“Hey!” Jen’s voice rose as Cody turned to go. “I don’t know how you were raised, but when someone thanks you, you say, ‘You’re welcome,’ Officer Fairfax. And, um . . .” Now her voice dropped until it was barely audible. “I’m not going to say anything, okay? Daisy’s not stupid; she knows she can trust me.” An unexpected flush touched her cheekbones. “And just so you know, you make a beautiful wolf.”

Cody looked startled. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You’re welcome. And, um . . . thank you.”

We watched him get into his pickup truck and drive away.

I glanced at Jen. “A beautiful wolf, huh?”

She folded her arms across her chest, looking slightly defensive. “I just wanted him to know I was okay with it. That I wasn’t freaked-out. You okay with that?”

I smiled wryly. “I don’t know. Are you ready to hug it out yet?”

Jen’s expression softened. “Duh. Daise, you were awesome. You totally kicked ass today. And I so totally owe you. If we hadn’t gotten there in time . . .” She shuddered. “I don’t want to think about it. Let’s just say you rock, girlfriend.”

“Deal.”

We hugged.

“You’ve really got to go?” Jen asked. “No chance of staying for a cup of coffee?”

“No. I wish.”

She blew out her breath, wisps of hair rising from her brow. “Okay, but when this is over, we seriously need to talk.”

I nodded. “You have no idea.”

Besmeared with muck and mire, I drove home and parked the Honda on a side street, padding barefoot to my apartment, dauda-dagr hanging in its scabbard from my new belt, tourists staring as I cut across the park. Mogwai emerged from beneath a rhododendron bush to greet me with a plaintive howl.

“You think you’re hungry?” I said, scooping him up ignominiously beneath one arm. “I don’t even remember my last meal.”

Dangling, Mogwai wailed.

Upstairs, I plunked him down and filled his bowl with kibble. I removed my belt and set it carefully aside, then stripped off my filthy clothing and climbed into the shower, letting hot water pelt me.

Clean and restored, I checked the time and realized I was due at the station in ten minutes. Scavenging in my refrigerator, I found a lone hard-boiled egg. I couldn’t remember how long it had been there, but it smelled okay when I peeled it, so I doused it with salt and pepper and ate it standing over the sink. When this was all over, I really needed to do some major grocery shopping.

Believe it or not, I actually do know how to cook. Mom taught herself from books she got out of the library, and she let me help from the time I was old enough to control my temper in the kitchen. But for now, a hard-boiled egg would have to do.

On the whole, I felt okay.