Episode 2

The next night, Ronni O'Maile helped Linda out of the car and walked her up the street towards her boss's house. Many cars lined the curb.

"Let's see what this friend Luiz of yours will say about me."

He smiled at the grimace she made. His Scottish accent sounded stronger.

"It was about time I met him. I was too curious to see this fool who let you go."

"Ronni! Behave yourself." She nudged him when she heard him laugh. "Luiz won't like your sense of humor."

"Relax, sweetheart. I'm happy to help. And just for the record, you look beautiful!"

"This is a fake date. Remember, you don't like me that way."

"But I can appreciate a beautiful woman..."

He took Linda's hand and started walking with short strides. They walked in silence for a while.

"I was thinking, maybe what you saw chasing you was just a mangy stray wanting company?"

"I know the difference between a scrawny dog and a wolf." She looked angrily at her friend. "It was a wolf, I know it."

"Linda, wolves don't attack cars, they only go after what they can eat. Maybe you need to rest, or..."

"Or?" she questioned.

"Or your subconscious is afraid because of your admirer."

"It was a wolf!"

"Alright, you stubborn thing. Let's forget about this and have fun."

She tried, but the way that animal looked at her was strange, it seemed to be able to see through her, but she was at a party and should celebrate her boss's birthday.

Ronni let go of Linda's hand and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer.

"Let's enjoy the party, okay? Forget the wolves and those secret and idiot admirers."

He squeezed her lightly and then, with his hands on her back, let her go ahead. Right at the entrance, they were greeted by the party's host with a glass of champagne in his hands.

Linda didn't feel comfortable at parties like that, she was glad to have Ronni as a friend. He was a former special forces soldier from Scotland, they ended up meeting on one of her cases, three years earlier. He was a red-haired man, 6'1", strong and smiling, he had an aura of mystery that made women throw themselves at his feet.

They understood each other immediately, he was like an older brother. Ronni was patient with her and took care of her as if she were family. Sometimes she got annoyed with him when he was willing to end her relationships.

Not that he wanted her, just as she didn't want him. He was a masculine and sensual man, but thinking of having a romantic connection with him was like incest.

They stayed there, talking to friends and he always by her side playing the role of a lover. They talked to one or another couple, "paraded" together through the place, and finally, she thought it was enough.

"Ready to go?"

"Sure."

"Let's say goodbye to the 'big boss'."

When she was heading towards the boss, she saw Luiz in a corner, next to a girl. He had his eyes fixed on Ronni.

They said goodbye to the host. When she realized that Luiz was still watching them, she waved to him and followed Ronni to the door. When they were reaching the gate, Luiz blocked the way.

"Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?" he said without taking his eyes off Ronni.

Linda found herself, even reluctantly, having to introduce the two men:

"Luiz, this is Ronni, a very important person..."

The two men shook hands in greeting. Linda raised an eyebrow when she saw that the two were measuring strength, instead of a simple handshake.

"Enough, guys."

"I just wanted to meet your boyfriend." Luiz replied, releasing the other man's hand.

A false and resentful smile was noticeable under Luiz's false calm expression, he continued:

"I just wanted to know if he's treating Linda well. My girl deserves only the best."

Ronni put his arm around Linda's waist, bringing her closer, protectively. He could feel the veiled threat.

"I don't think she has any reason to complain about me." Ronni said in a mocking tone.

Luiz's lips tightened into a thin line and anger flashed in his eyes, but he only let out a playful laugh:

"You must have something I don't, good for you." Looking at Linda, he continued. "You can't blame a man for being upset when he sees that he loses."

With a lifeless smile, Linda called Ronni to leave, saying goodbye to Luiz.

Outside she breathed a sigh of relief and apologized:

"Sorry. He was too inconvenient, I didn't imagine that Luiz was so detestable."

"Yes, the guy is a provocateur."

"Now you know why I asked you to come with me tonight..."

Linda was going to say something else, but a shiver on the back of her neck made her look to the side, she had the impression of having seen a blur.

"What's wrong?" Ronni looked at her curiously.

Linda contained the panic. Another movement and a huge, dark shadow...

Lord! It wasn't possible, a wolf again!

"Please Ronni, let's get in the car. Hurry."

As soon as she heard the door lock open, she practically threw herself into the car, closing the door afterwards. Ronni calmly went to the driver's seat and looked at her, surprised by the panic he saw stamped on her face.

"What's wrong? You seem panicked?"

"I'm not sure, I thought I saw something strange."

Ronni found his friend's behavior strange, but he started the car. The headlights illuminated a huge wolf standing in front of the vehicle.

"My God!" Linda grabbed Ronni's strong shoulders. "Look!"

The wolf bared its teeth furiously. And there was the same cut ear, it was the same animal from the other day.

"It's the same wolf!" she almost screamed.

"It's just a coincidence."

"I'm telling you, it's the same wolf! He has the cut ear like the other one."

The animal rose on its hind legs. It seemed to get much bigger, almost the height of a man in the form of a wolf. He attacked the car.

"Go! Go, go, go!" Linda shouted, in panic.

"Son of a bitch!"

Ronni stepped on the accelerator and the car's powerful engine roared, easily distancing itself from the beast.

"Can you tell me what kind of drug that was?"

"What do you think it is?" Linda questioned him.

Neither of them dared to say something so strange, but after the scare, Linda said:

"It was a Werewolf, I know it's ridiculous to say that."

To her surprise, Ronni was thoughtful for a while, until he broke the silence:

"I think I know someone who can help us."

"Help in what?" Linda wanted to know.

"In your problem with the werewolf. If it's the same one, he's chasing you."

"Now, in addition to an obsessed admirer, I have a werewolf after me..."

"Marcus, Marcus Petrus, he can help."

"Who?"

"Marcus is a former college colleague. He's a writer now."

"How can a writer help?"

He writes horror books, his specialty is werewolves.

"Fanciful stories..."

"Yes. But this wolf came out of the books. He lives on a private islet, on the coast of Cornwall. You will be away from danger for a while."

"But..."

"No buts." Ronni was firm. "He's an eccentric, but I trust him with my life."

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