Free The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks Page A

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    ‘Get him to meet you and I’ll film it,’ Fergus instructed, under his breath. ‘With my mobile.’
    ‘ Hello? Toby? ’
    ‘Hang on,’ I told Reuben, before covering the mouthpiece again. ‘What’s wrong with you?’ I squeaked. ‘This guy’s a head case, remember? If he finds out I’m having him on, he might go for me!’
    Fergus, however, flapped my objections aside as if they were mosquitoes. ‘You’ll be fine. I told you, I’ll film it. Me and Amin can hide in the bushes, so if anything happens, it’ll be three against one.’
    I hesitated. It was a tempting plan. Tricking the guy who had tried to trick me would be an enjoyable case of poetic justice.
    ‘Maybe you’d better come and show me all this stuff yourself,’ I said into the phone. ‘Why don’t we meet at the reserve and go from there?’ A pause. ‘Hello?’ No answer. ‘ Hello? ’
    ‘ Jeez, mate. ’ When Reuben finally spoke, he did it very, very reluctantly. ‘ I dunno about that. ’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘ Well, I’m not sure if Father Ramon is available. ’
    ‘So come by yourself.’
    ‘ I can’t. Your mum wouldn’t like it.’
    ‘She won’t even know.’
    ‘ Exactly, ’ Reuben muttered. ‘ It would look bad. Meeting you in a park? I could get arrested. People might think I was there for . . . uh . . . well—’
    ‘The wrong reasons?’ All at once I could see what he was getting at. The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind. ‘Like you’re a pervert, or something?’
    ‘ Which I’m not ,’ he growled, then added, ‘ You’re not trying to get me arrested, by any chance? ’
    ‘No!’
    ‘ Because if you are, you’ll rue the day. ’
    Though his matter-of-fact tone was chilling, all it did was make me mad. Really mad.
    I often get mad when I’m frightened.
    ‘So you’re threatening me now?’ I retorted. ‘Nice move.’
    ‘ Toby, what the hell do you want? ’
    ‘What do you want?’
    ‘ I’ll tell you what I want. I want to make sure that no one gets killed. ’ He was fast losing patience. I could tell. ‘ You’re dangerous. Do you realise that? You’re a threat to society. ’
    ‘Oh, yeah. Right.’ Man, but I was pissed off. ‘So you’re scared to meet me, is that it?’
    ‘ I’m not scared. ’
    ‘That’s funny. You sound scared.’
    ‘ Jesus, ’ he spat. ‘ You think I can’t take care of myself? ’
    ‘Well if you’re that tough, what’s the problem?’
    ‘ I’m not scared to meet you. I’m scared of what will happen if I don’t meet you. I’m scared you’ll end up killing someone. ’
    ‘Then what are you waiting for? Come and convince me.’ By this time, I have to admit, I was already half-convinced. Something about our heated exchange had opened a door in my head, and I desperately wanted to shut it again. I was anxious to see his so-called proof, so that I could dismiss it as complete rubbish. ‘Put your money where your mouth is, why don’t you?’
    ‘ I would, if I could be sure you were on the level. ’
    ‘Me?’ I couldn’t believe my ears. ‘That’s pretty rich, coming from a guy who says he’s a werewolf!’
    ‘ I’m not trying to pull a fast one—’
    ‘Prove it.’
    ‘ Fine. ’ All of a sudden he capitulated, sounding weary. ‘ Where should I meet you? At the park? ’
    It took me a moment to switch tracks. His about-face had come as a complete surprise.
    ‘Uh – yeah,’ I agreed, glancing at Fergus. ‘At the park. Around two o’clock?’
    Fergus nodded. There was a big grin on his face.
    ‘ Okay. Two o’clock this afternoon, ’ said Reuben.
    ‘On the steps by the lake. In front of the conference centre,’ I suggested. It was the most obvious place I could think of. ‘Have you been there before?’
    ‘ No .’
    ‘Well, you can’t miss it. Just follow the signs.’
    ‘ I’ll be there .’
    Click. Reuben hung up before I could, like someone slamming a door in my ear. Fergus scowled at me.
    ‘Where are we gunna hide, if you meet