Fang and Claw

by Markie Madden

  “He’ll be in the wind by now for sure. And he could copy anyone, sneak out of town. There’s no way to stop it!” He punched the door frame in anger.

  “We’ve got to get down to the lab,” she said, trying to soothe him. “We’ve got to find something!”

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  They strolled purposefully into the lab, headed for Linus’ work station. He was making notations in his computer, and glanced at them with a look of surprise.

  “Something new?”

  Lacey shook her head. “No, nothing. But there’s got to be something we can find, something that can get us an arrest warrant. Without it, our hands are tied.”

  “I don’t know what else I can come up with.”

  “Can we see how you came to find the partial match?”

  “Sure.” Linus pulled up the results on his flat screen monitor. The images were on a white background, and looked like someone had made repetitive horizontal black hash marks from the top, where the black color was the darkest, to the bottom, where the color began to fade.

  “How do you look at crap like this all day?” Colton spoke up.

  Linus chuckled. “Well, I don’t look at this, specifically, all day. But there’s an easier way.” He tapped a button, and the image reversed to a black background with white hash marks. Then he split the screen and brought up two separate images.

  “What are we looking at?” Lacey wanted to know.

  Linus indicated the left part of the screen. “This is the reference ladder of the human DNA that was recovered from your first vic.” Then he pointed to the right portion of the viewer. “This is the reference ladder of the human part of the sample you gave me from your person of interest.”

  “Well, he’s moved into being a suspect at this point.” Colton corrected the other man.

  Linus nodded. “These are the bands here.” He pointed to the white bars. “You can see how the two profiles resemble each other.”

  “Just a resemblance won’t get us anything.”

  “Of course not.” Linus looked at Lacey. “This is where the computer comes in.” He clicked on the right hand profile and dragged it to the left hand side of the screen. That the two images matched was clear, though there was a slight discrepancy to some of the hash marks.

  “Why doesn’t this match, here?” Colton pointed to some uneven hash marks near the bottom of the screen.

  “There’s a 0.2 degree, plus or minus, variance in some of the sample. That’s normal for most humans. Our DNA is constantly changing, replicating, as new cells are born. This is well within the margin of error to make it admissible in court.”

  “Okay, so we can say with certainty that this human DNA from our victim matches exactly with the sample from Jason Blyge.” Lacey crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Absolutely. If we didn’t have this other DNA portion.” Linus agreed. He cleared the images from the screen and put up two new ones. “Now, this is the portion of the unknown DNA that I’ve been able to type. Some of it’s still being processed.” The hash marks were more undefined than the ones they had seen with the first sample. They were also looking at more fading in the color of the bands. There were also more of the bars, almost double that which had presented in the human sample.

  “Why is this so different?” Lacey asked.

  “Well, if I could answer that, you’d owe me a great big bottle of the most expensive scotch I could find,” Linus answered with a grin.

  “I thought you said there wasn’t enough of this sample to work with.” Colton gave Linus a hard look.

  “There wasn’t. What you’re looking at has been copied to produce more chains to work with. It’s kind of like making a copy on an old Xerox machine.”

  “Well couldn’t the defense’s lab do the same thing?”

  “Assuming there was enough of the original sample,” Linus answered Colton. “I only took a very small portion of it, not wanting to destroy it if I couldn’t get it to copy. It did, but it’s still very unusual.” He tapped a few keys on his laptop, bringing up a computer-rendered chart of the DNA type, columns and rows of the letters A, C, G, and T. “The computer did this comparison, but it’s only partially complete. You can see in the reference ladder how there seems to be almost twice the amount of bands as there was in the human sample.”

  “Wouldn’t this constitute a match?” Lacey wanted to know. “I mean, without the comparison to be completed? It’s an unknown DNA, it’s got double the bands of human samples. Can’t you conclude that they match?”

  “I can,” Linus agreed. “The problem is, this is unprecedented. It’s like scientists finding a new species in the rain forest. I’m not sure what’s going to be necessary to convince the DA for a warrant, much less what might be required by the courts.”

