The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks Page A

back the long way, through the bush that ringed Lorikeet Marsh. Amin and I had been so deep in conversation, neither of us had heard the pad of approaching feet along the boardwalk. ‘I thought you were supposed to be keeping watch?’
    ‘It doesn’t matter, now you’re finished,’ Amin rejoined. ‘No one can prove that we did this.’
    ‘They can if they see our paw.’ Fergus gestured at the plastic-wrapped parcel under his arm. ‘Let’s get outta here quick, before somebody else shows up. I wanna check the lake. See if there’s any mud around there.’
    ‘Fergus, don’t you think these tracks are too close together?’ I interrupted. ‘It looks like the werewolf has really short legs. And a werewolf wouldn’t have really short legs.’
    Fergus stared at me.
    ‘How the hell do you know?’ he asked.
    ‘Well, it doesn’t make sense. Why have enormous feet and short legs? I dunno if Reuben’s gunna buy it—’
    ‘Dude.’ Fergus cut me off. His tone was one of strained patience. ‘Of course he’s not gunna buy it. We’re not trying to convince him that werewolves exist. We’re trying to get him on film, lying to you.’
    ‘Oh. Yeah.’ Of course. Somehow I’d become too focused on the details.
    ‘Come on,’ said Fergus. ‘Let’s not stand around pointing like a bunch of bozos. We’re running out of time.’
    He led the way back to Deathwater, where we found a bit of mud along the lake shore. While Fergus busied himself at the water’s edge, in a grove of date palms, Amin and I created a diversion by running around and screaming like lunatics. It was a good move, because it did more than simply attract people’s attention. It also frightened them away.
    By the time Fergus had finished, Amin was puffing like a steam engine. Even I was a little out of breath.
    ‘What now?’ Amin panted, as the three of us went into huddle. ‘Should we try somewhere else?’
    ‘I don’t think so.’ My watch said 1:48. ‘Reuben might be early. We should split up.’
    ‘Do you think we’ve got enough paw prints?’ asked Fergus, who was all muddy around the knees. ‘Maybe I should do some more. He might not see them, otherwise.’
    ‘He’ll see them,’ I promised. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he sees them.’
    ‘Okay, but what about this?’ He brandished the paw. ‘Should we throw it away?’
    ‘Don’t be stupid!’ Amin snatched it from him. ‘My sister would kill me! This is her Play-Doh.’
    He stuffed it into his backpack, as I nervously glanced towards the function centre’s wall of glass windows. No one was standing in front of them. ‘You guys shouldn’t stay with me,’ I said. ‘You should hang around here for a few minutes before you hit the kiosk, okay?’
    ‘Okay.’
    ‘Okay.’
    ‘And please don’t be stupid,’ I begged, because Fergus was already grinning fiendishly. ‘Just act normal, or you’ll get noticed. You’re meant to be invisible, remember?’
    ‘Yeah, yeah.’ Fergus gave me a push. ‘Go on, then. If you wanna go, go.’
    So I went. I headed straight for the flight of steps that lay between the lake and the function centre. Once there, I sat down to wait, wishing that I’d brought my sunglasses. The reserve wasn’t too crowded. It never is, on a weekday – not even around the lake. From my vantage point, I could easily keep track of everyone who wandered across my field of vision. I saw two joggers, a dog-walker, and a woman on a bike. I saw a mum with a stroller, and a couple smooching in the shade. But I didn’t see Reuben until he was practically on top of me.
    He must have parked behind the function centre and come around the side. I smelled him before I saw him; the scent of his deoderant made me turn with a start. Then I scrambled to my feet, because he looked so damned scary.
    ‘Hello,’ he said. ‘I know I’m late, but it was a helluva drive. I had to come all the way from Burwood.’
    This time he hadn’t even tried to spruce himself up.