Greed is Good Part 2: Doug the Werewolf (1st Draft)

Greed is Good Part 1: Mostly Very Dul... Book Review: Excession by Iain M. Banks

Greed is Good Part 2: Doug the Werewolf (1st Draft)

This is post #2 of 2 in the series “Greed is Good”

Doug the werewolf is a snappy dresser. I mean, he doesn't use being a werewolf as an excuse to wander round in torn jeans with a beard down to his ankles. No, Doug wears suits and ties, he looks presentable anywhere.

"What do you do anyway?" I asked him by way of greeting. He stared at me. He has an excellent range of glowers. I considered shutting the door on him, but I remembered what had happened to my last door and decided against it.

Unfortunately unless a wizard has taken the time and expended the energy to build a mystical barrier around your entire house, he's just as vulnerable to home invasion as anyone else. Guess what this wizard hadn't done? It's hard work!

Greed-Is-Good-Part-2 "Look I've got to go to work soon, so can we schedule scowling practice for another time and get to the point." I said, losing patience with his silent act.

"At the Blue Ridge Casino." Doug nodded. It occurred to me to wonder why he knew where I worked, but I didn't ask. He still hadn't told me why he was here. I waited.

The silence got really long and awkward, but I refused to back down. Finally he gave in.

"So… one of the boys, he got a job… at Blue Ridge." Doug said and now it all made sense. Sure they had kicked me out of their territory but now they were intruding on mine.

"I don't recall anyone asking for permission." I said. Doug had the decency to look a little embarrassed.

It's not that the various magical purveyors, creatures and creators have an actual physical territory you understand, well not most of them anyway, but there are rules and agreements and just generally accepted social practices. They've evolved over the centuries to avoid unnecessary mass homicides. What Doug and his pack had done didn't break an treaties, and it certainly wasn't a declaration of war, but it was kind of rude.

"Look, he needs the work okay?" Doug's voice took on that tone of someone who knows they are in the wrong and is angry about it. Generally it's not smart to test a werewolf's temper.

"What's his name?" I asked, letting Doug off off the hook. Besides, I could understand needing a job. That was pretty much the situation I found myself in when Supermart 13 burnt down, and Blue Ridge Casino was one of the few growing employers in the area.

"Rick." Doug said. "He's a good kid. He'll mind his own business."

"Well then we should get along splendidly." I put on my most annoying smile. Doug brings that out in me.

Doug just stood there glowering at me. I alternated between putting my hand in my pocket and taking it out again. I wasn't quite brave enough to shut the door in his face. With a last glare, he grunted and turned to go.

"Have you seen it again." I cursed my curiosity.

"No. The pack is keeping an eye on things though." Doug knew what I was referring to. "We'll handle it."

I considered pointing out how badly they had handled the creature the first time round, but decided against it. "And… nothing else… weird?"

Doug paused and looked at me again. "I heard what you did to the store." He said. "You're trouble." And with that he walked back down the path towards his truck.

I stood at the door watching until he drove off. Unless he was a damn good liar the werewolves weren't connected with the zombie attack on Supermart 13. Which was good since I lived next door to them, metaphorically speaking, but also bad because I still didn't know who was behind it.

I didn't have time for further ruminations though, it was time to get ready for work. Casinos do a large chunk of their business at night and so once again I had to get ready for a night shift. It wasn't a glamorous job, there's very little glamorous about casino's, but it was a few steps up from shelf stacking!

I closed the door and looked back at the circle I had laid out on my floor and the medallion lying in the middle. Belatedly I realized that it would have been in clear view for Doug when I had the door open. I wondered if he would realize the significance, and what he might do if he did.

Dispersing the circle with some care, I picked up the medallion and placed it back in the fire safe in my closet, which was about the safest place I had short of putting it in the bank.

After that it took a few minutes work to shave and make myself presentable enough to pass muster at Blue Ridge Casino. I had just finished and congratulating myself on being ready early when my phone rang.

It took me a moment to realize what it was because my phone never rings. I pulled it out of my pocket and looked at the number on the screen in disbelief. I didn't recognize the number, but I knew exactly where the call came from, and because of that, exactly who must be calling. Not answering isn't an option with these sorts of people, they have too many other ways to get in touch with you if they want to.

"Yes." I said, not even trying to disguise my weariness.

There was a short pause and then an accent so refined it could only come from a specific part of Edinburgh spoke.

"The Ceannard will be speaking with you now." She said in tones that brooked no argument.

Next: Part 3

Zombiemart is weekly serial sequel to The Wolves of West Virginia, which is available on Kindle.