Ashley lived only a few blocks away on the outskirts of the forest. Driving down the rural road reminded me of Charles and I wondered what had happened to his remains. I didn’t watch much TV, nor did I normally pay attention to the news alerts that popped up on my browser. I didn’t need to because my parents usually clued me in on anything noteworthy. If they missed something, I’d hear about it at school or from Mrs. Morales next door who’d bring a basket of muffins and chat about everything she could think of until we were properly informed.
Yet I’d heard nothing at all from anyone.
Wouldn’t finding an over-sized, mutilated wolf carcass hit the local news? Especially since wolves weren’t common in our area? It’s not as if we’d hidden the body — we’d left it right on the ground close to where we’d parked the car.
I detoured and turned up the road that would take me to that spot. About a mile along I pulled over and climbed out of the car. Where was it? The forest looked completely different during the day.
As I trekked along the dirt road, I inhaled, trying to pick up the scent of wolf. I hiked a few yards farther, then the stench of old blood filled my nostrils. I recognized the raised tree root, a broken branch and big rocks scattered about. It was definitely the spot.
I didn’t see a body, though. Even if the animals had scavenged him, wouldn’t there be something leftover, like a skull or a tuft of hair?
But no such traces existed. I waved my nose in the air, trying to find a scent trail, a direction the carcass may have been dragged off to. Or walked… Could Charles have survived with his insides ripped out? According to the movies, the only way to kill a werewolf was a silver bullet. How much truth did that theory hold?
After a few more minutes searching the immediate vicinity, I walked back to my car. I was about to open the driver’s side door when a ranger truck parked next to me.
“Excuse me, sir?” I asked as he got out of his truck.
He swiveled around in his short-sleeved, crisp uniform. “Not sure it’s a good idea for you to be out here alone, Miss.”
“Extenuating circumstances. I needed to check something out. Saturday morning, we were hiking around here and saw a dead wolf right over there.” I pointed to where we’d left Charles.
“We don’t have wolves in this area, Miss. Must’ve been a coyote.”
“It was definitely a wolf.”
He gave a sigh, which said it all — someone so young had no business telling him about his job. He’d never buy the wolf theory. If I pushed it, he’d think I was stupid and he’d be less likely to take me seriously.
“Okay, it was definitely dog-like.” I shrugged. “Did you see it or maybe someone called it in?”
He folded his muscular arms over his chest, shaking his head decisively. “No. Probably got eaten by local scavengers. Why so much interest in it?”
“Felt bad when I saw it.” I softened my voice. “I assumed he was dead, but then I got to thinking maybe he was wounded and needed help.”
That was all I needed to say. The ranger was obviously an animal lover. “We patrol the area frequently. If there was a wounded animal, I assure you, we would’ve seen it and taken care of it.”
Then why was there no trace of the body? Scavengers would’ve left bones and fur, right?
“Thank you. That’s comforting to know,” I said, really laying on the innocent act. I got in my car and resumed the short drive to Ashley’s.
When I arrived, John and Janine greeted me at the door and ushered me to the backyard.
“Hey, Autumn, glad you could make it.” Ashley hugged me and handed me a soda from the cooler by the table.
I took it and hugged her back, happy to see her and thankful for the company.
“Um.” She frowned. “I invited Zack this morning, thinking it would be fine since you guys still hang out. But when I saw him at lunch, he looked pissed off. You guys still okay?”
“Yeah, I think he was mad about something else. He and I are good.” I smiled and waved my hand, unsure how I felt about Zack showing up. A part of me was anxious to see him, but the other part loathed the thought of continuing the charade. I just wanted to take it easy for a little while and not have to pretend, not have to lie to anyone.
“I guess he has to work, so he’s not coming until later anyway. If you feel weird about it, you can always slip out before he gets here. But I’d like you to stay… if you want,” she added uncertainly.
“Thanks. I’ll have to go home to eat at some point anyway, so I’ll play it by ear.”
