Hairwolf
Chapter Twenty Three

“That’s a lot to digest,” Foster comments.

“Not really,” Brizzbee says. “Not for me, anyway. I just can’t believe I didn’t think of it.”

“Because we were too busy trying to capture it.” Foster adds.

Stef, partially listening to them, is shuffling her thoughts around. She wants to tell them but

knows nothing good will come of it. At least not for her. She has to distance herself from this and soon. Her eyes meet Foster’s in the mirror, waiting for her to chime in. She doesn’t. He’ll let it go for now.

Foster pulls into the parking area of the restaurant facing the over-look. Below, is a lake, dotted with homes along the shoreline. The cool breeze blows lightly through Stef’s opened window as

she stares at the view. She breathes in the clean air, claiming a moment for herself.

Foster brings her back with, “Up until last night we were convinced it was a Big Foot.”

“Big Foot,” Lillian replies. “You believe in Big Foot? You’re a grown ass man. What are you doing believing in Big Foot?”

“Lillian,” Stef says, reminding her to be polite.

“So you know who he is – this werewolf?” Foster asks, exhibiting doubt, as well as cementing the

proof that males are the preferred gender associated with werewolves. This sends Lillian into a tirade.

“Son of a...” Lillian says, stopping short. “Yes, we know who it was. And here’s a news flash for ya. It was no goddamn man. It was a woman.”

Stef spins from the water view, lock-jawed at Lillian. But Lillian’s on a role, scoring one for the females of the world.

“. . .This woman. Sitting right here.”

“Lillian,” Stef shouts! But it’s too late. Horror paints across both of their faces. Stef more than Lillian. Her entire life has just changed dramatically. She pulls on the door handle, but it doesn’t open. Why won’t it open? She needs to get out, but it’s locked. She tries for the lock pin

but it’s recessed and she can’t get it. She’s frantic. “Let me out. I need to get out.”

Brizzbee reaches to help with the door latch but this sends subconscious reminders of Ominous to Stef. She isn’t seeing Brizzbee. She’s reliving Ominous’ attack. She slaps at his hands and elbows the door. It won’t open. Again, she elbows the door. Lillian reaches for her but Stef slaps her hands away too. She can’t tell what’s real. She needs to escape – to get out. “Get away. Get away from me.”

“Open the goddamn door,” Lillian shouts.

Foster tries to unlock her door from his panel but it isn’t working.

“Unlock it,” Brizzbee says.

“I’m trying.”

Stef is pressed against the door, fighting off Lillian’s attempts. Suddenly, Stef’s eyes turn deep blue, almost as if she’s going to change right there in the back seat.

Lillian sees it and recoils in fright. Fangs pulse out of Stef’s mouth like a switchblade. Brizzbee exits and grabs her door handle just as Stef elbows the door. It almost rips from its hinges as it

swings open, nearly hitting Brizzbee.

He reaches in and grabs Stef, pulling her out of the vehicle. Just as suddenly, she’s back to herself, shaken and disorientated. Brizzbee steady’s her. She looks up at him and relaxes. She feels safe with him.

“You’re okay. I got ya. Calm down. Calm down.”

Lillian watches her, horrified and amazed at the same time. She saw it but she’s the only one. Stef buckles at the knees. Foster exits and races over to her. Brizzbee’s holding her up.

“She blacked out,” Foster says. “Stef. Stefanie.”

She opens her eyes. Brizzbee lets her go, cautious she doesn’t fall.

“What happened?” she asks.

“You blacked out,” Foster says. “You okay?”

“I’m sorry,” she says. She sees Lillian watching her, fearful of what she’s done. It all comes rushing back to Stef. “I need a second.” She walks away to the edge of the parking lot leaving Foster and Brizzbee very concerned. They caused this. They’ve been very pushy and feel horrible over it.

Stef stands on the edge of the parking lot looking over the acres of wildflowers. She watches as butterflies, bees and other nectar-seeking insects live out their simple, yet busy lives in

the grove. This calms her. Brizzbee approaches slowly.

“Stef...”

She wipes tears away. He searches his pockets for a tissue.

“That was you last night!” he asks.

Her focus shifts back on him. She knows exactly what he’s referring to. She nods yes, placing her

hand on his face and scratches his stubbles backwards, making that sound she liked.

“I couldn’t let you drown,” she says. “You were there because of me.”

And that’s his moment of truth. The only other person there last night was Foster.

“You saved my life.”

She looks back at the vehicle. Both Foster and Lillian are watching.

“Everything is happening so fast. Word is going to get out and my life will be changed forever.”

