“Stuff it Agent Frank,” he bit out as the vein in his forehead started to throb. “This isn
’
t your crime scene. It
’
s ours now. Those were my agents who got killed and if your team hadn
’
t—”
“Harris, why were you called in after the murder took place?” I wasn
’
t going to fight with Havers in front of everyone.
“The protection detail didn
’
t call in when they heard a disturbance in the house. A neighbor called in gunshots so everything went through the locals before they found the agents and called in the FBI.” Harris had calmed down, and, as always, his explanation was succinct.
“So your agents broke protocol, didn
’
t inform us like they were supposed to if something happened, and you
’
re trying to blame my team for their deaths?” I asked Brian, raising an eyebrow. “This is my scene. This is a MNSTR case. Now allow my people to do their jobs.”
“Are you blaming my agents for the fact they were killed?” Now his face was bright red along with the vein.
“Nope, I
’
m blaming our suspect for that. But my team didn
’
t mess anything up. Your agents were given
specific
instructions that if they thought anything was up to call us in. They were warned they couldn
’
t handle this guy.”
“They weren
’
t just going to sit by while the guy they were on protection detail for was killed.” Brian balked at the idea.
“I didn
’
t think they would, but they were supposed to call us. We
’
re better equipped to handle this guy than your people are.”
“Yeah because you
’
re all freaks like he is,” a different agent on Brian
’
s side said. I didn
’
t know this one but I wouldn
’
t take the comment either. Cooper and Harris were hissing at the guy until I gestured for them to quit.
“You know, I find that as insulting as when people call me a bitch. It comes from idiots and assholes so it
’
s really no insult at all,” I drawled, letting my annoyance show. “But I
’
ll make sure to file your comment to your superior in my report as well. Harris, get the guy
’
s name.”
“Right, Chief,” he replied, trying to hide his snicker with a cough.
“Now, let
’
s start from the beginning and try to be adults here,” I said with a calm I wasn
’
t really feeling. My wolf
and
siren were wanting to come out at the disrespect I was getting. I felt power flare all over my skin and even a few of the human agents shivered.
“Chief Thomas, pull it back,” Tristan called out from several yards away. I knew what he meant, but I was having a hard time since I was so pissed. I nodded but didn
’
t even turn to face him.
“You brought a civie to a crime scene? Has becoming a monster made you think you could break all the rules, Sera?”
Brian was just
trying
to piss me off now.
“Oh, so now I
’
m a monster?” I laughed, shaking my head. How had I ever found him even remotely attractive? “I got your gift and card asking for me back, Brian. Notice I didn
’
t call.”
“So you bring your boyfriend when you know you
’
d be seeing me to rub it in my face?”
“Not that I need to explain myself to you, but we were at the zoo on a date when I got the call.”
“Oh, ouch, Chief.” Harris grimaced. “Guess someone should have warned you that most natural animals aren
’
t a fan of powerful shifters. They see us as predators on their turf.”
“Yeah, we figured that out.” I chuckled. “It was a trip to see all the tigers freak out because I was there.”
“Tigers wouldn
’
t see a wolf as a threat,” Brian scoffed.
“But I
’
m not a natural wolf, now am I?” I let almost half my power flare, my eyes shifting into wolf eyes. The only reason I allowed it is my siren didn
’
t want him and wouldn
’
t touch him with a fifty foot pole. Brian
’
s eyes went wide as he gasped. Even though he was human and had no mystical tendencies, he could still feel power like waves from a very strong heat lamp.
“Chief,” Harris whimpered. Right. Shit. I hadn
’
t thought about how it would affect my team.
Suddenly Tristan was there whispering in my ear. “You don
’
t have to prove anything to him, Sera. He
’
s a disgruntled ex that you tossed aside and his bruised ego is showing. Just let it go as a pathetic attempt. You
’
re a better woman than someone who gets involved in a pissing match.”
I nodded, taking a slow, deep breath and pulling back my aura so it was closed off inside of me. It was weird sometimes but I had worked hard when I was first turned on how to control my aura and shifting abilities. The only way I could think to describe it was like in the movie
Aliens
when Ripley tells the guys to lower the shields on the colony
’
s stronghold. I focused on lowering strong mental plates all around my aura to contain it.
“Watch yourself, civie,” Brian sneered, eyeing Tristan over. “You step out of line and Sera can
’
t protect you.”
“No, I can handle myself,” Tristan threw back, flashing fang. “I don
’
t need Sera to fight my battles.”
Brian flinched when he saw Tristan
’
s teeth. “So that
’
s why you don
’
t want a normal man? You have a freak in your bed?”
“While Tristan can get
very
freaky, he
’
s not the one standing here I
’
d say had something wrong with him.” I gave Brian a bright smile. “Are we done with your mooning over me and bringing up my sex life? Can we get to work now?” I heard a few members of my team snicker, and, surprisingly, some of Brian
’
s people. “I
’
ve met this murderer and I
’
d like him caught.”
