“And Sergeant Tyler, he’s still with you? He didn’t run?” She sounded surprised.
“He’s fine. He’s been a big help.”
“I’ll call Colonel Stafford,” Shumacher said, as if she’d been expecting it.
“We’ll head to Fort Carson,” I said, glancing at Ben and Tyler for confirmation. Their expressions were set in agreement. “Maybe we can intercept him.”
“Kitty, I think you should go home. Stafford and his men can find Walters. We’ll take care of it.”
The others could hear Shumacher’s side of the conversation. Tyler frowned, looking as though he wanted to say something.
“I’d really like be there, Doctor.” I slowed down my breathing to try and calm myself.
“I appreciate all of your help, I really do. I’m grateful for the attempt.”
I could tell when I was being kissed off. “Doctor, I don’t think you’re listening to me—”
“You’ll be bringing Sergeant Tyler back to the VA hospital as soon as you can, I trust.”
One strike and that was it? We’d screwed up with Walters and now I was kicked off the team? For once, I couldn’t think of anything to say. I couldn’t think of what would change Shumacher’s mind or convince her to keep me in the loop. I didn’t even have a snappy retort.
I slammed the phone shut and dropped it on the floor.
“I’m not going back there,” Tyler said. “I think I’ve earned the right not to be locked up.”
“You have,” I said. “We’re not going back.” Tyler let out a sigh and slumped against the seat. “And we’re going to Fort Carson anyway.”
“Of course we are,” Ben said. “But I feel a professional need to point out that messing around the U.S. Army could get us in a serious amount of trouble.”
“You’re saying we shouldn’t do it?”
“I didn’t say that,” Ben said with a shrug. “I’m just making an observation.”
The snow was falling harder, driving thickly at an angle across the country highway. Visibility was low and the asphalt was wet. The windshield wipers banged, and Ben peered forward, turning all his attention on the road.
Here was the problem: who was the outsider here? We were the werewolves. We ought to be able to
take care of our own. We had every right to go after Walters, not them. They were outsiders. They didn’t understand. They didn’t belong. That was my Wolf’s instincts talking, though. Was that rational? Was I assessing the situation by the wrong standards? Should I just let it go?
No, because I still wasn’t convinced Shumacher knew what she was doing, and that she and Stafford’s gang wouldn’t make the situation worse. Like, Walters and Vanderman breaking loose and rampaging in Colorado Springs.
“It should only take us a couple of hours to get there, right?” Tyler said. “We should be able to head him off.”
“Usually. But I don’t know in this weather,” Ben said, shaking his head. “Plus we’ll hit the Springs in time for morning rush hour. I can try 83 or one of the back ways.”
“Maybe we should go on foot,” Tyler said.
“We’d have to go on four feet to cover the same ground,” I said. “I’m not sure I want to risk it.”
“You’re just not used to it,” Tyler said. “That’s all we did over there.”
“And if you could operate a cell phone as a wolf I’d let you go, but you can’t. It’s not a good idea,” I said, twisting to look at him in the backseat.
“I could just go.” He gave me a stare. A challenge. Ben glanced at him in the rearview mirror, his hands tightening on the steering wheel.
I so didn’t need this right now. “Or I could haul your ass back to Shumacher at the VA hospital.”
I was impressed with myself talking back at this big scary Green Beret werewolf, except that for a moment Tyler looked like he wanted to jump me and bite off my face. The only way I kept my gaze locked with his and my back straight was thinking about what would happen if I flinched. If he decided I was weak and he could assert his dominance. That would make our trip real short.