Dark Moon - By Lori Handeland Page 0,2

agents carried documentation identifying them as wardens for various natural resource departments.

Until today, the precautions had worked. No one had ever come snooping before.

The question was: Why now?

And why him?
Chapter Two
"I work in the CID."

Criminal Investigations Division, my mind translated as Nic reached into his suit and withdrew his ID, flipping it open with an ease born of practice.

I didn't bother to look. I knew who he was. I didn't care about his badge. I wanted to hear why he'd stepped out of the past and into my life. I wanted to discover where the boy I'd loved had gone and when this man had taken his place.

Seven years ago Nic had been easygoing and fun. I'd laughed more with him than I'd ever laughed with anyone else.

He'd been a wealth of contrasts. Quick with numbers, clever with words, fast hands, slow smile, a great kiss.

We'd both been alone in the world, searching for something, or maybe someone. We'd found it in each other. My life had forever been divided into before and after Dominic Franklin had come into it.

I still don't know if I believe in love at first sight.

I saw him so many times before I loved him. But a true, deep, forever love? In that, I do believe.

"Why you?"

I didn't realize I'd said the words out loud until he answered them.

"Because I'm the best at what I do."

"Which is?"

"Finding missing persons."

"What does that have to do with us?"

"You tell me. What do you do?"

Could I put him off by telling the lies I'd told a hundred times before? Wouldn't hurt to try.

"I'm studying a new strain of rabies in the wolf population."

"Never heard of it."

"The government doesn't want people to know the virus is becoming resistant to the vaccine."

"It is?"

"No, I made that up."

My teeth clicked together as I snapped my mouth shut. Why couldn't I keep quiet?

His lips twitched, almost a smile. But the expression faded as quickly as the moon did at dawn.

"You always wanted to be a doctor."

"I am."

"A Ph.D. isn't an M.D."

I'd given up my hopes of treating people after I'd turned furry the first time. Kind of hard to build a practice when you never knew if you were going to wake up covered in blood the morning after a full moon.

In truth, I'd always been fascinated by viruses - where they came from, how they were transmitted, how in hell we could cure them. One of the few bright spots in the past seven years had been my work. I'd been given carte blanche to study something no one else even knew about. What scientist wouldn't be tempted?

Nic continued to stare at me, no doubt waiting to hear the reason I wasn't delivering babies or performing brain surgery. He'd be waiting a very long time.

"You were going to be a lawyer," I said.

When in doubt, point the finger elsewhere.

"I am. A majority of our agents have backgrounds in accounting or law."

Huh. I guess we do learn something new every day.

"This facility seems huge," he continued. "How many researchers do you have?"

We'd reached the end of my lies and my patience.

"If you want more information, you'll have to talk to the boss, Edward Mandenauer."

One call from Edward to Washington, D.C., and Nic would be out on his ear.

"Fine. Where is he?"

"Wisconsin. That's east of here, by a lot."

His eyes narrowed. " Where in Wisconsin?"

"Classified." I shrugged. "Sorry."

"Elise, you're starting to piss me off."

"Only starting?"

The smile nearly broke through again, and I thought, There you are, an instant before he caught himself and frowned.

This new Nic disturbed me. Had he become so serious and sad because of the job or because of me? I didn't like either choice.

Leaning back, he laced his fingers together and rested his head against his palms. "I'll just wait until he calls in."

I opened my mouth, then shut it again, stumped. I couldn't have him hanging around. I was behind schedule. Besides, how was I going to explain that there wasn't anyone in the compound but me, a single guard, and the werewolves in the basement?

I could throw Nic out, or have the guard do it; however, that kind of behavior would only add to the questions, and no doubt insure we enjoyed more visits from the FBI. Better to convince Nic to leave on his own if possible.

"Edward won't be calling for several days," I said. "He's in the field. You may as well tell me what's going on."

Nic stared at me for a few seconds