Alpha Micah Black: Werewolf Detective (Complete)

Chapter Forty-Two

The student with shaking arms slowly removed his paws to lift up the wolf mask, complying with the order.

“Put the mask on the ground. Keep your hands up, please,” George continued. Beads of sweat started to form on all of our heads. Suddenly, a loud authoritative voice boomed out.

“Mr. James Ellis, what have I warned you about this semester?” it yelled. George nodded to Mr. Ellis to answer the question. The authoritative figure moved toward us. We both immediately recognized who it was.

“Don’t be terrorizing the students,” our costumed wolf sheepishly replied. “I’m sorry, Professor Bryant. It won’t happen again.”

Since there is clearly nothing actually nefarious going on, George and I put our Glocks back into their holsters. We both breathed a sigh of relief. I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one on edge over the recent findings. I think I found my Beta. Yeah, right, Micah. Keep dreaming. George is a human, the same as everyone else in this city.

“You’re correct. It won’t happen again. I’m notifying Coach Owens to remove you from the mascot list as of today,” Patrick Bryant snapped at the student. Mr. Ellis, out of habit, seemed to animate his disappointment. We both gave the nod to dismiss the students.

“Thank you, Professor,” I said, still calming myself down from the situation. My heart rate was high and my breath were short. “You wouldn’t know...offhand where the were...werewolf costumes had been purchased...would you?” I found myself struggling again to speak.

“I wouldn’t exactly call them werewolves, Sergeant. The school’s mascot is just a wolf,” he smart-mouthed back. Have I stated how much I really don’t like this guy?

“But, no,” he continued. “I wouldn’t have a clue as to where the school purchased them from. Talk to someone in the Athletic Department.” He then turned and walked away, leaving George and me to our own thoughts.

“We don’t really have time to go to the Athletic Department, Sergeant,” George reminded me.

“Right, let me contact Cass, and get her or Roger to cover this lead,” I said between breaths, pulling out my phone to call. As I’m waiting for Cass to pick up the phone, I notice that there are a lot more wolf costumes on campus. It’s just what we don’t need. More werewolf costumes to sort through.

On the phone...

“Officer Peterson, Homicide,” a familiar voice answered.

“Hey, Cass,” I whispered.

“You okay, Mike,” she asked me, her voice laced with concern. Here we go again.

“Yeah, I just overexerted myself again. George and I had a run-in with a costumed wolf. Nothing more exciting than that.”

“Wait...what?”

“I’m just wondering if either you or Roger could speak with someone in the Athletic Department. Try to get as much information on where their mascot costumes come from. It’s the only lead on the wolf we have.”

“Have you talked with Dr. Bugsby yet?” Cass snickered.

“No. George and I are on our way now.”

“Okay, be careful Sergeant. We wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, then I disconnected the call.

Meanwhile...

Back within the depths of the catacombs beneath the busy city, the meeting had gotten a little heated over the same topic.

“I’m telling you, The Alpha isn’t ready,” one of the older male voices said, pounding his fist onto the small table, causing it to rattle under the force.

“The Alpha has a hard enough time standing up on their own legs,” the woman spoke the truth but in the most sarcastic tone. She stared at her polished nails, bored throughout the whole discussion. Every month is the same old, same old.

“There’s no way that The Alpha can face Jabberwocky,” the young one spoke up, voicing his own opinion.

“The Alpha must stay hidden.”

Dr. Brigsby Office...

“I have to admit, gentlemen, this was quite the challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed it,” the teacher of insects confessed, giddy like a schoolboy. His office still looked the same--shadow boxes of taxidermied bugs, books, and scattered papers. However, a door off to the side was open, revealing a small brightly lit laboratory. This university is full of surprises. It’s a tiny version of Hanna’s domain. Microscopes, vials of various shapes and sizes, jars of dead ones in formaldehyde, and terrariums with different creepy crawlies—tarantulas, scorpions, black widow, wolf spiders, etc., in each one line tables and shelves. I shudder just looking at them. Ugh. Don’t you judge me when you’d react the exact same way? Dr. Bugsby, uh, Brigsby, notices my subpar physicality and offers me a seat at one of the worktables. I’m the picture of health for Wolfdale City’s finest.

“Trixie, would you please get Sergeant Black a glass of water. He seems to have a need for it,” Dr. Brigsby said to his assistant. She goes to the small sink with a cupboard above it and pulls out a small drinking glass. Trixie is a petite young lady with a similar pixie cut hairstyle as Cass’ but with pink, sharp edges. Her green eyes are mesmerizing as they seem to swirl when I look into them. I quickly close my eyes from the hypnotizing stare as she hands me the glass of water. I’m aware that Halloween usually comes early on many college campuses, but this year is really beginning to take its toll on me. While I’m fighting for my sanity, George has been in conversation with the bug professor.

“You’re saying that there were three different types of insects that helped you figure out the time of death?” George asked, quite interested in this newfound discovery.

“Yes, and only after getting more detailed information from Drs. Jacobson and Davidson, I was able to recreate similar findings,” he said while handing over a large manila envelope and some plastic storage boxes.

“Can you tell us when the time of death occurred?” I somehow muttered out.

“A little over two and a half weeks ago. I believe it was a full moon,” Dr. Brigsby stated his findings to us. Before we were ready to leave, one of the school’s uniformed officers came and knocked on Dr. Brigsby’s door frame.

“Excuse me, Dr. Brigsby. Is there a Sergeant Micah Black here?” he asked. Now, what?

“I’m right here,” I forced out in a hard sigh. I stumbled out of the small laboratory. The glass of water didn’t help at all. “What is it?”

“This came for you,” he just said, handing me a bubble wrap-lined envelope addressed to me with the word urgent spelled out in large red letters.

“Huh, how’d you end up with it?” I asked with a bit of attitude. I roughly took the envelope from the officer’s hand.

“An Officer Oren dropped it off when he stopped to ask for directions to the Athletic Department Building,” he simply told me, turning to return to his post.

“Roger? Think he actually made it there without getting distracted,” George smirked, trying to hold in his laugh. He does know his partner’s quirks. He has made a good point though.

“Thank you, Dr. Bugs..., um, Brigsby, for all of your help,” I stumbled out. I can’t believe I said that to him. Another internal facepalm.

“You’re very welcome, Sergeant. Don’t worry too much about the slip-up. It happens all the time,” he reassured me with a genuine smile. George and I left his office to head toward Dr. Montgomery’s greenhouse office, hoping that her report would be ready as well.

“You just gonna stand there holding your “urgent” package, or are you gonna open it?” George teased. His curiosity is obviously getting the better of him. Rolling my eyes, I tore the package open. Inside was a small rectangular box. Opening up the box revealed a silver bullet. I recognized the rifle cartridge immediately. My own partner, Cassidy, has an empty one on a key chain. She and her husband are responsible hunters. Opening the box also released a familiar scent that was once dear to me. Vanilla with a hint of roses. I used to think roses were the stronger scent. I used to love that smell, but it does nothing. Between the scent and remembering those green eyes, I’m confused about what is happening to me. Why am I still being drawn to it now?

Stepping outside the Biology building, George and I notice that Halloween is in full swing. Costumed students already in a party mood congregate on the lawns and pour out of nearby fraternity houses. Above the madness that has erupted on campus, I hear a familiar voice calling out to me.

“Alpha!”