  “I see.” Lacey murmured it, lost in thought. “We need to go see Joe again. Can you shoot me over all of what you have on this strange DNA?”

  “Sure.” Linus tapped a few keys, and her tablet beeped, asking her if she would accept the incoming files.

  “Thanks, Linus,” she said. “Let us know if you get anything else out of it.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  As Colton followed Lacey through the police department, he was frustrated with unanswered questions regarding the DNA results. Science had never been his strongest point, and he had barely passed the required science courses at the academy. He was struggling to understand the implications of their strange DNA evidence and how there could be a possibility the courts could say they didn’t match.

  Then, he could stand it no more. “I don’t understand!”

  Lacey glanced back at him and slowed her pace. “What?”

  “It looked like a damn good match to me, even if it is an unknown sample. So what’s the problem?”

  “Well, the biggest problem is that it’s an unknown. Courts don’t like anything that’s unknown. Or rather, juries don’t. They want clear answers, in black and white. Nothing in between.”

  “Yeah, but if this sample is so unknown, it’s obviously got to be from our guy! I mean, wouldn’t it have cropped up somewhere before, if there was another person out there with it?”

  “You would think,” Lacey replied. “But if it IS our guy, I’d like to know how he’s avoided being tested and put into the registry for so long.”

  “Exactly! I hadn’t thought of that,” Colton admitted. “I guess he’s been in hiding all this time. Although I don’t know how he escaped the DNA police.” Colton was referring to those who ran the International Immortal Registry Database. “He’s got a standard ID, he had to in order to get a job. If he’d tested non-human, the licensing bureau would have compelled a DNA sample before issuing his license.”

  “Licenses can be faked. Even if you’re not Immortal.”

  “I know that’s right.” Colton agreed as Lacey, seeming anxious to reach the DA’s office, increased her pace once again. He struggled to keep up with her, but he’d be damned if he’d ask her to slow down.

  They found Kyle at the front desk as usual. “Is Joe in?” Lacey asked. Colton repressed a shiver. For some reason, the Shifter gave him the creeps. It wasn’t anything he could ever put his finger on, but he distrusted the other man. Before being partnered with Lacey, he’d never had many dealings with the young attorney, nor come across him in court cases. But it seemed to Colton that Joe was always too much of a stickler for the rules.

  The ADA was at his desk, so they went right back to his office. Colton settled himself into the faux leather chair and glanced at Lacey, with a simple look giving her the floor. She gave the man a quick briefing of what had occurred in their investigation since the last time they’d been in to see him. While he listened, Joe grabbed the pen from its holder and fidgeted with it. It seemed to be a habit of his.

  When Lacey reached the point where she would have begun explaining the strange DNA, he stopped her. “Wait a minute! You mean to tell me that the lab has never come across this before? You�
��ve run it through the IIRD, I assume?”

  “According to Linus, they’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “Is this a new Immortal species we’re dealing with?”

  She shook her head. “I think it’s a really old one, one we’ve not seen in a very long time.” She took a breath before pressing on. “I think it’s a Skinwalker.”

  “What? I thought those were just legends. I never knew they were real!”

  “They are very real. Or, at least, they were. I ran into one a long time ago. I didn’t think there were any more left, either.”

  “Wow.” Joe leaned back in his chair and seemed caught between curiosity and disbelief. “So, how can we get the courts to accept DNA evidence that no one’s ever seen before?”

  “And therein lies the question of the hour,” Lacey replied. “We thought maybe you could help.”

  “This is definitely beyond my experience.” The Shifter shook his head. “I’ll need to bring this up to Jenessa.” He referred to Jenessa Bonner, one of Dallas’ most experienced district attorneys, and one of his bosses. She specialized in high profile or complicated cases, and was a bit of an expert when it came to old or obscure history of law. “I’m not sure if she’s got anything going on right now or not. Give me a minute to find out.”

