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Sullivan lifted his brows at my use of a first na up on his property"

"The others were killed by animals"

"True But this one isso and you have to be quick There’s a bit of an art to it One someone like Ruelle would know"

"I heard he was in the Special Forces"

"He was in so," Sullivan muttered

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"There’s a block on his file that requires higher security clearance than I have"

"Bummer," I muttered

Sullivan scowled "Do you knohere he is or don’t you?"

"Don’t," I answered with complete truthfulness

The detective stared at lare probably worked on hteen years with my mother

"Fine" He reached into his jacket, pulled out a card "If you see him, call me Better yet, tell hi to hide, we should be able to clear this right up"

"Uh-huh"

Sullivan cut a glance insarcastic

"Who was the victim?" I asked as I walked Sullivan to the door

"We don’t know"

"Coet out eventually"

"I hope so; then I’d know it" He shook his head "This guy had no ID"

"Stolen?’

"Maybe But his erprints didn’t pop There isn’t apersons report that fits his description"

"If he’s a tourist, it one"

Sullivan seehtened his lips and kept further co up to be a ation, I didn’t blaht be useful," he stepped onto the porch, "let me know"

With a nod, I shut the door I probably should have told Sullivan I’d been in the swauy and I hadn’t seen anything

Except a wolf or so like one

A lie was a lie, even if it was by oed don for questioning when I had an appointment with a one-hour photo shop

"Ifon that film that’ll help, I’ll take the picture directly to the police station" I put my hand over my heart "Swear"

Since there was no one to hear , but I felt better anyway

I took a sponge bath, brushed , but the lack of a shoas a definite drawback I’d have to rent a cheap hotel room once, maybe twice, a week, or I wouldn’t be able to stand s I did not want to lose - though froe I’d removed from the inside of the house, no one had stayed there for months - I went out the door

What could have spooked the hootten out that people were dying?

I shivered despite the early- heat Not for the first ti in the swa the pistol into the trunk with my computer, I headed for town I probably should have unloaded the weapon - I wasn’t exactly clear on the transportation-of-firear the bullets in one place, the gun in another, a rabid wolf or even a serial killer chasing me around and around and around I decided I’d take my chances with the police

I easily found a one-hour photo shop, dropped off the film, and headed to the library for a little research This early in thethe place was cool and deserted Just the way I liked it

A quick trip through the search engine nettedUnless the Ruelles had written a book or had one written about theood place to start

My next stop was the desk of the reference librarian When in doubt, ask questions

"I’ for information on a local falasses, clunky shoes, and - wait for it - a shawl, the woman’s nameplate read Mrs Beasly

"Oh! Are you researching your family tree?"

Since she seemed so excited about the prospect, I said, "Sure"

"What’s the naht, helpful smile faded "Oh, no, dear, you must be mistaken"

"Why’s that?"

"There hasn’t been a female born to the Ruelles for at least a century"

I didn’t miss a beat "My connection isto lie, I

"I see"

Mrs Beasly contemplated me over the top of her wire rilish teacher with a penchant for rulers before she’d rated to the library I hid elic, always difficult with my devilishly red hair

"Isn’t that a bit strange?" I asked "No fe"

"Oh, really?"

She glanced around as if so, but ere still the only people in the library To help her out, I leaned over the desk and craned my ear in a conspiratorial manner

"The poor family," she whispered "It’s as if they’re cursed"

Cursed? my mind mocked As in cursed to run as a wolf beneath the crescent moon?

Couldn’t be Because I didn’t believe in olves or curses However, I didn’t believe in coincidence, either

How many curses were there around here?