Skin of the Wolf (29 page)

T
homas and Livia sat in Spencer’s parlor sharing the soothing silence of friendship. Livia’s sadness over Katherine’s death was nothing Thomas could dispel; but when he asked if she’d like to be alone, she smiled softly and said, “No, stay with me.” The only other thing she’d said, some time later, was, “She must have been so lonely. All her life, so lonely.”

Midafternoon sunlight slipped through the windows to brighten the patterned carpet. Last night’s wind had swept the sky clear and the morning had dawned fierce and bright. Not that either Thomas or Livia had seen the dawn. They, along with Lou Higbee and Spencer, had passed the night at the Midtown South precinct Detectives Hamilton and Framingham called home. They’d been shuffled in and out of interview rooms and questioned many times; later they found that their stories hadn’t quite matched, but according to Lou, who seemed to speak from experience, it was better that way. “Give them the same details, they figure it’s b.s. everyone memorized. In real life, most people get most stuff wrong.”

Michael had been bundled into an ambulance from where he’d been kneeling by the body of the wolf. Peter van Vliet was taken off
with him. The medical examiner sent a van for Katherine Cochran. Thomas led one of the new detectives, an Asian man named Sun (who’d raised his eyebrows at Lou Higbee and gotten a steady stare in return), down the hill to the place where he’d found her.

In the middle of the morning, one by one, they were released. Spencer’s jailhouse phone call to a Noantri contact had resulted in a defense attorney from the firm of Quijano and Ennis showing up at Michael’s hospital bedside and a whole phalanx of attorneys at the precinct. They hadn’t been needed. The detectives didn’t seem happy about it but test results showed the skin under Father Maxwell’s nails was Katherine Cochran’s and her fingerprints were everywhere in the room where Brittany Williams was killed. They speculated she’d returned that evening, possibly ushered in by Brittany herself. They even had motive, or something resembling it, supplied by Bradford Lane, who, as police swarmed around his conservatory and yard, had embroidered bountifully on his account of Katherine as “always a little crazy.” Thomas could see that Livia was upset by Lane’s characterization but she didn’t contradict it.

Thomas heard the front door open, and he stood. From the precinct Spencer had gone directly to NYU hospital to wait while the detectives questioned Michael. Finally Michael had been released by both the law and medical science. Now he stepped into the hallway wearing a crisp new sling. Spencer followed, arms wrapped around bulging plastic bags.

“Greetings,” Spencer said, looking almost buoyant. “I hope you’re hungry. The café around the corner offers a creditable beef bourguignon.” Thomas relieved Spencer of his burdens and Spencer helped Michael out of his coat.

“Michael?” Livia said. “I’m so sorry about your brother.”

Michael, thought Thomas, did not look buoyant; but though he seemed beyond exhausted, some of the dark lines on his face had smoothed away.

“I declare a moratorium on conversation,” Spencer announced, “until we’re seated around the table.” He bustled the bags in the direction of the kitchen. Livia went with him. Michael gave Thomas a small smile.

“That’s for you and me, right?” Michael said. “They don’t really care?”

“They don’t need food as we do, no,” Thomas said. “Though I’ve noticed about both of them that they certainly can put it away.”

Dishes clattered, silverware clinked, a cork was pulled from a bottle of Pinot Noir. Either Thomas hadn’t realized how hungry he was, or the café’s beef bourguignon went far beyond creditable; in any case, no words were spoken for the first few minutes after it was ladled out.

Spencer, pouring wine, broke the silence to say to Michael, “If you’re concerned about your friend Lou, he’ll be along later. I asked him to give us some time alone first. He came under considerable scrutiny, because of his past encounters with the law, but in the end they could find no more reason to hold him than any of us. I must say, under the circumstances he’s displaying an impressive degree of equanimity.”

Now Michael smiled again. “He’s an Indian. Let me ask, though—does he know about you?”

“No. We’ve told him nothing about the Noantri.”

“And you’d appreciate it if I didn’t either, and I appreciate that you didn’t say that. Don’t worry.”

“I was in no way worried.”

Livia said, “Bradford Lane called. He’s had . . . your brother’s
body wrapped in blankets and he’s offering to bury him in the woods on his property.”

Michael paused, then shook his head. “I’ll take him home. He’d want to be at Akwesasne.” After another pause: “That man Lane. Did he see the Shift?”

“See? No,” said Livia. “But he knows. He heard it, he felt it. Hilda described it. But not Edward. Katherine Cochran.”

“She was the one they were doing the Ceremony for?”

“She became an eagle,” Thomas said, marveling at his own matter-of-fact tone. “I saw it, too. But she couldn’t—I don’t know. Something went wrong.”

“My brother’s vision was powerful,” Michael said quietly. “So strong it created a paradox. It blinded him. He refused the wisdom he was trying to restore.”

