Page 13 of A Dash of Wolf

“Chief, got a call from Ivan Johansson.” Beulah’s unmistakable voice crackled through the speaker. “He’s not a happy camper. You might want to get in touch with him out at Drury Marsh.”

“On it.” Chief Wolfe clipped the radio back to his belt as he locked eyes with Adeline. “We’ll talk later, Ms. Beaumont.”

“I look forward to it,” she said sweetly.

He turned and headed for the door, the truffle still sitting on the counter where he’d left it.

“Hey, Chief!” Herschel called out. “Don’t forget the Thursday night market is tonight! Starts at four. You should come.”

Chief Wolfe lifted a hand in acknowledgment without turning around. The door closed behind him, and the bakery erupted into chatter. Everyone taking bets on who would be arrested next.

“I don’t see this ending well for you, Adeline,” Princess Muffin Top said, one paw draped lazily over the side.

Adeline looked down at the truffle still sitting on the napkin. She picked it up and popped it into her mouth. Something told her she was going to need it.

6

Mason Wolfe crouched next to the bulldozer’s engine compartment and studied the empty terminals. No tool marks. No scratches on the surrounding metal. Whoever removed the battery cables knew exactly what they were doing and had taken their time doing it. He pulled out his phone and snapped a few pictures, then stood and looked around the site.

Drury Marsh stretched out in every direction. Tall marsh grass swaying in the mid-afternoon breeze, with the buzz of insects and native birds flying around him. The construction site sat at the marsh’s edge, two bulldozers and a backhoe parked in a rough line. But only one bulldozer had been tampered with—the one Adeline had chained herself to yesterday. If this were random vandalism, they’d hit all three bulldozers.

“Find anything, Chief?” Officer Dixon asked.

The vampire had driven out ahead of him and had been walking the perimeter of the site since Mason arrived.

“No fingerprints,” Mason said. “No footprints in the gravel. Whoever did this was careful.”

“Or used magic to cover their tracks,” Dixon offered.

Mason nodded. That was the problem with investigating crimes in a supernatural town. Half the evidence could be spelled away before you even got to the scene.

Ivan Johansson came stomping across the gravel, his hard hat askew and his face the same dangerous shade of red and purple Mason remembered from yesterday.

“I’ll leave you to this, Chief,” Dixon said with a grin.

“Wonderful,” Mason muttered.

The giant troll jabbed a thick finger in Mason’s direction. “Well? Are you going to arrest Adeline Beaumont or not?”

Mason barely resisted a sigh. “I’m still examining the scene, Mr. Johansson.”

“What’s to examine? It’s obvious who did this!” Ivan threw his hands in the air. “That Beaumont woman has been terrorizing my crew for weeks. She chained herself to my bulldozer yesterday, for crying out loud! And now—surprise, surprise—the battery cables are gone.”

Mason straightened and crossed his arms. “Do you have any evidence that Ms. Beaumont was here last night?”

“No fingerprints just proves it was a witch!” Ivan sputtered. “She used magic to cover it up. Any fool can see that.”

“Or the person wore gloves,” Mason countered.

Ivan narrowed his eyes. “I want her arrested, Chief. Today.”

“I can’t arrest someone without evidence, Mr. Johansson. I’ll talk to Ms. Beaumont, but unless something ties her to the scene, my hands are tied.”

Ivan checked his watch and scowled. “It’s after two, which means she’s closed the bakery. You’ll probably have to catch her tonight at the market.” Again he pointed a stubby finger at Mason. “And I’ll be there to make sure you do your job.”

Mason stared at the troll. He didn’t particularly like the man. Hadn’t liked him yesterday, either, when Ivan had been screaming at an elderly witch. A part of Mason was starting to side with Adeline and her save-the-squish-squids campaign.

But he was the chief of police. He didn’t get to pick sides.