Endangered

By Stephen David Bourgeois

Paul and Julie LeBlanc move from New Orleans to Colorado, leaving a world of troubles behind them. Settled in Denver, they achieve their dream of adopting a baby, a fondling who was left in a mall. They name their adopted daughter Lara, and as time goes by she seems to be an almost perfect child; healthy, affectionate and smart. They gradually become aware that Lara is different from other children in a number of ways, but they do not realize just how different she is.

Lara and her parents split their time between Denver and Quarrytown, a small town in the Rockies where Paul and Julie own a business. Their almost idyllic existence is threatened when Billy Reed, and ex-con who owns an adjacent ranch, establishes a commune of fanatic white power advocates. He becomes enraged when a young woman from his compound starts dating a Hispanic who works for the LeBlancs. The conflict becomes personal when Charles and Billy have a confrontation. It goes badly for Billy, but the LeBlancs realize that they are in danger from Reed, who is bent on revenge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 2, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450244886

Stephen David Bourgeois

Stephen David Bourgeois is a graduate of L.S.U. in Baton Rouge, and of L.S.U. School of Medicine in New Orleans. He did postgraduate work in pathology at Orlando Regional Medical Center, the University of Utah, and Tulane University. He has published several medical articles. He lives in New Mexico with his wife, two dogs, a cat and a horse.

Book preview

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 1

It had snowed all morning, diminished to flurries in the afternoon, and now at 11:00 P.M., it was clearing. Having finally gotten their daughter, Lara, to bed, Paul and Julie LeBlanc were climbing the stairs of their home in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, heading for the game room on the third floor.

Lara, who had recently turned twelve, was on Christmas break. The family had flown out from Denver by helicopter the day before. Paul’s business headquarters were in Denver and Lara attended school there, but she loved the mountains with a passion, and whenever she arrived at their mountain retreat was in such a state of excitement that she could barely sleep. Her parents had finally persuaded her that the mountains and the snow would still be there in the morning, and she had consented to go to bed.

Paul and Julie had adopted Lara as an infant and both adored her. She was an extraordinarily beautiful child, highly intelligent, and musically gifted. Nevertheless she could be very difficult at times; moody, withdrawn, and given to bursts of violent temper. They had never concealed the fact of her adoption, and sometimes wondered if not knowing who her biological parents were played a role in her emotional problems. Tonight however, Lara had been as sweet and loving as any child could be, and after she retired to her bedroom they were ready for a nightcap before turning in themselves.

They entered the game room, which was equipped with a wide screen television set, a pool table, comfortable leather covered sofas and chairs, and a wet-bar. Julie went behind the bar, took two brandy snifters, and poured them each a shot of Fundador. Together they moved to the wide picture windows that looked out the rear of the house. There were some ten acres of snow-covered field surrounded by coniferous forests. The sky was clear now and the light from a full moon illuminated the scene. That afternoon the three of them had played in the middle of the field, Lara running and laughing and rolling in the snow. They could still see the indentations where she had made snow angels. They were standing arm in arm, enjoying the view when Paul felt Julie go tense with excitement.

What? He said.

She pointed, and said, Look.

He looked in the direction she was pointing, just in time to see several shadowy figures disappear into the inky blackness beneath a tree.

Coyotes, he said, wondering why Julie was so excited. They saw coyotes all the time. She said nothing but continued staring intently in the direction where the animals had disappeared. A moment later they emerged from the darkness and trotted toward the center of the open field. Paul looked again.

Those are damned big coyotes.

Julie said nothing for a moment, then, I don’t think those are coyotes. I think they’re wolves.

I was thinking the same thing, Paul admitted, but there are no wolves around here, —unless they’ve come down from Yellowstone.

Julie went behind the bar, pulled out a drawer and removed two pairs of binoculars. She handed one to her husband, and they both studied the animals that were now loping across the field toward the house.

Wolves, Paul said, no doubt about it. They must have strayed down from Yellowstone Park.

The wolves had reached the area where Lara had made snow angels and were sniffing the ground. They’re picking up human scent, Julie said. I hope it doesn’t scare them off. The wolves continued sniffing the ground, running in small circles. They showed no inclination to leave.

