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

"That's something, right? Especially since Kelly put a moratorium on football in your house."

"Yeah, I guess the day wasn't all bad."

"Sure, because I had a ton of chuckles staring at the liquid meat that was the remains of the newest victim."

"Dammit, Sam, you sure know how to take the fun out of everything."

"Hey, I wasn't the one who went all Kitchen Ninja on the hooker.”

"That bad?"

"Quinn, it was the worst one yet. He's going off the rails, man. Two vics just a few days apart means he's broken his routine. I'm terrified he won't be sticking to hookers and junkies. I'm scared he’s going to start grabbing any shifter he comes across."

"You’re most likely right, kid. Fuck."

"That's about what I said. Hey, I'll come over and relieve you from sitting duty. You go home and get some sleep. I'll figure out with Gerry what we should do about Ben. I get the feeling we won't need to have anyone stay on him much longer. He's not a woman and Grisly doesn't know about him. I don't think he's in any danger."

"Here's hoping. There is nothing worse than babysitting. See you soon, drive carefully."

"Drive carefully? Bitch, please."

"Right, I forgot who I was talking to. Drive like a maniac." I could almost hear him stick his tongue out at me as he hung up. I drove to Ben's taking my own sweet time and being sure to drive carefully.

As I pulled into his apartment complex I looked at his door. Quinn's car was still in the lot. I parked my car and started to walk up to Ben's door when my phone rang. Gerry was on the other end.

“Gerry?”

“Hey, Sam. Your pal’s boss got back with me today.”

“Yeah, and?” I held my breath.

“He’s on the up and up. He confirms your friend works import/export for them. He also said he was a good employee and he was at the motel dealing with a difficult client that was from out of town.”

I let the breath out in a rush of gratitude. All I ever wanted from anyone is plain and simple honesty. It appears my maker had given me that. Maybe I had acted a bit like a paranoid jerk, but in this business honesty was something that didn’t come up very often.

“Good. At least he was telling the truth about that. Did his boss say why everything was so hush hush?”

“Apparently the client was famous and didn’t want anyone spotting him in town.”

“Oh. Can we pull his security detail? I mean I highly doubt that Grisly even knows about him, let alone wants him dead.”

“We need to stay on him awhile longer. I promise someone will either relieve you or call you to let you know the detail has been pulled.”

“Thanks, boss, though maybe you should have someone else cover Fitzpatrick. I might be a little too close to this.”

“Can you still perform your duties effectively?”

I sighed and answered, “Yes.”

“Then get in there and spell Quinn.” Gerry hung up and I slid my phone into my jacket pocket.

Fuck.

Now I was going to have to apologize.

I was never very good at apologies. It just wasn't something I could do without extreme awkwardness. I'd made my peace with it over a decade ago. Quinn and my friends now let me get away with a simple sorry. I'm rather lucky that way.

I took a deep breath and walked to Ben's door and knocked. Best to get the hard part over with. If I could apologize and move on easily this night wouldn't be so difficult. At least I hoped he wouldn’t make it difficult.

I was going to have to stick around with Ben for at least the next eight hours until someone could get here to relieve me. I took another deep breath as he swung open the door and I attempted to say hi while inhaling. It reminded me of Eddie Caldon trying to talk while holding the pot in his lungs. I shuddered involuntarily.

"You okay, Sam?" Ben looked at me with some concern.

"Yeah, fine. Hey, sorry about earlier. I honestly feel bad that I just assumed you were a dick. Your boss confirmed your employment."

"Well, at least you apologize when you're wrong and, boy, were you wrong."

My face turned at least three shades of red as I answered, "About your employment, at any rate. The rest of what I had to say still stands until proven otherwise."

"Come on in. Quinn says you're here until midnight?" He smiled a lazy self-assured grin that reminded me of the cat he really was.

"I'm here until someone comes to relieve me."

"Relieve you? What, is spending that much time with me a chore?"

My mind blurted out, "Could be worse, I could be taking apart a drain with small chunks of people inside."

"Thanks, Reece, you sure know how to make someone feel special."

"Well, chores have to be done." I am an artist in the form of blurt.

At Ben's raised eyebrow I realized what I said and turned a bright red.

“Chores?”

"I mean that sometimes witnesses need babysitting. Fuck. I'm not good at this shit. Can't you just accept my apology and be done with it?"

"Already have, I just found your sputtering amusing." He grinned and the smile carried to his eyes.

"Dick."

"So you've said."

Quinn's cough from the living room doorway caused the moment of verbal sparring between Ben and me to shatter and I found myself once again feeling awkward. The idea of eight hours stuck with Ben in his house was uncomfortable in the way that it felt too comfortable. This sire bond stuff was playing havoc with my emotions.

I was hoping Gerry would call. If I didn't have to stay but a few hours I could deal with that. But I really didn't want to stay the full eight. The chemistry between Ben and I made me a little uncomfortable and he knew just how to use it to his advantage.

"Hey, Q," I greeted.

"Hiya, Sam. Well, I'm going to run home, check on my family, get a few