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Duncan considered his question. He shrugged. “Fergus Campbell, maybe. Maybe Rory Campbell. And maybe Tristen Spencer. I don’t know. It’s been a century since I’ve had any interest in fighting for the hell of it.”
Ryder nodded. Benny was watching him, and probably reading him like a book. “The younger generation?” Ryder asked.
Duncan shrugged again. “No clue,” he said. “Based on pinochle night? That’s all I’ve got to go on. Dennis is pretty strong, but not interested in dominance fights. He could probably tell you more about his generation. Why?”
“Trying to figure out what I’ve got to work with,” Ryder said vaguely. “And what is likely to be opposing me.”
“You’d better come in,” Jessie said from the door to the parlor. “Sharon’s ready to talk.”
Sharon’s story was appallingly simple. Her great-grandfather, Angus Campbell, had gotten in a rage and took it out on her. She didn’t think he knew she’d said anything to Benny — or she’d be dead, she said simply.
“In the kitchen you said treachery,” Benny said. “What were you worried about?”
Sharon looked undecided. Benny looked at her and started with an easier question. Ryder just crouched besides the couch and watched Benny work.
“Who is your father?” Benny asked.
“Mark Campbell,” Sharon answered promptly.
“And Angus is your great-grandfather?” Benny asked, trying to build a family tree, Ryder thought.
She nodded.
“Who’s your grandfather, then?”
Ryder tried to do the same thing —build a family tree. The Campbell family needed study. “Wait,” he said. “Start from the top, Sharon. Describe your family.”
Angus was the patriarch. He had three sons — two died in the retribution, including Sharon’s grandfather. And Jessie had just killed his remaining son last night. But he had four grandsons. Jameson had died yesterday —the man with the poison on his knife. And there were Rory, Mark and Logan. Sharon had five boy cousins and one girl cousin. And there were six littles.
It was interesting she divided it up like that —littles, meaning they hadn’t gone through first shift. The two girls in her generation. She hadn’t mentioned the wives of any those men. Not even her own mother.
“Is it true? There’s a serum that will help girls get through first shift?” she asked timidly.
Benny nodded. “The medic will be here later today,” he said. “Do you know girls who are about to shift?”
She nodded.
“Good,” Benny said, smiling at her. “You’re drafted to help with the serum then.”
“I don’t have to go home?”
Ryder shook his head. “No, you don’t have to go back to a home where a man beat you because he was having a temper tantrum.”
Sharon looked to Jessie for confirmation. Jessie nodded, and Sharon sighed with relief.
“Can I ask you something?” she asked.
Ryder nodded permission.
“Did Uncle Jameson use poison?”
“He had poison on a knife,” Benny said, slowly. He was watching her carefully. Ryder thought it had been an odd question, too. “He got in one slash, and it was potent. We were able to save the man, however.” He didn’t mention who it was or how. No surprise.
“Mom said Jameson was experimenting with poison,” she said hesitantly. “Uncle Jameson ran a part of the vineyards, and there’s all kinds of chemicals out there. She wanted no part of it. She’s been trying to get Dad to move us all out of the family house into a place of our own. I think Dad was going to do it, but then Grandfather Angus sent him up to the Lodge.”
“When was that?” Benny asked casually as if it was no big deal.
“Two weeks ago? I’ve been trying to listen to things,” she confessed. “You’re from the Hat Island pack, right? Do you know Sarah? The Girls Who Howl? We talk about listening and learning things.”
