Ghost Cat (Totem Book 5) Read online

  Her mother’s smile vanished as she spoke again. Find him.

  Fear demanded Kinley tear the frame off the wall and throw it. Heartache made her want to crawl into the photograph and hug her mom. But all she could do was cry. She grabbed the back of a nearby chair to keep from falling to her knees. “I will. I’ll do everything to find him.”

  Her mom didn’t speak again, and no matter how long she listened, no more whispers crept through the night.

  After fifteen minutes, or maybe thirty, Kinley returned to her room and locked the door. She didn’t turn off the lights as she crawled under the covers. Sleep came fast and hard.

  Early in the morning, she returned to the wall of photos and couldn’t find the one with her parents in it. It was as if it had never existed.

  Kinley stared at all her lists on the bed. Missing children, where they went missing, locations of Bigfoot sightings. Did she really need all this? It helped, though, organizing things and trying to find patterns in the chaos.

  Floatplanes had been coming and going all morning. People were evacuating. It was better for them until she could figure this out. If she could.

  No, she had to. There were children out there. Hairy beasts they might be, but they were still children.

  At ten, Kinley slipped on her boots and prepared to go out to the woods. She’d just finished tying the laces when Ransom returned. His hair was a wild mess and black circles shadowed his eyes, but he grinned as if he’d won the lottery.

  “Good morning.” He swept in, bent over, and kissed her long and deep. “I missed you last night. I hope you got more sleep than I did.”

  She took a second to catch her breath from that kiss. Yes, she’d missed him too, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it. What she needed to do was be strong and tell him exactly what had been bothering her. Instead, different words tumbled out of her mouth. “I saw my mom’s ghost last night. Or, like, a picture of her ghost. It wasn’t really there. The picture.”

  Ransom sat beside her on the edge of the bed and took her right hand in his right and wrapped the other arm around her. “Holy fuck. Are you okay?”

  “She didn’t hurt me or anything…”

  “That’s not what I meant. Are you okay?” He tapped her chest. “In there?”

  Kinley shook her head. “No. But it doesn’t matter. I’m still going out searching. She told me to find him. The same message.”

  He kissed the top of her head and nodded. “Good thing I brought you some food to power up.” He reached into his coat and removed a plastic container. “Mara’s homemade cinnamon buns. Eat while I change.”

  “Thank you.” Kinley took the food, but a knot immediately formed in her throat. Both from his thoughtfulness and the fact it reminded her where he’d been last night.

  “Lots of people leaving this morning. Not saying that’s a bad thing. Better they leave than hunt and kill the Urayuli. I had to stop one group of guys from doing that this morning.” Ransom shook his head as he shed his coat and boots and dug fresh clothes out of his bag.

  No wonder he didn’t get much sleep. It would’ve been a disaster if people went out killing the Urayuli. They had no idea they’d be murdering children. She shuddered with the thought and opened the container. God, it smelled good, and the first bite told her it tasted even better.

  “Yvette asked me to take her and the kids to Anchorage in the plane.” He yanked off his t-shirt and pulled on a clean thermal shirt.

  Ah, there it was. He sweetened her up with the buns before telling her he was going to play chauffeur to Yvette. After spending the night at her house. While his girlfriend was alone in a strange place seeing ghosts. Her stomach tightened. She set the food aside.

  “I told her I couldn’t.” Ransom unzipped his jeans.

  Oh. Kinley snapped shut her mouth which had fallen open.

  He paused and looked over at her. “Should we even bother getting dressed? Might be easier if we just go out back and shift and go looking for the Urayuli that way.” He then slowly smiled. “Or we could just stay here for a bit and be naked together.”

  Yes!

  No. Missing children. Totem. Priorities. “One of us should shift and track, but I think it would be better if the other one were still human. Less threatening to the Urayuli that way. I don’t want to scare them off again.”

  “Makes sense. Probably better if you don’t shift. A pretty and kind face is much more welcoming than mine.” Ransom nodded and stripped off his jeans. Who wouldn’t love a man in Power Rangers boxers?

