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

nearest Waffle House was. Said he was hungry for some pancakes."

"Where did you direct him?"

"I told him The Diner was the only place to get him some real good pancakes, since Waffle House ain’t got any."

"You sent him to The Diner?" I squeaked.

I hoped Genie would be off today, I didn't like the idea of her serving pancakes to this homicidal creep.

"Yes'm. Don't know if'n he went or not. Last time I saw him leave it didn't look like he were coming back. He loaded up everything he had brought with him."

"Thanks, Eddie." I smiled at him. "Go ahead and step out back. I'll come with you." I was hoping the pot might help him talk more.

"Say, thanks, kid. You're alright, for a copper."

"Sam?" Sheila was going to read me the whole pot isn't legal you're an officer of the law riot act.

I could just feel it in her disapproving glare.

"It's okay, Sheila. You guys just stay right here; we will leave the door open and be right out the back. If I need you, I'll yell."

She looked as if she were about to say something and closed her mouth, then nodded at me, instead.

"Thanks." I patted her arm and walked out with Caldon.

He stood about five feet from me in a cement alley behind the manager's office. It ran the full length behind the motel. As he put lighter to pipe I poked my head in his office to talk to Sheila.

"Something wrong?"

"Do you know if ERT has been out in this back alley at all?"

"I don't know, I don't believe so but I'll check. Why, is there something out there?"

"No, I just have a funny feeling our guy may have gone out the back way today. Caldon said he didn't see him. So I was thinking maybe he went out the back to avoid being seen covered in blood. If he did—”

"Gotcha." She turned to the cop next to her. "Hey can you run down to the murder room and ask ERT to check the back alley?"

The young man nodded and hustled off.

"Thanks!" I hope he heard me.

I nodded at Sheila and stepped back out with Eddie. He was looking far more relaxed.

"Hey, that guy, is he that Grisly Adams killer?"

"Yes, Eddie, he is."

"No shit!"

"None whatsoever."

"Damn."

"That about sums it up."

"He said something when he was checking in. I didn't pay it no mind 'til now."

"What did he say?"

"He said he was a soldier from God's Army … and that he was here to kill demons. He said these demons look like people but can change into animals. I thought he was crazy, but he ain't fully crazy, is he? My sister is a wolf shifter. Do I got to worry 'bout her?" He took another deep drag on the pipe and held it in.

"If she isn't a prostitute then she should be okay."

"For how long?" He squeaked and then, with a big cough, he exhaled pure white smoke.

It lingered in the air in front of him for a moment until it danced away on the breeze.

"Pardon?"

"How long 'til he takes that anger out on regular folks who're shifters?"

"I don't know, Eddie. That's why I want to find him quick."

"You and I both know he gonna start killing regular folks, and soon. Especially now."

"Why now?" I was curious and beginning to think Eddie knew more than he claimed to.

"Well, I didn't see the other bodies, but this one wasn't more than a puddle. Someone does somethin’ like that and I'd like to say they ain't going to be satisfied in slowing down." He took another draw off the pipe.

"What aren't you telling me, Eddie?"

"Nothing, ma’am, honest!"

"Come on, Eddie, I can smell a lie as easily as I can smell your pot."

"You can?" He looked slightly stoned and I knew I didn't have long before I lost my shot at getting whatever information he had.

"I sure can. Been able to do it for a long time now. It's sort of a gift. So, tell me, what did Grisly say to you that you're keeping to yourself? Think about that poor girl you found today—think of what he left of her—now, think about your sister. Tell me, Eddie. What are you keeping secret?"

"He said he was having ... cravings. I assumed he meant food. I asked him what sort of food he likes and that's when we talked pancakes. He laughed a bit and said those weren't the cravings he meant. I chuckled, too, 'cos I thought he meant women then. I told him where a lot of girls hang out during the day. I'm afraid he's there finding another victim. I'm sorry. I didn't know!" Caldon’s hands were shaking and he dropped the pipe.

"It's okay. We will make sure the girls are safe. Tell me where to go and I'll go look for him."

"I told him a lot of them hang out at Arkadelphia Road by the Pilot gas station and Wendy's. A few girls work the lots there." He bent down and retrieved his pipe as he answered me.

"Thanks, Eddie. I'm going to leave. Before I go, you might want to hide that pipe a bit better. Not sure the other cops will be as kind as me about the pot." I patted his arm and ducked back inside the office.

I got out my cell and called Gerry on speaker phone. I told Sheila to come over and explained to both of them what Eddie had told me.

In less than a half an hour there were two carloads of us heading down Highway 78. We had to go easy with it so we were split between my car and Josh's. All of us in street clothes. Just a group of coworkers going out to lunch, or at least that's what we hoped we looked like.

When we arrived at the gas station/Wendy's we left the cars, joking and laughing with each other. As we joked we also watched. I was fairly certain Grisly was already gone but maybe something of