With Jorge gone, Evita, stranded at least until the work was done as she'd come in with the tech, opened his car door and slid into the passenger's side. Door ajar, she leaned her head against the seat and fished her cell out of a cup holder. "How is Marcy?" She said before Caelan could get away. "For a girl who wanted to stand her ground and not run away, she's been doing an awful lot of legwork."

"Wendigos are quick," Caelan agreed, taking a couple steps closer but he was ready to get back to the site and see if there wasn't any more evidence to be found of Tasha's presence. "To be perfectly frank, she ain't great. Not sure she'll be coming home from whatever hell that demon's dragging her down into."

"You make any progress on her, at least, since this comes at the expense of my sister-in-law and dearest friend?"

"Some."

She coked an eyebrow. "That's all you're telling me?"

Caelan was quiet.

"You know," Evita began, kicking her feet up. "We were such good friends when Stephen was alive. Cal would prefer not to remember, but I recall how close the two of you were. I was jealous of how much attention he gave you, even while Stephen and I were planning our wedding.  Never saw a couple peas in a pod more suited for each other, and I was happy about that when I wasn't spitting furious. The two of you both had more business friends than real ones. Amazing what happens when the glue comes loose."

"You're a good girl, Evie. Especially for not hating Marcy after everything shook out."

Evita angled her phone away from Caelan and started to text. "She's a real doll," she began, missing the twitch of the sheriff's lip at the mere use of that word. "She's good with Cal, and me, and the pack. I can't fault her for having a shit for brains sister. That's on us. We should've eaten that child when she came to us. If it weren't for Jazzy carrying such a torch for her and him being bigger than the rest of us youngsters, probably would've." Her eyes fell on his a moment. "Say, you hear anything on Rhetta?"

"Her and Jazeel boarded a flight with a layover in Reno. Never got on the connector. Haven't seen or heard anything past their taxi leaving an airport. Driver's car was located over the boarder of Cold Springs. Body found in White Lake. Haven't heard anything through the grape vine since, and haven' t bothered much to look what with what's going on with Marcy. She's disconnected, at least to some extent, from the demon, so I haven't found any leads worth pursuing."

Evita nodded. "Save the one you love before hunting down the one we hate. Just know I haven't forgotten, Harlowe. We took her in. She grew up alongside Stephen as his sister. His parents fed her and kept her warm and dry and showed her all the love one can give. They die and she murders him in our own woods. Despicable."

"Careful what you say around me, Evie. I am still the sheriff. Rhetta is still a werewolf estranged from your pack. If her body turns up I won't look the other way." 

"All I'm asking is you glance sideways for a time," she said. "Given Marcy's state, I'm surprised you wouldn't agree to that."

"Stephen wanted a different justice than what a reaper delivers. I do, too."

"Then you shouldn't have taken back the title," she said in a flat tone. But after a moment she looked at her phone, smiled, and waved a hand to dismiss him. "I suppose that's a conversation for a later date. Get Marcy back. I'll take what you've told me and get Cal back. You have my number, sheriff. Maybe our paths will cross in the south. I suspect as much, if you get to Marcy before I get to Cal. Marcy may not be werewolf but she is pack. Remember that, when we've each got our leading ladies back. She may want the same as us."

"Don't go pinning a tail on her that doesn't belong."

"I wouldn't dream of framing a murderer for murder," Evita said. "She might come up with that gem all on her own. Marcy is a good protector of the pack. She does what's right and takes her lumps."

"She may not be your pack when she gets back," Caelan said. He could feel a little hit under his collar, stopped just sort of letting her know that he and Marcy had planned on being a pack of two. "I'll have Jorge back to get you soon as we're done with him. You have a good rest of your day now, Ms. Vilkas."

The sheriff stopped at the library on his way home to pick up his lengthy chunk of reading material. He planned on flipping through several chapters and pages, figuring out how much knowledge there may or may not be, and bringing in Jorge and possibly Jali to assist. Jorge was a known speed reader with extremely high comprehension rates and Jali could keep him focused on the material at hand and stop him from excessive tangents about how this was similar to some video game or some wildly popular tv show series Caelan didn't watch because he hadn't had time lately to sit down and watch tv. That in turn would give Caelan a chance to get some rest while the wheels stayed turning and someone entertained Igor so she wouldn't pop back up in his face again.

Then there was the problem of the necromancer breaking in. It pissed Caelan off that he hadn't noticed anything. Then again, with a demonic familiar traipsing about, it'd probably been easy to get in through any door and lock it back on the way out. Didn't help either he rarely made it home most days. He slept often in the office, even had a pullout sofa on the side and a set of noise-cancelling headphones that he thought he might enjoy until the wolf in him said it wouldn't be good to block one of your keenest senses.

The librarian working behind the desk was a middle aged man who'd started the conversation curious about why these books were being checked out. Hadn't had anyone but a couple middle schoolers check these out in the past few years as part of a how to use a library project, and that hardly counted since he doubted they'd read more than a line or two before switching to their phones and a quick google search.

"Got a bit of a case on my hands, sir," Caelan said, in as good a mood as he could've been. Books were hopeful. It hadn't worked out when he and Marcy had been researching in times past- they'd been deliberately steered down the wrong road. But it had been such a happy, hopeful moment, cracking open the books and looking for answers that might be there. That's how he saw the six volumes stacked on the counter today- as not only knowledge but potential leads, clues, and answers. So he was happy to entertain the librarian's question with a smile and a more elaborated, "Needed to brush up on some history to understand the criminal mind I'm working against.

