Chapter 56

I find myself becoming fond of the investigator, Jack Darlington, almost immediately. I first meet him in the Alpha's hospital room, a couple of days before he's due to be discharged and sent home. I'd been sent to help Liam with the press the first time he came to see the Alpha and had missed him.

The Alpha is in a private room, now that the danger has passed. He's just being kept for supervision for a few days, to make sure that everything is going as it should with his recovery. I spend almost all morning, every morning with him, and he's rapidly regaining his strength.

Werewolves are fast healers – they sort of have to be, considering the changes their bodies go through when they transform into wolves and back. Safe in the hospital, away from the anxiety that he's about to be poisoned at any moment, the Alpha is able to relax and recover without stress.

His body is taking advantage of the respite and repairing itself very well. The color in the Alpha's face has returned, and his eyes are brighter than ever. He's also very cheerful, especially for a man whose own family just tried to murder him.

"Uno!" the Alpha says triumphantly, waving the single card in my face. I roll my eyes.

"Can I just fold?" I ask. "That's what you do in poker when someone else is beating the pants off you, right?"

The Alpha laughs, a deep, rich sound that reminds me of Marcus's rumbling laughter.

"You can't fold in Uno!" he says. "I'd rather be playing poker, and then yes, you could fold. But Uno is the only card game you know."

"Excuse me, I also know how to play Go Fish," I sniff haughtily, and the Alpha laughs heartily again.

There's a knock at the door, and Liam pokes his head in. He's smiling warmly, and I see Marcus is right behind him. I smile back.

"Good morning!" LIam says. "I could hear you laughing all the way down the hall, sir. An uplifting sound. Is the Doc here losing at cards again?" He and Marcus both enter the room.

"Don't even talk to me about it," I grumble, tossing down my cards. "What's up? I thought you two weren't coming until this afternoon. Not that I'm not happy to see both of you, of course."

"Doctor, you don't need to lie to protect my feelings," Liam gives me a mischievous grin. "I know it's Marcus here whom you long to see."

I roll my eyes again as the Alpha lets out another long chuckle.

"In all seriousness, we're here because Jack wants another meeting, Ev, it's time that you meet him, too," Liam says. "He's going to need your help with the investigation."

"My help?" I ask in surprise. "Of course, I'm happy to assist, but I don't see how I can be of any more help than anyone else."

"You're the most observant among us," Marcus points out, looking at me with a soft gaze that makes my stomach flutter. "You're the one who figured out that something funny was going on with Father's medication in the first place."

"And we want you to explain all of that to Jack," Liam adds, "and how you figured it out."

"Emmett knows how I figured it out," I turn to the Alpha. "I just talked to a few people until things shook out and made sense." The Alpha smiles fondly at me and reaches over to pat my hand.

"I'm sure Jack will do much the same," he says. "But I want you to go through it all with him. Tell him everything you know, who you talked to, who you believe can be trusted and who can't, and so on."

I nod my agreement. I still doubt that I'm going to be of any particular use to this investigator, but if it makes Emmett feel better, I'm happy to play along.

Jack arrives about half an hour later, and I'm charmed by him. He's younger than I had expected – maybe about 35 – and has sandy blond hair that falls into his green eyes. He has a square jaw and wears a flannel shirt and jeans.

He looks very wholesome and all-American – nothing like I was expecting from a talented, secret undercover detective. He's also very funny and polite, cracking jokes and setting me at ease at once.

"So, Evelyn, tell me everything you know," Jack says earnestly, after we make introductions and go through a few rounds of small talk. "No matter how small. You never know what's going to be helpful."

I pause, thinking to myself. Should I trust the detective with my real identity? I might not be able to convince him why I'm so certain the culprit is Charles, otherwise.

But can I trust him?

I glance at the Alpha, who seems to know exactly what I'm thinking. He nods at me, his eyes solemn and serious.

I bite my lip and look to Marcus and Liam. This isn't going to be easy.