“My parents are springing for pizza.”
There went that excuse, but I liked her idea of dinner much better than what I’d find at home. “Pizza sounds awesome.”
“Hey, Autumn,” Cameron called out from the pool. “Water’s great. Come on in.”
If Zack was right and Cameron thought it was a date, I should keep my distance, so he wouldn’t be led on. Since he was the only one in the pool, I figured I’d wait until he got out before I got in. “Yeah, maybe in a bit.”
Wait a minute. If Ashley invited Zack, wouldn’t that be a date, according to him?
So… following your philosophy, since Ashley invited you over to her house, that means it’s a date. And you’re seeing Gina later for another date. You should be careful — you don’t want to overlap your women. I wondered if the hypocrite could hear me three miles away at the auto shop.
It’s not a date, Autumn. Ashley is the host. She invited several people, not just me. I have to work now, okay? I’ll see you at Ashley’s in a little while.
I didn’t answer, realizing that now he expected me to be there when he arrived. I was locked in, pizza or not.
Cameron got out of the pool. Seeing the perfect opportunity to avoid him, I stripped off my shorts and tank top, feeling many pairs of eyes on me. I became aware of the skimpiness of my bathing suit and wished I’d brought my one-piece instead. Not that this one was any more revealing than any other bikini at Ashley’s today, but the straps were thin and the bottom was cut so that it rode up, exposing a smidgen of my rear. Between the bright green and the ruffles around the top, I may as well have been a beacon showing everyone the way.
I dove in. Instead of being soothed by the warm water carelessly lapping against the sides of the pool, I stressed over the possibility of Cameron joining me and making it awkward. Plus, my nerves were jumbled in anticipation of Zack’s arrival.
Just as I’d feared, Cameron jumped in a couple minutes later. Thankfully, Ashley did too, along with a few others who provided the perfect diversion. Cameron didn’t try to talk to me again and after a few minutes, I began to have fun.
Then Zack arrived.
He said hello, then promptly ignored me. As far as they knew, I wasn’t his girlfriend anymore so it wasn’t as if he could give me special attention. I understood that, but it still stung like rejection.
When the pizza arrived, the pool emptied. Cameron handed me a piece of pizza and I gave him a smile while observing Zack out of the corner of my eye. He was talking to some pretty blond girl I didn’t recognize. She smiled at him a lot and every time she shifted her weight to another side, she somehow inched closer.
I couldn’t watch anymore, so I pivoted until they were out of my line of vision.
Cameron asked me about my classes and if I planned on going to college. At the first opportunity, I turned the questions around on him. When he looked like he was about to switch subjects and tie me with him longer, I clutched at the chance of escape.
“Thanks for inviting me Cameron, but I should go. I still have stuff to do tonight.” Leaving some crust on my plate, I set it down.
“Yeah, I have to go soon too. Guess I’ll see you at school tomorrow, huh?”
He looked hopeful. Crap. Zack had been right. Cameron considered it a date.
“Unless you’ve switched schools.” I grinned as I stepped into my shorts and grabbed the towel. “’Bye John, Janine.” I waved at everyone and hurried out,
nearly bumping into Ashley.
“You’re leaving?”
“I have homework and some other stuff to do. I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks so much for inviting me — I had fun.” Just beyond Ashley, I spotted her parents. “Thanks for having us over and feeding us.”
They nodded and smiled and I got the hell out of there — without looking back at Zack.
Starting up the Mustang, I leaned back in my seat and sighed. If I could get through the next few weeks of school, then Zack and I would have fewer people to pretend in front of. Except by then Zack might not be around at all.
My heart hurt just thinking about that. The next few weeks, miserable or not, might be all I’d have with Zack.
Gunning the engine, I took off in a huff. I had to figure out a way for Zack and me to get some quality time together. I passed the road that led to where we’d left Charles and realized I’d forgotten to tell Zack about the recent developments.
