside. A few minutes later, he came in smiling. “The vet tech said he’ll be fine in a few weeks,” he said.

More and more cops showed up over the next two hours. There was a cheer as the doors opened, and a nurse pushed Deputy Brighton out in a wheelchair. He accepted handshakes with his left hand, his right arm bandaged and in a splint. “Seventy-two stitches and a broken arm,” he said.

“You’re alive,” his Chief said. “Come on; we need to take you back to the station to get your statement, then we’ll drive you home.” I waited until they were all gone, then walked out to my car and called Beta Peter again. I gave him the update I had.

“You may as well head home,” he said when I finished. “We lost Jack’s trail. I think he stole a car on the north side of town. Teri should already be there,” he said.

“What about the officer? He’ll have the fever by tomorrow.”

“That’s above my paygrade. Go talk to your boss about it.”

I was starving, so I stopped at OMC Smokehouse and picked up a sandwich for the road, and takeout ribs for my mate and I for dinner.

I knew better than to eat there and not bring her some.

Spider Monkey’s POV

Arrowhead Beta House

I shut down my computer and sat back, frustrated by the events of today. It was too late for me to fix it with a click of my mouse.

I got up and walked out of my basement computer room, taking the tunnels to the Pack House. I found Rori and Chase in their office. “Hey Spider Monkey,” Rori said as she looked up. “What did you find?”

“It’s a worst-case scenario for you guys,” I said. “I hacked the backup server at Gander Corporate Headquarters. I found and downloaded a copy of the surveillance video, and then I copied another file over it. I did notice that someone else had accessed the server and downloaded the file before me.” Her shoulders fell with this news. “I traced it to this guy, William Andrews. He goes by Billy. He works for Gander in their loss prevention department.” I handed her the information I had on him; single, 24, lived with his Mom in Hermantown with the address listed. “The access came from his work account at the store.”

Rori was quick to pick up what this meant. “The store gave the Feds the video they had stored locally, and he took a copy for himself off the backup server,” she said.

“Exactly. The video is irrefutable; it shows the change on multiple cameras with time stamps. Colletta will keep the Feds in check, but this guy is a loose cannon. He saw a werewolf in real-time, and now he has a copy of the file.”

She leaned back. “Billy has to get it out of the store first,” she said. “I’ll put Beta Peter on it. Maybe we can keep him quiet.”

“He still saw everything that happened,” I said.

“He can say he saw anything, but without the video, he’s a whack job,” she said. “And if he disappears, there’s not even that.”