Free Legend of the Ir'Indicti 5 - Destroyer by Connie Suttle Page B

make arrests. If this information is wrong, well," Curt shrugged.
    "We let Matt Michaels take the fall for it," Calhoun grinned.
    "He's just too squeaky clean," Curt agreed. "Keep me posted with texts—the meeting I have on the hill may take all day."
    "Of course, sir."
    * * *
    "Nervous?" Trace glanced at Ashe as they drove toward Beeville. Coastal Bend College was their destination for the test, and they'd left Port Aransas in plenty of time.
    "Yes and no," Ashe sighed. "I know," he held up a hand as Trace started to reply. "That's not much of an answer. I have mixed feelings about this, Trace. I can't explain why, right now, but I do."
    "You think you won't pass?"
    "I can pass." Ashe hunched his shoulders. "No worries about passing."
    "Winkler already pulled strings to get you enrolled at the University of Texas. He knows the College President."
    "Yeah." Ashe looked out the passenger window.
    "Kid, what's wrong?"
    "Trace, ask me that question in a few weeks. Okay?"
    "You're starting to scare me, Ashe."
    "You think I'm not already there?" Ashe turned and blinked at Trace.
    "Let's get through today, and we'll let tomorrow take care of itself," Trace muttered, turning onto Charco Road. Ashe saw the college sign near a parking lot, which was already filling up.
    "Good thing we left early," Ashe sighed.
    * * *
    "What are you wearing tomorrow?" Wynn flopped onto Dori's bed. Dori had been restless and out of sorts all morning, calling Wynn right after breakfast and asking if she wanted to do anything on their last day of summer vacation.
    "No idea. Maybe I should have waited to break up with Sali. At least he has a car and could take us somewhere," Dori grumped, dropping onto the floor in a cross-legged position. "I still have enough money to buy new shoes."
    "Ace is out of town," Wynn nodded. "I miss him when he's gone. I know not to be a pest," she held up a hand at Dori's lifted eyebrow. "I don't call or text. We agreed that he'd let me know when he wasn't working. We talk, then."
    "At least he's a mature werewolf." Dori frowned. "Unlike Sali, who resorts to childish insults at the first opportunity." Dori still hadn't shown Sali's last message to Wynn. The insult was too embarrassing.
    "What do you think tomorrow will be like? Ashe won't be there. Hayes is gone. Larry and Jeff are still not talking to anybody, and Sali's back to being a jerk." Wynn examined her blue toenail polish with a critical eye. She'd have to redo it before classes started in the morning. "I'd really like to get my bangs trimmed," she added. "I wonder if Mom will let me borrow the car."
    "We can ask, but if we don't have somebody with us," Dori said. "Marcus laid down the law after Hayes got killed. I still don't understand what happened to Jeremy. Sali told me that Micah took Chad's execution," her voice dropped to a whisper. "But he wouldn't talk about Jeremy."
    "Well," Wynn scraped off blue toenail polish with a fingernail, "Ace told me. He said Marco told Cori, too, so I'm surprised she didn't tell you."
    "Tell me what? I haven't really seen Cori lately; she's been busy moving into her dorm room."
    "Ashe did it. Ace wouldn't explain how."
    "It was that scary?" Dori blinked at Wynn in confusion.
    "No. He said it was—unusual. That's all."
    "That describes Ashe. Completely. He's unusual." Dori got up and wandered to her bedroom window. "I still want to go out today, but Mom's with Cori, hauling a load of stuff for her dorm room in the car. Dad's asleep and nobody else we know is available to ask."
    "Yeah. Ace wouldn't like it if we're not guarded. I hate being cooped up here."
    "Cori says Ashe is taking the GED today. You know he'll pass it."
    "He'll pass it," Wynn agreed. "Do you ever get the feeling that Ashe not only passed us by, but he did it at warp speed?"
    "It's scary. I remember when he was a laughingstock, because he couldn't turn. Now, he's working for Mr. Winkler and about to start college. Two years ahead of us."
    "I can't believe Sali