Excerpt: The Howling Detective

I recognized the big and ugly specimens walking towards us. Diego and Silas, our friends from the Arena the night before. They had their guns ready for use. I turned slowly to face them, wondering what was going on. Diego drew and cocked his gun before I thought to reach for mine. And held it straight aimed at my face. "I suggest you come quietly, Troy. Assuming that's your real name."
Silas was not quite as big and ugly as Diego. "His real name is Breeze Williams. Our doubler poppy just told Reed about 'im."
I slowly started backing up. With Mindy's sudden but inevitable betrayal, I do not watch anything by Joss Whedon and anybody who says differently is a liar, I wondered desperately if Simon was actually with the Children too? I was having pictures of me in that Arena, or my hide on a bargaining table somewhere down on the river.
Mindy leapt behind me and I felt the bell of her pistol in my ribs. "You really think I'm an idiot, don't you, Breeze? You're still recognizable, you big fuzz ball!"
I debated. Did I keep protesting or did I retrieve the Seal and restore myself to my true nature? I faced down three hunters with guns. I decided to stay human for now. I would gamble on the fact the hunters generally don't want to kill us as humans, difficult to hide and no pretty coat to skin off.
"Lead the way, ladies and gentlemen. And I use those terms in the loosest fashion physically possible."
Mindy glared at me as she grabbed my arm. "Think you're funny, don't you? All these years, we -"
I added oh so helpfully. "Played each other with idiots, I mean, for idiots."
Mindy laughed. "Pretty much, fuzz ball. Nothing against you personally, I have valued our friendship over the years."
She ran her hand that wasn't holding a machine pistol through my hair. "But I can get $700 for your hide and that is just worth more than our friendship, Breeze."
"Bitch." It was not the most original insult, but it is an insult even in my world. A bitch is female dog, we are not dogs, therefore it is an insult. Ergo.
Mindy just smiled. "I can't wait to see your ass mounted on the wall, Breeze. We've got a special place for pains in the ass like you. It's the trophy room."
As our little party arrived in front of Reed and Simon, I smarted off again. Maybe I was being a smartass, but I could not help it. Please forgive me, amen. "Oooh, taxidermy! Can I be mounted in the middle of sex with a wax mannequin of Heidi Montag?"
Simon was holding his gun at a casual ready. "That could be arranged, Breeze. Now if you'd oblige by going back to being a wolf?"
I had my one trump card. I was a human and a corpse draws Detroit homicide like it draws flies. Only faster. And I had friends in the PD. My case would be at the top of the list. "Give me one good reason, Simon."
Reed brought his gun up in a straight line to my nose. "Which form do you want to die in, lycan? One way or the other, you aren't leaving here alive."
I fought my ingrained instinct that said to return to my true form. Better to die as a wolf, than live as a human was just not going to help me in my current jam. Simon jerked his head at my little retinue and I saw it coming just before they went for my arms. I kicked backward and landed a foot in Diego's kneecap, causing him to hop on his good leg cursing. It gave me enough time to break away from Silas and Mindy and pull my gun.
I was armed and dangerous. Reed sucked in a breath, obviously not expecting this. "Okay, first of all. Nobody touches the hair. Second of all, I'm not a fucking lycan! Third of all, get your guns out of my face before I do something stupid like and pop a cap on one of you."
Reed smiled. "Not bad, Williams, but your cover is blown. Simon told me everything."
Then everything went to hell. I flicked off the safety and fired a double tap at Reed. Diego and Silas tackled me to protect their Fearless Leader. I spun the gun and put a round through Silas's head, causing Diego to jump back to avoid my next shot.
Temporarily free, I ran for it, covering my retreat with wild pistol shots.
I found a reasonable hiding place and started to strip. I was more agile on all fours, and I can still fire a gun. No, seriously, I learned how to do it with my paws and teeth by watching videos of this Italian police dog who could clear a pistol with his paws and teeth.
I clutched the Seal. This was the big moment, whether or not Pretender Grace Sherwood's magic would backfire and do something unpleasant. I dropped it in my mouth and dry swallowed it. It wasn't really much different than taking my heartworm pills.
The change was instantaneous. And painful as all get out. It felt like my first time, in the woods with Dad guiding me to two legs. Only now I had to re-claim the wolf.
I struggled through, running similar to Reed's transformation. A painful scream that was probably me metamorphosized into a blood curdling howl.
I braced on all four legs, shook out my coat and howled again just because I could before I got control of my instincts and took into account the fact that I had an entire train station of crazy people who wanted to kill me. I grabbed the gun in my mouth and ran. Could I still trust Simon? We had discussed doing exactly this, but with the betrayal of Mindy, I was no longer sure I could trust my human friends. I ran towards the Menagerie, hoping to break the cages and free the captives. Depending on the quality of those pad locks, I might be able to break them with my jaws.
I skidded to a stop, facing down Simon with his gun and sterling silver rounds. My jaws tightened on the pistol gripped in my mouth. I had the handgrip itself in my mouth. I could use my paw to pull the trigger, with high odds of breaking one of my claws in the process. He seemed confused for a moment, like he didn't recognize me. Seriously, the guy had seen me as a wolf before. Why did he look so thunderstruck now? He shook off whatever he was thinking and lowered his gun. "Breeze, you got to trust me. You can't use that gun effectively right now. Give it to me and I'll toss you the key to the cages in the Menagerie. The raid starts in a few minutes. Please, you have to trust me."
I hesitated. By nature, I try to see the best in people. I'm very forgiving. Your pet Fido had to get those traits from somewhere, right? But after Mindy. I swallowed and released the pistol, then used a brisk smack with my snout to knock the weapon towards him. I spoke, though he wouldn't understand me. "Shoot me and I will use my dying breaths to rip your throat out. I'll get my coat all dirty on your blood so it's worthless. Got that?"
Simon didn't understand me, but my snarl at that end must have got my message across. He swept up the pistol and tossed me a heavy key. "Open all the cages. There's a recovery van outside for all the captives. Go!"