CHAPTER FIVE **Clue**

Mitch Franklin sat on his front porch at 2 a.m., on guard. He'd began sitting out there, watching since the Werebear killing in Sweden. Mitch could see Jabari sneaking , trying to get back inside. He chuckled, because he'd seen Jabari sneaking in all week and said nothing. Not tonight, they needed to talk.

"Where you coming back from Jay?" Jabari stopped in the darkness. "I've seen you sneaking about boy. You ain't stealth."

Jabari saw nothing but darkness. "Pops?"

"Use your sight boy."

Jabari shut his eyes and flashed them opened with his wolf sight now he could see in the dark. He could see the dark figure on the porch, in the corner so he walked over and sat on the stairs. Father and son sat there for 20 minutes without talking, just silence. Mitch liked when the world was asleep and he was awake, he could think in the silence. Yet, Jabari didn't expect to see him sitting on the porch with an Elephant rifle.

Finally, he asked. "Where you coming from?"

"I've been over my girl's house."

"Don't get in no trouble over there. Vandy told me about Tommy Ali and Aaron showing up over there."

"They know better. Now!"

"Why, you spending so much time with that pet girl? It's supposed to be just sex with them boy. You're not supposed to like, like, them. Got it!"

"Damn pops," Jabari confessed, "What's the issue? I like Briggy, she cool, all midwest and stuff. We hang out, she cooks for me every day, for real. We just chill and watching movies. We like the same things, same books, same TV shows. Real talk, you and mom said I need to learn the ways females. Why can't I like a human female? My boy back in high school, Daylen, he was human and ya'll ain't say nothing. He even went camping with us and Grandaddy Sam. Remember that?"

"Jabari, you still got them other little hot pants chicks running over here looking for you. One came by tonight."

"Huh?"

"You know, human girls are born troublemakers, it's in their bones. We're about to go to war. We don't need no trouble around here with their kind."

Jabari never had girl problems before. "Pops? You think them girls will say something too Briggy?"

"Oh yeah, human girls they don't have to mate for life. And, they run their mouths too, causing toubles. How many pets you go lay with this summer?"

"Just Briggy. I'll keep her, get rid of the rest."

"Do it tomorrow." Mitch demanded. "Me and your mother are flying out of here Sunday. There's a council meeting is in Delaware, your mother got to attend."

"Is, that bear stuff serious pops? That's why you're out here with that gun? I haven't seen you with a blower since I was five?

"It's serious, son. The council is asking the death squad and Warlords to appear, so it gotta be."

Mitch did not want to alarm Jabari, he wanted his son to enjoy his summer. However, he wanted Jabari to be aware of his surrounding as an enemy had returned. Jabari was of the new generation of wolves, and they knew nothing of fighting demons or monsters. Jabari's generation had never been to war. Now, old enemy that had woken up; angry, hungry, and was coming to kill them. This up coming meeting was about what to do next.

Jabari's phone illumined with a text message from Briggy, he got a warm feeling all over. He stood up and headed into the house, he didn't want to keep talking about murders, he was going inside.

"You go stay out here all night pops?"

"Yes. It's quiet, you know I like the quiet. The alley cats will be by soon, I talk to them, they cool. Them, Calico cats, they be knowing, how they say. The tea?"

"Ask'm who killed that Werebear?"

"I did. They tell me that they not too cool with the cats over there." he watched his son smiling at his phone. "Jabari, did you invite Briggy to our 4th of July barbeque?"

"No." he sounded like he was mobbing.

"Why not? I'll make sure the family behaves."

"Pops you just said some 'other' shit, though." Jabari was confused. "So, do I spend too much time with her or no?"

"Jabari, if you go keep one pet, her, then bring her. It's up to you."

Jabari liked that his father was letting him make the decision. "Good night dad."