Chapter32
1751 Words
Leading my cousin back up the too-familiar stairwell, our heavy footsteps echoed within the cement turret. The humming of the fluorescent lights greeted us, stepping into the long hallway. Sporadic faces of students and professors poked out from some doorways. Dylan and I paid them no mind and walked directly to the Dean’s office. Ms. Smith, the executive assistant, was too busy typing on her computer to notice us. A few anxious grad students shifted impatiently in their seats, waiting their turn to see Dr. Frederickson. National Geographic magazines lie scattered on various end tables. Some of the houseplants look in need of TLC. One would think with having a botanist on staff the plants would look better.
Dylan Blackwater and I moved past the executive assistant’s desk toward the Dean’s office. My cousin, of course, bumped the corner of her desk, alerting her to our presence.
“You can’t go in there!” She yelled at us. “He’s in a—”
“This Wolfdale City PD badge says I can,” I interrupted, showing the item.
“Meeting,” she finished. She slumped in her chair.
One corner of my mouth may or may not have moved to its usual position. I love my job. Dylan knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” a worried-sounding voice inquired.
“Wolfdale City PD,” I barked to those on the other side of the door.
“Enter.”
Dr. William Frederickson’s office
The silver-haired Dean of the Biology department sat at his desk. His round glasses slid halfway down his nose. He looked up after hanging up the phone. A small stack of papers lay neatly on his organized desk. I immediately recognized a thick folder envelope lying open. Seated opposite of him was my cousin’s mate, Hanna Grimm. Her arched eyebrow and crossed arms showed her displeasure at our arrival.
“Sergeant! What brings you here?” she squeaked. “Dylan, what’s going on?”
“I don’t know, Lil Bet. My cousin’s being too elusive,” he answered, sitting in a chair after giving his mate a peck on her temple. A small smile brightened her pretty face.
“I’m running interference,” I admitted. My arms and expression mimicked Hanna’s.
“Interference?” A look of confusion replaced Hanna’s smile. “For what?”
“For one, you’re discussing police business with a possible person of interest,” I began.
“If I may interject here, Sergeant,” Dr. Frederickson spoke. “I just got off the phone with Fenton Edwards. He knows about my involvement in this immediate matter.” He scratched his neatly trimmed white beard.
“Even so, you’re still a person of interest in an active case,” I reiterated. “It’s best to discuss whatever those papers reveal down at the station. With your waiting area busy, we can’t risk having prying ears listening in.”
“Okay, that makes sense,” Hanna grumbled. “What’s the second…if there is one?”
“The second one concerns you, Sissy,” I stated. Dr. Frederickson’s one eyebrow went upwards hearing ‘Sissy’ slip from my mouth.
“Oh…how so?” she inquired. Dylan held tightly to his mate, keeping her calm.
Letting out a small sigh, I replied, “Again, it would be in everyone’s best interest to continue this discussion down at the police station.”
“Okay, we can do that,” Dr. Frederickson agreed. “Should we follow you back to the station?”
But before I could answer, a riled-up executive assistant burst through the door like a running back.
“Aggie, what’s the meaning of this?” the Dean asked, gathering the papers in time.
“My apologies, Dr. Frederickson, but there seems to be a disturbance in the botany lab,” she explained. “There seems to be an argument between Wolfdale City PD and our campus security.”
“Yeah, that’s the third thing I needed to notify you about,” I said, scratching the back of my head. “Sorry.”
“Okay, I’m listening, Sergeant,” he said, carefully putting the papers into the folder envelope. He closed it and slid it toward me.
“While my partner and I were discussing another matter, someone brazenly broke into the attached greenhouse, leaving a mess in their quake,” I explained, taking charge of the folder again.
Agatha Smith’s eyes shifted between her boss and me. Her brows furrowed. I don’t think she likes me at the moment. Her sweet demeanor melted away.
“Sergeant Black, is it?” she snidely inquired. “Tell me, why is it whenever Wolfdale City PD arrives on campus you always leave a mess for the campus security to clean up?”
“I don’t have to answer that, Miss Smith,” I boasted. “If you have any problems with our personnel, go to the damn police station and file a report for yourself. I don’t have time for this. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m leaving.” I tucked the thick folder envelope securely under my armpit. “Dr, Frederickson, Mr. Blackwater, and Miss Grimm,” I addressed them. “I’ll see you three soon. Thank you for your time.”
