Chapter 20

A group of six cars pulled into the Riverside Diner. Jamie sat in the back seat of the first car, her knees knocked with the turning motion. The doctor and his wife sat in front of her. The doctor pulled the car back into first and pulled on the emergency break before the car could roll back down the slight incline.

Mrs. Maxwell took the knife that was gripped in her hand and placed it in a loose pocket where it would not be noticed. The Riverside Diner had a few guests. It was one of the more upscale restaurants in Lampton Hill. It was a good way out of town and more than a few miles to the Henderson mansion. There were only back roads from here on out. Jamie thought it best if they walked. She didn't want the Colonel to catch sight of cars parked in his general location.

The other cars parked alongside each other and several figures stepped free of the cars. Jamie and Porter's parents jumped out to meet them. Jamie hugged her arms to her body as a cold breeze blew across her arms. It was getting cold and Jamie bet by the time night fell it would be absolutely glacial.

"Care for something to eat?" Jamie asked the parents, nudging her head toward the Riverside Diner. Long windows faced toward the parking lot and toward the river. The windows were framed by vines and the bushes beneath contained spotlights that cast a soft glow on the building in the early evening.

The parents looked at her dubiously.

"Look," Jamie said, glancing at her watch. "We have some time to kill. It's only seven o'clock and I don't want us all barging up there together. Mr. Maxwell and I are going to scout ahead and see who's hiding in the bush. I don't want the rest of you to start climbing the hills until half past eight."

"But," Mrs. Maxwell protested, waving her arms at her green outfit. "We're not dressed for the occasion. They're sure to wonder."

"And they're sure to be suspicious if we park our cars here and all head off in a group," Jamie replied with a glance out of the corner of her eyes. One of the waitresses was looking at the group expectantly from inside the Diner, smoothing pressed white shirt and black apron. "Tell them you just came from a Save-the-Environment meeting."

Finally Mrs. Maxwell sighed and nodded. She muttered, "I won't be able to eat tonight. I feel so worked up."

Mrs. Carlyle turned to Jamie, "You've got my cell number?"

Jamie nodded. "On speed dial. And Mr. Carlyle's," she said, turning to Amber's father. He was standing next to his wife, shifting back and forth between his feet. Edgy but determined; it was the only way to describe his expression. "Are you ready to head to the mansion?"

He nodded, giving his wife a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll keep you posted."

Jamie nodded. "And don't go too close to the house. I know it'll be hard, but don't. I'll call you when it's time to get Bella."

The man nodded, looking a little annoyed at being ordered around by a young girl. She couldn't blame him. She didn't like being ordered about either. This situation would be like Jamie being bossed about by Leigh's little brother, Jake.

"Thanks," she said to alleviate the situation. "And good luck."

Mr. Carlyle nodded to her and hurried to his car. He guided the vehicle around the large group and drove out of the parking lot.

"Are you guys ready?" Jamie chattered, shivering slightly.

The adults nodded. The doctor gave his wife a kiss and the group headed toward the bright lights. Jamie and the doctor stood back, watching the group go. She scuffed her shoe against the concrete, out waiting another frosty breeze. Goose pimples rose on her arms beneath the two layers of clothing. She shrugged her shoulders as if she could push the cold away like dropping a coat. Soon she would barely be able to feel it—once her skin was acclimated to the temperature.

She sent a sideways glance to the doctor. "Ready to go?"

The doctor sighed and nodded, his blue eyes troubled. Jamie hadn't noticed until that moment, how much his eyes resembled Porter's. Midnight silver blue and wistful, as if the world had just crashed at his feet. But determined too. He wasn't going to let this crush him. Jamie managed a half-smile. If Porter couldn't be at her side, then this man was as good a substitute as she was going to get.

"I hope I see her again," his eye yearned after his retreating wife and his mustache brushed against his upper lip as another breeze rustled through the parking lot.

"You will," Jamie said although she wasn't sure if she believed it. She knew she was putting Mr. Maxwell in danger by bringing him scouting with her. Se had no right to do it, yet she did not want to be alone. She was scared. Terrified, even. If she had no witness, no person to push her forward and to put his trust in her, she was afraid she might turn on them. She believed in their cause with all her heart—she truly did. But could she kill the Colonel? Could she kill Doug?

She bit her lip hard. She had that salty metal taste in her mouth—like blood. She said quietly, "You don't have to come with me."

"But you need me," the doctor replied, eying her warily. "You forget I can read your emotions like a book. I trust you, Jamie. But I'm also coming with you."

She smiled with relief.

"Thank you," she said. "You don't know what this means to me."

He gave her a wry glance. "I just might have an inkling."
The two trudged out of the parking lot and into the trees. The river rushed gaily to their left and their feet made audible crunching noises in the autumn leaves. Jamie cringed and watched her step as they made their way up the steady slope. The lights from the diner were being left farther and farther behind. Finally, the trees swallowed up the building completely.