Zack, I took a detour on the way to Ashley’s earlier and went to the spot where we’d left Charles. He wasn’t there.
Maybe he got eaten by wild animals.
Even the bones and fur? I asked. There wasn’t a hint of him anywhere. I talked to a park ranger who said no one’s seen any wolves, dead or alive.
Let’s not get worked up over this. It’s not like he could get up and walk off without his guts, right? There has to be another explanation.
I guess so. But it still nagged at me. Something wasn’t right.
† † †
Homework was almost too easy. Once I wrapped that up, I paced the floor and wondered what do to next. I really wanted to read some of the books on shape-shifters and werewolves that Zack’s dad had left for him. But I was too antsy to focus on that kind of stuff.
Passing the hallway, I stopped. My parents had to keep their paperwork somewhere, right? I seriously doubted they always traveled with all their important documents.
I surveyed my dad’s office again. File cabinets. Desk. Chair. Closet… I opened each drawer of his desk and removed them, looking inside through the rectangular hole they slid into. I found nothing but empty space. Back to the closet, I examined a box of envelopes and various supplies.
My eyes caught on the paper cutter that sat on a black cloth. But it wasn’t either of those things that stole my attention. What was that square metal box under the cloth? I lifted the corner to reveal smooth silver.
Ah, the safe. I’d forgotten it was there since I’d never had a reason to think about it.
I tucked the cloth under the weight of the paper cutter and eyed the large knob covered with small numbers. Damn. How was I supposed to get past a combination lock without the combo?
A few months ago, I’d watched a movie about a thief. He’d filed his fingertips to make them sensitive enough to the feel the clicks on the lock. Another old flick had the burglar use a gadget to amplify the sound and listen for the little clicks.
I wondered if I could do either of those things. My superhuman hearing should be more than adequate.
Kneeling, I shook out my hands and did my best to relax. I put my ear to the cold metal of the safe and turned the lock ever so slowly.
After hearing a faint click, I turned the knob in the other direction. Another click signaled I'd found the second number, so I reversed the direction. I heard a different kind of sound, like a soft thump, and pulled the handle to open it. The door gave way with no resistance.
I’d cracked the safe!
Peering inside, my fingers instinctively reached for what looked like a checkbook. I automatically began searching for the last entry. The balance column had too many digits. That couldn’t be right.
If my parents were rich, why were we always moving and using the excuse that my dad needed to work? And why did we live in a three bedroom house when we could afford a mansion? And why let me drive around in a vintage Taurus for two years?
To make sure it wasn’t an error, I looked earlier, but couldn’t find anything amiss. Each entry gave a large balance that increased with every page.
I set the check register aside and pulled out everything else, not paying any attention to where the items came from. Should I worry that my parents would notice that their stuff had been rearranged?
Nope. After how they’d deceived me, I didn’t really care what they thought.
I flipped through papers until I hit on what looked like a birth certificate. Everything else fell to my lap as I brought the paper closer. According to the document, Autumn Nicholson was born in April on the same day as me, to parents Richard and Patricia Nicholson. What the hell? Obviously, the child was me. But who were Patricia and Richard?
This discovery was huge.
Not to mention upsetting.
I squeezed my eyes shut and took in a deep breath before zooming to the scanner to make a copy of the certificate. It didn’t tell me whether my parents had adopted me from these people or if they were, in fact, Richard and Patricia and had changed their name. But it told me something was up, that’s for sure.
The scanner spit out a piece of paper. I snatched it from the tray and stared at it as though it would tell me all its secrets. My parents’ secrets. After a few seconds, I returned to the safe.
I was about to shove everything back inside when I noticed a small, square tray. I grabbed the card on top which turned out to be an ID. It had a picture of my mom on it — with blond hair. As long as I could remember, she’d only ever worn her hair dark. So why did she need an ID with different hair? Strange.
