Chapter 42

"What?" he said eyeing Sebastian.

"Mr. Callen? I'm investigating the case of a missing female." Sebastian pulled the photo of Cadence Dianna Staves from the folder he carried.

"Look, I'm getting ready to go out of town." the man said. "I really don't-"

"If you can look at the photo and tell me if you have seen her in the area that would be a help." Sebastian tuned the photo to the man. He visibly paled and his heart sped up.

"Never seen her." he took a new look at Sebastian. "You don't look like a cop."

"I'm a private investigator hire by the girls family." Sebastian said still holding up the photo. He gave it a little shake. The mans eyes fell back on the picture of Cadence. He swallowed.

"Like I said, I don't have time for this. I don't know the girl, never seen her." with that he shut the door in Sebastians face.

Get ready. He's going to rabbit. He told the others over the link as he walked back to his truck. He got in, started it and drove away knowing that he was being watched by Callen or whatever he was calling himself at the moment.

Sebastian drove past Charles without showing acknowledgment. A block down the road he pulled into a vacant lot and turned around to face the road.

Boss, you were right. He just left the house with a huge duffel bag and a back pack. Hold on- Branon said over the link. He threw his bags in a brown 82 Chevette. He'll be passing Charles in a minute.

Charles, follow him. Branon will switch with you when we have a better idea where he's going.

Boss, It a good idea using the link? The human may notice were not exactly using phones.

The human knows, Charles. Sebastian said but allowed everyone on the link hear.

They followed the brown car, keeping six to ten car links between them. When the target turned onto a highway Branon took over the tail. Charles turned on the first road after the order was given. He turned around and fell back making sure to keep out of sight.

Charles, pull over I want Lightfoot to ride with me. It only took a few minutes for Lightfoot to switch cars. Sebastian had him look up the area with his smart phone. After a few minutes he let out a curse.

"We're just driving deeper in to back country. This road continues all the way to El Dorado." he sat his phone on his lap. "That couple, The elderly couple, didn't they live out here? In the area I mean."

Sebastian was already pulling his phone from his pocket. "Jas, We're headed south east on hwy 35 behind the target. Lightfoot thinks that the Stucky Farm is here." He waited as she pounded on a bunch of computer keys.

"Got it. He's right. It's just before you get to Sheridan. You'll have to turn off on to Pritchered Road and according to the maps it's another eighth mile down. It was called Double C Farms."

He gave her his present location and asked her how far they where from Pritchered Road."

More keys clicked on her end of the line. "Forty-five miles an hour, eight minutes."

"We're going just over fifty." He let Branon know not to follow if the target turned onto Pritchered Road.

James Callen/Stucky turned less then four minutes later. The others stopped a half a mile later and made a plan with the help of Jasmine over speaker phone.

The Lycans, except Ronda, would shift and access the land. They would use their Lycan senses to see if they could find any evidence of the girl. Lightfoot would have to wait at the vehicles. He would be kept in touch with the others with Ronda's link and Jasmine over a cell phone.

Ronda followed the others into the bush and collected their clothing as soon as they shifted. She took the clothing back to the blue car.

Sebastian lead the small pack to the appropriate area. They saw Callen/Stucky's car sitting in front of a small two level house. There were no signs of animals with the exception of a few cats that's scent hung heavy in the air.

They split up. Charles and Lark went in the direction of the old barn that could be seen in the distance. Sebastian and Branon went to the mans car and house. Jack stood guard at the edge of the wood watching for any movement.

The car smelled strongly of motor oil and industrial cleaner. There were no human scents except for Callen/Stucky. Callen/Stucky's scent went strait into the house from the car.

Getting inside the house in wolf form wasn't as hard as most people would expect. Branon simply used his paw to pull the handle.

Lightfoot wasn't thrilled about the unlawful entry. He made sure that Ronda relayed the message. Sebastian was surprised to learn that Lightfoot's concern wasn't a legal issue as much as a "I don't want you to get your dumb wolf ass shot." issue. Any other time the Lycans would have laughed. Now was not that time. Still they kept all the mind links open so they could communicate at a seconds notice.

They didn't detect the girls scent in the first few rooms. Callen/Stucky scent was strong but they could tell he was no longer in the house. If he was then he was on another floor behind a very thick door. However, even with Lycan hearing they heard nothing. No heart beat, foot steps, or breathing could be heard in any direction.

To be sure they started up the stairs to the second floor.

Sebastian, we found them. They are in a Storm cellar in the barn. Charles yelled over the link.

You might want to get here fast, Stucky is freaking out.

Sebastian and Branon where already moving towards the door. Branon was the first one out as he had been the first one off the stairs.

They made their way over the overgrown field and the small concrete set culvert.

