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

by a bear and we all agreed the TV show was pretty sweet. It’s a real duh moment for me.”

“Well, my mind wouldn’t immediately go to shifter, either. Especially if there was no scent at the places. I mean, if there had been a smell of shifter there, you would have known it. What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Fuck me.”

“Um….”

“There was a second scent.”

“What do you mean?”

“No, there was another smell of shifter left at the scene. How did it get there? Why didn’t I think about it until now?”

“I don’t know.”

“I just assumed the second scent came from the victim, but there was no animal hair.”

“Maybe she changed and then changed back?”

“Why would she change back? She stood a better chance of fighting him in animal form.”

“I have no clue.”

“What if he had an accomplice?” My stomach lurched.

“You mean what if the guy who just tried to kill us wasn’t the actual killer?”

“Right, what if he’s the killer’s puppet?”

“Bears are solitary. I doubt he’d be working with someone.”

“But he was. We have a witness who said Grisly told him that God told him to kill those who were unclean. What if the god Grisly was referring to was a person? The witness also said Grisly reeked of shifter; he’s the one that got us thinking shifter.”

“Interesting. Was he vamp or were?”

“Human.”

“Sam, humans can’t smell supers. They don’t have that ability.”

“This man does. I’ve met and sniffed him. He’s fully human.”

“Interesting. Does VonKarolinas know?”

“How do you know Wilhelm?” I gasped; if he’d been out of town for as long as he’d said there’s no way he could have known the leader of the vampire council.

“Wilhelm VonKarolinas was the leader back when I was changed. I was visited by him not long after, welcoming me into the community.”

“Oh.” I recalled my own visit.

It was after I had signed up at a shifter support group. One day my phone rang and this serious fellow was on the other end wanting to know if I was at home. He asked if I’d recently been diagnosed with virus 347-2. I told him I had and he came by with some intern or other to welcome me to the supernatural world and tell me the ground rules. He doesn’t do the meet and greets any more. I think they became too time consuming. The new law requiring consent will help change that, I’m sure.

“So, have you told him?”

“Not yet. I’m not a big fan of the vamp. He’s never deceived me, that I know of, but I just don’t trust him.”

“I think that’s a wise idea. The Council isn’t a forgiving group. They hold tightly to the reins keeping the super community in the closet.”

“Under the bed.”

“What?” Ben asked, looking confused.

“We aren’t in the closet, we’re under the bed.”

“Um, okay?”

“I have a zombie friend that prefers the term coming out from under the bed when referring to the super community being exposed at large. He feels it’s fitting, considering what we are and all.”

“I suppose I can see that. That’s really cool that you know a zombie. What’s he like?”

“Oh, Bob’s quite a character. If you’re still around in a month or so I’ll introduce you. He’s gone north to pick up a vintage Donkey Kong game…. And I don’t know why I am telling you this. You don’t even know the guy, sorry.”

“He sounds interesting. Anyone who likes Donkey Kong has to be okay.”

“Bob’s better than okay. He really reminds me not to get too caught in the dark. He’s a good friend. Helped me out on the job once.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, but that’s a whole other story and I still have questions for you.”

We pulled into the parking garage and I was lucky enough to find a space fairly close to the elevators.

I turned to Ben. “Look, you’re going to have to play this cool. It can look so bad for you if you don’t. I’m going off the idea that Grisly followed me from my house and then recognized you. It’s most likely what happened, anyway.”

“Okay, should I tell them that, too?”

“No, you just tell them the truth. That we were watching TV and he came thumping through the front door. They don’t need to know anything else right now.” I was violating about a dozen rules and regulations doing this, but I knew Ben was innocent and there was no time to waste.

I also knew that somewhere out there someone was controlling Grisly somehow. I could prove neither of those things and felt it best if we stuck to the facts only. The facts would support everything that happened, anyway. We weren’t lying, just omitting an unimportant piece of the case.

I took a couple deep breaths and worked on controlling my emotions. I opened my door and told Ben to come with me. He followed me to the elevators and looked at me, then the elevator and grimaced. I remembered how I’d really laid into him in the elevator not too long ago. I suppose it would be an awkward moment for a while during our burgeoning friendship.

Chapter 15

AS WE WALKED INTO THE BUREAU there was commotion all around. People were working hard trying to figure out how Grisly found us and where he went after we fled. I was stopped about a half-dozen times by people saying they were glad I was okay as I bee-lined for Gerry’s office. Ben was close to my heels.

“Sam, what happened?” James asked as I walked by his desk.

“Not right now, Brady. I gotta talk to Gerry.”

I continued walking and didn’t bother looking back. I wasn’t trying to be rude, but people were hustling through the bullpen like ants on a mission. I didn’t want to accidentally bump into anyone.

When I got to my boss’s door I held up a hand to knock, but the door opened before my knuckles could touch the wood.

“Good, you’re here. Now get your ass in here and tell me what the hell