“That’s Ms. Smith, Detective,” she corrected me. Her icy glare didn’t go unnoticed.
“Of course, Sergeant. Thank you for notifying me about the disturbances,” the dean stated.
“We’ll see you soon, Sergeant,” my cousin stated in passing. He helped guide Hanna out of the office and down the hallway toward the elevator.
March 25th, 4:48 PM, Wolfdale City Police Department, the Large Conference Room
“Ugh! Just because you’re a major CEO and an asshole, it doesn’t give you the right to sit at the head of the table, Dylan,” Hanna chewed out her mate.
“Asshole, really?” He remarked, arching one eyebrow while smirking. His green eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Yep…asshole,” she retorted. “I could’ve used other words, but chose that one instead.”
“Fitting,” I muttered under my breath. But the asshole heard it and shot me a side glare. Told you, I’m so loved.
Chief Fenton Edwards entered the room. He looked exhausted. Been there…still there.
“Move it, Mr. High-assness,” he said gruffly to Dylan. “It’s late. I’m tired, and this matter needs to be settled.”
Hanna chuckled watching her mate get booted from the chair. A place was made for him beside Hanna and me.
“It’s such a privilege having a CEO sitting beside me,” I sarcastically stated, holding a hand over my heart.
Hanna, the minions–Raymond and Demi, our MEs, Detective Barton, Captain Winston, and Dr. Frederickson tried stifling their snickering, but a few slipped through. Chief Edwards shot a serious look in my direction. His eyes, with one brow arched, and his reading glasses perched on his nose, bore into me. Gulp!
“If we’re done with sarcastic remarks, let’s get this over with,” he grumbled. “Everyone, take a seat if you don’t already have one.” My colleagues quickly settled into the seats available. “Sergeant, I figured you would like to know that Detective Harper and Ms. Harlow made it to a safe house,” he calmly stated. “And you will resume the lead detective position on his cases until he returns.”
I nodded and let out a sigh of relief. At least they’re safe…for now. We still don’t know what that ‘thing’ is or what it wants.
“Why would…” Hanna began asking her question, but her uncle put his hand up, stopping her from continuing.
“Not now, Bet. We’ll get to the reason soon enough,” he replied, easing her fears a little.
“Okay,” she whispered, but it was obvious her curiosity was piqued. Dylan held her hand and gently rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. Her shoulders relaxed. She laid her head on my cousin’s shoulder. He took advantage and snuck a kiss on the top of her head.
“William, please, in plain language, explain what’s on those files for us,” my boss instructed.
“Thank you, Fenton,” he replied. “To get straight to the point. It appears like someone or a group has been tempting fate and attempting to create a new creature.”
“What kind of new creature are you talking about?” Hanna inquired, straightening herself in her chair. Dylan scooted closer to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Dr. Frederickson released a slow breath and carefully explained the files in greater detail. “This creation–from the DNA results–consists of both human and—”
“Wolf,” Doc Jacobson interrupted.
“Gil!” Chief Edwards growled. “Please let Dr. Frederickson finish before you speak. Please, continue William.”
“Thank you, Fenton,” he said, loosening his tie. “Your answer is only partially correct, Gilbert. There’s more to it than that.”
“And I would have to disagree with you, William,” the ME asserted. “Our subject is clearly a wolf-man. One part wolf. One part man. Therefore, a wolf-man.” Heh, he could be describing me. But let's not forget... I'm all cop too.
“Scientifically speaking, Gilbert. A man and a wolf could never share DNA without it resulting in the death of both,” the Dean of Biology countered. “There would need to be another ‘element’ involved for both to exist together.”
Hanna’s agitation and I admit mine grew with the heated banter between the scientists. Neither one was backing down. Her hands alternated between open and closed. Her breath became rigid. Dylan pulled his mate closer to him, trying to keep her calm. But it wasn’t working. Her eyes subtly flickered between hazel and golden.
“Sweetheart, please try and stay calm,” Fenton Edwards gently spoke to his niece. He held her left hand.
“What aren’t you telling me, Uncle Fenton?” Hanna cried. Her lips trembled.
“Sergeant, would you like to explain to my niece the finer details of the current case you’re working on?” my boss inquired.
“Yeah, sure,” I sighed. “The perpetrator, Anderson Jacobs, was found under strange circumstances.”
“How strange, Sergeant?” Hanna pressed. She immediately crossed her arms in front of her.
- Writer
