Hidden Moon (Nightcreature 7)

"And ran out in your robe?" That wasn't like Grace. Come to think of it, neither was the robe.

She shrugged but didn't elaborate.

"What if what you heard was the wolf?" I pressed.

"I think that wolf is long gone. "

"Think again. "

In the middle of taking another swig of beer, Grace paused, swallowed loudly, and set the can on the countertop with a click. "You saw it?"

"Yeah. "

After I told her what had happened, I half-expected her to grab a gun and barrel into the hills, but she didn't.

"I couldn't find a trace of the thing today," she said, "and no one's seen Ryan Freestone, either. I'm going to have to organize a hunting party. "

"When?"

"Tomorrow. "

I winced. Grace had been in the public life as long as I had; she knew what I was thinking.

"I'll keep it quiet. We'll leave just after dawn and be out of town before any of the locals are awake, let alone the newcomers. "

"Thanks. "

"I can't put this off. "

"I know. "

"I really thought the animal would have disappeared into the mountains by now. Why stay so close to people? That's not like a wolf. "

"Could be like a rabid wolf. "

"You're just full of good tidings, aren't you?"

I took another swig of beer. "That's me. Susie Sunshine. "

Grace snorted. "I'll kill it tomorrow. "

"I know," I repeated.

Silence settled over us, not companionable but tense, and I wasn't sure why. I had to break it.

"Place looks almost the same. "

"I don't have the time or the money to redecorate much. "

"Is that a hint for a raise?"

"I'm always hinting for a raise. Get used to it. "

"I didn't mean anything by that," I said. "I don't have the time or the energy to mess with my house, either. "

"I - " She broke off, took a sip of beer, glanced up at the ceiling, then sighed. "I've done a bit upstairs. "

"Oh?"