Bloody Freak (A Bloody Series Book #1) (3 page)

     "I wasn't shooting him down as much as I was putting him in his place. He is right, you know? There is still a huge risk of being seen as monsters if we are painted in the same light as the Weres that did this. It's not
something to take light on."

    "Of course. I understand we have to take this seriously. It could very well be the best or the worst thing to happen to us. You know I will stand by any decision you make." He meant it too.

    "I've been thinking, Ethan
. You haven't given me your opinion on the matter." That was what Ethan was afraid of. He didn't want to delve too deeply into his own feeling on the subject. His opinion shouldn
’
t matter anyway.

    "I haven't decided either way yet. I think we need more
information before you make a sound decision," he said evasively.

    "Exactly. I've thought some on this and I think you should be on the scene. I'll put you in charge of the investigation." He stated this as if it were done and done. Ethan panicked.

  
"What do I need to be on the scene for? Adam is already heading in. I can easily receive the information as it comes in and report to you directly," he said calmly.

    "I need to know this is being handled by someone I can trust. You are my most trusted
friend. I know you'll take any information you discover and not hide or distort it to your advantage. I can't say the same for all our men. Jones has men in his pocket that could be on the investigating team hiding Intel as we speak." Damn the man. He cou
l
dn
’
t argue with the Kings utter trust in him. Trust he didn
’
t deserve.

    "What do you need me to do?"

    "I think I'll have you moved to Columbus directly. I can have you placed on the police force with Adam."

    "No, I think forensic team would be bes
t. I can report the scientific finding directly. You do better with science end of investigations after all." The King had worked in the labs prior to his Fathers death for over fourty years. Being the last surviving son, though the youngest, catapulted h
i
m into a leadership position he never even wanted.  “
I'll also be able to better track the Were that did this from the forensic end. Adam will lead from the Police Department."

    "You're a genius Ethan. What would I do without you? Well, I'm off to get a
n update from the Scanners. Let me know when you have everything in order will you? I trust you'll figure it out." He walked left down the corridor to the Scanner wing. Ethan felt like a heel. He did believe the best evidence could be gathered with the fo
r
ensic team, that much was true. But he had an ulterior motive. One that would shake the Kings faith in him. Shake it and bring it down, if he only knew.

Chapter Three

    "Alex! Where are my samples?" Don screamed.

    "Shit." Alex scrambled around the counter, searching for the slides she had set down. If Don had to come back into the lab and see her work area and the mess it was, she was going to get an earful for sure. She had been "warned". A quick scan of the t
o
p of her desk didn't result in finding the slides, so she lifted folders until she found them. 

    "I got 'em Don. Coming. You pompous ass," she whispered the last bit under her breath.

    Don wasn't in charge of the lab, he just thought he was. He was
close with every single person in charge in the building. Close as in his nose to their asses. It seemed to work out great for him and bad for her. Most everyone in the department loved her and despised him, but for some reason it was always Alex's ass on
the line if something went wrong. If she wasn't the best at her job she was sure Don would have gotten her fired by now. She ran the samples out to him and left as fast. He gave her the creeps to be honest. She probably wouldn
’
t have liked him even if he
w
asn
’
t a scum sucking toadie. She got back to her station and sat waiting for her results to come up on the computer. Testing the collected blood from the crime scene took a long time, separating and cataloging. Her hope was that nothing from the Were woul
d
be found among the mess. His fur had been thankfully absent from the scene, which was a miracle. They were notorious shedders. She giggled to herself, picturing a Were being scolded for getting up on the couch. It was nearing the end of the night. Hopefu
l
ly the results were in before she got off work. No need for 3rd shift to pick up on all the details while she was out. Sometime later she heard Ken entering the main office.

    "Hey, Al? Could you come out here?" He yelled. A flood of adrenaline hit her
in the stomach as she jumped up from her stool. Like a teenager being scolded by her parents, though not knowing why, she peeked her head out of her office. He waved her out. Everyone else was leaving their offices too, so she made her way out front.

    "
What's up boss?" She asked. Ken looked nervous. Upset wasn't something she was used to seeing on him. At least before today. So to her he looked nervous instead. Don, Chris, Heather, and Melody, the rest of the second shift team, were already in the room
w
aiting.

    "I have an announcement to make. There have been some changes in the lab structure I'm being told from the head office." He closed his eyes. She got another lump in the pit of her stomach. What if they were giving Don a promotion? She glanced i
n his direction. He looked excited.
Please don't let it be that, anything but that.

    "We have a new team member coming in from New York to help out with the investigation," Ken stated matter of factly.

    "Oh. So, what does that have to do with the lab
structure?" Melody from the file room asked. She was just as nervous about Don being promoted as Alex.

    "His name is Ethan Hollowman, and he'll be replacing me." Ken looked at Alex as he said this. It took a full six seconds for his statement to make s
ense. Nobody else said anything right away either.

    "What does that mean? Replace you?" Alex asked.

    "I got fired Alex. That's what replaced means." He sat down on his desk.

    "Fired? As in you don't work here anymore? As in 'the boot', 'sacked',
'given your walking papers'?" She was building up steam now.

    "Yes." He steepled his fingers and just stared at her. Melody walked over to his desk and patted his shoulder.

