Crunch was more accommodating than I expected. He couldn't ask a huge favor because I had nothing worth giving. He already possessed my favorite jacket. I learned not to get too attached to things here. I made my way out of his office and around the maze and stopped.

"You better not mess with this machine mutt." Jimmy cursed.

Oh boy, who could be dumb enough to make him mad? Curiosity killed the Kat but hey I have nine lives right? Jimmy faced off with a man about his height but maybe a little broader in shoulders. He had tree trunks for legs and amber colored eyes, sandy colored brown hair.

"Wow." I breathed.

They ignored me. Hmm human or something else? You couldn't always guess just by looking at someone. Made dating fun. Well if I was into that kind of thing and I'm definitely not. The last date turned out to be a septa-pod. Sounds a lot funner than if you actually get touched by one of those tentacles. Each one of the suckers had teeth. I shivered.

"Boys let's solve this like civilized women and talk it out."

They both eyed me like I had two heads but I finally won their attention.

"What seems to be the issue?"

Amber eyes grunted. "This meathead is mad because I beat his high score on space invaders."

I gasped.

"I had the high score on that one." I pushed my way through the wall of muscle and growled. Both the lug heads had their initials on top of mine.

"When did you beat me Jimmy?"

"Early this mornin. This mutt came in and topped it in 15 minutes." He threw a rude gesture to amber eyes.

"Inconceivable." My mouth gaped open just a little. I'd been reining champ for the last four years. Four Years.

"He cheated," Jimmy said the word like it tasted dirty.

"I sure as hell didn't." Amber eyes looked ready to rip off Jimmy's head. I liked the leprechaun. I enjoyed our banter and love of gaming. I couldn't let that happen.

"Show me how you did it."

Amber eyes locked his gaze with me.

I suppressed a groan. I need some chocolate. Yeah it'd been awhile.

"As you wish, but you're buying." He turned to the game but didn't quite turn his back to Jimmy. "Over here Irish. That way you can have a clear view of kicking your gold coins all over the place."

"Boys, lets be friends." I extended my hand. "Names Katherine, Kat for short."

He eyed my hand like he expected me to do a magic trick any second then finally clasped it in his. Firm shake but not too firm. His hand was calloused but not unpleasant.

"Benjamin, Ben for short."

"Big Ben. I like it." I grinned.

He blinked at me then did his best Cheshire impression.

Jimmy coughed. "You two done flirting so we can get back to the important matter of my honor?"

"Not really," I quipped, "but I guess there is the important matter at hand. I'll spot you the token if you don't mind showing me how you did it?"

"Sure Kat. How can I deny a lady's request?"

"Lady? Where?" I looked around. The shop only had me and them. Weird.

I shuffled over to Jimmy and motioned for him to come down to my height.

I whispered, "Do you mind loaning me a few tokens? I'm fresh out of funds."

His eyes narrowed and I pretty sure he mumbled a Celtic curse before digging in his pocket and handing me a few golden disks. A few too many but I would pay him back. I never left unpaid debts. Well to people, bills were another story.

I put a few in my jean pocket and gave one to Ben.

"Thanks." He chuckled deep in his chest and sauntered over to the machine. Popped in the coin and gave me the second best show of my life.

"Wow." Jimmy and I said in unison.

"Told you I didn't cheat."

Jimmy ran his hand through his dark red hair. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Ben conceded, "You didn't know me and you can't be too careful with all the Hocus Pocus going on these days."

I ducked and both men just stared at me. I shrugged. "Last time I said that stuff flew at my head."

"Said sorry?" One eyebrow rose on Jimmy's forehead.

"No, Hocus Pocus."

A kitty stuffy and two slinkies came right for me. Ben caught them all...in one hand.

"Thanks." I blinked at him. Probably could have dodged them all on my own with ease but it's nice to be protected once in awhile.

"No problem." He handed them to Jimmy. "It comes with the genes."

I figured that he was one of the spliced. They didn't usually leave their packs, prides, or sloths? I don't know what they call their groups.

"What brought you to see Jimmy?"

"Probably the same as you, my pack needs information. Some of our females are missing and I hear that's Crunch's business."

My face fell and my smile left with my high score. "Missing women?"

"Yeah, six in total."

"I'm a PI. I'm looking into a few myself."

"A PI huh?" His gaze took me in from head to toe with a new light. "Aren't you a little small?"

"Small?"

I tossed one of the extra tokens past his face and watch his gaze follow exactly where I wanted it to. I moved to his front grabbed his arm and pulled it to my center line, changed my level, hooked my leg around his ankle, and pushed my shoulder into his middle. Effectively putting him on his back.

I stood up and glared at him.

"Must look big enough from down there."

Jimmy busted out laughing, his eyes watering, and sucking in huge gulps of air as Ben just looked at me.

I made my way to the exit, through the rows of machines with my cheeks on fire and jaw clenched.

"Wait."

I spun, my nails digging into my palms. He raised his arms in surrender.

"I'm sorry. I could really use some leads. They took my little sister."

Family. It had to be family. I searched his big dumb amber colored eyes and knew he told me the truth.

"Fine, but I need a shower and we need a safe place to talk. Let's go to the Hideout. No more cracks about my size."

"Deal."

I wanted to get more out of him but this had already been a day. My stomach growled reminding me that lunch passed a few hours ago.

"We are going to take a little detour. I need some energy and it's a long walk back to my place."

"Okay."

Despite his size I couldn't hear his footsteps. Must be another perk of his genes.

"Wolf?"

"Don't you know it's rude to ask?"

"Sue me."

"Yeah, I'm wolf. My little sister isn't though. Neither are the other ones I'm looking for."

"I didn't think you let people that aren't your kind in your packs?"

He shook his head. "We don't go out much. Mostly stick to the remote areas and sections of the woods given to us to build homes. Not everyone wanted to or could afford the gene therapy. Doesn't mean they aren't family. Jenny is my sister's name. She's only a few years younger than me but twice as stubborn."

I put my hand on his shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze. I didn't have much I could say to comfort him. So I didn't waste the words.

"I'll treat you to lunch. I know this great noodle place."

"Sure sounds like a plan."

"It's a few blocks from here."

I picked up my pace and heard the screaming. Then turned the corner

"Oh joy and I thought this day couldn't suck any worse."