When a knock sounded on his driver’s side window, Zach didn’t dare shift back into his human form for fear it was a park ranger or something. It probably was stupid not to have joined Mike in the woods. Zach opened his eyes to see his roommate with the rays of the sun illuminating his smiling face.That was close.
He shifted and then so did Mason. Zach rolled down his window. “Yes, officer?”
“Funny. You ready to grab some grub?”
“I think Cassidy mentioned the town has limited eating facilities, but I’m game. Get in.”
The drive took less than fifteen minutes to reach the sleepy town of Thomas Ridge. The tallest building was the three-story bank building, but the rest were mostly two stories. At this hour, there were few people milling about. The light dusting of snow probably didn’t make it conducive to wandering the streets.
“That looks like a restaurant.” Mason pointed to an establishment that had seen better days.
Zach wasn’t going to be picky. He parked in front and got out. The lit sign in the window said the place was open. He turned to Mason. “Do you have an address for Cassidy’s parents’ house?”
“I didn’t have time last night, but I’m sure I can find it.”
“Good.”
They stepped inside, and an older woman, whose name tag read Hope and who wore her hair in a tight bun at the base of her neck, waddled over to them. “Welcome to the Ridge Restaurant, home of the best breakfast in town, served all day. Sit anywhere you like, gentlemen.”
He liked the friendly vibe. If this town was anything like Wildwood, she’d be aware of most things that went on in the town. The question was whether he could ask about the Kitcheners. Of course, he could ask, but would his questions reach the clan immediately. The last thing the three of them needed was to be ambushed by twenty wolves on the way out of town.
Once seated, they ordered coffee. Zach needed at least a gallon of it to wake up. Mason pulled out his laptop. “I wonder if they have Wi-Fi here.”
Mike nodded to the sign above the door. “I’m thinking so.”
Mason smiled, and typed in the code. “I will look for Cassidy’s parents’ address.”
Hope came over with their coffees. “You boys passing through?”
There was a tinge of defensiveness in her voice, but she also seemed pleased to have some rugged men in her place of work.
“A friend of mine, Mindy Everwood, was injured recently, and since we were driving this way, I wanted to stop and see how she was getting along.”
Hope’s demeanor turned sullen. “It was so sad. We don’t have much crime in this town. Such a shame to be attacked in front of her own place.”
“Did they ever catch the guy?”
“No, but there are rumors about who he might be.” She dipped her chin and looked up at them.
This sounded juicy. “What kind of rumors, Hope?”
“I swear it’s like Romeo and Juliet here.”
Was she referring to Doug and Cassidy? Possibly, though those two were anything but lovers. Even if she had been, he certainly wouldn't wish that Shakespearean ending on Cassidy. Doug? Sure, though Zach didn’t picture him taking his own life. Come to think of it, suicide for a werewolf might be really difficult. It wasn’t like a wolf could tear out his own throat, though he could shoot himself in the heart, he supposed. The thought made him shiver. “What do you mean? I love Shakespeare.”
Zach almost choked on that lie, though he had studied the classics.
Hope looked around, probably to see if any of her other customers needed her attention—or maybe to check if any Kitcheners were there. She then turned back to them. “We have two very large families in this town: the Kitchener and the Evans family. I heard that Jessie Kitchener’s son, Doug, was sweet on the Evans’ girl.”
“Are the two families against them being together?” Zach asked as innocently as he could.
“That’s where the story deviates from the Shakespearean tale. I’ve heard the Evans family is against it because their daughter, Cassidy, doesn’t like Doug, but the Kitchener family is all for it.”
“Doug is in love with Cassidy, right?” He wanted her to keep talking.
“Just between you and me, I think Doug just wants the prestige of having the beautiful and sweet Cassidy Evans as his wife.”
“Fascinating.” Zach really wanted to say it was disgusting.