    "What happened Ken?" She asked.

    "I'm not sure. I think they want some bi
g hotshot from New York to take over so the FBI doesn't claim incompetence and step in."

    "Nobody would dare call you incompetent," Alex fumed.

    "Thanks for the vote of confidence. Wish you were in charge, Al." He smiled.

    "This is bullshit, Ken!
They can't fire you like this. There
’
s no grounds. They could have brought this guy in as a consultant or something." She was pacing the office now.

    "Well, they did say I could stay on if I agreed to a demotion," he said, looking down at his hands.

  
"You refused. Is that it?"

    "I more than refused. I practically got in Iversons face over it." Ken laughed.

    "This isn't funny, Ken. You got fired over pride. We need you around here. You know this. Especially now. Who's going to tell me to turn my
music down and get back to work? Who's going to stop Melody from hitting on everyone?"

    "Hey!" Melody, the professed office slut, scoffed.

    "Who
’
s gonna tell Don to stuff it when he gets out of hand?" Alex exclaimed getting really upset. Ken got up and pulled her into a rare hug.

    "I'm sorry, Al. I was upset. I know you need me. That's why I fought so hard to keep my position. I didn't think th
ey were really going to fire me." She hugged him back, completely noticing how he said 'you need me'. And the smell of his cologne.

    "That's why I'm upset. This is awful. You want me to go talk to Iverson? You want me to do more than talk?" She asked.
He laughed like she knew he would.

    "No, maybe I'll give them time to calm down. I can always castrate myself tomorrow." He walked back to his desk and started picking his way through his things, showing an unwillingness to castrate himself. "You
’
re goi
ng to have to keep it together for me guys. If Iverson or Conner catches anyone out of line or not doing their best he won
’
t hesitate to replace you too. How are the blood samples coming along?" Alex smiled at how Ken was still in Boss Mode despite being
f
ired.

    "They're running now, Ken." Don answered over Alex. Swine.

    "Good. I still want updates, even if they don't hire me back. This is a strange case for sure and I have a feeling it's going to be important." He had no idea.

    "That
’
s the spirit
boss. You
’
re still in charge. I don't care what they say." Alex grabbed the picture frame out of his hand and set it back down on his desk.

    "That
’
s right. Nobody handles us like you do." Melody said.

    "You just took everything I said and made it sou
nd sexual. How do you do that?" Alex asked.

    "Hey!" She acted miffed. Like she wasn't completely aware of the trait. Her skirt was shorter than some of Alex's head bands.

    "Anyway girls, I'm moving my stuff out to keep up appearances. The new guy is
going to need the space regardless." He started repacking all the things Alex had pulled out of the box.

    "When is he coming?" Alex wondered how she was going to deal with this new development. She knew Ken and everybody in the office, but this new guy
could become a problem. What if he was too observant? Nobody else seemed to notice her abilities or they were attributed to her eccentricities. What if he was an Other from the government?
Oh God.

    "He'll be in tomorrow.”
She swung her attention back t
o Ken. “
I want you all to be on your best behavior. I mean it. I don't care if he is a complete tool. I don't want to see anyone else fired to fulfill Iversons and Conners wish of a celebrity team. This isn't fucking C.S.I." He said, not for the first tim
e
and picked up his box of things. Alex looked at the clock. It was 11:30. Quitting time.

    "So, he'll be here when we get in tomorrow night, Ken?" She had a Halloween party to go to tonight. She was supposed to be having fun, not planning her strategy fo
r this latest development.

    "Yeah, if he's punctual at all." He swung around. "Please help everybody keep it together while I
’
m gone, Al," he whispered to her.

    "You're putting me in charge?" She asked incredibly.

    "Unofficially, yeah, and you be
tter not let me down. This case is important. I can feel it. I don't like it, but I want to understand it. I'll call you tomorrow before work, okay?" He left without another word. She couldn't even explain to him why he was right. It was so messed up. She
grabbed her stuff and ran out into the night. She still had a party to get ready for.

Chapter Four

    "Knock Knock!!"

    "Ow!!" Alex poked herself in the eye with the liner pencil. "What the hell Bren?!"

    "What? I figured you heard me come in." She
would have if she hadn't been so distracted. That was a nasty habit. One had to stay on their toes around Brena. Because she was always on her toes.

    "I was distracted. Sorry. Anyway, did you get my text?" She finished her makeup and capped the pencil.
She was dressed as Red Riding Hood. Naughty Red Riding Hood. Complete with short black and red dress, with four inch spiked heels, black hose and garters. Topped off with a red hooded cape, of course.

    "Yeah, I came as soon as I was done with the costum
e." Brena struck a pose. She was Bo Peep. Naughty Bo Peep. She had a blond wig over her very real red hair. They probably should have traded costumes but Alex wouldn't be caught dead in white and blue. Bren did get a blow up sheep though, which was cute.
A
ll Alex had was a basket to carry. "Do you think the guy is one of us?"

Alex had actually considered that too but didn't want to get her started on the "Let's get out of town" rant.

    "No. I don't think so. He's definitely not a Vamp. He's working 2nd s
hift."

    "A Were could work 2nd shift," she pointed out.