Bear Meets Girl
Page 56
To who? I mean whod believe her? Not anyone who could really hurt us.
You have a point. Besides, she cant talk even if she wants to.
And whys that?
Crushek grinned. Shes a car thief. A really good one. Only takes high end. Has specific clients.
You know her.
I know a couple of dealers whove hired her for special requests. Shes also a driver. Shes been involved in a few heists, but being a car thief is her true love. Shes been doing it full-time since she was sixteen.
You know her, Cella repeated. But you wont ever tell anyone who she is ... will you?
The bear shrugged, smiled. I cant risk the information getting back to BPC. Plus, she protected one of our kindfor that she deserves our loyalty. Right?
Okay, so the bear was judgmental, uptight, and so straitlaced it made her laugh, but he was smart, brave, and wicked fast. And loyal to a car thief he didnt really know.
You want this girl safe, Cella suggested, we need to bring Baissier down, and we need to do it now.
What makes you think we can do that? Ive known that woman for a very long time, Malone. You cant take her down just because your friend wants to protect some girl.
I know. Im not saying itll be easy, but I think Whitlans the key.
Why do you think that?
Do you really think Baissiers after some taxidermist? She was watching that taxidermist for a reason. Smith and I think that reason is Whitlan.
So? What if he is the reason?
She shrugged. Maybe Baissiers working with him.
He snorted. Peg Baissier? Working with a full-human? On anything? What are you? High?
Its a possibility.
Its also a possibility that a lion male might be shy and retiring, but thats not happening, either.
Im telling you shes up to something.
Shes always up to something. That doesnt mean shes doing something we can use against her.
You dont know that.
Crush studied Cella. What if she is up to something? he finally asked. What does KZS care? Or is the real problem here Baissiers power among the bears?
Cella picked at dried blood on the sleeve of her sweatshirt. Knowing that woman as well as you do, Crushek, can you really say you feel comfortable with her having that much control over an army of grizzlies and polars? Considering how much she hates every other species?
He didnt answer and Cella looked up, not surprised by the frown on his face.
Cella nodded. Yeah. Thats pretty much how the rest of us feel, too.
I understand, butthinking for a second that shed involve herself with a scumbag like Whitlan ...
According to you, he played the NYPD, the FBI, and the Mob. You really dont believe he could do the same with her? Someone so arrogant she thinks shes untouchable?
She is untouchable.
Not if we get something on her. Not if you get something on her. And you start with Whitlan. That is what cops do, isnt it? Look into shit? Investigate?
I usually like to have this little thing they call evidence.
Look, Smiths gut
If I have to hear about that She-wolfs internal organs one more time ...
Check it out. Please. When he only scratched his head and blew out a breath, Cella asked, What? What is it?
I have a history with Baissier and its not exactly a big secret. At least, not among the bears. They might think Im just trying to ruin her life.
Youre not?
No. And she loved how appalled he looked at the mere suggestion that he might do something for revenge. So earnest this guy. I just want her to stay away from me and Ill stay away from her.
Cella smirked. You just tossed her boys out the fuckin door of the Group offices. Do you really think shes going to stay away from you now?
How she handles her own shit is up to her. Im talking about me. I mean, cant the Group handle looking into this?
The Group? Cella laughed. You know how the Group handles really high-level shit like this? They give it to Dee-Ann and she starts killing people with her bowie knife ... that her own father gave her when she was ten. Trust me when I say, you do not want Dee-Ann Smith getting anywhere near Whitlan or Baissier.
The bear briefly closed his eyes. What about KZS?
KZS is made up of cats. In general, were a lazy species. So we dont do what youd call actualshe made air quotes with her fingers investigations.
Then what do you do?
Someone says, Im thinking theyre a problem ... and then they send one of us in to eliminate the problem.
Scowling, the bear demanded, You do that for every situation? Even nonlethal ones?
Oh, God, no! Of course not. If you just irritate us, then we just come to your house and pee all over everything. She shrugged. Sometimes shit in your shoes. When the bear only stared at her with his mouth open, Cella quickly added, Not me, though. Ive never done that. Not ever. Because its ... its ... She thought a moment. Its morally wrong. She smiled, proud of herself for remembering the phrase.
