‘But Tom ain’t like the other howlers,’ chirped Rico, chewing on a big bite of bagel. ‘He ain’t mean and hungry; he don’t chase people down. He saved us! And he keeps his own eyes.’

‘Tom retains some human control when in the lupine form,’ Kate explained. She paused. ‘We think he’s a wereling.’

‘Wereling, huh?’ Stacy looked at Tom coolly. ‘And maybe a killer too, right?’ She turned to Kate. ‘With your accomplice, here, natch. I just figured out where I’d seen you before. The TV news on my break last night.’

Tom met her stare. ‘It’s not what you think, I swear.’

Stacy just raised her eyebrows. ‘I don’t know. I guess I’m supposed to turn you in.’

‘No!’ Rico cried, ‘you can’t!’

Jasmine looked set to chip in too, until Stacy waved them all into silence. ‘But I won’t. Selfish, I guess –but whatever you’ve done, I want to run some tests on you, Tom. If your story’s true I think you could be a lot of help to me.’

‘It is true,’ he said vehemently, ‘and I’ll help you in any way I can.’

Stacy smiled and nodded. ‘And, you know, maybe I can help you. Kate, hon, those long black tresses of yours are gorgeous, sure – but just a little distinctive for a girl on the run, don’t you think?’

‘I never really thought …’ Kate put a hand to her hair. ‘What, you think I should chop it all off?’

‘And you could give it to Tom to wear, like a wig,’ suggested Rico unhelpfully.

Stacy waved a dismissive hand. ‘Oh, he’s just your average guy. Who’d look at him twice?’

‘Gee, I feel much better now,’ Tom said.

‘Anyway, believe it or not, guys –’ Stacy straggled her fingers through her own coppery hair – ‘this isn’t natural. I’ve got some henna in my locker, Kate. You’d be welcome to try some.’

Kate shrugged. ‘I guess, if you think it will help.’

‘It’ll help me feel happier if I’m caught helping wanted felons,’ said Stacy dryly. ‘Why officer, this girl can’t be that killer in the paper, not with that gorgeous red hair …’ She grew more serious. ‘Kate, is your whole family lupine?’

‘Purebloods. Mom’s from the Hargraves family line, Dad’s a Folan,’ Kate said. ‘Two of the oldest families around.’

‘So you’re a pureblood female, huh?’ Stacy nodded to herself, and took a bite of bagel. She chewed it thoughtfully. ‘All that lupine potential awaiting activation, wow … And just doing it with a ’wolf presses the button – that’s the way it works, right?’

Kate flinched. ‘Your bedside manner sucks.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Stacy. ‘Really. That’s real tough for you.’

Kate sipped her coffee. ‘Yeah.’

‘And for me too. I won’t be able to learn much from your blood till your lupine cells are in gear …’