Chapter21
1425 Words
“So, Frankie’s your mate? How long have you known?” I pressed George for more details.
“Ever since she tried sneaking into the evidence lockers at the station,” he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t want it to be so, Mike. Why does the Moon G-ddess hate me?”
George plopped onto my couch rather hard. I grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge. Taking a seat next to him, I handed him one.
“Our G-ddess is a cruel mistress, George.” I paused, letting out a sigh. “But I’m sure everything will work out how it’s supposed to.” I tried to reassure him. I’m hoping and praying that my story turns out well. Fingers crossed.
“It’s not fair, Mike! I can’t even claim her,” George complained. “At least you got to mark your mate last month.”
“What the hell are you talking about, George? I never could mark Jewel’s mother. Thanks for the harsh reminder.”
“Mike—” he sighed, placing his beer on the coffee table. “You have another mate, man.”
“George, I thought you came over here for some advice? I don’t need you leaning into me about the mate issue,” I grumbled. “Jewel’s mother is dead. Please, just leave it alone already.”
“Right…sorry,” he mumbled. “So, what am I to do? The mate bond is insane, Mike.”
“You’ll figure out something,” I grumbled, noticing George rub his chest.
A flash of what I didn’t know entered my mind. It was George lying on the ground with a huge gash in his chest. I shook my head, as it was the weirdest thing ever. It left as quickly as it arrived.
“Are you okay, Mike?”
“Yeah… it was just one of those damned flashbacks from working the job,” I confessed.
George squeezed my shoulder in a supporting gesture. He knows… all too well. Hell..we all do, working the beat. It comes with the territory, unfortunately.
“You and Frankie need to have a serious talk, George. At least you don’t have to hide being a werewolf from her,” I suggested. “Now, can I ask you something?”
“Sure…what about?”
“The thing that Frankie described at The Broken Badger? Was it as she said?” I pressed.
“Yeah… just as she said, Mike,” he whispered. “Do you think it’s the same thing that was on Abernathy?”
“I don’t know. But, I don’t like it,” I huffed my frustration. “How’s the case coming along? Any new leads?” I had to change the subject for both our sakes.
“No… I’m stumped. Do you have any suggestions?”
“What information have you gotten out of Emogene Lawerence?”
“Not much. What do you suggest?”
“Surveillance. Track her every move. See if she’s involved in anything shady… you know the routine,” I rambled my thoughts.
“Why her? Why not someone else?”
“Who has access to the college and Blackwater properties, or at least those who hang around each area?”
“Emogene Lawerence,” he repeated.
“You have your answer.”
“When’s your vacation up, Mike? Your experience is sorely missed,” he admitted.
“It’ll be over soon enough,” I grumbled, and then sighed. “And then you’ll get sick of seeing my ugly mug. Don’t forget, you’re still the lead detective on this case.”
George chuckled and gave a half smile. We finished our beers in silence.
“Well, George… not to be an ungrateful host, but I have dad duty to attend to,” I stated, noticing the time. We reluctantly got up from my pitiful couch and went to the door. “Seriously, George, talk with Frankie about the mate bond. Don’t leave her in the lurch about it. I’m sure you both can work something out.”
“You know, Mike,” he began.
“What?”
“You’d make a great alpha,” he noted, stepping off my stoop.
“Good night, George,” I grumbled, watching him leave for home.
“Night, Sergeant,” he replied, waving his hand sarcastically behind him.
Closing the door to attend to my dad duties–straightening the table and washing Jewel’s cereal bowl–I caught my daughter sitting on the stairs.
“How long have you been sitting there?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “Who’s Ima-genie?”
One of my eyebrows shot up, and I crossed my arms in front, showing my disapproval to my daughter.
“Ima-genie?” I inquired.
“You’re not a genie, silly. You’re a wolf,” Jewel laughed at her smart-ass answer.
“You’re correct. I am a wolf,” I retorted. “But…young lady, you were eavesdropping. And whatever else you’ve heard, you need to forget about it. Okay?”
“But…why?” she pleaded.
“It’s an active case. For those involved to have a fair trial, some information can’t be shared with just anyone.” I tried my best to explain some parts of my job to her. I sat near her on the staircase.
“Oh…Okay, I won’t tell anyone,” she promised. However, the look on her face had me worried.
“What’s troubling you?” I asked. “Is it that ‘thing’ from earlier?”
She nodded, pulling her legs toward her and making herself look small.
“How about we find something to toss over the mirror in your room? You’d think that would help?” I suggested. Hey, I figured if she was involved in helping to deter that ‘thing’, it’d help give her some self-confidence. She nodded, poking her head up from behind her knees. “C’mon, let’s go look for something…”
We both headed upstairs, and I led her into the room that George temporarily stayed in. Eh, I can get the table straightened up later. This is more important. The room held boxes of extra blankets and such.
“It smells like a wolf in here,” Jewel noted.
“Oh.. who does it smell like?”
“The wolf that visited earlier,” she answered. “It smells like him.”
“Very good. George did stay here briefly,” I praised my little Jewel. She’s showing signs of a tracker. Maybe she’ll follow in my footsteps? I can dream, can’t I? Now, the reason why he stayed here is sketchy. “Okay, pick a blanket, and let’s get that wicked old mirror covered.”
She chose a thick, blue blanket. We carried it into her room and both tossed it over the mirror. After we were satisfied with our handiwork, Jewel crawled into her bed. I pulled her curtains tighter… just to be sure, and double-checked her closet for anything creepy or off.
“Should I check under the bed too?”
“Uh-ha,” she nodded.
So I looked under the bed. I didn’t see anything nefarious–only my daughter’s face looking back at me with a goofy grin. We both stuck our tongues out at each other.
“Okay, nothing scary under here.”
“Just you,” my daughter teased.
“Ha-ha. It's time for bed. I’ll leave the bathroom light on and have your cracked open. Okay?”
“Okay…thank you, Sergeant.”
I placed a peck on her head and did as I said I would. The stairs creaked and moaned under my feet. The table still needed straightening and dishes needed doing. However… When I stood at the sink, getting the dishes done, the hairs on my body stood on end. It felt like someone was watching me… I think I will also toss a blanket over the mirror in my room.
10: 13 PM, 1314 J. Butcher Blvd., an unknown vehicle
A mysterious woman with long auburn hair stared intently through the windshield toward 1313 J. Butcher Blvd. In the passenger seat lay a photograph of Detective Sergeant Micah Black and Tiffeny Lowell. A decorative hand-held mirror was within reach. A small clay figure was tossed carelessly on the seat. The woman picked up the photo and held it tightly as she gripped the steering wheel.
“Don’t worry, my Alpha… We’ll be together again…” she vowed, putting the car into gear and slowly driving away.
- Writer