Julie looked at her husband. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

Lara, he said. "Do you think we should get her up to see them?

She’ll never forgive us if we don’t. You know how she is about wolves. Lara had been obsessed with wolves ever since they could remember. She read every book she could find about them. Her room was decorated with pictures of wolves and wolf calendars.

You’re right. They may be gone tomorrow and never come back. I’ll go get her. He left, descending the stairs to get Lara from her bedroom on the second floor.

Julie got a camcorder from one of the cabinets in the room and returned to the window. She focused in on the wolves, then zoomed in close so that their images filled the screen. There were six of them, and they were still in the area of the snow angels, apparently intensely interested in the human scents. The zoom lens restricted her field of vision but showed the wolves in surprisingly sharp detail. All six wolves suddenly froze, facing toward the house on full alert. Julie pulled back on the zoom, widening her field of vision. Paul reentered the room behind her and said, Lara’s not in her bed. At that moment Lara appeared in the lower field of the camcorder. She was running toward the wolves.

My God, Paul, she’s out there.

Paul looked out the window and stared at his daughter running directly toward the wolves. She moved with a long, loping stride, easily bounding across the snow. The wolves had frozen in place. As she got closer they ran back twenty or thirty feet and then turned and faced her again. Lara stopped and knelt in the snow. She gestured toward the wolves with her arms, as though inviting them to come to her for a hug. The wolves moved forward toward Lara, lowering their heads, wagging their tails, and displaying all the usual canine submissive behavior. Julie zoomed in again as the wolves reached her and saw Lara hugging them as they licked her in the face.

I’m going down there, Paul said. Keep an eye on them and if they attack her dial 911 and let the hospital know that we’ll be on the way in by helicopter. Paul piloted his own chopper. He was already on his way out of the room and Julie heard him running down the stairs. He and Julie both knew that wolves supposedly never attacked humans, but he also had never heard of wild wolves walking right up to a human the way these wolves had done.

Julie continued to watch the scene through the lens of the camcorder, taking advantage of its magnification to see more clearly what was going on. Now Lara and the wolves were romping in the snow like a child playing with the family dogs. As she watched the romping stopped, the wolves were suddenly alert again, looking toward the house, and Lara turned also. Widening the field of view she saw Paul running across the snow toward Lara.

Lara heard her father’s steps crunching through the snow at almost the same time as the wolves. She turned toward him and made motions for him to go back, but he kept coming. Daddy, no, it’s all right, they won’t hurt me. Please go back, you’ll scare them away. Go back.

Paul ignored her cries, ran forward and scooped her up in his arms, turned and started back toward the house. Lara struggled for a moment then went limp. Paul took several steps toward the house, then hauled up short. One of the wolves had circled around him and was between him and the house, its hackles up, teeth bared in a snarl. The others moved to either side of him.

Daddy, Lara said, her voice surprisingly calm, Please listen. They’re encircling you. They think that you’re attacking me. They want to protect me. Please put me down slowly.

Paul hesitated, then slowly lowered her to the ground. That’s good, Daddy. Now, please, squat down beside me, show them that you are no threat.

Paul did not move. Please, Dad, trust me on this, Lara said.

The wolves had stopped snarling, but they still appeared menacing, as though ready to attack if he made a wrong move. Slowly Paul squatted down beside his daughter. She put her arms around his head and hugged him, making canine-like noises of the sort that he had heard dogs make when their master returns at the end of the day. He realized that this display was for the wolves, and it seemed to be working. They appeared more relaxed though still alert.

Get up slowly and walk me back to the house, Lara said.

Paul rose slowly to his feet. Lara held on to his hand and walked toward the house with him. The wolves followed to the edge of the back patio. Paul and Lara entered the house through a back door and Paul felt the tension drain out of him to be replaced by anger.

For God’s sake, Lara, what the devil did you think you were doing out there? he yelled.

Julie came running down the stairs and wrapped Lara in her arms.

Oh Baby, you scared us half to death. How could you do such a thing? And look at you, it’s a wonder you don’t have frost-bite. Lara was bare-footed, clad only in jeans and her pajama’s top. The temperature outside was in the low twenties.

