Pack Balance (8 page)

“We’ll take care of these so-called investigators,” Jordan spat. “I know just how to handle them.”

Mayor Jensen laughed. “Those detectives will eat you alive, young man. I’ve got some officers that owe me some favors. I’ll have them keep an eye on the case. You two just make sure you’re not caught. If you are, I’ll make sure you don’t make it to trial, if you catch my drift.”

“Don’t threaten us!” Lexis shouted. “I’ll being you and your entire empire down. You want to get rid of the shifters? Fine, I couldn’t care less, but we do this
my
way.”

“Don’t make me laugh,” Jensen responded. “You’re playing with the big boys now. You follow
my
orders. I can find any small time dealer to do this. I brought you in. Don’t forget that.”

It sounded like the mayor was walking farther away as he spoke. Cooper pressed himself closer to the side of the bar. He didn’t hear any more speaking, so he waited. A few minutes later, the sound of a car starting didn’t surprise him. He crept toward the opposite side of the building. Hopefully Fisher and Turner would get there soon. The mayor wouldn’t be hard to find, but Cooper didn’t want to lose the Bradley cousins.

After what he’d overheard, they needed to make their move soon. He had to get that warrant. He ran back toward his partner to share what he’d learned.

Chapter Five

It was a busy night for calls. Julie collapsed against the back of her seat inside the ambulance after they’d dropped off the fourth patient to the hospital. Two people with heart-attack symptoms, one with a badly cut hand and one small child with a horrible cough had kept the rig going. She was thankful that none of the calls had been fatal but she was dragging and needed a break. The morning with Cooper had been wonderful, but she was feeling the lack of sleep.

“Want to stop for coffee?” she asked her partner.

He grinned at her. “Didn’t sleep well?”

She hadn’t told Shawn about going to Cooper’s house but by his smug expression, he’d figured it out. “What makes you ask that?”

He chuckled. “I ran into Josiah at the café this afternoon before my shift. He mentioned your car being at Cooper’s when he picked up his partner this morning.”

Living in Clear Creek was like being in a soap opera sometimes. There was no privacy. Especially within the civil servant area. “Oh, so how about that coffee?” she tried to steer the conversation away from her and Cooper. Not that she minded telling Shawn, but she did like to tease her partner.

Shawn paused in putting the vehicle in gear. “That’s all I get?”

She smiled. “Was there something else you wanted?” she teased.

“You suck,” he complained. She let him drive toward their favorite small coffee shop before giving in.

“I apologized to Cooper,” she said. “It went better than I could have ever hoped for.”

“So the two of you are back together?” Shawn grinned. “That’s awesome.”

“Yeah,” she agreed. “I’m really lucky.”

“He’s lucky too. You’re a great woman and you two belong together,” Shawn told her.

Julie was beginning to believe the truth in that statement. Cooper had been everything she’d ever hoped for. She looked at her friends, like Shawn, with his wife and kids, and was jealous. She wished for that. She wanted to make her home with one man and start raising kids. She needed her brother to come visit and be Uncle Garrett to his nieces and nephews. She could already picture a boy with Cooper’s dark hair or a little girl with her hazel eyes. No matter what they looked like, she would love them unconditionally. And Cooper? He would make a fantastic father. He’d…
Wait. If Cooper can shift into a wolf, does that mean our kids would too?
She hadn’t even considered that.

As panic built, she had to take a deep breath. Sure, they weren’t at the having kids stage yet, but Julie sure hoped they’d get there one day. Maybe Cooper didn’t even want children. She tried to think back on any conversations that might have come up but she couldn’t remember him ever talking about his future plans. She knew they had plenty of time to discuss things and she’d only gotten him back. She wouldn’t let Cooper slip away again. He’d probably think she was crazy even bringing up the subject after she’d scoffed at moving in just that morning. She needed to relax. She had to have faith that she and Cooper would be able to work anything out. They belonged together. Loving a man who could transform really did bring a lot of unique issues to her dating life. A new worry formed. Would she be able to handle the difficulties Cooper’s abilities attracted?

