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“Shit. That is illegal,” I said.

“Technically, yes, but the officer can, at his discretion, prevent harm from coming to the citizenry.”

“That’s not what the cop said.”

“Actually, he said, ‘until I know what the fuck he is, I’m just playing it safe.’ ”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “That sounds more like it. So you’re there to make sure he doesn’t put Gil in a safe house.” Safe houses were really prisons for lycanthropes. They’d been designed originally for new lycanthropes, so you had someplace safe to go during your first few full moons. It was a good idea, since the first few moons could turn into a killing spree, unless you had other shapeshifters to watch over you. The newly furry spent a few full moons with no memory of what they’d done, and very little human in them while they were in animal form. The safe houses were a good idea in theory, but in practice, once you went in, they never let you out. You never had enough control to pass their tests and get out. You were dangerous and would always be dangerous. The ACLU had begun the legal battles on grounds of illegal imprisonment without due process, but so far they were still bad places to be sent.

“The hospital seems worried that Gil is dangerous and have mentioned that.”

“Do you need a lawyer down there?”

“I have taken the liberty of calling the law firm that the coalition has on retainer.”

“I’m surprised it’s gone this bad, this soon. Usually, you need an attack to get them handcuffing people and talking safe house. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

He hesitated.

“Teddy?” I said his name the way my father used to say mine when he suspected I was doing something I shouldn’t have been.

“The emergency room staff are wearing full hazardous material gear.”

“You’re joking,” I said.

“I wish I were.”

“Is everyone just panicking?”

“I believe so.”

“Is Gil still unconscious?”

“In and out.”

“Well, stay with him, wait for the lawyer. I can’t come down tonight, Teddy. I’m sorry.”

“That is not why I called.”

I had one of those uh-oh moments. “Okay, then why did you call?”

“There is another emergency that needs someone right now.”

“Shit, what?”

“One of the pack called. He is at a bar. He has had far too much to drink, and he is fairly new.”

“Are you saying he’s going to lose control in the bar?”

“I fear so.”

“Shit.”

“You keep saying that,” he said.

“I know, I know, profanity doesn’t solve anything.” Teddy had started commenting on how much cussing I did. Him and my stepmother.

“I can’t come down, Teddy.”

“Someone must. The lawyer is not here, and you know there is that little law on the books that they can sign an unconscious shapeshifter into a safe house if they deem him a danger. I do not understand why everyone is panicking this badly, but if I leave Gil alone, I think we will be trying to get him out of a place that has no bail.”

“I know, I know.” I was really happy that Richard had allowed the wolves to join the coalition. They were the largest shifter population in town, so the wolves came in handy to help man the phones and the emergencies. The downside was that Richard felt that if the pack were going to help, then the pack could take advantage of the emergency service. It sounded fair, but since there were nearly six hundred werewolves in the area, it had quadrupled our emergencies. The wolves gave us enough person power to meet the demands. It was a blessing and a problem all in one.

“Did the wolf call his brother?” Brother was slang for the older more experienced werewolf that all the new wolves got. They carried their number for emergencies.

“He says he did and got no answer. He sounded very fragile, Anita. I fear that if he changes in the bar, they’ll call the police . . .”

“And they’ll shoot him,” I finished it for him.

“Yes.”

I sighed into the phone.

“I take it you can’t make this one, either,” Teddy said.

“I can’t, but Micah can.”

Micah came into the kitchen about that time. He looked a question at me. He’d already changed out of the suit, and knowing him, hung it up. He was wearing