For goodness sakes, Mama, nobody gets frost bite that fast. And besides, you know I don’t get cold like other people, Lara said.

It was true, both parents knew; another of the peculiar things about Lara. Her normal body temperature was 99.6, a degree higher that most people. She had had a work-up by her pediatrician, and he had pronounced her remarkably healthy. He had no explanation for her above normal temperature but informed them that this occasionally occurred in otherwise normal people. Lara never seemed to need as many coats and sweaters as other people, and they assumed that it had something to do with the fact that her body produced more heat that most people’s.

I know you tolerate the cold well, honey, but barefoot in the snow? Let me look at your toes. Julie lifted each foot in turn looking for white or bluish spots on the toe tips. She felt them with her hands. Julie looked at Paul, a puzzled expression on her face. She said, They’re hardly even cold.

Lara, he said, Your mother and I know how you feel about wolves. But those are wild animals. How could you take such a chance?

I was never in any danger, Lara said. Wolves would never hurt me.

How could you know that? Julie said.

I just know, Lara replied. By instinct I guess.

I’m not going to argue this with you, Paul said, but please, honey, please don’t ever do anything like that again.

Daddy, I want to go back out there again. They’re waiting for me.

I guess you know that also by instinct.

If you don’t believe me let’s go look.

Paul and Julie exchanged glances. Paul shrugged. OK, let’s look.

They started up the stairs toward the game room. Why did he think that Lara was going to be right, and how could she know? Certainly the wolves seemed to like her, as odd as it seemed. They entered the game room and crossed to the picture windows. Sure enough the wolves were still there, in the field, looking toward the house. Two of them were sitting down. It looked for all the world as though they were waiting for Lara.

You see, she said, anger creeping into her voice. Let me go back out, at least for a little while.

No way, Paul said. It’s just too dangerous. We don’t really know what those wolves are up to.

We just can’t let you take that kind of risk, Baby, Julie said. After all, they did seem pretty hostile when your father was out there. Who knows what they would do?

They thought he was a danger to me, that’s the only reason they threatened him.

Paul shook his head. We absolutely forbid it. Look, you can watch them for a while from here, then we all have to go to bed. It’s getting late.

Besides, Julie added, I used the camcorder and got it all on tape when you were out there. You can watch it all over in the morning.

You think you know everything, Lara said hotly. There are some things I know more about than you. Her eyes flashed from one of her parents to the other, then she ran out and down the stairs toward her own room. She went in and slammed the door so hard that they could hear it from the third floor.

The next night, a Tuesday, the wolves were back. Again, Lara wanted to go out to them and again her parents adamantly refused. The wolves circled the house, coming surprisingly close, sniffing the ground wherever humans had walked that day, especially where Lara had been. There were five gray wolves and one black. After making several turns around the house, a large gray wolf, whom they took to be the pack leader, came cautiously onto the patio and approached a chair where Lara had been sitting that afternoon. He sniffed the chair for a while and then sat on his haunches and stared at the house.

This is getting too weird, Paul said.

Julie was filming with the camcorder. Without putting it down she said, What do you suppose they want?

They want me to come out and play with them, Lara said.

Or maybe to have you for supper, Paul said.

They wouldn’t hurt me, Daddy. You saw how they were last night.

I saw how they were, Paul conceded. Who knows whether they might change their minds?

As the sun came up Wednesday morning anyone standing behind the Leblanc house would have seen three faces peering out of the windows, looking for the wolves. The animals had disappeared into the forest, but their tracks were all over, even on the patio. A short time later the family gathered for breakfast in the dining room. As the Cuban maid, Luisa, served them, they spoke excitedly about their furry visitors.

I wonder if they’ll be back tonight, Julie said.

They will, Lara said.

If they are, Paul said, I think maybe we should get some expert advice on what’s happening here. I don’t believe that what we’ve been seeing is normal wolf behavior. I’d like to get an opinion from someone who’s studied wolves and who has had experience with them.

I bet I know who you’re thinking of, Julie said.

Bernie Arsenault, Paul replied. You’re a fan of his, aren’t you Lara?