  While the other man reached for his phone, Colton pulled his tablet out of his pocket and began reviewing the case data. He had the intense feeling that if he just looked at it with fresh eyes, he would be able to figure out the answer. I sure hope Louisiana has something that we can use, Colton thought. It would be nice to get this pervert locked up for a good long while!

  Absently, he wondered if the Louisiana victim was still alive. Since there was no statute of limitations on rape assaults in Texas, he could be charged with their original case of assault from 90 years ago, assuming they could provide evidence corresponding to that crime. Out of curiosity, Colton called up the internet and did a search for time limits on rape in Louisiana. There were none. So if they could tie all these cases in together, that could mean a lot of prison time for their suspect.

  “What are you looking at?” Lacey asked him softly, so as not to disturb the ADA. He angled the screen so she could see the section of Louisiana state penal code. “I see.” She nodded her head. “Wanting to know if we can get him for that case, too?”

  “Sure. I mean, it’s been a long time, but if the vic’s still alive, don’t you think she’d like to know he was finally put away?”

  “Well thought.”

  At that moment, Joe hung up the phone and they turned their attention to him. “Jenessa’s tied up on something for the rest of the day,” he informed them. “But she can meet with us at 8am sharp tomorrow morning, if that suits you?”

  Lacey nodded and cut in before Colton could do protest. “That’ll be great, thanks.” She motioned to him and cocked her head at the door. Seething, he followed as his partner left the office.

  “What the hell!” He exclaimed once they’d gotten into the hallway.

  “Hey, no one ever said justice was quick.” Lacey’s tone was dry. “Another day’s not going to make much difference.”

  “You can say that now! But it’s just giving him more time to get out of town. Or to hurt someone else!”

  She turned on him then, her pale face glowering fiercely. “Don’t you think I know that?” He’d learned that when she was angry, her voice, rather than growing louder, would become quiet. The fact that he could barely hear her caused a little shiver of fear to flit through his mind, though he didn’t mean to make her mad. “But we can’t fabricate evidence to suit our purposes! That goes against everything we believe in!”

  He put his hands up in surrender. “Yeah, sure, sorry I yelled at you. It’s just so damned frustrating!”

  “I know, I’m frustrated too.” Her voice returned to its normal volume. “But we’ve still got some angles to push. You’ve requested info from Louisiana. I’ve requested some from old contacts of mine. Let’s see how much more we can get on this son of a bitch, because I’d really like to see him get life in prison.”

  “I was thinking more along the lines of the death penalty.” But when he saw the look of vengeance on her face, he reconsidered. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe life would be worse.”

  “So here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to go over everything we’ve got once more, see if there’s anything we’ve missed. I’m going to check my emails to see if anything has come in from my contacts. We work the case like any other case. And, if nothing breaks by end-of-shift, we go home.”

  18

  “Do something. If it works, do more of it. If it doesn’t, do something else.” ~~Franklin D. Roosevelt

  Nothing urgent had broken the day before, so Lacey and Colton had called it a day and gone home at a reasonable hour. Now, they were in Lacey’s office gathering all of the notes and making one final check for anything new from the labs. Colton had an email waiting from the Louisiana State police evidence lab, saying that they did, indeed, have some DNA evidence and preserved tissue that they would overnight to Dallas.

  Which means it won’t be here for two days, at least, Lacey thought wryly. No matter where you were in the state of Texas, nothing could be shipped “overnight” and arrive at its destination on time. So, there was nothing to do but wait for the evidence to arrive, and keep their meeting with the DA’s office.

  When they arrived they were shown into a conference room, and offered coffee. Colton accepted, but Lacey declined. After only a few minutes, Joe entered the room, carrying his tablet in one hand and a cardboard cup in the other. The cup he offered to Lacey.

  “I know you don’t like coffee,” he said in explanation.

