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

on the other side of the Police Commissioner. It was as if to say: “I told you so, kid.”
    The group of people he motioned to were a mixed bag. There was a short-haired, very muscular looking man. Something about him made me think that he must be ex-military. He was broad-chested and sat with his head up at strict attention, exuding a disciplined, yet reserved strength. He was dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans despite the October weather.
    The woman next to him seemed slightly older and in some ways on a different order altogether. She didn’t exactly look like the type of woman who went out on cases; she struck me more as a data-cruncher or one of the psychologists that I knew the FBI was likely to keep on retainer. She wore thick, yet stylish plastic-framed glasses and a grey skirt and jacket; very academic looking. In all likelihood, she probably had a PhD and several master’s degrees.
    The last person in the group was a man probably in his late twenties or early thirties, wearing a tight button down shirt under a leather jacket. His hair was on the longish side, dark brown or maybe even black; it was difficult to tell in the lighting of the conference room. His face had just the tiniest bit of scruff, as if he hadn’t shaved in a day or so; its lines were sharp and gave off an air of cunning. His eyes were a startling shade of blue I don’t think I’d ever seen before. His body was muscular, but thin and athletic. He looked agile and also… fierce?
    The man caught me staring at him and we held eye contact for a few moments before I looked away. It was almost like he could tell what you were thinking when he looked at you, and needless to say I was intimidated. I kept my eyes glued to the floor until Commissioner Davis called everyone to attention.
    “Ladies and…” he said, slowly moving his gaze around the room, pausing until all eyes were on him. “Gentlemen. I’ve got a brief announcement and introduction to make. Standing to my right are three agents from the FBI who I’ve summoned to assist our department in the abductions case. Please, if you would, each of you get up and introduce yourselves and state your credentials.”
    The muscular man in the t-shirt came forward.
    “Darren Henderson. Recently joined the FBI after working Special Ops as a Marine in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan and Baghdad, Iraq. I’m coming to you from the Washington, DC bureau.”
    “You hear that, detectives?” asked Commissioner Davis. “Iraq and Afghanistan, so Agent Henderson has seen streets almost as dangerous as those of New York City.”
    Everyone laughed and Agent Henderson even gave a hearty laugh himself as the Commissioner whispered something privately to him.
    The woman of the group stepped forward next, her frame very slight now that I could see her standing front and center.
    “Hello. I’m Dr. Evelyn Geiss. I’m a psych and statistician in the FBI. I did my doctoral work at Stanford and have been a member of the bureau for the past seven years.”
    The Commissioner interjected once again.
    “Miss Geiss—or I should say Doctor Geiss—has published countless research papers in the most prestigious academic journals and is a pioneer of using data and building advanced algorithmic systems that identify and expose complex criminal patterns. Needless to say, we hope her expertise will help fast-track the current investigation.”
    Finally, the athletic man in the leather jacket came forward, running his hand back through his blackish hair as he began to address the group.
    “Hello, everyone. My name is Elias Chamberlain, I’m the lead agent on this case. Dr. Geiss and I will be interviewing each of you later this afternoon as we put together a preliminary team for the abductions case. I’ve been at the FBI for about five years and have seen a lot of cases like this. If I know anything, it’s the importance of collaboration. We want to work as seamlessly with your department as possible. That