Shifters: A Samantha Reece Mystery Book 1 by Jaime Johnesee (libby ebook reader txt) 📕

too, if Quinn hadn’t taught me early on not to breathe through my nose.”

“You could have told me.”

“I just did. Nice to meet you in person, Officer Hahn. Congratulations on piecing this together and pegging it as a serial.”

“Call me Josh, I think we’ve spoken enough on the phone. So, is this the part where you thank me, tell me I’m no longer needed, and send me on my way?” Hahn looked pissed.

“Nope. You put this together, you stay on the case.” It was something Quinn and I routinely did.

People think we just swoop in and take over their cases while simultaneously using their resources and pushing them out of the investigation, but Quinn and I don’t work like that.

We feel all hands on deck is the best way to get cases solved. Plus I’m at a disadvantage in pissing contests, since I lack the equipment for it.

“Really?” He seemed surprised.

“Yeah. If you’d like to stay on with us we’d love to have you.” Quinn extended his hand and the officer shook it.

“Thanks, guys. You’re okay. Nothing like what I’ve been told about the feds.”

“Thanks, I think?” Quinn’s eyes held a glint of amusement.

“Sorry. I meant it as a compliment.” The poor guy looked mortified.

“It’s okay, we get that a lot. Probably because in the past there were some assholes that would have done what you thought we were going to.”

“Heh, that must be rough.”

“It can be.” I walked around to a large spatter of blood on the wall by the sink. The bloodstain was wrapped around a huge dent in the wall that I was thinking was probably caused by the victim’s head.

“Looks like the vic was incapacitated before the cutting started. I hope they stayed that way until their final breath.” Quinn’s face was an impassive mask, but I could still see the anger boiling in his eyes.

He loathed serial killers and had made it his mission in life to stop them.

“Here’s hoping. Nobody should have to live through being torn apart and eaten.”

“Technically, they don’t.” Officer Hahn looked around at the grim scene, face paling when his gaze met the morgue tech ladling people parts into a bucket.

“We have to stop this guy. How the hell is he tearing them up like this? I want to know what tools he’s using. Evidence Recovery, please make sure to get castings of the bone fragments so we can get what we need to find out what he used, connect those tools to him, and nail him.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I peered around to see if there was anything the crime scene crew had missed, but no, there was nada. Whoever had done this, they hadn’t tried to clean up or hide a thing.

“You thinking what I am, Q?”

I call him Q because he loves Star Trek: TNG. Well, and the obvious fact his name begins with the letter, but mostly the Star Trek thing.

“Yup, disorganized killer. No matches for his prints means he hasn’t been caught before.”

“So violent. He really hates them for whatever reason.”

“Maybe misogyny? Mommy didn’t love him enough? All that bullshit.”

“Bullshit?”

“I hate when they hide behind an excuse. Plenty of people get abused by their parents and turn out okay.” Quinn had been working serial killer cases a long time.

He had no sympathy toward those devils and I can’t blame him. Mostly because I have no sympathy for them, either. My own life was extremely rough as a child and I turned out okay.

“You ready to check in with the agents and officers canvassing?”

“Sure am.” I took another long look around the room and forced my eyes to the open bathroom door.

As I watched the morgue tech continue scoop the remains from the tub, I promised I would find the one who did this and stop him. It was the only thing I could do for them at this point and I took my job very seriously.

A few years ago, as part of the Computer Crimes Division, I’d made a huge collar. Shortly after, I was given a chance to work with the Criminal Investigative Division and I jumped at the chance. It was around the same time that I was infected with a shifter virus.

That’s right.

I’m a were.

I was bitten after a really horrible date went south and I went for a walk in the park. A black panther came from the bushes in front of me. Apparently the need to be a moron arose from within and I decided, for whatever stupid reason, to try and pet the damned thing.

It bit my hand once, almost gently, and ran away. A jogger called the cops and I learned at the hospital that I was no longer human. I’d been infected with virus347-2, also known as MJV (melanistic jaguar virus).

I truly hate all the stupid stuff out there about us supernatural creatures. You know, all those Hollywood bullshit facts. Those things like vampires don't like sunlight or that were-creatures have to turn on the full moon. I can tell you right now that vampires are mostly okay with the sun, except for those with the light sensitive form of the disease.

Yes, disease, vampirism is genetic and not some demonic curse or virus carried through the blood of the infected. Although I’m sure it sounds more romantic the other way, it really is just a genetic disease passed down through the generations.

Vampires are just as able to enter churches as we are. They also have no problems with holy water or garlic. Well, unless they're allergic to garlic the way some humans are. They can also see themselves just fine in mirrors, and they don't turn into smoke, bats, or wolves.

I know, boring, right?

What they do have is a condition where their bone marrow stops producing as many red blood cells as are needed to fully function. Most have a biweekly blood transfusion set up with their doctor. After the transfusion they do have heightened abilities.

They can run fast, jump high, have serious strength, and enhanced senses, but those effects