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would I have to pay you to keep abreast of any scuttlebutt about this?"
    "Nothing, Michaela. If I learn of any foxes, you can rest assured I'd call you and Lara. But Michaela, I won't hide that conversation from your mate."
    "I understand, Greg. Thank you for taking my call."
    "You're welcome," he replied. "You have another call to make, you know."
    "Yeah," I said. "She's next."
    "Michaela, are you going to do something that lands you back in my cells?"
    "No, Greg," I said. "I'm only making a couple of calls. I just wanted to know." I paused. Greg knew about Deirdre, Carissa's household member. "Deirdre told me I wasn't the last."
    "I wish I had better news, Michaela. Was there anything else?"
    "No. Thank you."
    We both hung up, and I sat quietly for a minute or two before picking up the phone again. This number I had to look up.
    "Hello?"
    "This is Michaela Burns," I said. "Is she available?"
    "Ms. Burns," said the woman. "Is she expecting your call?"
    "No."
    "I will see if she is available." She put me on hold and was only gone a few seconds before coming back on line. "I'm sorry. If you could leave a message, someone could return your call."
    "What is your name?"
    "Um. Jessie."
    "I see, Jessie," I replied. I thought it was another fake name. "Do you know who I am?"
    "No, ma'am."
    "I am the Madison alpha. Does that help?"
    "Please be more specific."
    "Seriously?" I asked. "Do I have to tell you what that means? Perhaps I should be talking to someone a little higher in your mistress's organization if you don't know what it means to be the Madison alpha. I find it hard to believe you don't recognize my name, but perhaps being the only werefox wolf pack alpha in America isn't as distinctive as I thought."
    She paused again.
    "Jessie did you actually check whether Carissa was available for me, or did you just put me on hold while you filed your nails?"
    "Um."
    "That's what I thought. If Carissa is truly unavailable, then I would appreciate a call back at her convenience, but subtlety is required. But if you are blowing me off, Carissa will not be pleased when she finds out."
    "Ms. Burns, let me pass you through to Annette."
    "Very good," I said.
    She put me on hold, and a moment later, I was disconnected. I stared at my phone for a moment, looking at the "call ended" message on it.
    I called back.
    "Hello?"
    "Ah, Jessie," I said, "Who told you to hang up on me?"
    "Um. I hit the wrong button."
    "Are you able to transfer me without hanging up on me again?"
    "I think so."
    "If you disconnect me again, I will wait five minutes and call one more time. Make sure someone is available who can take my call."
    Ten seconds later my phone told me the call was disconnected again. I shook my head then started a five-minute timer. Then I stared at it, not having anything else to do. The timer expired, and I called back again.
    A different voice answered. "Hello."
    "This is Michaela Burns."
    "Ms. Burns," said the woman. "I am Annette. We haven't met. I am sorry for the difficulties. Carissa is indisposed but would like to call you back in perhaps fifteen minutes."
    "All right, Annette," I said, "thank you." I gave her my number. She verified the number, and then we hung up.
    I stepped out of the office. Elisabeth was playing with her phone. "I'm sorry. Perhaps another twenty five minutes." She nodded, and I slipped back into my office. I spent the time grading papers, and it was nearly a half hour before the phone rang.
    "Michaela," Carissa purred. "I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting."
    It had been over a year since I last heard her voice. I wasn't sure if my brain would go numb at the sound. It did, just for a moment, and then I shook my head.
    "Quite all right, Carissa," I managed to say slowly. I shook my head again.
    "Oh dear," she said. "Are you able to think?"
    "Yes," I said. "With a little difficulty."
    "Did you want to give me to Lara instead?"
    "No," I said slowly. "She doesn't know I'm calling you." I paused.
    "Well, I suspect this