She wanted to support him in every way. She knew his life and the decision to become public had to be hard on him. There were rumors that not all the shifters were open about what they were because they feared for their safety. She’d let Cooper down by not being his partner when he’d had to decide. Would she ever be able to make up for her actions and how leaving him had only added to what was going on in his life? Cooper might have been better off if she’d never returned.
God
, the thought made her heart ache. Maybe she’d been selfish in returning home. But Cooper had welcomed her with open arms. She’d make it up to him.

“What’s wrong?” Shawn asked. “You turned pale all of a sudden.”

She shook her head, unsure how to answer. Shawn didn’t know much more about shifters than she did. Plus, he might take her questions the wrong way. He was happy she and Cooper were together, which made her grateful. She knew Shawn, though. He’d tell her not to worry about it. She and Cooper would work it out. And they would, but she really didn’t want to make any more mistakes. She could figure out what she needed to know. Some research would help. She’d already done a bunch when the shifters had come out. She’d collected news articles that that had disproved a lot of old myths, like the full moon shifting, but if she was going to be a true partner to Cooper, she needed to know more.

“Julie?”

She jerked her head to the side to look at Shawn. His hand was on the door knob and the engine was off. They were in the parking lot of the coffee shop. She shook herself from her stupor as she popped her door open.

“You sure you’re okay?” Shawn asked.

“Yeah, just thinking,” she said. “Let’s get some caffeine.” She followed Shawn inside and got in line behind him.

She glanced around the crowded shop while wondering how many patrons were human and how many shifter? Wolves weren’t the only shifters out there, although she’d never met any others, at least to her knowledge. The local news station in the corner of the store was giving her an idea. The most popular reporter on the local channel had interviewed several of the shifters around Clear Creek. Julie had watched the broadcast online while she’d lived with her brother, and that reporter was her old college roommate. Julie knew the right person to ask her questions. Shelby would have researched everything she could find about shifters before her filming.

Julie pulled out her phone and found Shelby’s contact. She sent a quick text about meeting up later. She’d called Shelby to let her know that she was returning to town and they’d promised to get together soon. As busy as her friend was, Julie knew if she didn’t tie Shelby down with a time and date, Shelby’s mind would be on her next assignment. Not that Julie blamed her. Shelby was dedicated and a hardworking woman—sometimes too dedicated. She had been the same in college. It was usually Julie’s influence that had brought any kind of fun to Shelby’s life.

The line moved quickly. When it was her turn, she ordered her iced white mocha along with Shawn’s green tea and paid for both. She handed over the money as her phone chimed with a message. Julie waved off the change from the barista and stepped to the side. She smiled when she saw Shelby’s response. They could meet for an early lunch the next day before Julie’s shift. She sent back an affirmative before she slid her cell back in her pocket.

“Texting your boyfriend,” Shawn teased.

“Shut up.” She couldn’t help but to smile though. And why shouldn’t she send a quick hi to Cooper, so she did. A minute later her phone alerted again. She glanced down.

Miss you

Her name was called for the drinks so she put her phone away and walked up to the counter. She handed Shawn his beverage and they headed out. When they reached the ambulance, she paused outside the door and took a long drink, just enjoying the bitterness of the espresso and the sweetness of the syrup.

She reached for the door handle as the radio on her shoulder buzzed and the dispatcher’s voice sounded. She groaned but hurried to get into her seat so they could get to their call.

“Another overdose,” Shawn grunted. “It’s getting bad out there.”

Julie knew that there’d been an increase in calls related to drugs but she was surprised by Shawn’s disgust. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“Some shit has hit the streets and it’s deadly to the shifters. Cops are trying to find out who is responsible, but we keep getting more and more calls,” Shawn told her.

“I’d bet anything that’s Cooper’s case,” she said.

“I think it is,” Shawn confirmed. “I haven’t heard anything lately but Josiah seemed to be in a good mood earlier.”

Thinking back on Cooper’s text message, she wondered if Cooper and Josiah were getting close to finding the people responsible. That would be great. She would have to plan some sort of celebration for him.

They raced down the streets, getting closer to the address given to them. Julie braced her arm against the window as Shawn turned a corner too fast. “Slow down,” she demanded.

