Fatal Circle

The juniper and ambergris aroma had a drop of something else, something almost antiseptic.

Hector sat on the couch, staring at the floor. He didn’t acknowledge us, even after we’d entered. An open bottle sat on the floor beside his torn and dirty sneaker. He held a juice glass filled with ice and a clear liquid. I’d located the hygienic odor. The label was on the other side of the bottle, but I’d have guessed gin.

“Has he . . . ?” Joh

Voices trickled in from the room beyond the pocket doors, but not live voices . . . I recognized the Coca-Cola jingle. Television or radio, then. I couldn’t imagine that would have been left on in the room with a dead man.

Hector shook his head. “No. I just . . . I can’t be in there.” His voice was hollow.

Joh

“You’re go

“Hector. You have to see this. You’ll have to tell the others.”

He shook his head again. “Todd’s the one who’ll need convincing anyway.”

“We don’t have time to wait for—”

“He’s already in there. He knows I called you.”

Joh

“Don’t worry,” Hector said. “I told him that if he touched Ig he’d not make it out of this building alive.” For the first time, he looked up from the floor. His eyes settled on Joh

Joh

I started across the room, but Hector’s soft voice stopped me. “Where does your allegiance lie?” When I didn’t answer quickly enough he added, “I was in there earlier.” He pushed an elbow toward the pocket doors. “I saw the news. Does Joh

I thought stating “both” would lack validity, so I decided to point out what I wasn’t as it might have more impact. “I’m not an enemy to either.”

“And who is your ally, then?” he pressed.

“Justice.”

From the bedroom I heard, “Don’t come any closer.”

Leaving Hector for the doorway, I saw Joh

“I’ve busted my ass for years as his second while you fucked off playing rock star. And regardless of that ultimate irresponsibility of yours, and in spite of the total loyalty I showed, he still wants you to take his fucking place. You!” His fervor made it clear his pain and anger could merge immediately and violently, and that he was teetering on that edge right now.

“Todd—”

“Don’t! Don’t you fucking try to rationalize it! You’ve been nothing but a fucking letdown and a traitor to this pack. Ig doesn’t want to see it, but in an hour, what Ig wants won’t matter. I can wait that long. I’ll fight that long.” He took a fighting pose and, for the first time, became aware of my presence. “Huh.” He gestured at me and added a contemptuous smile. “Brought a witch for backup? She doesn’t scare me.” He inched closer to Joh

Joh

Todd sat up. “You were there! I saw you! They had live coverage.” He got his feet under him and stood, moving slowly to the foot of the bed. Joh

Ig groaned behind them. He could not speak.

Joh

Hector came up behind me at the door. “Todd,” Hector said huskily.

“No. I’m not letting him take what’s mine!” He posed as if his feet were rooted in that spot.

“Todd,” Hector said again. I smelled juniper. Definitely gin on his breath.

Todd spat on the floor. “Over my dead body, Hector. Over my dead fucking body is this deserter go

Joh

Todd retreated also, but came up against Ig’s bed and his legs bent, sitting him on the edge as Joh

As he fell on all fours, a triumphant howl filled the room.

Ig was gri

Joh

I shook my head emphatically side to side.

“And it didn’t affect either of us?” Hector asked. “She didn’t do anything.”

Joh

Ig began chanting. It sounded like, “Now. Now. Now.”

Todd’s feet came under him and he stumbled backward to the wall, staring. Joh

Joh

“Now, now,

As the wet sound of a torn throat met my ears, I pressed my face into Hector’s chest. Despite his fear of me at my previous visit, he put an arm around me comfortingly.