Page 70 of Werewolves and Witches AU

Again, I expect an argument, but it doesn’t happen.

“There’s a turning twenty yards before the Target—that’s our destination. We’re going to walk down on this side, and when we reach it, we’ll cross the road. Depending on what we see on the way past, we’ll develop a plan on the fly—yer good with that, right?”

Again, there’s no cheeky smile, nor mischievous glint in Milo’s eyes, just pure concentration.

“Magpie?” I ask. “Yer good?”

“Yeah, it’s just… I was thinking…”

I up-nod in encouragement.

“If they stop us, I think you should be my uncle—who just got out of prison.”

My lowering brow narrows my vision.

“Hear me out. People don’t like talking to ex-cons, so they won’t stay long after that, and it would explain why you look so…” He gestures vaguely in my direction with a hand. I’d be offended if I didn’t already know I could pass for a convict. A fact my sister, Riley, delights in reminding me of every time we’re together.

“But if they do ask anything else, then I can say that I’m thinking of relocating here from Roanoke City—because living there is daylight robbery, and why have that when I could have all this for only a third more rent? And anyway, I reckon the good folks of this subdivision might be interested in the benefits of aloe vera.”

I chuckle. Only Milo could flip an insult into a charming and believable mission cover. “Alright, Magpie. It’s yer first mission with the Dogs, let’s go with yer story.”

Jamming my hands deep in my pockets, I angle my head to point us toward the Target, and set off at what I think is the correct pace for an ex-con uncle helping his wayward nephew choose a new home.

As we draw parallel with the Target, I keep my voice low and ask, “Do ye see the flickering light through the window?”

“Mhm. The TV?”

“Aye. Do ye see any other lights in any other windows?”

Milo shakes his head.

Purposefully, I turn us to look at the house directly opposite, putting our backs to the Target. “What does that tell ye, if yer earlier prediction is right?”

“That dad’s watching the TV to chill after his shift, and the kid’s still asleep in the back.”

“Why in the back?”

“Because if that’s the living room, then the bedrooms are at the back.”

A proud smile takes over my face. “Exactly. And what is it ye need, Magpie?”

“A hairbrush…”

“Which is?”

“In the bedroom.” Milo’s smile matches my own.

Continuing our stroll, I guide us further on toward the crossing point. While we wait, I point out a little path that cuts up between the houses just two down from our Target. “We’re heading for that.”

The path is for rear property access, and there’s one every tenth house. With my wolf forward, I check that no one is paying particular attention to us, and when I’m confident, I give Magpie a little nudge. Together, we jog down the narrow path using the cover of the taller hedges to our advantage.

At the rear of the property, we find a decent-sized family yard that has an upturned paddling pool and a couple of abandoned toys. The resident child is still too young to fully make use of the space. I also note the unkempt hedge that sits tight against the full backside of the Target.

“Tell me what ye see?” I motion to the back of the double-wide through the chain-link fence that separates us.

Milo doesn’t miss a beat. “An open window; a small, open window.”

“Why’d ye think it’s open?”