  “I think it’s more that they’d remember the bear.” Kinley picked up the buns again. “And your face is very welcoming.”

  “Let me dust off the breakfast crumbs, and it can be just for you.” He winked.

  Heat rushed not only to her face, but through her whole body. She stuffed a chunk of cinnamon deliciousness into her mouth and refrained from making a comment.

  Ransom chuckled and stuffed supplies into a backpack. “I gave Clyde the keys to the floatplane. He’ll be taking Yvette and the brats to the city. Mara’s staying, and Clyde should be back by the end of the day. So if we need to flee the town, we’re going to have to hitch a ride on the lake monster’s back.”

  What would it be like to ride… Okay. She needed to keep her mind on task. “I was thinking if we could find where the Urayuli gather, the totem might be in the same place. I don’t have the slightest clue as to what animal it would be, though.”

  “I guess we’ll find out.”

  Fat snowflakes drifted gently down as they headed outside of Newhalen to the forest where Kinley had followed the Urayuli the night before. A mist clung to the trees like a foggy shower curtain. The sound of the river rushing into the lake laid over the creak of the branches and rustling of forest life.

  Ransom removed his clothes, and Kinley packed them into the backpack. He shifted and shook himself out. His reddish, black spotted fur was already fading to white for the winter. She had to restrain herself from running her hands through his thick fur. Not that she didn’t like being a bear, but seeing him as a lynx made her wish to be something cuter and fluffier.

  He found the Urayuli’s trail easily enough and scouted ahead, always circling back to make sure she knew where he was. Never once did she hear him moving through the woods.

  There were several signs the bushmen had been in the area. Footprints, hair, fish skeletons, and soda cans busted open. Apparently they had a sweet tooth.

  Kinley had guessed the Urayuli were close to town, but once they were five miles out, she wondered if they had missed the den or if there was even one at all. Lake Clark National Park sat to the north, but the tracks were taking them northeast around Iliamna Lake.

  Four hours later, she decided it was time to head back and try a different route the next day. She sat on a log and waited for Ransom to return to her.

  She looked up at the clouds and big snowflakes. Sticking out her tongue, she caught a few and smiled to herself.

  Sixty feet ahead, movement drew her attention. Not stealth, but a huge hop. An Urayuli held out a hand to something. Much less disturbance was created by it than she expected. Giant as it was, it had steps almost as silent as Ransom’s.

  And that was who the Urayuli gestured to. It rubbed its big fingers together and made a clicking sound with its tongue. Like someone calling to a cat. Well, a lynx was a big cat, after all. Maybe not so large compared to one of the bushmen.

  Kinley didn’t move a muscle. Would Ransom go to the Urayuli? Did it want to pet him and hug him and squeeze him and call him George?

  Ransom approached slowly as the Urayuli crouched down. This was either going to be a sweet and silly cartoon moment or something from a bad horror flick.

  She bit her lower lip. Please let Ransom be all right.

  The Urayuli could almost touch the lynx. Its fingers less than an inch from him.

  A furry feline head rubbed up against Kinley’s thigh, and she yelped before she could stop hersel
f. Ransom stared up at her with questioning amber dotted hazel eyes.

  But… how…

  Find him.

  She whipped her head around to look at the Urayuli, but it was gone. As well as the lynx.

  Kinley and Ransom searched the immediate area, but there were no signs of where the Urayuli or strange lynx went. It was as if they disappeared faster than Marketa’s cookies in Kinley’s cupboard.

  They returned to the lodge as it turned dark. Clyde manned the bar and served drinks to a half dozen locals. Kinley heard them talking about a polar bear that had fought with Bigfoot. A crazy tale of how the battle destroyed a boat, a shed, and a truck.

  She frowned and ignored it, waving to Clyde as she headed to her room. Perhaps she could go in there and explain to the folks what really happened. Many of the small villages in Alaska walked the line between the old ways and modern times. Yet even with how at ease Clyde and his family seemed with the fact they were shifters, she didn’t want to announce it to everyone. Bears sometimes didn’t get a friendly welcome.

