Worlds Apart by Marlene Dotterer Read Free Book Online Page A

the
door. Hands on her hips, she surveyed her guests. Clive didn't
think she was happy to have either one of them in her
office.
    The goblin decided to try the
hometown advantage. “You know I ain't done anything, Sheriff Nancy.
This guy's got no charge against me. Make him let me
go.”
    Nancy pursed her lips in mild
amusement. “Sorry, Magger. He's Portal Enforcement. He can do
anything he wants.”
    Clive wished that were true, but
he didn't bother to correct her. “So Maggot, why you don't you
start by telling me your business in the Flatlands.”
    “That's Magger . And I was
just lookin' around.”
    “ You didn't report to the Portal
Keeper.”
    “Wasn't there that
long.”
    Clive lunged from the chair,
ignoring Magger's screech as he pulled the stinking form toward
him. Magger's eyes bulged as the chain wrenched his arms behind
him. “I don't believe there's a time limit on that restriction,”
Clive said.
    Magger moaned, his back arching to
relieve the pressure on his shoulders and wrists. “I just looked
around,” he said between gasps of pain. “Then I came back. I
swear.”
    Clive threw him back in the chair.
“You do any honest work, Maggot?”
    The goblin's eyes shifted to the
sheriff, who was sliding into her chair behind the desk. She
shrugged. “May as well tell him. It's easy enough to find
out.”
    Magger glanced back at Clive, a
tic jerking his chin. Then a smile touched his puffy lips. His eyes
glinted cold and predatory. “I'm a trapper.” He leaned toward
Clive. “Good money in it, especially for the female hides. Tawny
fetches the best price.”
    Werewolf hides. Clive
stood, pulling out a handkerchief to hold against the blood oozing
from his neck, buying time to keep himself in control. Amid the
goblin's gloating hate and the sheriff's amused disdain, he felt a
strange moment of peace, flashing back to the brief moment of
waking that morning with Tina in his arms. He blinked the vision
away.
    “I'm taking him in,” he told the
sheriff, tossing his strap onto her desk. “Put your verification
code in there, and hang on to him while I get my bag from the
inn.”
    Magger screeched a protest at
these words, but Sheriff Nancy ignored him as she entered her code
and tossed the strap back to Clive. Her eyes fixed on his neck.
“Was there more than one of 'em?”
    “Two others,” Clive said as he
headed for the door. “You find 'em, you arrest 'em and call me.” He
turned back just before he stepped into the street. “Oh, and your
portal's under indictment until further notice. See to
it.”

Chapter 6
     
     
     
    Damien Fontaine slipped with
relaxed carelessness through the Oregon forest, unconcerned with
danger. He had no need to be cautious. What could hurt him
here?
    He stopped when he reached a
trail, one big enough for vehicles to use. He sniffed the air. A
trace more caution settled over his shoulders as he took in both
directions of the road. Someone had used it today. He turned in the
direction of the road's upward climb into the forest. In that
direction was the Keeper's house, and who in this world had
business with the Keeper?
    Damien shrugged, his backpack
shifting on his hips. Perhaps the Keeper had gone out for supplies.
He crossed the road, remaining cautious. Deep in the trees, he
again tested the air, turning in the direction of the portal. He
continued on, his steps still graceful, but his walk slower, senses
alert. There was more here than human flatness.
    When a stray breeze brought an
unexpected scent, he fell into a crouch, a low growl in his throat.
He stared at the trees and waited, tasting the feel of the earth
around him. If he had been in wolf form, hackles would have risen
along his back.
    Another werewolf. He turned
his head toward the direction of the Keeper's house, following the
trail. The werewolf had reported to the Keeper. Why? The Keeper had
the right to kill a werewolf on sight. A generous Keeper would, at
the least, force him to return to