Little White Lies

“For what?”

“For standing up for us, for helping, for being a part of this and not freaking out about what you’ve learned.”

“What do you mean?”

James and Cael turned to each other.

“We have really good hearing, comes with the ability to shift our eardrums. Anyway, we know about your conversation outside and what you’ve learned.”

“I don’t think I’ve learned much,” Wyatt said. “Most of it has come with loads of blanks. I know Charley was Mira and Stuart’s been in on it for years. You guys are very good at keeping secrets.”

“We want to have a life, too,” Lily whispered from below where Wyatt stood.

“By having a child? Does that make your life real? No one’s even acknowledged whose he is!” Wyatt’s frustration poured out before he realized the tact he’d lacked in doing so. “I’m sorry.” He waved a hand behind him. “That was poorly timed and not at all appropriate.” He ran a hand over his head, drawing in and letting out a deep breath.

“It’s okay,” Cael said.

“No, it’s not.” Wyatt sliced the air as if to cut off all disagreements. “It doesn’t matter so long as he’s safe and unharmed. I’m…” He stopped, put one hand in his pocket. “I’m going home. I’ll come back… tomorrow.”

17

As the sun rose, Wyatt hedged. The brighter the day became, the more time passed, the more anxiety built within him about a return to Charley’s home. A trained field agent shouldn’t have nerves, he told himself over and over, but he continued to hesitate.

He dropped into his office where Sheila briefed him on various case updates-one of which came in the form of Charley’s. Wyatt rifled through the information, but the only new piece included a photo of a smiling red-headed boy named Chase.

To Wyatt’s mind, the boy looked nothing like Charley but had a hint of James in him. Then again, as shape- shifters went, Wyatt didn’t know squat about their early years.

In an attempt to linger further, he had a very late lunch with his Mom and dawdled until he realized they’d probably be moving along on the case without him if he didn’t return soon.

On his trek back to Charley’s, his thoughts moved from their first go-round to Montreal. She’d changed since her time as Mira-but her body’s shape conformed to his hands as it had before. He’d realized that in Montreal. His mind whirled with memories during his drive up the mountain. They both stabbed him in the heart and brought joy at the same time.

How do I let her go, though? Wait. Did she say James told her to stay with me? Wyatt ran a hand over his head. Maybe they aren’t a couple? He shook his head at himself. Why am I asking myself these questions and not Charley?

Branches extended far into the road, their leaf-tipped extensions offering a fairy-tale path. He imagined a horse-drawn carriage could follow it up and around toward a manor house. The trees added a romance he’d not seen before, especially not when he drove behind Stuart along the same curves a day before.

The vibration of his cell at his hip stopped his random thoughts.

He didn’t glance at the screen. “Moreland.” His car continued to move along the two-lane road at a regular pace.

“Stay away,” a voice said.

“Who is this?” Wyatt quick-turned his cell. The readout said ‘unknown’.

“It-it doesn’t matter. This is a warning to stay away from her. For your own safety.”

Wyatt snorted. “And I’m supposed to listen to someone who doesn’t identify themselves or the person I should stay away from.”

“I-”

Whispered voices provided either encouragement or guidance, Wyatt didn’t know which. Sounds like these folks are breaking rank or very unorganized.

“Send her to us, and you’ll be kept out of it.”

“Doesn’t matter if you include me.” Wyatt adjusted the car to the road’s curve before he turned onto Turner Point’s upward spiral.

“Uh-” the voice said.

Wyatt grinned. These guys are amateurs.

The caller disconnected without another word. Wyatt pressed ‘1’ to speed dial his office.

“Sheila McGowan.”

“It’s Wyatt. Please run my cell tap and send the details to Cael Aldridge.”

“Right now?”

When had she ever asked before? “Yes, please.” Wyatt shook his head and hung up. A bright-red gleam caught the corner of his eye as he rounded another corner.

“What the-” He craned his neck, slamming the brakes.

The red spot bobbed to a stop.

Wyatt pulled to the side. “That was not an animal.” He put the car in reverse. It whined as he sped backward and returned to the spot where he’d first seen it. “Oh my god.”

Wyatt jumped from the car and ran around it to the edge of the forest. “Chase?”

Chase jumped from a hole and ran with nothing but socks and underwear that hung, three sizes too big, from his body. Wyatt took four leaps in his direction and caught him in one arm.

Chase fought, kicked and screamed. “Let me go!”

Wyatt kept him tight against his body but didn’t move toward his car. “Hey, buddy. I know you were taken. You’ve got to be scared. I’m not one of those guys, and I’m not here to take you back to them. I’ve been helping your-” Wyatt didn’t remember if Charley called herself mom or not. “I’ve been helping Charley, Lily, Cael, James and Sophie find you. And Stuart, too. You know Stuart?”

Chase stopped kicking but didn’t turn. Wyatt almost wished he’d continue to fight to show he hadn’t given up. Unless someone dropped him off, which Wyatt didn’t think possible, Chase had made his way from wherever he’d been. Dirty, scratched and bruised, his body smaller than Wyatt had pictured, Chase shivered in Wyatt’s arms.

“You don’t know me, and I don’t expect you to believe me. If you come back to my car, I’ll let you call Charley. Is that okay?”

Chase nodded.

Wyatt pulled him against his body to warm his chilled form-one that couldn’t weigh more than seventy pounds. The boy’s refusal to turn toward him set Wyatt’s pace at a limp.

He stepped out from the trees. “That’s my car.” He pointed with one hand but didn’t remove his arm from the boy, who hung like laundry. “I’m going to set you on the hood, since it’s warm, and I’ll get my phone from inside.”

He put Chase on the car just as he’d explained, and the boy turned away from him. Wyatt hoped he wouldn’t jump and run off. He grabbed his cell and held it out to Chase. “You can call them. I won’t even dial for you-unless you need me to.”

Chase snatched the phone and flipped it open but hid the numbers from Wyatt. “Charley?” he whispered, covering his hand over the phone’s microphone and tucking his body into himself.

Wyatt wanted to put his arms around him and hold him tight. Boney, like so many little kids who hadn’t yet filled out, had he been wet, too, Wyatt would have thought him a drenched rat.

“I’m okay. Hungry. Yes. He said his name was Wyatt.” Chase turned to Wyatt for the first time. “He’s kinda tall, sorta dark hair. Jeans. A T-shirt.” Chase cocked his head, opened his eyes wide. “I dunno. Green.”

Wyatt smiled as he moved to dig through his car for a candy bar. He often had one or two stashed inside.

“Okay,” Chase said. “Wyatt?”