Yes, I am, I have three of his books. He knows more about wolves than anybody.

Yes, well, as you know, he and I were in high school together, Paul said. He was a few years behind me and might not remember me, but he was in the same class as my brother, Joe, and they were friends. Joe occasionally sends me clippings about Bernie. He got a Ph.D. in zoology and has made a big name for himself. He was on the cover of People Magazine last year. I believe that he’s teaching at the University of Utah now. I could give him a call, see what he thinks.

Why don’t you invite him here, Daddy? I could get him to autograph my books.

You know, Honey, that’s not a bad idea, Julie said. He should be out for the holidays now anyway.

Paul considered what they had suggested. Of course he might already have plans. Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll try to get him on the phone today, fill him in on what’s happening, and see what he thinks. If the wolves come back again tonight I’ll try to get him to come here for a consultation, a house call so to speak.

Oh Dad, that would be great. I’ve never met anyone who understands wolves and has studied them for years the way Dr. Arsenault has.

That afternoon Paul called information in Salt Lake City and found that they had a listing for a Dr. Bernard Arsenault. He dialed the number and a man with a rich baritone voice picked up and said, Hello.

This is Paul LeBlanc. Is this Dr. Arsenault?

Speaking.

Dr. Arsenault, I don’t know if you remember me. I was a senior at Terrebonne High School when you were a freshman. My brother Joe was in your class. I think you know my wife, Julie.

There was a laugh from the other end of the line. Paul, you big bastard, you think I wouldn’t remember you? Three years with the New Orleans Saints, then eight years as outside linebacker with the Broncos, all-pro the last three years. Had the sense to get out while your body was still intact. Yeah, I remember you. I buy a lot of my ski gear and camping stuff from one of your shops here in Salt Lake. To what do I owe the honor of this call?

Well, I’m flattered that you’re aware of my career. A lot of intellectual professor-types don’t pay much attention to football.

A lot of professor-types aren’t Cajuns. How’s you brother, Joe?

"Joe’s fine. He and Henry are still running their auto supply stores.

Bernie, I have a situation here that’s sort of up your alley. I know that you’re an authority on wolves. I read the article about you in People Magazine. My daughter has all your books and has read them from cover to cover.

Your daughter has read all my books? How old is she?

She’s twelve.

Christ, I can’t even get my college students to read my books. What kind of situation are you talking about, Paul? Does she want to get a pet wolf? If she does tell her to forget about it. They don’t make good pets.

No, it’s not that. A pack of wolves has sort of taken up residence in my back yard.

Say what? I thought you lived in Colorado.

I do. We live in Denver most of the time but we have a place in the mountains. That’s where we are now.

Paul, are you sure you’re seeing wolves and not coyotes?

I’m sure. I’ve seen them from up real close, Bernie, Paul said dryly. Like from about six feet away. Paul told Bernard everything that had happened with the wolves. He mentioned that he thought they might be some of the wolves that had been trapped in Canada and released in Yellowstone Park.

If I didn’t know better I’d think you’d been smoking something, Bernard said. But there may be an explanation. I told you wolves don’t make good pets. But there are some people who live in remote areas who’ll raise wolf puppies sort of as pets and sort of wild. They let them come and go as they wish. It’s possible that one of your neighbors raised some wolves and they’re now running free. If whoever raised them had a daughter about Lara’s age that might explain their attraction to her. But this is just speculation. I sure wouldn’t take any chances if I were you. I agree with you on that. You say your wife filmed all this with a camcorder. I’d sure like to see that video. How’s Julie doing, by the way?

Julie’s fine. We’ve been married sixteen years now.

"Good for you. I’ve got a daughter too, almost Lara’s age. Her name is Alice and she’s eleven.

But getting back to the wolves, number one, I wouldn’t let Lara go back out there with them, no matter how much she screams. Number two, I’d call around to the neighbors and try to find out if any of them have raised any wolves.

We don’t really have any close neighbors here, Bernie.

You must have some neighbors, Paul. Wolves can range quite a ways, you know. How much land are you on there?

Well, our place is a little over one hundred thousand acres, and we have national forests on two sides. There’s a ranch to the south, but I never heard of them having any wolves. Aside from that, there’s really nobody living within miles of here.

