Eggie had grown up hating Van Holtzes. That was what every Smith was taught at birth. But now he really hated them. A lot.

Bubba came out of Eggie’s house, his mouth full of the last slice of pie Eggie had found and hidden the night before. “You just gonna let him go off with your woman?”

“You wanna stay out of my business?”

“You can’t kill him. Daddy gave his word he’d be protected and Momma would have a fit.”

“I don’t care. Why are you still talking to me?”

“No reason.”

Eggie went back into his house, slamming the door shut, then he shifted to wolf, shook off his clothes and went out the back door. Then he tracked down Darla and Van Holtz, making sure to stay upwind of them.

Horrified, Darla sat down on a boulder, her hands on her cheeks.

“Poor Mr. Kozlow.” She shook her head. “He was always so sweet to me.”

Harold Kozlow was the full-human owner of the high-end jewelry store next door to the Van Holtz restaurant, and he was a smoker. Any time Darla needed a break from the kitchen, she’d go out back and that’s often where she found Mr. Kozlow. Over time, even though she didn’t smoke, they’d become friendly. They always ended up chatting and she would bring him pastries. It was a nice, cheerful relationship that Darla had enjoyed.

“They found him about a week ago,” Mr. Van Holtz told her.

“Oh. That’s horrible.” Darla blinked. “But . . . what does this have to do with me? I didn’t see anything happen to Mr. Kozlow.”

“Two nights before I sent you on vacation . . . did you see Mr. Kozlow’s sons, Alvin and Petey?”

Darla’s lip curled a little. She’d never really liked those two. They made her skin crawl. “I think so. If I recall correctly. But only for a second or two.”

“But they saw you?”

“I believe so.”

“Well, they were picked up the next day.”

“Picked up for what?”

“The police said it was because they had a witness who saw them kill their father.”

Darla shook her head. “It wasn’t me.”

“I know but for some reason they thought it was you. At least for a while.”

“What do you mean for a while?”

“They must have figured out it wasn’t you because the actual witness was killed in the hotel room where the cops had put this person for his safety.”

“That’s awful.” Darla thought a minute. “But if they found the person who saw them, why would they still be after me?”

“They still seem to think you saw something.”

“I didn’t. They came out the back door of their father’s store and I went back inside the restaurant, like I always do when I see them.”

“The last time you saw them, was their father with them?”

“No.” She thought a moment.“No. I didn’t see Mr. Kozlow at all. They were carrying duffel bags but . . .”

Van Holtz was staring at her, one brow raised and Darla couldn’t hide her revulsion. “Eeew. Their father was in those bags, wasn’t he?”

“Probably.”

“Poor Mr. Kozlow!”

“The problem is, Darla, you can still place them at the scene of their father’s death. You’re still a threat.”

“I have to talk to the police.”

“To protect you?”

“No. To tell them what I saw.”

Van Holtz shook his head. “Darla, I don’t think you should do that.”

“I know you don’t, but that’s what I have to do. That’s the right thing to do. If Mr. Kozlow’s sons killed him, they have to pay for it.” She stood but Van Holtz caught her hand, keeping her from walking away.

“Don’t do anything yet.” He released her. “Please. Give me and my Pack a few more days to see if we can . . . fix this somehow.” When she hesitated, he pushed, “Please, Darla.”

She let out a sigh. “All right.”

“Thanks, Darla.”

“Thank you.” She gave a small shrug. “I’ll walk you back.”

“That’s all right. I can make my own way.” He led her back to the boulder. “Why don’t you sit here for a while? Try to relax.”

“Thanks, Mr. Van Holtz.”

He smiled, patted her shoulder, and walked off.

Darla pulled her legs up onto the rock and rested her chin on her knees. She wrapped her arms around her calves and let out a sigh. She had no idea what she was going to do next and for the first time that realization bothered her.

Eggie trotted through his backdoor and into his kitchen. Once there, he shifted to human and pulled on his jeans. He was reaching for his T-shirt when he caught a scent and picked up the gun he’d left sitting on his kitchen table, pointing it at the foreign wolf on his territory.

Van Holtz didn’t move and he didn’t panic.

“I’ve heard so much about the infamous Egbert Ray Smith over the last few years.” He nodded. “Believe it or not, I hope what they say about you is all true. Because you’re exactly what Darla needs right now.”

By the time Darla made it back to the house, Mr. Van Holtz was gone and so was Eggie. She decided to believe Eggie had gone hunting for deer rather than hunting for Mr. Van Holtz.

Not knowing what else to do, she sat down at the kitchen table and wrote up the list of supplies she’d need if she was going to make all these pies to compete with her sisters. She knew those heifers would be bringing their best work and Darla wasn’t about to let them win at this. Besides, it was easier to focus on something so ridiculous than it was to think about poor Mr. Kozlow stuffed in a duffel bag . . . several duffel bags.