Spencer reached across the table and touched Michael’s hand. “You’re feeling a loss only time can soften,” he said. “But if you’ll allow me, I believe I can relieve your mind of other anxieties. I don’t think you need concern yourself about Bradford Lane and his companion. I spoke with Lane. He’s absolutely cackling with joy, to have a secret he can take to his grave. Which, as he delightedly points out, will be yawning to receive him soon. It is also his contention that he would instantly be labeled a senile old coot—his words—if he were to advertise what he saw, and further, that of course, he didn’t see it. Personally, I believe the part of the whole episode that most astonished him is that Peter van Vliet actually knew what he was doing.” Spencer buttered a piece of baguette and went on. “Now Hilda, for her part, is a very devout woman. As far as she’s concerned what happened to Katherine Cochran was a miracle from the Lord. Father Kelly has had a long conversation with her and promises others. And she’s pleased to see Bradford Lane so happy.
I think she suspects the Lord arranged the whole thing to cheer him up.”

Michael nodded. “The police,” he asked. “The detectives, and the other two?”

“I was sure Detective Hamilton had seen your brother’s Shift,” Spencer said, “but apparently she didn’t. When I left the precinct house she and her partner were discussing the pros and cons of citing Bradford Lane for harboring wild animals within the city limits. Your only real difficulty, I think, will be with Peter van Vliet.”

“No. I saw him before I left the hospital. He’s aged twenty years. He didn’t know what to say to me. So I talked. In the end I told him to go back home and keep the people calm until I get there. He won’t be a problem now.” Michael toyed with the stew on his plate, and then looked up. “Where is the mask?”

The others exchanged glances. It was Thomas who spoke. “Father Carbonariis has it. We don’t know where he is. But he’s passed along a message for you.”

“For me?”

“He says he’d rather not see the rest of us again. But if a time comes when you care to speak to him, the Noantri Conclave will put you in touch.”

“He’ll talk to me?”

“Only to you.”

“Good. Good. Then I’ll go to him.”

“To him?” said Spencer. “But what about your work? Surely now—”

Michael looked at Spencer, and laughed. “My work? I’m through. Rockefeller’s probably packing up my lab right now.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Come on, Spencer. I used to be a hotshot minority scientist. Now I’m an Indian with an arrest record.”

“The charges were dropped,” Thomas said stoutly.

“So? There’s no due process in science. Rule number one, don’t embarrass your institution.” He paused; his voice changed. “Besides, I was wrong. Even if they kept me on, it would be to do the work I’ve been doing, on smallpox. But I’m done with that. I was looking for the Shifter gene by following the virus. From what Father Carbonariis said, I’ll never find it that way.”

“Perhaps not,” Spencer said. “But you will find it. You now have access to the DNA of the two people at van Vliet’s estate whose Shifts were incomplete, and also Katherine Cochran’s DNA. That will be of great help, I’m sure.”

“Katherine Cochran’s? Where the hell would I get that?”

“It could be managed.” Spencer’s calm confidence almost made Thomas laugh.

“You know, I’ll bet if you were involved,” Michael said, “it actually could. It doesn’t matter, though. This will have to be someone else’s work, some other time. It’s not mine. The time was wrong.”

“Michael. The time is very much right, and the work is yours.” Spencer set his glass down. “I believe I mentioned to you that there are scientists among our people. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you were invited to work alongside them. Our laboratories are long-established and well-funded.” Michael said nothing. “Come. You and Livia and I will go to Rome and stand before the Conclave. You will tell your story. Rosa Cartelli is already anxious to speak with you, and all those fine ladies and gentlemen will be moved, I’m sure.”

Michael looked from Spencer to Livia. He closed his eyes and sat still for a very long time. Thomas wondered if he’d fallen asleep,
although he remained upright in his chair. Finally he opened his eyes again and found Spencer. “Thank you,” he said. “But I don’t know. You’re suggesting I disregard the laws, the old ways. Edward did that, and look. To throw in with your people—maybe it’s right, but maybe not.”

“I think,” Spencer said, “in some ways, our people have already ‘thrown in’ with each other. Have you not wondered, Michael, how it was that in a city of eight million souls you and I found one another? I don’t know how many partners you’ve had, nor am I asking, but over the course of centuries I’ve had many. Since my Change most have been Noantri. Some, however, have not, and yet I’ve felt toward them a type of magnetic draw very like that which I’ve felt toward my Noantri lovers—and toward you. Father Kelly, I apologize if I’m embarrassing you.”

“For Pete’s sake, Spencer, I’m a priest, not a robot,” Thomas snapped; but he could feel the color rising in his cheeks.

“Well said, sir. In that case: Michael, what I mean is this. As many sterling qualities as you possess, and as confident as I am that Aphrodite would have brought us together had we both been Unchanged and—and whatever your word is for those who aren’t Shifters—I believe a measure of the attraction we hold for each other is based in our blood.”

“I’m not sure I get it.”

“Think like a scientist, not like a lover. Your divergence from the majority of humans is genetic. Livia’s and mine is also, although in our case the alteration of our DNA occurred in adulthood, not
in utero
. I’ve told you Noantri have a physical need for proximity. In view of that, an intriguing interpretation could be placed upon my feeling the same attraction, in varying degrees, for my non-Noantri lovers as for those from my people.”