Bernie sat for several seconds in stunned silence. Over a hundred thousand acres in the Rockies, backing up to national forests. I knew you were rich, Paul, but I had no idea. Your wife’s pretty well heeled, too, if I remember right. Oil money isn’t it?

Some oil. Mostly gas. They hit a huge deposit of natural gas on her family’s land.

"I’m happy for you, buddy. Anyway, who knows where these wolves come from? There aren’t supposed to be any in Colorado. You could be right; they might have drifted down from Yellowstone Park. Or, someone who raised them elsewhere might have released them near where you live.

I don’t know what else to tell you, off hand. It’s weird that they would be coming so close to your house, not to mention wanting to play with your daughter. They must have had some previous human contact. If they stick around you have a problem, especially since they were hostile to you. That’s another thing that I wouldn’t expect of wild wolves. They’d just run away from you. You know, they might very well go on about their business and you may never see them again.

I thought about that. If they don’t, mind if I call you back?

I’d be hurt if you didn’t. I’m really curious as to how this is going to turn out.

Paul hung up and then filled Julie and Lara in on what Bernard had said. Lara was not pleased that Bernard advised keeping her away from the wolves, but it was hard to argue with her parents now that they were backed up by a world-renowned expert on wolves.

It was getting to be late afternoon and the sun was dropping behind the mountains.

I have an idea, Paul said. Let’s take items of clothing from each of us, put them on the patio, and see how the wolves react to the different scents, if they come back tonight.

Do you think that it’s something about Lara’s odor that attracts them? Julie asked.

Paul shrugged. Who knows? Maybe we’ll learn something, maybe not.

That evening after supper Paul took the tee shirt he had worn all day, the blouse Julie had worn, and a sweatshirt that Lara had been wearing. The stone patio behind the house was some sixty feet wide and ran the length of the house, one hundred and twenty feet. Paul put Lara’s sweat shirt near the south end of the patio, his tee shirt in the center, and Julie’s blouse at the north end. Then he went back into the house and up to the game room where Julie and Lara were already waiting and watching out the windows for the wolves. When half an hour went by with no sign of the animals they decided to watch in shifts. Lara took the first shift and Paul and Julie settled into recliner chairs with novels they were reading. After half an hour Paul got up and went to the window to relieve Lara.

Do you want to watch a video or something? He asked her.

Maybe later. I’ll watch a little longer with you.

Ten minutes later, Lara said softly, There they are.

She pointed to a spot at the edge of the forest on the far side of the field. Paul looked but could see nothing. Julie joined them. Both adults looked with binoculars.

I’m not sure, maybe there’s something there, Julie said.

At that moment the wolves emerged from the shadows and were plainly visible trotting across the snowy field with that smooth effortless trot so characteristic of their species. They stopped when they got close to the patio. The pack leader sniffed the air and looked carefully around, ears pricked forward alertly. After a few moments he advanced cautiously and the rest followed him. He went directly to Lara’s sweatshirt and then all the wolves smelled it thoroughly. They milled around the area for a while as though searching for the occupant of the sweatshirt. Two of the wolves lay down beside the shirt, one of them with his front paws actually on it. They hung around the area for about another half an hour then trotted back across the field and disappeared into the forest.

The next morning Paul called Bernard again and told him what had happened that night. Bernie, this situation has me worried. I’m afraid to let Lara go outside by herself. I’m going to ask you a favor. Would you come over here and check this thing out yourself? I’ll send my plane to pick you up. My pilot will fly you to Denver and I’ll pick you up there in my chopper. Couple of hours max. from Salt Lake to here.

Bernie hesitated. Anything to do with wolves fascinated him and this situation seemed really unique. Unfortunately he had other problems on his hands at the moment.

I don’t know, Paul. I hate to turn you down, but my daughter, Alice is with me. I got custody six months ago, and this will be the first Christmas that we will have spent together since her mother and I were divorced six years ago. I didn’t get to see her all that much after the divorce and we’re still getting to know each other.