You have a point. Besides, she cant talk even if she wants to.
And whys that?
Crushek grinned. Shes a car thief. A really good one. Only takes high end. Has specific clients.
You know her.
I know a couple of dealers whove hired her for special requests. Shes also a driver. Shes been involved in a few heists, but being a car thief is her true love. Shes been doing it full-time since she was sixteen.
You know her, Cella repeated. But you wont ever tell anyone who she is ... will you?
The bear shrugged, smiled. I cant risk the information getting back to BPC. Plus, she protected one of our kindfor that she deserves our loyalty. Right?
Okay, so the bear was judgmental, uptight, and so straitlaced it made her laugh, but he was smart, brave, and wicked fast. And loyal to a car thief he didnt really know.
You want this girl safe, Cella suggested, we need to bring Baissier down, and we need to do it now.
What makes you think we can do that? Ive known that woman for a very long time, Malone. You cant take her down just because your friend wants to protect some girl.
I know. Im not saying itll be easy, but I think Whitlans the key.
Why do you think that?
Do you really think Baissiers after some taxidermist? She was watching that taxidermist for a reason. Smith and I think that reason is Whitlan.
So? What if he is the reason?
She shrugged. Maybe Baissiers working with him.
He snorted. Peg Baissier? Working with a full-human? On anything? What are you? High?
Its a possibility.
Its also a possibility that a lion male might be shy and retiring, but thats not happening, either.
Im telling you shes up to something.
Shes always up to something. That doesnt mean shes doing something we can use against her.
You dont know that.
Crush studied Cella. What if she is up to something? he finally asked. What does KZS care? Or is the real problem here Baissiers power among the bears?
Cella picked at dried blood on the sleeve of her sweatshirt. Knowing that woman as well as you do, Crushek, can you really say you feel comfortable with her having that much control over an army of grizzlies and polars? Considering how much she hates every other species?
He didnt answer and Cella looked up, not surprised by the frown on his face.
Cella nodded. Yeah. Thats pretty much how the rest of us feel, too.
I understand, butthinking for a second that shed involve herself with a scumbag like Whitlan ...
According to you, he played the NYPD, the FBI, and the Mob. You really dont believe he could do the same with her? Someone so arrogant she thinks shes untouchable?
She is untouchable.
Not if we get something on her. Not if you get something on her. And you start with Whitlan. That is what cops do, isnt it? Look into shit? Investigate?
I usually like to have this little thing they call evidence.
Look, Smiths gut
If I have to hear about that She-wolfs internal organs one more time ...
Check it out. Please. When he only scratched his head and blew out a breath, Cella asked, What? What is it?
I have a history with Baissier and its not exactly a big secret. At least, not among the bears. They might think Im just trying to ruin her life.
Youre not?
No. And she loved how appalled he looked at the mere suggestion that he might do something for revenge. So earnest this guy. I just want her to stay away from me and Ill stay away from her.
Cella smirked. You just tossed her boys out the fuckin door of the Group offices. Do you really think shes going to stay away from you now?
How she handles her own shit is up to her. Im talking about me. I mean, cant the Group handle looking into this?
The Group? Cella laughed. You know how the Group handles really high-level shit like this? They give it to Dee-Ann and she starts killing people with her bowie knife ... that her own father gave her when she was ten. Trust me when I say, you do not want Dee-Ann Smith getting anywhere near Whitlan or Baissier.
The bear briefly closed his eyes. What about KZS?
KZS is made up of cats. In general, were a lazy species. So we dont do what youd call actualshe made air quotes with her fingers investigations.
Then what do you do?
Someone says, Im thinking theyre a problem ... and then they send one of us in to eliminate the problem.
Scowling, the bear demanded, You do that for every situation? Even nonlethal ones?
Oh, God, no! Of course not. If you just irritate us, then we just come to your house and pee all over everything. She shrugged. Sometimes shit in your shoes. When the bear only stared at her with his mouth open, Cella quickly added, Not me, though. Ive never done that. Not ever. Because its ... its ... She thought a moment. Its morally wrong. She smiled, proud of herself for remembering the phrase.
