"Get back in your vehicle," Officer Houpe says, reaching for his sidearm.
"Y'all look ridiculous still wearing those mustaches," Daphne says.
You barely see her Change into glabro form, but both cops, looking right at her, cry out and stumble against the brick wall. The Delirium, the mind-warping effects of shapeshifting, is most powerful in a Garou's crinos form, but seeing a Change cooks a human's brain, too. And it's more than that: she has some Gift that you think lets her control or tune the effects of her Delirium on people.
"So much for Biggs and Buck," Daphne says. "Lord but the '70s need to stay buried. I'll take you home." The cops are just standing there, looking like they're caught in some kind of neural trance. You hesitate for only a second before retrieving your money and getting your backpack out of the slush.
Never turn down a free ride. I put my bike in the back and we take off.
"How do I learn that trick?" I ask once we're both in the car.
"Are they gonna be okay?" No way am I getting into a car with this ragabash.
I give one cop a good hard kick, then grab my bike and disappear into the alley. I'm not sticking around.
Next
"Who cares?" Ms. Clear says, looking at you like you're crazy. "Buck Dharma here can stand in an alley until he starves for all I care." But the cops look like they're snapping out of it, so you grab your bike.
"You're drawing attention, Matulo!" Ms. Clear says. "Do you know what deflects attention? Money. If you fear you're running into trouble, contact me. It costs surprisingly little money to make sure the police don't trouble a hard-working wolf."
It's good to know that offer is on the table, but you don't stick around. You hop on your bike and roll hurry down the alley before those cops get their brains working again.
Elton and I return to Broad Brook.
Where can I find Nin?
Where can I find Podge? I text Elton so we can make plans.
What about Melodie Palys? I text Elton about her.
I compose a carefully worded email to Ms. Clear about paying off the cops so I don't draw attention.
Elton promised to introduce me to the surviving members of the "Three Families." I text him about that.
I check my phone.
Next