"Marcus, Liam," I say matter-of-factly. "Would you mind if I discussed a few things with Jack and Emmett in private, please? There are some medical details that are a little sensitive, and I think your father would be more comfortable if the conversation were a bit discreet."

I peek at the Alpha out of the corner of my eye, hoping I haven't crossed a line. He just gives me a tiny smile, and I feel relieved.

"Certainly," Marcus says, standing up without hesitation. I feel bad lying to him, but someday I'll be able to tell him the truth. I hope. Liam stands up and follows him out the door.

When they're gone, I turn to both Jack and the Alpha and take a deep breath.

"Okay," I say. "There are some things that both of you need to know."

When I've finished speaking, both the Alpha and Jack look somewhat stunned. We sit in silence for a moment, staring at each other. I fidget, my eyes pricking with tears, and the Alpha reacts first.

"My darling girl," he whispers, leaning over to tightly squeeze my hand. "My god, what you've been through. And you couldn't tell anyone, of course you couldn't. Your secrets are safe with us, aren't they, Jack?"

"Absolutely," Jack says, rubbing a hand over his face. "This is more serious than I thought. Even if Charles isn't behind the poisoning, he's a dangerous man who belongs behind bars. We can't let this rest, Nicole."

"I don't want to let it rest," I say honestly. "I just need to keep my identity hidden for a while longer, until we can all figure out what to do."

"Absolutely," Jack repeats. "Don't worry, Nicole. I am the soul of discretion itself, I promise. I won't do anything that will put you in danger or risk blowing your cover. We have to take down this Charles, but we have to do it right."

"And when this is all said and done," the Alpha says calmly, "I am personally going to horsewhip your father."

I gasp, and the Alpha gives me a grim smile before elaborating.

"Your father has failed in his most basic duty, which is to love and protect his child," the Alpha says. "A man like that not only deserves no respect, he deserves to be taken to task and held accountable by his peers.

"In a werewolf community, we look out for our own, and we never let insults or harm done to our children slide in this way. And I think that one day soon, Nicole, you are going to be my daughter-in-law. What's more, you are my trusted advisor and my friend.

"It is therefore my job – and privilege – to…approach your father about his failings. There are other, more major and immediate players in this mess, to be sure, and I would bet that your father feels himself off the hook. It will be my great pleasure to disabuse him of that notion."

Tears are freely flowing down my face, now, and I throw my arms around the Alpha. He hugs me close and pats my back soothingly.

"There, there, dear girl," he says. "Your father's family may have failed you, but you have me now, and Marcus, and Jeanette. When this is all over, you will find yourself with the most loving and loyal family in the world.

"Everything is going to be all right; you'll see."

Jack lets us have a few moments before clearing his throat and gently steering us back on task.

"Right, so," he claps his hands. "To recap: Charles framed Nicole for a drug deal, causing her to lose her medical license and go to prison. Then he tried to frame her again, but she faked her death.

"She had help from some prominent figures in an unnamed drug gang – who I have no intention of or interest in going after, you have my word on that, Nicole," he adds in an aside before going on. "Now she has a position in your household, Emmett, and has been looking out for you. Am I right so far?"

The Alpha and I nod. Jack continues.

"Aside from his crimes against Nicole, Charles was likely behind the shooting of one of the gang members. He's embezzling from the Alpha family accounts. We think he's in debt and is trying to seize control of the drug business here in order to make more money.

"He's also plotting to murder his mother, is trying to disinherit Marcus, is behind the food and medication tampering, and probably tried to murder Emmett. He doesn't do his own dirty work, which means we're looking for at least one middleman, too.

"Anything I've forgotten?"

I shake my head. "No, I think that's it."

"Good Christ," Jack shakes his head. "This guy is a real piece of work. I'm going to be very, very happy to take him down. Emmett, I'll stop by the mansion on Wednesday, and we can get down to business."