“I’m not losing another patient to this fucking drug,” Shawn said, while pressing harder on the gas pedal.

Julie closed her eyes so she didn’t have to see them crash.

“Relax,” Shawn said with a chuckle. “We’re almost there.”

Julie sure hoped so. She didn’t have much in her stomach and she really hoped she could keep down what she had eaten earlier. She pried open her eyes as Shawn finally slowed the rig down. A group of people were standing in a circle off to the side of the street. She reached between the seats for her bag so she could reach their patient quickly. As Shawn stopped the ambulance, she yanked the door handle and jumped down.

“Step aside,” she shouted over the loud crowd as she pushed her way through.

A young man was lying on the ground with two women at his side. The closest looked similar to the male, so she guessed it was his sister. “What’s going on?” Julie asked her.

“I don’t know,” she screeched. “My friend and I were in the store while my brother waited outside. I saw him talking to two guys but then Leslie called my name and I looked away. We finished getting some snacks and when we were heading to check out, I heard someone yell and my brother was on the ground. I dropped my stuff and ran out here, but he was already passed out.”

Julie exchanged a look with Shawn as he joined her.
Why was this called in as an overdose if he wasn’t doing drugs?

“We need to get his body temperature down. That’s one of the tips the ER doctor gave me,” Shawn said as he placed cold packs around their patient.

“I saw him take some pills,” someone called out.

Julie glanced up at an older man who stood only a few feet away. “He got them from those two.” He pointed, and Julie followed his hand across to two boys the victim’s age.

The young men backed up before they turned and sprinted off. Julie didn’t have time to worry about them. She could give the cops a description later.

“I’m going to get the gurney and call this in,” Shawn said, hopping to his feet.

Julie nodded, busy getting supplies out from her bag. She would prep her patient while Shawn was gone. They’d need to do an IV and get some fluids in him. As she worked, she glanced at the sister. “What’s his name?”

“Corey,” the girl replied.

“We’re going to take care of you, Corey,” she said, bending closer to the boy. He couldn’t have been older than twenty. He must have trusted the two punks that he’d gotten the pills from. She heard police sirens coming nearer and hoped they’d catch the drug dealers.

“Here we go,” Shawn called out.

They worked together to get Corey loaded up. Shawn started to push the gurney, and Julie looked back at her patient’s sister. “We’re taking him to Medical Center. Get your family and you can meet him there.”

The younger girl nodded before she ran off. Julie felt horrible for her. There was a chance that Corey wouldn’t make it from what Shawn had said about the other cases. Julie would do everything she could to save him, though.

She ran to catch up to her partner. As she turned the corner, she almost collided with Cooper.

“Hey.” He caught her by the shoulders. “You okay?”

“Yeah fine.” She was happy to see him but she needed to help Corey.

“You’ll want to talk to one of the witnesses. He pointed out the two that gave our boy the drugs,” she told him.

“Shawn gave us the description. We have patrol officers looking for them. We’ll wrap up here and try to get to the hospital before you leave.”

She nodded before sliding past him and into the rig. She went right to Corey’s side and got to work. Julie didn’t even look up when the doors closed. Shawn would get them where they were going and Cooper would find the dealers. She had to believe that. It was so sad to see men and women, young and old, giving up their lives to this horrible craving for drugs. She didn’t blame them, but she wished she could help somehow before they ended up in her ambulance. Maybe she could find somewhere to volunteer when she wasn’t working. She’d discuss it with Cooper.

She peered down at Corey. She closed her eyes and said a little prayer that the kid would make it.

* * * *

Exhausted, Julie pushed through the doors that separated the emergency entrance from the waiting room. Corey was still being treated, but his chance of a full recovery was good. They’d managed to lower his temperature and get fluids in him quickly enough that the drug hadn’t been fully digested. The doctors had given him something to counteract the poison. Shawn had gone ahead to clear out the rig and get them ready for their next call. God, she just wanted to go home and get off her feet. It sucked to work twelve hour shifts but she only had to work three or four days a week, and she enjoyed that. Knowing that Cooper would be there when she got off gave her something to look forward to as well.