Bernie didn’t mention it, but finances were also a consideration. He figured Paul would be shocked to learn how little a college professor earned. He was trying to work his way out of some debts that he had incurred. Just two days ago one of his colleagues, Ralph Williams, had called him about a wealthy student who wanted some intense tutoring over the holidays. The student was willing to pay fifty dollars an hour for three hours a day for one week. Ralph was flying back to see his family in New England for Christmas and had referred the student to Bernie. He had called Bernie to let him know that the student would be calling him. Bernie stood to earn one thousand and fifty dollars, enough to pay off the balance on his six year old Plymouth and still have a couple of hundred left over.

Bernie, bring your daughter, of course. She might like it here. We have a big place. She could bunk in with Lara or have her own room, whichever she prefers. Of course, I don’t expect you to work for nothing. I’ll pay you a thousand dollars a day. One week minimum guaranteed.

Paul, I think there’s something wrong with this phone. It sounded like you said you would pay me a thousand dollars a day.

You heard right, Bernie.

That’s me getting off the plane. No, really, I accept. I need a few hours to pack and get to the airport. We have these presents under the tree, and it looks like we’ll be there for Christmas. Mind if I bring them along and put them under your tree?

Great idea. Look, I’ll have my pilot call and work out the schedule with you. He should be able to pick you up this afternoon and I’ll be waiting when y’all get to Denver. The pilot’s name is Bill Azzari. He’s a former Air Force pilot, very competent. I’ll see you when you get here.

Chapter 2

Bernard hung up the phone and remained seated on his bed leaning against the headboard. He was in the upstairs bedroom of his townhouse in Salt Lake City. His daughter, Alice, was watching a movie in the living room downstairs. He was not sure how she was going to take the news that they were going to be spending Christmas with people who were strangers to her. Alice had been through a lot prior to his getting custody six months ago, and it had left her with some emotional problems. He had her in counseling with a staff psychologist at the University of Utah, but she was still depressed and very shy. He sighed, got up and headed downstairs to break the news to her.

Alice looked up when her father walked in. Hi, Dad.

Hi, honey. I have to talk to you about something.

Alice flipped off the television.

Something has come up. I’ve been asked to go the Colorado in consultation on a situation with some wolves. I was just on the phone with an old friend of mine. Well, more accurately the brother of a former schoolmate. He wants both of us, you and me to fly over there for a week or so, and while we’re there I’ll evaluate this problem he has with some wolves.

When would we go?

Today, this afternoon. As soon as we can get packed.

Alice looked down, her face sad. I thought we were going to spend Christmas together, just you and me. We’ve never done that before. Her voice was full of disappointment.

We were, honey. But this is important. I don’t like to bother you with finances but I have lot of bills coming in and this is a chance to make a lot of money. I just can’t afford to pass it up.

Alice had a practical streak in her. She had seen her mother and her stepfather go from a big spending, high living existence in Hollywood, California to bankruptcy. She remembered very vividly the phone calls from creditors, the repo man taking their car, the mounting bills when her mother, and then her stepfather, got sick.

How much will you make, Daddy? In Colorado, I mean. Alice had already accepted the fact of their going.

I’ll make a thousand dollars a day.

Wow. No wonder you want to go. I’ll go start packing.

Bernard hugged his daughter. Thanks, Honey. Thanks for being so understanding.

It’s OK, Daddy. You’re the one who has to pay the bills.

Alice went to her bedroom, got her suitcase out of the closet and started packing her clothes.

Bernard picked up the telephone and left a message on his answering machine for the student who wanted the tutoring. He explained that he would be out of town for the holidays and gave the names and numbers of two of his colleagues who might be interested in tutoring him.

He found a large cardboard box in the pantry, took all the Christmas presents from under the tree, packed them in the box and taped it shut. He was in the process of packing some clothes and camping gear when the phone rang. It was the pilot, Bill Azzari, who informed Bernard that he would be at the Salt Lake City airport in two hours. Bernard and Alice finished packing, loaded their stuff into the Plymouth Voyager and headed for the airport.

They had been waiting for only ten minutes in the prearranged area when the pilot walked up. Of Syrian extraction he was of medium height, compact build and swarthy complexion. He looked hesitantly at Bernard and Alice and asked, Are you Dr. Arsenault and Ms. Arsenault?