I eyed the box again, reaching for the next card in the stack. It was a credit card in my mom’s name. Thinking I might have a use for the ID and credit card, I held onto them and put everything else back, shutting the door and spinning the knob.
For what seemed an eon, I stood in my dad’s office, unmoving, alternately staring at the copy of the birth certificate and the ID.
Maybe Zack was right all along and I’d been adopted. But that didn’t explain why I looked so much like my mom who had raised me. Of course, she could’ve gotten lucky with a genetic similarity. Or maybe they were my real parents, but had changed their name. But why would they need to do that?
In a daze, I walked the few feet to my room and opened my laptop. A search under Patricia Nicholson brought over a million results, more for Richard Nicholson.
I tried again, adding my birth city, but with such a common name, nothing usable popped up. Giving up on that, I clicked on the map. The hospital was located in a small town near Yosemite, about six hours by car from Los Angeles.
Assuming that Richard and Patricia were my biological parents, and not the people I knew now as my parents, did Richard and Patricia know what I was? Maybe Zack was right and my real mom was a human who didn’t know my father was a shape-shifter. Like Zack’s mom who had no idea her husband was a werewolf. Maybe my dad had died, leaving my mom single, and she couldn’t keep me.
I released my breath, squeezing my eyes shut. As the seconds ticked by, I knew I couldn’t ignore this new information and I had to find Richard and Patricia Nicholson. But without any other clues, where would I begin? With no home address on the birth certificate, how would I find them?
Plopping back against my pillow, I stared at the ceiling.
Autumn?
Hey, Zack.
You still coming over?
Do you want me to?
There was a pause. Geez. Did he have to think about it so long?
Around ten? he asked.
I’ll see you then.
Zack had seemed annoyed. Maybe he planned to break up with me for real before booting me out of his room.
~~~
Chapter Twenty
As usual, I morphed into a common house cat and scratched on Zack’s window. My foot had just touched the floor in my human form and Zack was there, holding my face in his hands and dropping kisses on my mouth.
I don’t want to talk about it, okay?
Whatever it was, I was pretty sure I
didn’t want to talk about it either. Probably my conversation with Greg or my date with Cameron. Talk about what?
Anything. And I don’t want to argue. He buried his face in my hair and his arms wrapped all the way around me.
I closed my eyes, my cheek pressed against his neck. I had no interest in hashing out any of that either. Besides, if we got to talking, I might spill the beans on the birth certificate and that I planned to go out of town this weekend to get information on my birth parents. I might even tell him I’d been accused of cheating on a test. God forbid I should let it slip that Renzo and Alura knew about me.
I didn’t want to think about any of that right then, much less discuss it. If you don’t want to talk, what do you want to do? It’s still early.
Zack had already guided me to the bed where he gingerly coaxed me lower until I was horizontal. I just want to be with you.
Okay. No kissing?
He nudged my shoulder to turn me until I could no longer see him, then he pressed his body against my back, his face swallowed up in my hair. Draping his arm around my waist, he squeezed me even closer and his legs tangled with mine. I didn’t feel or hear him breathing. He made no noise except the steady beat of his heart and no movement but the light strokes of his hand on my wrist.
I melted into him. It was almost better than kissing.
† † †
It was still dark. I was on my side with my back to the clock so I had no idea what time it was. It didn’t matter — my body said it was time to wake up.
Zack’s hand moved on my hip. You awake?
I turned over to face him, our lips inches apart. Yes.
He stayed perfectly still, watching me. Tentatively, I brought my hand up to rest on his cheek. Sighing, he removed my hand and turned his lips into my palm. The softest of kisses trailed up my wrist then he placed it on his waist and scooted closer to me, his thighs melding to mine.
Zack pushed against me, rolling me back. Lightly brushing my lips with his, he moved closer, crowding me, and the nerves in my limbs sprang to life. His mouth touched mine again, teasing, his tongue tasting my bottom lip.