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“It’s the best way, and you know it. She’ll be back in your arms in no time at all. Why don’t you give us a moment.”
Hamish nodded and retreated from the room. With the use of smelling salts, Trudy came awake, and as Hamish had predicted fought against her bonds with a fury Hutch never would have guessed she possessed.
“He’ll kill you—us, all of us. You don’t know what he’s capable of,” said Trudy, on the verge of tears.
“Oh, but I do,” said Nora. “Shall I tell you about the little girl he adopted into his opulent world, giving her the best of everything, except when she didn’t do as she was told, or wasn’t the best, or worst of all, openly defied him? Do you know how he responded? Was there a gentle expression of disappointment? Only if you call backhanding said little girl across the room or maybe locking her in the family mausoleum or in a cave with rising water and no way out, gentle. Don’t tell me I don’t know what he’s capable of. I assure you; I do.”
Trudy gaped at her—at a complete loss for words. “He’s a monster,” she whispered finally.
Nora kneeled in front of her. “Yes, he is. And it’s up to us—all of us—to stop him. What does he know?”
“He knows Hutch is alive. I didn’t tell him. I called to tell him, but he was already in a rage. He knew.”
“There’s another mole, isn’t there?” asked Colby.
Trudy nodded. “Hamish will never forgive me. I’ve betrayed you all. And now the Master…”
“Whatever he promised you,” said Colby, “he was never going to deliver on.”
“It’s the Tasmanian Devil cancer, isn’t it?” asked Nora gently.
“He said that he had researchers in Iceland…”
“And he does. And if they’re researching DFTD it’s only because the League is going to try and weaponize it.” Nora reached up and untied Trudy’s bonds. “How contagious is it, and does it cross species?”
Trudy took a deep breath. “It’s very contagious among Tasmanian devils—purebred and shifters. It can infect other species. Its greatest strength as a weapon is that there is no known cure, and it is almost always fatal.” She brought her hands up to her face. “What have I done? Some of my people must have guessed and pulled their support, but I was so sure he could and would find a cure. How could I be so stupid?”
“Because one of the Master’s greatest skills is to find someone’s most vulnerable spot and turn it against them.”
“My whole family was wiped out by the disease. It’s a horrific way to die. Many of those affected go mad from the pain. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I told myself it was for the greater good.”
“You have no idea how many times I told myself that,” said Nora. “Do you know who the other mole is?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never seen his face and I think he uses some kind of device to distort his voice.”
“Big or small?” asked Hutch.
“I wouldn’t say small. Well, maybe small compared to Hamish, but then most men are.”
“Will,” Colby and Hutch said in unison.
“Do you think so?” said Trudy. “He’s always been so nice and friendly.”
“Hutch has been working on the identity of the mole. I have to say you never even made it onto the list of suspects until this afternoon. We’d narrowed it down to Ellis Wells, Will, or Morty.”
“Earlier today, I eliminated Wells as a suspect, which left Will or Morty. Morty would rival if not surpass Hamish in size.”
“It makes sense,” said Nora. “He’s in a great position to overhear and see things. People come and go all the time, so it’s easy enough for him to pass along whatever he finds out. When did you know Hutch wasn’t dead?”
“When Colby offered me a croissant.” She turned to Colby. “Anyone who bakes can tell the difference between a freshly baked croissant and a frozen and reheated one.” She looked at the group as a whole. “What are you going to do with me?”
“I’m going to do what any self-respecting alpha would do. I’m going to turn you over to your mate and let him deal with you. I rather suspect he will sentence you to life with him,” said Colby.
“He’s right about that, lass,” said the Scottish snow leopard as he joined them. “And there’ll be no parole or time off for good behavior.”
Trudy couldn’t get to the safety of Hamish’s arms fast enough.
“You’re in charge of keeping her out of trouble. Until we can neutralize Will and put a stop to whatever the Master is up to, Trudy stays here at Windsong with you under house arrest. I’ll send one of our people down to run The Refuge. I think we’re going to need it.”