We are, Bernard said. But please call me Bernie, and this is Alice.

Bill Azzari, the pilot said extending his hand. It’s nice to meet you both.

Azzari helped them with their luggage and showed them out to where a Learjet, was parked. In the course of his studies of wolves, Bernard had logged quite a few hours flying in small planes to remote destinations in Alaska and Canada, and Alice had flown on large passenger jet liners, but neither of them had been on a Learjet before. Azzari introduced them to the copilot and made them comfortable in the luxurious passenger compartment. They fastened their seat belts and the pilot taxied out to the runway. Bernard patted Alice on the knee and said, Well, kid, we get a taste of how the other half lives. Not bad, eh?

Alice seemed excited and Bernard was hoping that this trip might get her mind off the fact that her mother and stepfather were both dying of AIDS. She smiled at him. Who owns this plane, Dad?

Paul LeBlanc, the man who hired me to do this consultation about some wolves on his property.

He must be rich. How did he get so much money?

The LeBlanc family is very wealthy. There’re four siblings, Paul, Joe, Henry, and Margie. They’re landowners; they have a large sugar cane plantation and then oil was discovered on their land. Plus, they all seem to be good businessmen, and just seem to keep making more money, unlike your father.

You do fine, Daddy, Alice said loyally.

Yeah, well, anyway, Henry and Joe, Paul’s brothers, have a chain of auto supply stores, doing great from what I hear. Paul was a professional football player and you know how much they make. When he retired from pro ball he opened a sporting goods store, built it into a chain. I forgot to tell you, Paul’s wife, Julie is also wealthy. Her family owned a fairly large tract of land, mostly swamp. Then both oil and gas, mostly the latter, was found on their land. Julie’s very active in helping Paul run their business, plus raising their daughter.

How do you know so much about them?

Well, Joe and I were classmates at Terrebonne High School. We’re all from the same small town in Louisiana. And I briefly dated Margie some years ago, before I met your mother. Margie and Julie have been close friends ever since they were kids. Paul was an outstanding player, not only in high school and at L.S.U., but also in the NFL. He made all pro the last three years that he played. I know you’re not a football fan, but had you not heard his name before he called me today?

No. I never heard of him.

The flight seemed to go by very quickly and they were descending for the airport in Denver before they knew it.

Bill Azzari brought the plane in for a smooth landing, then taxied off the runway to where Paul was waiting with the helicopter. After the plane came to a stop Azzari and the copilot helped them off with the luggage. Paul was waiting at the foot of the stairs. He and Bernard shook hands and Bernard introduced him to Alice.

Alice had an impression of a huge bear-like man and she instinctively drew closer to her father and stood slightly behind him. She extended her hand timidly hoping that it would not be crushed by the enormous hand this giant was holding out to her. Her body language was not lost on Paul who shook her hand gently. It’s nice to meet you Alice. I hope you had a nice flight.

Fine, thank you.

I have a daughter about your age. Her name is Lara. She’s looking forward to meeting you.

Alice pressed closer to her father and said nothing.

Well, let’s get loaded, Paul said. Why so many bags, Bernie?

I brought some camping gear, sleeping bags, etc. Just in case I need to follow your wolf pack out into the woods. That cardboard box has our Christmas presents.

You really think you might have to go out in the woods after them? They’ve been pretty good about coming right up on our patio so far.

"We’ll see, Bernie said.

The bags loaded, they settled in and Paul lifted off and headed northwest. It was a clear, cold day. Most of the smog had blown away from Denver and they could see the skyscrapers in the distance. Then they were over the mountains and the scenery was spectacular. Range after range of mountains, all blanketed with glistening white snow, extending as far as the eye could see. Less than an hour later Paul brought the helicopter down onto a helipad located in front and somewhat to one side of his house.

Lara was walking in the woods that lay on the far side of the field behind, and west of the house when she heard the helicopter coming in. She had been told not to go out at night or when the wolves were in evidence. She suspected that her parents would probably not approve of her hiking in the woods by herself, even though they had not expressly forbidden it. She had wanted