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“Thank you,” Logan said.

“We’re going to assist the owls in a search of the area where the abduction took place to ensure there are no more hunters located,” the team leader said.

“I am sending you a map of the tunnel system running beneath their lands,” Logan said. “Use it however you need to help them.”

“Are we to advise them to seal the tunnels at this point?” the team leader asked.

“Yes,” Logan replied.

He didn’t need to look at Brooks for confirmation. Comet Lake had set the standard for how to deal with the tunnels by sealing theirs.

“Will do.”

They ended communication then, though Logan knew further reports would come in throughout the rest of the day and into the afternoon and evening shifts as more information was gathered at the abduction sight and the surrounding area.

“Nicely done,” Brooks said. “I’m glad I had the opportunity to witness you at work.”

“That owl’s twin is the one who deserves the real thanks,” Logan replied. “If he’d panicked or done anything else besides try to keep up with that vehicle, I doubt we’d have had the same outcome.”

“True and a rather commendable act, especially once bullets started flying,” Brooks said, scrubbing a hand over his face. “It’s just as we feared. Someone else picked up the contract after we shut the Outlaws down. That crew of jackals might not have been the only ones they hired. If someone has found a way to organize those bastards, things are going to start escalating again.”

“Which means we haven’t found the individual with the money yet,” Logan said. “Is there a way to expedite the process to get this information before the High Council of Shifter’s sooner?”

“They meet once a year,” Brooks said. “If there is a precedence anywhere for calling a special session, I don’t know of it, but I know who might.”

Brooks checked the time and nodded. “She’ll be in her chambers. I’ll update you if anything comes of it.”

“I know four months isn’t a long time to wait in the grand scheme of things…” Logan began.

“Try telling that to those owls.”

“My point exactly.”

“I’ll do my best to move things along if there’s a way,” Brooks said. “Resources are already going to be stretched thin across the entire northern territory the longer this winter drags on. Those owls might not have been able to respond at all if the snow had been any deeper where they’re at.”

“It’s time the High Council put their considerable reach to good use and put an end to this once and for all.”

“You’re preaching to the choir,” Brooks said before taking off.

“Good job, rookie,” Sam said.

“Thanks,” Logan replied as he turned his attention back to his console and the incoming pictures of the kidnappers, or at least, what was left of them.

If they were anywhere in the rogue’s gallery of images they’d collected over the years, Logan would find them. Hell, he’d taken dozens of them himself and was happy to see many of them with red X’s over them as he scrolled through, trying to match them with suspects they’d encountered.

Unlike when the minutes had slowly crawled like molasses during the rescue mission, the last hour of his shift flew by. Chase slid behind the desk beside Logan’s, signing in as Logan studied images on the screen, certain he had a match.

“Bingo!” Logan declared as he checked the stats they’d gathered on the shifters in question.

“It’s still jackals,” Logan declared. “They never stopped. Brooks was right, the ones you got here must not have been the only crew.”

“Show me what you found,” Chase said, sliding over.

Logan did, going over the identification with Chase.

“They’re not pack animals, so two- and three-man teams at most, or they’ll start infighting,” Chase mused. “Which means they’ve got to have someone they answer too. I’ll keep running with this. Time for you to get out of here.”

And not a moment too soon, as far as Logan was concerned. He would feel the adrenaline crash coming as he logged off his terminal and left the command center, eager to be back in the arms of his mates, where there was peace, instead of a world filled with blood and terror.