Jamie was getting tired of this uphill climb. After twenty steady minutes she was becoming short of breath. She was glad to see the ground was leveling out—at least for the time being. They would climb again before they met up with the Colonel's camp. She still didn't know exactly where the camp was, but she had a pretty good idea. He would need a good view of the Henderson home for his snipers to pick off unsuspecting 'wolves.

She strained her ears hard, ever listening. The only sound she heard was the sound of their breathing softly and the occasional sound of her foot scuffing grass. The sounds were so faint that no human ears would have been able to pick them up. 'Wolf ears could barely do the trick.

After they had been moving for what seemed like forever, Jamie took a glance at her watch. It was almost eight-thirty. Jamie's stomach churned nervously. The group would be leaving the restaurant soon. Jamie took the cell phone and pressed the speed dial to Mr. Carlyle's cell. He picked up immediately.

"I'm here," he whispered on a breath. Even at that level, Jamie could hear the tremor in his voice.

"Are you okay?" She asked nervously, jamming her free hand in her pocket.

"Yeah," the man replied. "I just forgot to turn my phone to vibrate. It started to ring and I thought the sensors would pick it up. I caught it before it had even been ringing a tenth of a second."

Jamie smiled into the phone, forgetting that he couldn't see her—and he wasn't close enough to feel her emotions. She suddenly realized how vapid conversation was with human beings. It was like talking on the phone—never truly being able to hear.

"What's your position?" Jamie asked, feeling like an army commander. Who else used the word position in such a way?

"Behind the big bush. Is it time for me to go yet?" he asked hopefully.

"Not yet," she replied. "Sit tight."

"Don't make me wait too much longer," the man warned. "My daughter's in there."

"Yeah," Jamie replied, surprised at the harshness in her voice. I sound like the Colonel, she thought sickly. "And she'll still be in there if you leave your cover now. Stay put."

Jamie tried to apologize for her harsh tone, but the words wouldn't come out. She couldn't manage it. She was still too shocked at the Colonel that had come out of her. I'm not him, she thought, biting her sore lip. I will not be like him.

"You're doing good," Jamie managed finally. "Just sit tight."

She hung up the phone and squeezed her eyes tight. She still managed to walk perfectly silent with the picture that was engraved on the back of her eyelids. She let out a short sigh.

The doctor put a hand to her shoulder and she looked up at him. "Easy does it now, " he said. "You can do it. Don't let this trip get to you."

She nodded. I'm not like him, she repeated. Or was she?

The sound of a foot crackling in the leaves reached her ears. Jamie ducked behind a tree. The doctor sped to the tree opposite hers. Jamie stood as still as a statue, her body in perfect line with the tree. She took a glance at the doctor, who would be just barely hidden from view from the direction of the crackling sound. Jamie could imagine how hard it would be to hide his broad shoulders behind that trunk.

Here's the first of the scouts, she thought grimly. She took care to breath as little as possible. Her heart pumped slowly within her chest like the heart of an Olympic athlete. Jamie imagined she could practically pretend she was dead with how slowly her heart moved.

There wasn't another crackle for another long time. She wished the scout's feet would make some noise. Any noise. So that she could track his path with her ears. This was no amateur, she realized. His footwork was as good as hers when she had been human. Or Doug's.

She crouched lower down the trunk, her muscles trembling with anticipation as she forced them to be steadily alert. She could feel the wolf in her raring for a hunt. He would have such a nice soft neck, if she just jerked…

Jamie squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push the thought from her mind. I do not bite humans, she thought fiercely. No matter if he had killed thousand of 'wolves in his career as a hunter. She would not let the 'wolf overtake her.

There was another crackle. The scout was coming closer now. She could hear his breath moving quietly within his chest. She could almost hear his heart pumping the blood through his veins, almost taste…

Jamie cut that thought short too, sickened with herself. With her nature.

No matter, the clear part of her mind responded. There's no time for hunt daydreams. She was tracking his every move with her ears. He was coming up toward them unsuspectingly. If he had known they were there, his step would have been a little more hesitant.

She could feel the Colonel readying himself as well. They were coordinated perfectly. They would spring at exactly the same moment, taking their prey down before he could put up a fight.

The seconds ticked slowly down as the scout moved even closer.

They sprung. About three hundred pounds of combined weight rushed toward a dark-haired figure. Doug fell to the ground with a soft cry. Both she and the doctor each had a knee cutting into his ribs, pinning him. Jamie used her other knee to keep Doug's arm in place. Her muscles quivered with strength and pent up anger.

Doug's eyes were wild for only a moment. They focused on her face, hurt and confused. His gaunt jaw sagged and the expression on his face seared her soul. Her heart felt as though it would break.

"Jamie," he whispered. "How could you betray us?"