“Yes, he left a message especially for you in the house,” Agent Frank informed me smoothly. “That
’
s why you weren
’
t called in.”
“That doesn
’
t make any sense.” I scrunched my eyebrows together in thought until it hit me. “What? Because he
’
s a shifter you think I
’
m in league with him? Damn, you are dumb. I shot him. He showed up to try and explain himself to me and I shot him. Yeah, we
’
re bestest buds.” I made sure to show my disdain in my tone and expression. “I
’
m done with this conversation. Clear my crime scene.” I turned to head for the house, gesturing that Tristan should stay.
“You can
’
t order us away, Sera,” Brian growled. He wanted to see a growl? I could give him one.
“Nope, but I can get you out of my way.” His eyes went wide with fear when it came out more animal than woman. “Pull your people back to the perimeter and get out of my crime scene.”
“What
’
s going on here?” Chief Monroe bellowed, and I wanted to sigh with relief. Havers and I were at a stalemate since we were at the same rank, but Monroe was above both of us.
“Just some confusion as to who the scene belongs to,” I informed him, not wanting to look like I was tattling. The Chief was smart enough to read between the lines.
“Ours, so get the fuck out of here Havers before I write you up for sexually harassing Thomas.” I saw anger flash over Brian
’
s face. “Oh yeah, I heard most of the conversation
down
the block walking from where I had to park my car.” He narrowed his eyes at Agent Frank and the other guy. “And I heard your comments. Duly noted and you will be dealt with.”
“Yes, sir,” they both mumbled before practically hightailing it out of there.
“I
’
ve got things out here, Chief Thomas.” Monroe gave me a wink. “You and your team do your thing.”
“Thanks, Chief.” I gave him a bright smile and motioned my team to join me. The regular FBI started to vacate the scene just as we walked into the house. I saw the
message
and drew in a sharp breath.
“Oh my god,” Jennings gasped and bolted right back out the door. A few moments later, we heard him tossing his cookies on the front lawn. Yeah, it was that bad.
“If this is your first time seeing something like this, there
’
s no shame in getting some air.” I glanced at my team, letting them know I understood. “I
’
d rather you step out and make sure you
’
r
e
composed before coming back instead of risking that you
’
ll do something to contaminate the crime scene.”
“You
’
ve seen something like this before?” Harris asked me as Davis and Remington ducked out the door.
“Yes, I have,” I admitted with a nod. Cooper and Harris looked a little green, and I felt the same way but we kept it together. What could possibly be so bad that we were all having trouble stomaching it?
It wasn
’
t the two FBI agents on the floor that had their throats ripped out. It was the guy they had been on protection detail for. He was pinned to the wall, so clawed up there was barely any skin left with his intestines and organs on the floor below him. And there was a note written in blood on the wall next to him.
“This is what happens to people against the cause, Chief Thomas. It would do you well to remember whose side you
’
re on. I won
’
t apologize for getting the wrong man the first time because he shouldn
’
t have been working for someone so evil. –Bob”
I heard a harsh breath drawn in behind me, turning to see it was Chief Monroe. “Harris, Cooper, you are not to let Chief Thomas out of your sight until this guy is caught. She made a dangerous enemy.”
I didn
’
t even bother complaining. Mostly because if this guy found me once, he could again, and, since I lived with Riley and Tristan, Bob could use them against me. Or they might end up like this guy on the wall for associating with what he saw as the enemy.
“I
’
m going to call Vlad,” Monroe whispered in my ear so only I could hear. “He
’
s got several people that protect the coven who could handle this guy and stay unnoticed.”
I thought about that a moment. “Is it wise to bring in civilians whose death
’
s we might have to explain later?”
“This is bad for all of us, Sera. The guy is bringing bad press to the paranormals of Chicago. The media isn
’
t making the distinction that
Bob
isn
’
t local. Vlad wants this handled and has offered us any resources we need. And until we have all our people trained as field ready, we need the help.”
“Okay. You know what
’
s going on better than I do.” It was the truth. I hadn
’
t even been in this world a month. Monroe had been for centuries. And while I wasn
’
t scared that the guy was pissed at me, we did need help catching him. “I want gold bullets for my team. Any of them could be a target for associating with me or working this case.”
“Good point. I
’
ll handle it,” he agreed. “I suggest you talk to Riley and see if we need to talk to his boss and get him some time off.”
“No, someone already found out once what he is.” I shook my head, finally turning away from the note and moving my body to face him. “I won
’
t risk outing him.”
“Okay, then see if he can just call in sick.” Yeah, I could do that. Davis, Remington, and Jennings came back inside, looking as if they
’
d done something wrong.
“Everyone has a problem their first time seeing something like this,” I told them gently.
“Even you?” Davis asked in a teasing tone.
“Yup.” I chuckled. “When I was in the Navy, a medical chopper came in with some Army guys
whose
Hummer had rolled over a land mine. I saw them get unloaded, or the pieces of them, I should say, and passed out. Everyone has a story like that the first time they see a gruesome death or even just their first death.”