  She took a hesitant sniff, surprised when the scent of her favorite tea met her nose. “Thanks.” Joe took a seat across from her, leaving the chair at the head of the table to his boss. He placed his tablet on the table and looked at them.

  “Anything new?”

  “Not to speak of,” she replied. “We’re getting in some evidence from the Louisiana State police on that case from forty years ago. DNA analysis and some preserved tissue specimens. But as they only went out this morning, they won’t be here for a couple of days.”

  “That figures.”

  At that moment, District Attorney Jenessa Donner made an entrance. It was obvious that this woman held a high position, and that she knew it as well. She was a tall, slender, middle-aged woman with cocoa-colored skin, salt-and-pepper hair expertly coiffed into a bun at the back of her head, and dark, intelligent eyes. She wore a deep purple power suit with matching 6 inch heels, making her 5 foot 9 inch figure that much more imposing.

  “Good morning.” She carried her tablet and a mug of coffee to the head of the table and seated herself.

  “Good morning,” Lacey replied. “I’m Lieutenant Anderson, this is my partner, Detective Scarber.”

  “Joe tells me you have a very odd case.”

  She cuts right to the chase, Lacey thought. I could learn to like this woman.

  Briefly, Lacey explained the high points of the case, concluding, “So, you see, this unknown DNA sample has really thrown tin foil into the radar. It could end up being a landmark case.” She threw that last comment in hoping to draw the DA closer to their side of the line. Lacey had looked up the woman’s information and cases the day before, and knew that she liked the new or unusual.

  Jenessa reached into the inner pocket of her suit jacket and withdrew a pair of black-framed glasses studded with stones. “This is, indeed, very intriguing. I’m not sure anything like this has ever happened before. It’s certainly not something we’re going to just look up in an old law text.”

  “That’s why we came to Joe.” Lacey glanced over at her partner, but Colton seemed too intimidated to put in his two cent’s worth. “This is nothing I’ve ever come across.”

  “And you’ve been in law enforcement for a long time.” Jenessa commented. “I’ve
followed your career with the department.”

  Confused, Lacey asked, “Why?”

  “I have a lot of respect for women in professions typically dominated by men,” she replied. “As well as strong and independent woman, such as you.”

  “Or yourself.”

  Jenessa smiled. “Okay, so let’s get down to business.”

  They talked for more than an hour, discussing the unusual and unknown DNA sample and how it could be presented to the members of the court and jury, should it come down to a court case. Jenessa maintained that nothing could be done until the new evidence came in from Louisiana and was processed. Lacey argued that, with a warrant, they could hold Jason Blyge for the standard 72 hours without charging him.

  “But if we do that, and the evidence doesn’t get here, or can’t be processed in that time, we have to let him go.” Colton spoke up for the first time. “And then he’ll know for sure that we’re onto him, if he doesn’t already. He’d bug out.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Jenessa looked up from her notes. “And we don’t have enough to ask a judge to put on a tracking device.”

  “You’re right, of course.” Lacey conceded. “We’ll wait until the evidence can be properly examined. I want this guy in a cage, for good. We can’t screw this one up.”

  Colton’s frustration was almost palpable as they returned to the unit. But before he could voice his concerns, Lacey gestured him into her office and closed the door, grateful once again that she had a door to close.

  “I know you’re frustrated.” She sat behind the desk as she spoke. “But you know we’re both right. We can’t afford to let this guy slip through our fingers, and we’ve got to make sure that we have all the evidence we can to make sure he gets put behind bars, and stays there.”

  “So what do we do? It sounded in there like our hands are pretty much tied behind our backs.” He paced the small room in an obvious attempt to work off some of his anger.

  She was pleased that he was getting in control of his temper on his own, without her prompting. Perhaps, despite everything, we can make this partnership work, as ill-fated as it might have seemed at first. “I’m going to call Lieutenant Johnson in charge of patrol. He owes me. I’ll ask him to assign officers around the clock to watch Blyge. We’ll tail his every move. And they’ll have orders to detain him if he tries to leave town.”