The Werewolf Meets His Match
A surge of adrenaline zipped through Hank’s system, temporarily overriding the effects of the meds. He looked at Ivy, who was sitting very still, then spoke to Charlie. “Hey, kiddo.”
Charlie paused his game and turned around.
Hank pointed at the flash drive sticking out of the computer. “Where did you find that flash drive?”
“On the floor in my room.”
“And what were you doing when you found it?”
“I was putting clean clothes on.”
“Out of the bag your grandmother gave you?”
He nodded.
“Thanks.” Hank gave him a smile. “You can play your game.”
Charlie went back to crashing his car into those of his opponents and racking up points.
Even over the sound of the game, Ivy’s whisper was audible. “My mother.”
Hank turned to see her. “You think so?”
Ivy nodded. “How else would it have gotten into the house if not in the bag? She’s the only one who could have put it in there. She’d certainly have had access. And when she gave me the bag, she said something like I hope this helps.”
“Does she do the books for the company?”
“No, my second-oldest brother, Daryl, does. But my mother works in the office. Filing, answering phones, getting coffee. Stuff like that.”
Hank tried to read her face, but all he could really sense from her was shock and concern. “So she’d have access to the records.”
“I don’t know. I guess.” She glanced at Birdie. “Can you tell by looking at the drive who created those files? Or who they would implicate?”
Birdie’s mouth bunched to one side. “Let me look closer.” She pecked away at the keyboard, finally shaking her head. “There are no names that I can find. Hank, what do you think?”
“If there are no names, then the Justice Department would most likely go after the company and its officers.”
Ivy let out a breath. “That would be my father and my two oldest brothers. Which means my mom and Sam would be in the clear.” She turned toward him. “Would they, Hank? I’d hate to think of either of them going to prison for my father’s crimes.”
“What about your older brothers?”
She snorted. “They’re his henchmen. If he’s guilty, so are they.”
Hank thought for a moment, a tough task with the meds in his system. “Do you think Sam and your mother would be willing to testify?”
Ivy made a face. “That’s asking a lot. My mother might be too scared. As for Sam…I don’t know. I’d have to ask them both.”
“Don’t say anything yet. Let me work on this in the morning and see what I can figure out to protect them.” His lids grew heavy as the drugs started winning. He yawned.
Ivy stood. “Birdie, I’m going to get Hank upstairs and put him to bed. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.” She hit a key and popped the flash drive out, handing it to Ivy. “Take this with you and put it somewhere safe. I’ll keep an eye on Charlie.”
Ivy stuck the drive in her pocket, then got Hank to his feet. “Let’s go. You need to be in bed.”
He draped his arm around her shoulder. “Are you going to tuck me in?”
She smiled as she led him out of the room and up the stairs. “Yes, but that’s all I’m doing. You need to heal.”
He leaned in and nuzzled her neck. “Are you sure?”
She sucked in a breath and arched away from him, reaching out to push the bedroom door open. “You’re a really bad patient.”
“I just want my wife next to me.”
She eased him onto the bed, then knelt to take his boots off. “I will be. At some point. I have to get Charlie settled first, and by then, you’ll be sound asleep. You won’t even know I’m there.”
“Sure I will.” He lay back and closed his eyes. She unbuttoned his jeans. He grinned. “I knew this was just a ploy to get me alone.”
She laughed. “Drugged up and trying to get frisky. That’s my husband.”
“Yeah,” he muttered. And drifted off to sleep.
Ivy managed to get Hank’s jeans and shirt off him, but it was only because she had the strength of a shifter. Moving that much man would have been impossible otherwise. She covered him up, tucked the flash drive under his T-shirts in his dresser drawer, then jogged back down to the living room.
“Charlie, bedtime. Upstairs and teeth brushed.”
“Aw, Mom, can’t I play one more game?”
“Not tonight, honey. Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day. You have your first day at sports camp.”
He made a face. “I know.”
Birdie clapped her hands. “Isn’t that exciting, Charlie? Think of all the new friends you’re going to make.”
He shot her a look as he put the game controller away. Clearly he didn’t share her enthusiasm.
Ivy laughed as Birdie stood. “I guess I should be going, too. Call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you for everything. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m going to come to the station after I drop him off.”
“Is Hank going to work tomorrow?”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “You think I can stop him?”
Birdie snorted softly. “Silly question. Oh, I almost forgot with all that business about the flash drive. Charlie and I did a little clothes shopping today and—”