Brizzbee doesn’t understand this. Hasn’t her life already been changed forever? But she’s right. This could be worse than that.

“Not if I have anything to do with it” Brizzbee says, adamantly. And although she has no reason to doubt him, she knows . . .

“. . . things happen,” she says, referring to Lillian’s slip up. “I’ve gone my entire life keeping this a secret. It’s all I’ve known.”

“...You like it?” He asks.

“Yes,” she says, somewhat mechanically. “I get to play like no one else can.”

“I promise you; we’ll find a way to keep this a secret and you safe. You don’t have to leave, Stef. I’d like you to stay. At least for lunch. They got a great lunch.”

She smiles.

Foster, standing next to Lillian, offers, “You know, if this is true, you have to be very careful about what you say and to who you say it to.”

“Does that mean we can trust you?”

“You can trust us. I just don’t know how much that will help.”

“Thank you.”“I need more. I need to know what she needs. When she needs it and how much. I really need to know what she is.”

“She’s a werewolf.”

He knows. At least that’s what they’re saying.

Brizzbee offers another angle for Stef to consider. “You know, having a couple of game wardens in your pocket couldn’t hurt. And to tell you the truth, it couldn’t hurt us either. I just have one question I have to ask,” he says. “Do you know of any others out there, like you?”

He finally locates a napkin from his rear pocket and offers it to her. But she doesn’t need it now.

“There’s another one?” she asks.

For him, her question is his answer. This is compelling news for her. If there is, maybe she could

finally get some answers. But then again, what if it’s Ominous? Or Ralf. Ralf would be a nice find. Maybe it’s neither. Maybe it’s someone else who’d have questions for her.

“Vermont had something at a campsite last night,” he says. “They’re not saying what it was but they are saying unknown, possibly Bigfoot.”

Stef gestures for Lillian to come over.

Brizzbee knows Stef has no idea of another one. He excuses himself as Lillian approaches.

“Stef, I am so sorry. I know I really screwed up.”

Instead of blasting her, Stef turns to walk slowly with her. “There’s another one,” she says. “In Vermont. He just told me.”

Lillian is very surprised and concerned. “Ominous?”

Stef isn’t sure. Lillian has something to tell her.

“What?” Stef asks.

“You almost turned in the truck,” Lillian says. “You went there. Just like your mom but not all the way. Your eyes went blue, you had fangs and you nearly blasted that door off its hinge. Then

it was over.”

Stef is very surprised over this. “That’s impossible.”

“I know what I saw. It’s not impossible. You just got to figure out how you did it.”

“I cannot change at will, Lillian.”

“Stef. I know what I saw.”

Stef is starting to shake. She’s confused, scared and far from home. “I don’t know what to do. I just want to run away and hide.”

“Hey. Hey. No running away. Please? We’re in this together. Promise me.”

“I thought you were going to Vegas?”

“It’s still an option. Don’t push me.”

Stef calms down just enough to take a deep breath. Lillian pulls her in for a supporting hug. Stef falls deep into her arms.

“We’re going to be fine, baby. I promise. No more doing this shit by yourself. You got me? We are in this together.”

Stef is very relieved to hear this from her. It’s the first sign that anyone has actually cared for her.

Foster and Brizzbee stand outside the truck. Foster’s not sold on the werewolf thing just yet. “I don’t know, Brizz Werewolf?”

“She knew about last night. That’s all the proof I need, Dave. She saved my life.”

“But she’s a female. I could see why they didn’t write books about them. They’re just not scary enough...”

“Pretty damn scary last night. She pulled me out with one hand. I wouldn’t want to mess with her. Not in that state.”

“Don’t piss her off, I guess, ah,” Foster comments, jokingly.

“That’s the Hulk, Dave. You got to get your fictional characters straight.”

Foster’s surprised over Brizzbee’s defensive posture.

“Relax, Brizz. Jeez.”

“I’m here because of her. Bet your ass I’m defending her. Gonna do more than that if she needs me to.”

Brizzbee holds up the hairball package. “We can’t use this. You know what they’ll do to her if word gets out. I told her we’d protect her.”

Foster isn’t so sure he should have made that promise.

“We owe it to her. I owe it to her. She’s really scared right now. She needs us.”

“Well, that’s what we do. We protect wildlife, domestic and foreign. I smell bacon. I can’t believe it. All this other stuff goin on and all I can think of is bacon.”

“It’s good bacon. Go talk with her,” Brizzbee says.

Unsure what talking is going to do, Foster meanders over to Stef. Lillian leaves her with Foster.

“You alright, Stef?”

“Are you? It can’t be every day you meet a werewolf.”

“It’s, different, for sure.”

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