The Mane Squeeze
Page 71

Im not sure you want to
Dont argue with me, boy.
Hamish shoved a racing form in Locks hand, then grabbed his arm. While they do that, I need to talk to you outside for a minute. He smiled and winked at Gwen. Well be right back, gorgeous.
She giggledgiggled!and focused back on the rest of his uncles. Soumhow does this game work? she asked sweetly.
While the rest of his uncles practically fell over each other in an attempt to assist Gwen, Hamish pulled Lock out the back door that led to the alley behind their bar. More than once, his uncles had used this door to get out during police raids. The fact that none of his fathers brothers were in prison still amazed the entire MacRyrie family. Lock loved each and every one, but the only difference between his uncles and the average felon was that the MacRyrie brothers had never done any hard time.
Whatcha bring the girl for? Hamish asked once hed closed the thick metal door.
Why wouldnt I bring Gwen?
Why do you always answer a question with a question?
Why are you always upset when I do?
Hamish gritted his teeth and briefly closed his eyes. I swear, some days you are just like your old man.
I no longer find that an insult. Lock shrugged. So whats going on? He knew something must be up, because his uncles had never cared before when he brought a girl overof course it had been more than ten or twelve years since he had. And then hed only brought the girls to impress them with his bad-boy side
important since he didnt really have a bad-boy sidebut hed brought Gwen because he hadnt been ready to let her go. And he wasnt sure when he would be.
His uncle motioned him farther into the alley. It was one of the few in New York that didnt have a few people living in iteven before theyd cleaned up the citybut that was because whod be crazy enough to set up house near bears? Even full-humans who didnt know the MacRyries were bears knew better.
Hamish crouched down and pulled back a large piece of cardboard. Heart sinking, Lock crouched beside him.
How long?
We found it this morning.
Is this the first?
No. The third one in the last five months. Always malealways a mixed breed.
This one was a wolf-coyote mix. Lock leaned in closer. He hasnt been shot.
No. Im thinking he died from the bites. Hamish let out a breath. This isnt hunters, is it?
No. They sometimes use dogs for tracking, but thesebites are too deep for dog bites. And they wouldnt go for such lethal spots. Hunting dogs only track the prey, corner them, but these wounds are to kill. Lock sat back on his heels. These are fight marks.
The first two, we got rid of the bodies ourselves. But third times the charm, ya know?
Im glad you told me.
You gonna take care of it?
No. I dont have any connections any more. No authorization to do anything. And lately the Unit has been watching me, Im still not sure why.
Cause of this?
Doubt it. We were never sent out on assignment over a hybrid. Mostly because the other breeds didnt care about the hybrids.
So we should just get rid of the body, then?
No. Dont touch anything. Lock pulled out his cell phone and hit his speed dial. Theres someone who does have connections. By the second ring, Lock heard that familiar voice through the phone. Ricweve got a problem.
Gwen set up her cash into little piles based on denomination. The MacRyrie bears glowered as she did, since all that money she was organizing had been theirs.
You certainly did pick up the game real quick, Nevin observed.
She smiled and kept piling and counting.
You said youre an ONeill? Calum asked.
Yes.
And exactly who is your mother, sweetheart? Maria? Mary Patrice?
Roxy.
And, as she expected, the four males turned and now glowered at their nephew.
You idiot! Hamish yelled.
Lock looked up from the racing form hed been studying and marking for the last two hours. Whatever he and his Uncle Hamish had discussed while they were gone, it had bothered the bear, but he was doing a good job of hiding it. She didnt think it had anything to do with her, because his uncles seemed to like herand Ric was outside that back door. Shed scented him and a few others nearly ninety minutes ago. Since the wolf didnt come inside and Lock didnt mention him or go out to greet him, she knew they were hiding something.
Did they really think she wouldnt notice? Or did they think that their metal door and thick concrete walls blocked her senses? Well, whatever. Shed just get it out of the grizzly later.
What did I do? Lock demanded.
Roxy ONeill is her mother? You could have warned us!
Warn you? Lock frowned. Why?
You bring a baby shark into our den and it doesnt occur to you to mention the baby sharks mother?