  Ransom, already in his human form, followed her and tossed his coat onto a chair. “This is turning weirder by the day. Isn’t it fantastic?”

  Kinley wished she shared his enthusiasm. And if the weird cranked up that much on only their second day, tomorrow was going to be a massive load of strange.

  Leaning against the wall by the door, she shed her coat and boots. “So the missing children are not only turning into Urayuli, but they’re vanishing too. And the lynx is the totem. It’s making them disappear for some reason. We need to find out more about lynxes and why it’s doing this.”

  “How convenient you have me here.” Ransom kicked off his boots and swaggered over to flop onto the bed. “I know everything there is to know about lynxes.”

  Leaving her soggy outerwear by the door, she walked over to him with her hands on her hips. “So what’s the lynx’s spiritual role? What does it mean on the totem pole?”

  “I like when the teacher gives me pop quizzes.” He waggled his brows and leaned back on his elbows. “The lynx is a guide to the truth. Yeah, the truth of just how absolutely beautiful you are… so serious and yet so sexy.”

  And he was so damn smooth. Her abdomen quivered as he stared at her with lusty intent through half-hooded eyes. He rose off the bed, slow and patient, waiting for the right opportunity to pounce.

  “Usually a totem animal has several meanings.” Kinley nipped at her lower lip. Tonight they might not get any work done, but she was okay with it. She needed him to have his way with her.

  A knock at the door smacked down the increasing sexual tension.

  “Hey, guys, come on out for a drink. I want to know if you found anything today.” Clyde’s voice carried through the thick wood of the door.

  “We’ll be there in a minute.” Ransom replied and lightly kissed Kinley on the lips. “We should let him know what we found.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Still, she couldn’t help but be disappointed.

  “Okay, good. Mom just arrived too and brought you some food.” Clyde’s words started to fade as he walked down the hall. “Doesn’t trust me to make anything here at the lodge for you. Like I would burn the place down or something…”

  “Dinnertime!” Ransom rubbed his hands together and rummaged through his bag for shoes.

  “Go on and have a drink with Clyde. I want to do some research on lynxes, myths and legends, and stuff.” Kinley retrieved her laptop from the desk and opened it.

  “Are you sure?” Ransom paused, holding his shoes.

  “I’m sure.” She nodded and motioned to the door. “Go have a drink. Later, I’ll give you another pop quiz. This time I’ll put my hair up in a bun and wear my glasses.”

  “Oh yeah. Smoking hot.” Ransom grinned and slipped on his shoes. He kissed her again, sneaking in a grope of her rear, and headed to the door. “And you’ll have to be very stern. If I get a question wrong, spank me.” He opened the door. “Then once you’ve thoroughly disciplined me, I will—” He coughed and smiled too widely at Mara standing in the hall. “Good evening. What’s this I hear about dinner?”

  Kinley covered her mouth with her hands to keep from laughing and to hide her blush. How much of that did Mara hear?

  Mara didn’t even skip a beat. She handed Ransom a tinfoil covered plate. “This is for you. It’s still hot. Go on and have your drink as you eat and tell Clyde about your adventure. I’ll sit with Kinley and catch up on things.”

  “You’re a doll.” Ransom kissed Mara’s cheek, winked at Kinley, and hurried down the hall already unraveling the aluminum covering over the food. The rich scent of meat and spices teased Kinley’s appetite.

  Kinley smiled and gestured to Mara. “Please come in and have a seat.” She picked up some of Ransom’s discarded clothes. “I’m sorry it’s a little messy.”

  Mara waved her hand dismissively. “The fact that this room isn’t a total disaster tells me how good of an influence you are on that young man.” She set the plate on the table and patted the back of one of the chairs. “I’ll sit if you do.”

  Kinley piled Ransom’s stuff in one spot and sat down at the little table as Mara took the chair across from her. Kinley removed the foil. Saliva immediately filled her mouth. Moose stew with great hunks of meat and a buttery bun on the side that had already sopped up some of the juices. “Oh, this looks wonderful. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, dear. My niece usually cooks here at the lodge, and I help out sometimes, but she left earlier this month with her children to go stay with my sister in Homer.” Mara removed a napkin with utensils wrapped in it from one of her coat pockets and handed it to Kinley. “I was sad to see my grandbabies go this morning, but it’s good Yvette took them away. Galaxy had nightmares all last night, and thank goodness Ransom was there. He was the only one that could calm her.”

