SEAL Wolf In Too Deep(26)

He peeled out of the top half of his wet suit and then his rash guard. He grabbed a towel out of the hatchback and rubbed his chest, back, and arms vigorously before he noticed Debbie watching him. He smiled a little.

He tugged on a flannel shirt and then his wool sweater. “We’ll have to turn the weapon in at the station and see if they can get a ballistic match with any other crimes in the area. And see if this guy had a registered handgun.”

“Agreed.” Debbie shivered. “I really like diving in warm weather better.” She pulled a blue changing robe over her head. It was a long-sleeved toga affair that allowed her to slip out of her rash guard without the fear of losing a towel.

The idea she was naked underneath the changing robe sure had his attention, again.

“Yeah, warm weather definitely has its advantages.” He tucked his towel around his waist and began removing the bottom half of his wet suit.

Now that seemed to have her attention.

His phone jingled that he had received a text, but he had to get changed first. When he and Debbie were in the car with the heat on full, he pulled out his cell. The message was from Paul.

Allan said to Debbie, “Paul sent a text about the autopsy report. He said, ‘Got news on the Van Lake murder investigation. The vic didn’t have any water in his lungs. He died from a blow to the head before the car entered the water. No ID on him yet. The vehicle was stolen from a man in Helena, Montana.’”

“He died before he was submerged in the lake,” Debbie said. “We assumed that he had been murdered, but that just confirms it. But the part about driving a stolen vehicle? Any leads on that? If he were a regular criminal, he’d be in the database. Well, if he’d been caught before.”

“No. Apparently, if he was in a local database, they haven’t found him yet.”

“Do you want me to drive so you can call Paul?”

“Yeah. Sounds good to me.”

They switched places and then Allan made the call. “We found a 9 mm. We can’t be sure it belonged to the vic, but it might give us some clues.”

“That’s good to hear. We’ve got some bad news. Two more wolves were trapped and shot with silver rounds. Except they were just plain wolves.”

“So then the guy is randomly killing wolves, hoping he’ll get—” Allan paused. This was what he hated about having pack conversations around humans.

“A lupus garou, yeah. I believe he must have known the woman was one and he tracked her here. And the wolves were near the location, probably drawn by the blood. So he shoots them, thinking they’re werewolves too.”

“Right. Which means he’s still in the area and still a real threat to our…a wolf pack. I’m surprised he didn’t shoot any of us when we were investigating the scene.”

“You were in your human form. He might not be willing to shoot humans until he knows for certain. At least, that’s my guess. And you’re on contract work with the sheriff’s department. Just think if he’d killed a bunch of police officers working the case out there. So I think he’s being careful as far as that goes.”

“Except that Lori and Rose arrived at the scene…first.” Allan was going to say as wolves. Paul would know just what he was going to say.

“He might not have been there when the ladies arrived. At least, I’m hoping that’s the case.”

“All right. I’ll keep you posted if I learn anything more. Talk to you later, Paul.”

“Same here.”

When Allan put his phone away, Debbie cleared her throat, then said very seriously, “You know, Rowdy thinks you and the rest of your family are part of a werewolf pack.”

Allan found her comment disquieting. “He does, does he? You know what they say. It takes one to know one.”

She laughed.

“So how did he come by that notion?” He pretended to take the news in a lighthearted, humorous way, even though he felt anything but.

She explained about the shootings near the jumping cliff. “You have to admit it sounds rather peculiar.”

Allan was quiet for some time, but then he let out his breath as if relieved. “He didn’t see me shift then.”

Debbie chuckled, loving that Allan could play along. “Besides, you are the one with close family ties. Rowdy has none. So he couldn’t be a wolf. But he told me to watch out where you’re concerned.”

“All that means is that he’s a lone wolf and not associated with a pack.”

“I’ll tell him what you said next time.”

“So what do you think?”

“Oh, you’re a wolf all right.”

He smiled.

“He told me about the shoot-out you had with bank robbers. Rowdy thought a pack of wolves was involved. But wolves don’t go after humans like that. Unless they were rabid, maybe, but then the victims would have tested positive for rabies. He said you witnessed that attack.”

“No, I was shot and couldn’t do a whole lot.”

“Where were you shot?” she asked, surprised. She didn’t remember seeing any mark on his beautiful skin, except for some cute freckles on his shoulders. But she hadn’t witnessed any scars due to a bullet wound.

“Minor scratch, and it’s all healed up. No scar even.”