“My God. You think it’s the same?”

“The cause of the Noantri difference is a microbe. Could not the same microbe, introduced into the human population in a variety of ways, have caused a variety of differences?”

Michael pushed back his chair and walked to the window. The last of the winter afternoon was fading; the street was already in shadow.

“I don’t know, Spencer. What you say, it’s possible. I think it might be possible. But I can’t . . .” Another long pause, his back still to them. “I have to go home. I have to take Edward home. I need to be up there awhile.”

“I understand,” Spencer said. His voice sounded calm but his eyes were forlorn.

“And after that,” Michael continued, “I’ll go to van Vliet’s estate. I told him. He’ll prepare the people. I’m going to ask Lou to go there now, talk to them, wait for me. The ones whose Shifts were partial need to be cared for somehow, and what van Vliet and Edward built has got to be dismantled. The people there have to go home. They know too much, and not enough. The hope they had—it can’t be.”

“About that, I believe you’re correct. But your work can offer a different kind of hope. If you’ll accept our help. You’ve told us your grandmother said your brother’s actions would set great changes in motion. The ones he planned were untenable, but perhaps she wasn’t wrong.”

Michael spoke without turning. “She also said I’d come to a crossroads and have to make a choice.”

“This may be that crossroads.”

“It may. But knowing that doesn’t tell me which direction to choose. Honest to God, I don’t know what to do. There’s no one who can help me. I have to think. I have to pray. It’ll take time.”

“Luckily, that’s one thing I happen to have.”

Now Michael turned from the window, smiling. “I know you do.” He came back to his seat and picked up his glass. “I’ll leave in the morning.”

“I shall miss you. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Yes.” Michael grinned wider. “Be here when I get back.”

C
harlotte sat in a back booth at the Stonehenge, sipping ginger ale. Frankie’d raised his eyebrows when she ordered it but why the hell should she explain? He’d figure it out soon enough.

She listened to Johnny Cash on the jukebox, singing “I Saw the Light.” That’s what Charlotte was looking for, here with the music and the photos and the drums on the wall: a little enlightenment. She was wondering what to do now.

As always when that question arose it was answered by the voice of Uncle James:
Come home.
“Home” for Charlotte meant the city where she was born, not the land around Binghamton where so many of her people lived. But this time Uncle James might be right.

She’d seen Tahkwehso, Edward Bonnard, turn into a wolf. She’d thought Framingham had, too, and when it turned out he hadn’t she thought at least he’d spot the shreds of clothing hanging on the wolf’s body but he hadn’t seen those either. When she’d allowed Michael Bonnard to go out and say goodbye she’d ordered Petersen to stay back so Bonnard would have a chance to discard those shreds, which apparently he had.

Her cases were closed. Katherine Cochran, dead in a fall, had
likely killed Gerald Maxwell. Yes; but not for a drum. That box at the church had never held a drum. And Cochran hadn’t killed Brittany Williams, never mind what the file said. Charlotte was sure, now, that Tahkwehso had done that, leaping from the medical center roof to Sotheby’s terrace just the way Framingham’s loony theory had it. Poor Framingham. Right for once in his life, and he’d never know.

In the squad room, Charlotte was a golden girl. Captain Friedman loved quickly cleared cases, and he loved even more that this one had actually involved Indians, so putting Charlotte on it was a smart move. And he loved it best that the motives weren’t political and the perp was a white woman, at least white enough: a deep background check on Katherine Cochran showed a great-grandmother who was Cree, but nothing in what had happened would cause any stirrings of racial unrest within the five boroughs. One Police Plaza had already called to congratulate the captain.

Charlotte checked her watch. Seven o’clock; the Sotheby’s auction would be starting. She wondered how much the mask would bring, and whether, with Katherine Cochran gone, the Met would be bidding. What was the big deal about that mask? Uncle James would know, or some of the elders. Yes, she suddenly thought. She’d take a leave and go up there. How long she’d stay, she wasn’t sure, but it might be a long time. She laughed, thinking of Uncle James, waiting patiently all these years.
When you say your name, you’ll be reminded.
Keewayhakeequayoo,
Returns to Her Homeland. New York City was Charlotte’s home, but it wasn’t everyone’s. She had to think about that now.

She looked around, seeing people she knew and people she didn’t, each of them someone with whom she shared blood. The
connection she’d felt to Tahkwehso after their night together wasn’t about sex, wasn’t some crazy variety of love-at-first-sight. It was deeper than those and it wasn’t over; in fact, it would never end, now. The tingling in her spine and fingertips, the sharpening of the colors around her, told her that, told her what she couldn’t possibly know so soon; but she did know it, and without doubt. And it would affect the rest of her life. Charlotte smiled, thinking of Tahkwehso, and of the woods and fields where she was headed. It was beautiful up there; he’d have liked it, she thought. That was important, now, even though he was gone.

Because she was carrying his
child.