The Shifter's Conspiracy (Paranormal BBW Werewolf Romance Novella) Read Free Page A

in the elevator. We were the only passengers inside as the elevator rode down to the first floor lobby. I was still so excited about the potential lead that I decided to mention it to him, trying to bring it up as casually as possible.
    “So, I think I’ve got a lead in the abductions case,” I said bluntly. Wow, talk about the opposite of casual.
    “Yeah?” said Frank absent-mindedly. “I didn’t even know you were on the case.”
    “I’m not… technically. I was doing a bit of research on my own.”
    “What kind of research?”
    “I’m compiling profiles on each girl based on social media use.”
    “Social media?” asked Frank, genuinely perplexed.
    “You know, Facebook, Twitter, stuff like that.”
    “Ahh, I don’t use any of that junk.”
    I fell silent. He didn’t seem very receptive. I pondered this, questioning myself, wondering if maybe I was being too rash bringing this information forward right now. The lead was shaky as best.
    “So what’s the lead?”
    “Excuse me?” I asked. I hadn’t been paying attention and didn’t quite hear him.
    “The lead. You said you had a lead.”
    “Oh. Well, from what I determined, it looks like all the girls are the same body type. Seems consistent with a serial killer or someone else with an obsession. It’s a specifiable pattern at the very least.”
    “Hmm. That seems like it could be useful. And I think it aligns with what the case team has found so far.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “They’re thinking serial killer. There’s going to be a department briefing tomorrow. I’d hold onto the information you’ve just told me until after that.”
    “OK.”
    “I also want to warn you that they’re bringing in FBI on this one.”
    “What? Why?”
    “Because the FBI has psychologists, experts in serial killers and crimes like this. Over twenty abductions? It’s starting to look like a fiasco for the department. You know that Commissioner Davis has political ambitions. He can’t let this thing get any more out of control than it already has.”
    “Right.”
    “They’re going to introduce the FBI agents tomorrow. It’s a small team, lean and efficient. Only three agents. Those agents are going to put their own task force together with people they hand-pick from the department. If you want to get on that team, I wouldn’t tell anyone else in the department about the lead you just confided to me.”
    “Right. Thanks.”
    “No problem.”
    The doors opened and we walked out into the lobby and through the front door of the station together. Frank wrapped a scarf around his face and tucked it into his top coat.
    “What’s your name?” he asked gruffly.
    “Tess Wilshere.”
    “Tess, I’d double check everything tonight. Make sure you’ve got it right and you’re not just pursuing a lead that isn’t there. These FBI guys are sharp. They can see through bullshit right away.”
    He turned and left. The biting wind stung my face as I watched him walk away. Then I turned and headed in the opposite direction, ready to catch the 4 train home for the night.

CHAPTER 3
———
    At 9:25 AM the next morning we were called into the large conference room. Aaron Davis, the Police Commissioner of NYC, stood at the podium to the front of the room. A slick and dapper man in his mid fifties, who had the physique and facial features of someone who’d just turned forty. He was less a cop, and more of a politician; one could easily tell by the way he dressed and how he carried himself. You can be damn sure no other cop in the department was wearing designer suits to work.
    Next to him stood Frank Donnelly, wearing wrinkled khakis and a beat up herringbone jacket. His tie, of course, was crooked. Frank looked like he spent all of five minutes getting dressed every morning, but no one cared. They had to respect his work ethic, and his victories as a detective spoke for themselves. He gave me a slight nod, motioning with his eyes to the group of people standing