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in the ocean and I don t care that much about what happens to it. My sister s the odd
one in the family that way.
Al decided to jump in before the argument got hotter. Babe, if someone was
dumping poison in the Chatsworth Hills you know you d be doing just what these folks
were doing. He deliberately picked one of the places he knew shifters like Babe s
family went during the full moon to run free. His point struck home as some of the
anger disappeared from her face and a more thoughtful look took its place.
Kurt has the right to be protective of his home, he finished.
He doesn t have the right to drag my sister into danger.
No, Al agreed. But she has the right to choose to follow him there.
He could tell from her expression that Babe didn t like that answer but she didn t
argue it. Finally she nodded. Okay, so we think they were kidnapped by this garbage
company.
You really think that Disposahaul would abduct someone? Breaking and entering
is one thing but that s& Thompson s voice trailed off.
All I know is that they are missing and they were working to get evidence on the
company, Al said. That can t be a coincidence. Trouble is, what are we going to do
about it?
Thompson shook his head. I could try going to the police about the break-in but
they ll just say it was kids looking for something to steal to buy drugs. That happens a
lot in this neighborhood. With the evidence we collected gone we can t prove it was
Disposahaul.
Did they really get everything? Al asked.
Pretty much. I have some backups at home and the company we used to analyze
the water samples probably has records as well. But nothing is left that would be
conclusive enough to take to court.
If they ve abducted Kurt and Tammy then dumping toxic waste isn t the biggest
crime they ve committed, Babe said grimly. It is the one that will get them into the
most trouble.
Al slipped one of the Dog House s business cards into Thompson s hand. He d
penned his cell phone number on it. You ll let us know if you think of anything else.
At the man s nod, Al pointed toward the door. Let s go, Babe.
She looked like she wanted to argue but finally shrugged and led the way to the
back door.
Al opened it and stepped out into the alley.
The first shot was high, bouncing off the wall to the left of the doorway, but the
next one hit closer, taking a deep slice out of Al s arm. He shouted and grabbed Babe,
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Cricket Starr
intending to push her back into the office, but a third shot rang out and he saw it strike
home in her shoulder.
They landed on the floor and Thompson shoved the door closed, jerking a file
cabinet down to hold it in place.
Babe screamed, her hand clawing at the blood-soaked spot on her shoulder.
Silver, she gasped just before passing out.
Silver bullets? Al groaned. Whoever these people were they knew way too much
about who they were dealing with. With his shifter hearing he listened at the door until
he heard the sounds of car doors slamming, an engine start, and then tires squealing as
a car pulled away fast. Apparently their attackers were happy with their two hits,
figuring the silver would do the job. Either that or they didn t want to hang around for
the police to show up.
They re gone, he announced to Thompson. Turning, he found the other man
examining Babe s shoulder before grabbing a first-aid kit out of a filing cabinet.
Thompson pulled out a large roll of gauze to hold against the wound.
I guess we can safely say that whoever we re dealing with might stoop to
kidnapping. They don t seem to draw the line at murder either, Al said. You know
what you re doing?
Two years as a medic in the military. Mostly non-action but it did leave some
skills. Thompson started taping down the roll of gauze. He pointed to the phone. You
should call an ambulance. I can probably keep the bleeding under control but the bullet
is still in there and she needs a doctor.
No, Al said. We can t go to a regular hospital. He shook his head, trying to
clear it, rubbing where his own wound was. It was slight enough for him, even though
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