Page 47 of Foxed Up

"Wallace Avery. He was working undercover at a club. I have reason to believe you were there."

"A cop? Wally was acop?"

Was a cop.Was. My heart sank further. This lead might bring me the truth...the truth I didn't know how I'd live with.

"But foxes aren't cops," said the boy, sounding bewildered.

"You saw him. You know what happened to him?"

The boy looked up at me with his big liquid eyes, weighing something. "You smell like him. Were you his boyfriend?"

"Yes," I said through gritted teeth. "Will you answer the question, please?"

He studied my face a moment, then made a decision. "I'll help. I'll — take you—" He broke off, shook his head quickly, and looked down at the floor. "Just don't lock me up, okay? They kill foxes in there."

"What?"

"The police. They don't care if we live or die."

"I care. Come on. You're helping me now, so I'll protect you." It seemed important to say that; the skittish and nervous young man was probably more used to being kicked around than protected. I loosened my grip on his arm, and we walked back out the front with as much dignity as we could muster before the staring, fascinated passengers (and driver).

Quinn Green stood along the sidelines waiting, arms crossed, looking extremely unimpressed with us both. He narrowed his eyes at the fox. "Don't even think of trying anything funny," he snapped. "If you know something, say it right away. And stay the fuck away from me!"

The boy looked more bewildered than anything else. "Why…?"

I took a different tack. "What's your name? How did you meet Wallace?"

"Um. I'm Lexie." He refocused on me, and blinked. "Wally was the new guy. He seemed nice. We danced together some. He wasn't very good yet but he had the makings of being a good dancer, you know?"

I nodded, clenching a fist by my side. I knew. I knew just how sexy my boyfriend was. I just didn't like the rest of the world to know the same thing and watch him on stage undressing and dancing.Dammit. Not important right now! "Go on."

"Then they got word there was a raid coming, and one of the bouncers got him out of there quick. I didn't know what was going on, but I got scared." He reached up self-consciously to brush back his hair, his tongue touching his lips nervously. "If they go after one fox, they're sure to go after the other, you know? It was just him and me that were foxes. So I took a chance, right? I didn't want to wait till they came and dragged me off, too. When they were rushing around to make sure there was nothing illegal and McCann was telling everybody they better not say anything if they wanted to keep their jobs — or more than their jobs, you know? — I slipped out the back and ran.

"I saw them drive away with him in a black car. He looked scared. I hid out back for a while, didn't know what to do. The cops came and went. I went further and...and was away for a while. When I came back the place was all roped off and I didn't dare go back and get any of my stuff. I didn't know what to do, but I figured I was out the job and I'd never see Wally again, either. So I went to the bus stop to wait for a bus. I was gonna go as far as my money could take me and then find a new job. I — I'd rather work at a club than on the streets," he added sadly. "It's usually safer. It wasn't safer for Wally, though."

"Do you know where they took him?"

"Yes. No, I mean, I don't, but I can guess. If you have a car I can point out the way, I think. There's a cabin in the woods. I've gone there a few times, for special parties. Sometimes rich guys rent out the place and some entertainment for a weekend, you know. Like a lot of sex with shifters? It's not too bad, they tip well." He shrugged unconvincingly, like he was trying to believe it himself.

Rich guys who rented people by the weekend weren't usually super nice, and if they were generous with tips then they expected a lot for it. I didn't bother to point this out; he already knew more than I did on the subject.

"I've got a car. This way."

"I'm heading home," announced the rabbit shifter abruptly. He jerked his head at Lexie. "You've got him to help you now. I'll just be in the way." I could see he was actually just feeling jumpy around the fox shifter, but it was true he'd done his part. I gave him a nod. "I won't forget what I owe you."

He cast me a quick, crooked grin that looked pained and sad. "You better not. I hope..." He let the sentence drop unfinished. He was afraid I was going to find Wallace dead too, wasn't he? And he didn't want to be there and see it… "Good luck," he said finally, and gave me a quick, tight handshake, then loped off.

"Don't you need to be dropped off?" I called after him.

He waved a hand dismissively. "I'll get home fine, don't worry about it. You need to hurry."

He was right; I certainly did. Lexie and I got into my car. "Smells like rabbit in here," he said.

"Buckle up," I growled. "Now which way?"

"Um. That way." He pointed haphazardly.

"You better not be leading me on a wild goose chase."