One of the large doors of the barn stood open and they could hear Stucky yelling inside. Charles and Lark, in wolf form, stood on either side of the entryway.

"Why will people never mind their own business?" he ranted.

The wolves crouched down and entered the barn. Thirty feet from the entrance a metal door opened up from the dirt floor.

"I- if you were to let me go, James, they would leave you alone."

"I will not let you go again," they heard something glass shatter against concrete. "They just need to leave us alone!" he screamed loudly.

The wolves used the link to coordinated their next move.

They knew they needed the man to come to them. They had no idea of the amount of space in the cellar. They also wanted the girl a safe distance away from the action.

Sebastian ordered Branon to knock over a pile of rakes and other farming tools that leaned against the wall. He told Charles and Lark to stand at the side of the opening.

Branon moved over to the leaning tools.

"Look, okay, okay, just put the gun away, James. You know it scares me." Cadence told the man. Sebastian and the others had no problem hearing the fear in her voice.

Branon lifted his paw and swiped at the pile just as James replied his voice high and on edge. "Stop telling me what to do. How man-."

The pile crashed to the dirt floor. Dust shot up and the scents of the past swirled in the air. Branon darted toward the door with a fake yelp of pain. He lifted a paw pretending to be in pain. They could hear foot steps pounding up the steps from below.

"Hello! I'm down here." Cadence yelled.

The foot steps paused. "Shut the hell up." The footsteps resumed, but they were slower, more cautious then before.

A few seconds later James emerged from the cellar. Sebastian watched him move to the last step from the shadows. "Hello?" he asked.

Branon responded with a whine. James visibly relaxed. His laugh let them all know how nervous he had been. "Fucking dog!" James yelled at Branon. He took the last step out of the cellar.

Lark moved and slammed his body against the cellar door. The door slammed shut with a loud crash.

Charles moved to stand on the door blocking James from reentering. James spun around to face Charles. Lark moved to stand beside Charles.

Branon moved forward, all pretense of pain gone, he growled. James shifted his attention. Sebastian moved from the shadows, a low growl rumbling from his chest.

James blinked as if he couldn't believe his eyes. Unfortunately, his confusion didn't last long. He remembered his gun. The four wolves moved as one and leapt in the air toward the man. James Stucky had already pulled the trigger before the largest of the wolves had his back two paws of the dirt.

Three large, heavy wolves rammed into the human. One of them bit down on his right arm, another his wrist, the third latched his teeth into the flesh on the mans shoulder. Suddenly inundated with pain the man screamed, loosing his grip on his only weapon.

James's screams reverberating off the wooden walls of the barn was ignored by the wolves. One by one they released their prey. Each backed up as the man writhed over the dirt floor. He clutched his hand to his chest and twisted his body in pain.

Charles told the others, over the link, to watch him. He turned and walked over to the downed wolf.

Are you alive? He quipped.

Yep, but it hurts like hell. Sebastian said over the link.

Can you move? Charles asked and tilted his furry head. He inspected the bloody mess over Sebastian's fur covered chest.

Not without pain. I don't think I can shift either.

Ronda, Jack, we have a problem. Target is down but he got a shot off and hit Seb. Ronda bring the car around, Seb cant shift. Jack meet us at the barn.

On my way. Jack confirmed with the link.

We're on our way. Do you want me to call Patton?  Ronda asked. She was already instructing Lightfoot to make a call to Jasmine.

Have him get a room ready. We're bringing Seb in wolf form. Hurry with the clothes, I have to get Seb out of the barn. We have to get this blood cleaned up.

He shifted and no one but Sebastian noticed.

James was too busy with the wolves in front of him to see anything going on anywhere else.

Charles picked up Sebastian. Sebastian whined as the movement shifted one of the pieces of the bullet.

Charles picked up Sebastian. Sebastian whined as the movement shifted one of the pieces of the bullet. Charles carried him out side.

Jack skidded to a halt a few feet from where Charles laid Sebastian on the grassy earth. Jack blinked seeming confused for a moment.

Is he okay? What the hell is that smell? He asked as he looked toward the barn. He sniffed the air.

"I hope he'll be fine." Charles told him.

I'm right here you know. Stop talking over me.

Sorry, Seb. Jack said but he looked back at the barn. He tilted his head and Charles saw him sniff the air.

"You need to shift, you the only one wearing clothing that would survive the shift." Charles said as he knelled beside Sebastian.

The wolf nodded.

"Make the human think you scared off the dogs." Charles said as Jack shifted. Jack nodded and went into the barn.

Charles looked up to see Ronda driving the little car across the field. He laughed softly.

Now isn't exactly the time to laugh, my friend. Sebastian said over the link.

In reply Charles sent the image of the car bouncing over the field it's headlights the bouncing.