"Woah," the guy said, leaning across the counter as if the sheriff had shared a tremendous secret. "Like, is this someone we should be aware of?"

"Some days, maybe," Caelan said, nodding. "This one operates in the southern united states and into South America. More recently, there's been activity here linked to this suspect. We believe his associates may be working here, though not for much longer. It's essential we catch him soon." 

"Does he have a name?"

"Too many to name," Caelan said, reaching for the books. "Unfortunately, you've seen his work on the news. He hasn't yet been identified."

The librarian's puzzled expression lit up. "You're the sheriff from the news! The one where that reporter chick got whacked by a demon. Holy shit! You're here in my library? Holy shit, man! That was dark stuff. I've gotta tell Emily."

"Before you do that," Caelan said. "When do you need these back?"

"Oh, two weeks. But if it's part of an investigation then you can just call and let me know. Like I was saying, no one's been picking up these things in a few years. Doubt they'll start tomorrow."

"If anyone does, can you give me a call?"

"Absolutely!"

Caelan passed the man his business card. The librarian took it, set it on the counter and snapped a photo to send to presumably Emily. 

"Hey," the librarian said as Caelan headed toward the door. "Sheriff Harlowe. The stuff about burning sage and getting priests in to bless the rooms- that really work? After that demonic posession incident, I've been wondering if the scratching sounds I'm hearing in the walls are something worse. Can you check it out, or at least tell me if I should be calling someone?"

Caelan, books tucked underneath his arm, considered his options. "Happens at night? Especially on cold nights?"

"Yeah."

"Sound a little like marbles rolling?"

"That's it exactly!"

"Then you might need to hire an exterminator," he said. "You've got mice."

He'd never in his life seen someone more disappointed to not own a haunted library.

By seven o'clock that evening Caelan had the bracelet in a plastic evidence baggie on his kitchen counter. The seal had been tampered with by a curious Igor. Caelan didn't much mind, however, as it wouldn't reach any official part of the investigation until much later if at all. The moment he'd suggest it could be related to the wendigo, Belzer and the others had taken steps to ensure it'd be erased. Ethics were a bit murky when it came to anything involving Marcy. And things would stay that way until he had a firm grip on the reality of the situation and possible outcomes. He could've kept the detail to himself, but he sensed he would have to start building a reason for travel, and that reason would rely on critical discoveries such as this. 

He was still on the phone with Belzer, flipping through a drawer of dated menus trying to figure out if okay pizza or okay Chinese food was the way to go tonight. Jali would eat anything put in front of her. She was both polite and not picky when it came to what went into her stomach. Jorge would probably complain he would've wanted the other option no matter what. With ranch dressing on the side. 

Caelan didn't even want to open his fridge and look at the contents. Considering he rarely cooked, most of his food was of the easy assembly variety. He might've had some ranch in there. Maybe pizza. 

"Harlowe," Belzer snapped. "This Natasha. Are we thinking she's the batshit vamp or does she just know him?"

"Know him more than likely," Harlowe said, catching the baggie just as Igor sent it sailing into the air. The cat glowered at him as he set it back on the counter three feet away, then padded over to it to strike it again, more smugly, if it were possible. "Either as a friend or she recognizes where this bracelet comes from."

"And we're hundred percent sure it's not from the vic?"

"Not that high," Caelan said. "It could very well belong to her, but Tasha has or had one similar. She'll know what it's about."

"And where is she?"

"Last known whereabouts was months ago. There's reason to believe she's in Connecticut currently."

"Well, great," Belzer huffed. "Are we thinking she's still in the northwest hills?"

"Unknown."

"We need to change her whereabouts to known yesterday, Harlowe. The governor is breathing down my ass to find a scapebat for these murders. We're going to release her name and image if I don't hear anything from you soon."

"Soon's all I need," Caelan said. Igor dropped off the ocunter and proceeded to bat the bracelet around the floor, nibble on a corner of the baggie, and when Caelan tossed a rag at her to get her to stop, she carried her kill off into the living room. "I've got a spider sitting in this web I'd like to get an opinion from."

At that moment, the doorbell rung. Igor's head twisted around. The bracelet and baggie hung off her sharp little bottom teeth. 

"Twenty-four hours to find her," Belzer said. "Your hide and mine are on the line here."

Caelan dropped his phone back on the charger, took a walk through the living room to get a glimpse of Jorge's bumper-sticker covered VW beetle, and popped the door. 

"Evening, bossman!" the young man exclaimed, holding up two bottles of soda. He was dressed in sweatpants and an oversized hoodie that swallowed up an already slight frame. "Jali wanted to bring wine but this is too exciting for wine! Got an extra pair of reading glasses, too, just in case things get out of hand."

What kind of research Jorge did that involved needing an extra pair of reading glasses wasn't anything Caelan was particularly interested in. Neither was Jali, from the expression on the deputy's face.

"I brought wine," she said, holding up a bottle of something red and labeled 'Carnivor.' She sniffed as she walked through the entry. "I don't smell food."

"Was waiting for you to order," Caelan said, welcoming them in.

Food, research, rest and filling in his friends on the dangers waiting ahead. All this, and he still had to figure out how to summon Zakar without incurring trouble on behalf of Jali and Jorge.