Falke’s Captive

whatever you need to install the…whatever it’s called to latch the deadbolt into the doorjamb. I don’t want to wake up to another call like the one this morning. Since we’re going to have to move the trailer to a more remote area soon, I think a few extra security measures are needed.

“Also, I need you to take that door off the cage and see if you can bend the bars back into place so that the latch works again. Can you do that?”

“Yeah. No problem.”

“Then, get online or call around. Find the nearest big retail store or someplace where you can get a camera.”

He wrinkled his brow.

“I want some surveillance equipment. Like a nanny cam or something. A webcam might work.

Something with wi-fi so I can view it from my laptop when I’m out.”

“I’ll see what I can find.”

“Thanks. It would have been nice to know exactly how that big boy got out of here last night.

Also, get a sturdy padlock for the cage. I didn’t think about it before, but I guess the slide latch doesn’t cut it for a domesticated mountain lion. If we’re lucky enough to land a wild one, I don’t want it getting out.”

Tim grabbed a notepad from the desk and started scribbling, then looked up at her and around the lab. He cleared his throat.

“What?” she asked, irritated. Not really at Tim, just in general. This whole expedition had not started out well. She prayed the rest of the summer went better.

“Doesn’t it seem odd that a mountain lion was loose in here and the only damage is to the door? I mean…” He trailed off with a shrug. “I would have thought a ticked off cougar would do a bit more destruction before figuring out how to open the door.”

She glanced around the lab. He was right. It was odd, and she was surprised it hadn’t occurred to her before. With a frown, she sighed. “It lives with those guys. Maybe it’s house broken and didn’t want to pee in the cage.” She chuckled. “Hell, Tim, this is only day two, and things aren’t going well.”

“Don’t worry. Professor Whitmore will be here tomorrow. Everything’ll be fine.”

“Sure. Here, use this to pay for everything.” She dug into her purse and pulled out her credit card.

“Just bring me back the receipts.”

“Okay.”

“I’m going to do the lab work on the blood samples we took from the cat and get them into the database. I’ve also got to contact the forestry department again and set up that meeting with one of the park rangers to see if there’s a good place we can move the lab.”

“All right.”

She nodded and dug in her pocket for the car keys. “If you have to go all the way into Seattle for the equipment, bring me back some McDonald’s fries.” She grinned. “If we’re heading into the woods soon, it’ll be my last splurge for a while.”

He chuckled and took the keys. “Sure thing, Lizzy.”

She rolled her eyes at his back as he left the trailer. Lizzy. Why the hell did he insist on calling her that? She swiveled around and turned on the computers. She had several hours of work to keep her busy, and it would be nice not having Tim around to bug her while she did it. He was a nice guy, but she feared he wanted to take their relationship from friendship to something more, and she didn’t see him that way.

Five hours later, she stared at the computer screen disbelieving what she saw. She’d run the tests three times, and each time they came back the same. There was something very, very odd about that cat.

Chapter Four

His head hurt. His vision was blurry.

“Fuck. What happened?” Kelan asked no one in particular. “Where the hell—”

“Don’t move,” his sister said.

“Heidi?”

“Yes. Just relax. You’re in Sin’s bed. You were tranq’d by some crazy woman. Do you remember?”

Kelan groaned, let his head fall back on the pillow and closed his eyes. Yeah, he remembered.

How in the hell had she found him?

“Hey, bro,” Reidar said, jostling the mattress as he sat on the other side of the bed.

Kelan opened his eyes and tried again to focus, get his bearings. “Hi. Shit, that stuff packs a punch.” He rubbed his arm where the dart had pierced his skin. “How long have I been out?”

“Long enough for Axel to build up steam,” Reidar answered.

“Shit.”

He slid his hand around to his nape and felt a small bandage. “What—?”

“I had to do surgery,” Heidi said.

“Surgery?”

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “A small procedure. Won’t even leave a scar, I promise.

You had a microchip inserted under the skin.” Her fragile smile faded. “That’s how your sharp-shooting scientist tracked you here. If Gunnar hadn’t been shifted and nearby—”

“Yeah, I get it.” He’d fucked up and damn near exposed their secret to an overeager scientist who would probably love nothing more than to find fame and fortune by unveiling a new species to the world. “You don’t have to badger me about it.”

“Who me?” she asked. “I figure Axel can have that honor.”

With a frustrated groan, Kelan pushed down and sat up a little.

“Here, let me,” Heidi said, adjusting the pillows for added cushion. “We can probably take this off now. It was just a tiny incision—probably stopped bleeding half an hour ago.” She peeled off the bandage. “Yep, we’re good. It’s a good thing your girl uses the latest in technology. If this had been an old, bigger model—”

“She’s not my girl,” Kelan snarled.

“Okay, okay. Sheesh, don’t get snappy. Just a figure of speech.” Heidi stood, tossed the bandage in a trashcan, and retrieved her satchel. “And since you’re obviously on your way to a full recovery-hot-headed attitude and all—I’ll get back to work. I’m late enough as it is.” Pausing at the door, she glanced back with a grin. “Nice earring, by the way. I’m sure it looks a lot better than an ugly ID tag.”

Kelan threw a pillow at her, missing on purpose. Laughing, his little sister danced out of sight.

He rubbed his eyes and let out a sigh. Reidar didn’t move, of course. His closest sibling had the patience of a saint.

Kelan glanced at his brother. “Okay, let me have it.”

“I’m hurt.”

Kelan blinked. “What?” That had been the last thing he expected.

“You’ve been keeping secrets.”

“I have not,” he protested. Not from Reidar. Hell, Reidar knew more than anyone else about what he’d been through. How could he say that?

“You didn’t tell me your scientist was a certain hot stranger with fiery hair, long legs and a tongue as sharp as a whip. You should’ve seen her stand up to Axel. At least until he sent her packing.”

Kelan rubbed his face with both palms to avoid Reidar’s stare. So that’s what he was so hurt by?

If roles were reversed, he’d expect Reidar to leave off that little detail, too. Why would any grown man with an ounce of pride want to admit a woman felled him, tagged him and put him in a cage?

Even if she was sexy in a quirky, scientific way.

“Last night, when you said scientists,” Reidar continued, “I pictured pale-faced, skinny men with horn- rimmed glasses, receding hairlines and pocket protectors.”