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

it is necessary or not, it’s protocol and I’m going to need to hold on to your sidearm until you’re cleared for duty.”

“You can’t do this, Gerry. Please.”

“Sam, you haven’t given me much choice.”

“This is bullshit and you know it. You’re bending over for this councilwoman. Besides, I tried to pull the connection thing when I did my best to get out of babysitting duty. You asked if I was still able to follow my duties. I said yes. Now you’re punishing me for doing the right thing? You’re letting them screw me to cover your own ass, and I have to say I’m really disappointed in you for that.”

“I’m following protocol. You might remember, we’re government employees not vigilante superheroes. Look at your empty holster if you need to be reminded of that. I’ll send someone with you when you leave. First, though, I need to take your statement.”

Chapter 16

I SPENT ABOUT FOUR HOURS GETTING GRILLED. I went over everything twice. Gerry assured me I’d done everything right, aside from withholding my personal connection to the witness. Luckily, they didn’t go down the road I did and start asking if maybe Ben had ties to Grisly.

So there was that.

On my way out for the night I got a gut punch and was told they couldn’t spare anyone to watch me and Ben, so we would have to stay at the office until the Marshals arrived. At least I’d get to hang out with him again. I still had some more questions for him.

“Sam, what’s going on?” Ben asked when I walked into the conference room they were keeping us in.

“A city councilwoman’s son was injured by Grisly fleeing your apartment. The son apparently tried to stop our bear and was beat to hell.”

“Oh, no! Brandon is such a nice guy. I hate that he got hurt because of me.”

“Brandon?”

“Yeah, his mom is a real hoot. I’m good friends with both of them. Want me to call her?”

“That’d be great, too bad it’s too late.”

“What do you mean too late?” Ben asked, voice rising in pitch to match his alarm.

“I’m suspended.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Sam. I thought you were going to tell me Brandon was dead. Jesus.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“You didn’t, you simply nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“Look, I’m sorry. I just… Well, this job means the world to me.”

“I can see that, but you didn’t have to freak me out like that.”

“Sorry.”

“Yes, you said that.”

“It’s all I can say or do right now. Accept it or don’t, that’s on you.” I stalked over to a chair in front of the large console they had on the wall for cyber meetings. I turned it on and tried to find something on TV to watch. The news and infomercials were all I came across. I turned on one for some food dehydrator and went over the case in my mind.

Grisly had come to my house. That told me he was most likely after me and not Ben. Somehow he knew I was a shifter. What I was unclear on was did he know what I was before he came to my house? I really wanted to know how he knew where I was. Did he know he was coming across an FBI agent assigned to his case or was it random? Was I meant to be the first non-hooker lycan he killed or was his showing up just a coincidence? I let my head swirl with all the possibilities and then I chastised myself for not shooting him.

If I’d just been a little clearer on what my relationship with Ben was maybe I wouldn’t be here grounded in the office like a naughty toddler. I envied Quinn his ability to stay on the case. I heard talking and looked up.

Ben was on the phone at the other end of the long table. I turned my attention back to the miracle dehydrator that saved all the vitamins and minerals, but cut down on the wasteful tossing of rotten produce.

It was about as riveting as watching paint dry, but it was better than being chastised further. I’d expected it from Gerry, somewhat, when he found out Ben was something more than my maker, but I hadn’t expected Ben to be upset with me. I’d just saved his life!

Of course, I’d also been the reason the serial killer found him and injured his friend. It sucked, but it was obvious some people saw it that way. I was only trying to get Ben and I out alive. I probably should have stayed and tried to take Grisly down myself, but at the time, it just didn’t feel safe for me to do that.

I was just trying to get out alive with an unharmed witness. I went by the book. Well, so much as the book covers about babysitting your maker whom you haven’t seen in a number of years and are somehow majorly attracted to because of a stupid sire bond. Yeah, good luck finding anything about any of that in any FBI manual.

Could I have done better? Probably. But I did what I was able to do and I wasn’t disappointed in myself for anything other than this Brandon kid getting hurt. I felt guilty an innocent was harmed, but I’d succeeded in not allowing my charge to be killed and eaten.

Okay, so I probably sound like a petulant kid right now, and I apologize for that. I’m just not the sort of person who can let things go easily, if you couldn’t tell, and I’d worked awfully hard on the Grisly Adams case, so being taken off of it infuriated me.

“Sam?”

“Look, I’m sorry. It won’t make it any better the more I say it, trust me.” I scowled.

“No, that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. I talked to Brandon’s mom; she’s glad you kept me alive and is not going to continue forward on this. She’s glad her