Page 18 of True North
“Not problems, really.” JT hesitated, trying to decide where to begin. This had seemed like a simple conversation when he first got the idea. He would ask for help and get advice: simple. But now that he had to explain the situation, he was confronted with how complicated everything had objectively become.
Marie leaned toward him with her forearms braced on the bar top. “Why don’t we go in the back? I have a feeling Lenny might want to hear what you have to say.”
Nine
After JT finished his second pint, Marie tapped in a server to man the bar in her place and led JT down the hallway to Lenny’s office. Lenny was slumped down in his chair until he was all but invisible behind the paperwork on his desk; only the top of his head peeked above the clutter. He didn’t react when Marie opened the door or when she said, “You’ve got a visitor, babe.”
An awkward moment passed—awkward for JT, at least. He knew this had been a bad idea. Then a loud snore broke the silence.
“Oh mygod,” Marie said. “Lenny! You told me you couldn’t tend bar because you had to do paperwork.” She took off her apron and tossed it at Lenny’s head.
Lenny woke with a snort as the apron settled over his head and face. He sat up so quickly that his chair creaked in protest. “Whozzat,” he muttered, pawing at the fabric covering his eyes.
“Nice aim,” JT said to Marie.
She rolled her eyes, failing to suppress a smile. “Not the first time I’ve caught him snoozing on the job. Someone was out roaming around in the woods waytoo late last night.”
“It wasbusiness,” Lenny said, seemingly awake now. He pulled the apron from his face as he sat up with a jaw-cracking yawn. He didn’t look at all embarrassed about being caught napping. “JT Howlett. I can’t imagine you’re here on a social visit.”
They were cutting straight to the chase, then. “Well. No.”
“Sit down and tell us all about it,” Lenny said.
Marie unearthed two folding chairs from the overflowing closet and kicked aside the crap on the floor—reusable shopping bags full of who knew what—to make room for her and JT to sit down. Lenny moved some stacks of paperwork around on top of the desk until they could all see each other. He produced three glasses from a desk drawer along with a bottle of Scotch JT recognized as being pretty expensive.
“Can’t do business thirsty,” Lenny said, pouring out three generous measures. “Santé.”
Two beers plus a whiskey weren’t exactly in JT’s plans for the afternoon, but he wasn’t about to turn down either nice Scotch or Lenny’s gesture. The first sip burned and then went smooth and mellow in his mouth. Definitely the good stuff.
“So,” Marie said. “What’s up?”
JT gave them an abbreviated rundown of the past few weeks, editing out some of the less socially acceptable details, like how he’d washed Misha’s back. He did tell them he’d invited Misha to live with him, though, because what he was going to ask of them wouldn’t make much sense if they didn’t know the full story.
“Wow,” Marie said when JT was finished. “None of us were able to get near him. And he just strolled right into your house?”
“It took some coaxing,” JT said. “And some frozen pizza.”
“Might have had bad experiences with other shifters,” Lenny said. “He say anything about that to you?”
JT shook his head. “I don’t know anything about where he came from or how. He wouldn’t tell me.”
Lenny and Marie exchanged a look, clearly communicating something, only JT couldn’t figure out what. His parents did the same thing, like they knew each other so well they didn’t even need words anymore. It drove him crazy, mostly because the knowing looks were usually abouthim, which also appeared to be the case now.
“He’s Russian,” JT said, mostly to have something to say. “But past that I don’t know.”
Lenny shook his head. “I’d give a lot to know the full story there.Russian? As in, from Russia?”
“He barely speaks English,” JT said. “We’ve been using my phone to translate.”
“How on earth did a Russian bear end up in the woods in Ontario?” Marie asked. She took a sip of her Scotch and gave JT a considering look over the rim of her glass. “I’m assuming you’re here because you’d like our help in some way.”
JT nodded. “He said he isn’t ready yet, but he’d like to meet the local shifters eventually. And I thought—I don’t know if this is possible, but I thought maybe someone in town might have some work for him to do. I don’t know if he has any skills, but maybe working in a kitchen or doing odd jobs.”
Another look passed between Lenny and Marie. JT got the impression that he was really screwing up, but he wasn’t sure how. What was wrong with trying to introduce Misha to other shifters and find him a job if he wanted one?
“We can certainly ask around,” Marie said. “But are you sure that’s what he wants? We’ve had ferals pass through here before, but never one as skittish as him.”
“They’ll usually at least acknowledge us,” Lenny agreed. “This guy, though—one glimpse of our guys and he was booking it in the other direction.”