  Kinley’s stomach twisted with guilt. She’d fumed about Ransom leaving her alone at the lodge, but he was a hero to that little girl. Whenever she’d heard other women complain about such things, she always thought them bitches. God, she was close to turning into one herself.

  She unwound the utensils and spread the napkin on her lap. Scooping up a spoonful of meat, potatoes, and veggies, she made certain to get as much juice on the spoon too. It was as delicious as it smelled. She might have moaned a little.

  Mara’s face softened. “You remind me so much of Tassa. Goodness knows you didn’t learn your manners from your father.”

  Kinley chuckled as she chewed and swallowed, pausing before she had anymore. “Could you tell me about my mom? I have a few memories, but no one in my family… well, they don’t…”

  “I understand. Sometimes when something hurts so much, people can’t even talk about it even though sharing the grief is what heals the wounds.” Mara folded her hands on her lap. Her eyes hazed over as she looked over Kinley’s shoulder at a painting of the mountains on the wall. “I met Tassa after Kunik started to court her. He brought her with him everywhere. I don’t think he could bear to be apart from her. She didn’t mind fishing, but that was his passion. What she loved were the people. Every life she touched was better for it. Such a kind and gentle soul.”

  It was sweet her dad couldn’t be apart from her mom, but what meant more was hearing how loving and how loved her mom was. That was how Kinley remembered her, and that’s what disappeared from her world when her mom passed on.

  “Eat up.” Mara tapped the plate before continuing, “Kunik came out here a lot for the fish in those days. Every time they’d come back, Tassa would bring something for a family or the community. One of the additions on my home is there because of your mother. She was very handy with tools.”

  Really? Kinley didn’t remember that at all. Not that she remembered her dad doing anything around the house either. But her mom was handy with tools. Something Kinley didn’t know that had been passed down. Was she happy her daughters had a renovation business?

  She chewed as sh
e listened. No longer savoring the food, but instead savoring the memories.

  “The kids loved Tassa especially. She told them stories of the old gods and brought the first Nintendo console to Newhalen for a birthday gift. Every child spent the winter at that boy’s house.” Mara smiled and then pursed her lips. “Sometimes Tassa would tell someone something. Like don’t go on the water this day or stay out of the woods or watch the kids around an old truck. She knew things, and I swear some of us are alive today because of her.”

  Kinley had trouble swallowing. Her mom could hear the silent whispers too, she knew that, but she hadn’t known Tassa had helped people with her gift. Was she being selfish not telling anyone about her power? Would her mom be disappointed in her?

  “The last time I saw her, she was newly pregnant with you.” Mara’s gaze refocused on Kinley. “Tassa was busy chasing your sister around. A handful, that girl. But one evening, we sat by the lake as your sister threw rocks into the water. Tassa told me she wouldn’t be coming back to Newhalen, but one day, you would. And when you did to give you this.”

  Kinley dropped her spoon and gripped the edge of the table. She could barely breathe. The beating of her heart was loud in her ears.

  Mara removed a small white velvet jewelry box from her left breast pocket. Tenderly, she placed it on the table and slid it over to Kinley. “Go on and open it.”

  Taking the box in her hands seemed surreal. Would this turn out to be a dream? Kinley’s vision blurred and cleared a little as she blinked rapidly. The hinges squeaked when she opened the tiny treasure. A yellowed note lay nestled in the top, and in the bottom, a thin silver chain with an ivory polar bear charm. So beautifully carved, caught in mid-step.

  Did her mom wear this? She didn’t remember it. Maybe she got it just for Kinley. Something just for her from her mother.

  As if it might disintegrate, Kinley plucked out the note with a delicate touch. It wasn’t big. Something written on a notepad. Her hands shook as she unfolded it and read.