Fur Fox's Sake (Shifters Undercover Book 2)

by Milly Taiden

  He had to grin, couldn’t hold it back. “What is a heavy-duty disguise suitcase? Or should I not ask?”

  His friend rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you never went undercover before.”

  A ping of sadness hit his heart, but he wasn’t letting it show. “I have, but as myself.”

  “Wow, that must’ve been boring.” Russel scooted the plate of mashed potatoes closer. “My kit has everything you need to disguise yourself in public. Eyeglasses, crooked teeth, fake noses, mustaches and beards, wigs, hats. Then there’s the periscope, cipher wheel, spy glasses, invisible ink pens, and disappearing ink—”

  “Okay”—Devin lifted his hands, stopping the nonstop list of weird items—“I get it. Sounds like a kit I’d buy my nephew for his tenth birthday.”

  “Yeah.” Russel smiled. “I got it for my twenty-fifth. Mom always knows the perfect thing.”

  Devin sighed. “Sorry, man. This will be along the boring lines. We need to talk with the mayor.” He proceeded to tell Russel about all the things he found in the senator’s office a few hours ago, including the answering machine message naming the mayor and someone named Klamin.

  Russel chewed and thought for a moment. “So you think the senator was into something with the mayor and the Klamin guy?”

  “Yes,” Devin said. “We need to find out what it is, and if it’s strong-enough motivation for murder.”

  “Do you think this pipeline thing plays a role?” Russel asked.

  Devin drummed a finger on the table, scowl on his face. “I’m not sure. It seemed like a big deal with the newest info on the table. Everything else was from the past. And money is always a powerful motivator. If Shedford were to get the amount listed, the town’s coffers would be filled. Well, that is, if most of it doesn’t go into someone’s pocket. Which I think might be the case.”

  “I agree we need to talk to the mayor.” Russ wiped his mouth with a napkin. “You ready to go?”

  Devin’s eyes snapped to the table and the stacked, empty plates. “Holy shit, man. Where does it go? Your stomach can’t be that big.”

  “Eh, it’s used to getting a lot at once. I’ll pay the check up front. Let’s go. I gotta keep busy so I don’t think of my mate.”

  Devin frowned. Same thing for him. He couldn’t protect his little woman from a distance. It would drive him crazy. “Oh, wait.” Russel turned back to him. Devin grabbed a handful of napkins from the dispenser on the table.

  “What?”

  “Stick your arm out,” Devin asked.

  Russel complied without asking why. With catlike speed, Devin slipped out a claw and sliced the offered limb. Before Russel could react, he slapped the napkins over the wound, collecting the blood.

  His coworker tried to snatch his arm back. “What the f—” Those sitting nearby looked at him. He moved closer to Devin, not looking happy. “What the hell, man?”

  Devin pulled the napkins away and pulled more from the dispenser. “Marika wants a sample of your blood to compare to the others she has.” He wrapped the clean napkins around the bloody ones and stuffed them into his pocket.

  Russel huffed. “This is not the best way to get a sample. Besides, you could’ve warned me first.”

  Devin smiled. “Naw, then you would’ve complained.”

  “Moi?” His coworker stepped back and laid a hand on his chest. Devin would be impressed if Russel knew French. But he probably heard Miss Piggy say it and learned it there. “Complain? Never. And before you ask, it’s the only French word I know. I watched the Muppets as a kid.”

  “I got your blood.”

  Russel snorted. “I think we should redo that sample at the hospital, where they’re trained to get blood without being masochists.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Marika sighed as she drove back to FAWS. She couldn’t believe she’d found him, or he found her. Whatever. She was thrilled. She hadn’t wanted to leave after their quickie hour of sex. But she’d get more, much more, tonight. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to beat the shit out of him again.

  Men could be such dumbasses. Their macho protect the little woman syndrome got tedious quickly. But that was part of being a shifter. That was as deeply ingrained as the need to sexually join. To breathe.

  Then her mind turned to her current mystery—the wolf.

  Was the animal a continued project, bred for the strange traits shown on the body? What clues did the rest of the anatomy give? If this was a creation, who was creating it and why? She needed to text Rupen to let him know she was on her way to the lab. She wanted his insight on the creature.

  In her purse, her phone rang. Maybe she wouldn’t have to call Rupen after all. The cell’s screen had unknown across the front. She normally wouldn’t answer a call like this, but the mayor had said someone would call her. Maybe this was them.

  “Is this Marika?”

  “Yes, who is this?” she asked.

  “I’m Nex Sezol. I believe you spoke to the mayor earlier about helping out a fellow colleague.”

  “Yes, Nex. Glad to meet you.”

  “Same here, Marika. So I called to give directions and work out a time to meet today. Since we are on the south side of town, we’re closer to your facility, which makes it easier for us all. I know you’re working all day”—and all night, she thought—“so perhaps something around five or five thirty would work. It will be very quick, I assure you.” He rattled off an address she committed to memory.

  “Again, thank you, Marika. I look forward to meeting you tonight.”

  After hanging up, she wasn’t thrilled. This impromptu meeting kept her away from her mate that much longer. She had about three months of vacation time earned. It was time to take at least a week.

  She should have Devin do the same. With the murder investigation, though, this might not be a good time. She would do everything she could on her part to figure out the mystery behind the ice-cubed wolf. If they had another killer shifter running around free, they needed to stop it before it killed again.

  She thought about Devin and her heart did a little flip. It was still weird getting all these emotions for a person all of a sudden. The longer she spoke to him and got to know him, the more she realized he was a good man. He was smart, tough, and now that she’d kicked his ass, he respected the fact that she could take care of herself.

  Still, all this instant love and concern for him was wreaking havoc on her ability to stay focused on the job. She worried about him. She wanted to spend time with him. To get him naked and ride him like an untamed bronco at a rodeo.

  She was happy, though. She’d been alone for so long and wanted someone to share her life with. A mate. Someone that truly connected with her and understood her. A man that would give her the kits her fox wanted so badly and the love she deserved. A smile worked her lips. She’d enjoy this. Him. It was new, yes, but she would adapt and learn to be the partner he needed. They’d make this work.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  After calling the mayor’s office and being told he was working from home, Russel and Devin circled the block his house sat on and saw a small doggie door on one of the side doors. That would be perfect.

  “Okay, here’s the plan,” Devin said. “I’m going in to talk to the mayor about the murder. Just short and sweet. You sneak in and find a place to hide nearby. If he’s in cahoots with anyone, he’ll call them after I leave. That’s where you listen in. I’ll pick you up down the street.”

  Russel started stripping. “That’ll work. I’ll go in the doggie door as a skunk so I can zap the dog if it gets too close.”

  “Perfect.” Devin rolled down the window for Russel to jump from. “And look both ways before you cross the street. The last time, you got sucked into a street cleaning machine and scared the shit out of me.”

  Skunk Russel waved a little paw like saying, Don’t worry ’bout it. I got this. Devin could only hope so.

  He watched the cute critter scamper across the asphalt to the other sid
e, then lost him in the vegetation. Time for his part. He stepped out of the car and made his way to the front door of the large, fancy house. It wasn’t as gaudy as the senator’s, but close. He looked around for the skunk, then pushed the doorbell.

  After a moment, a woman he didn’t recognize opened the door. He pulled a business card from his pocket. “I’m Agent Sonder working in conjunction with the police.” He handed the card to her. “I’d like to speak to the mayor for a minute please.”

  She invited him in to wait by the door while she disappeared down the hallway. He took that time to look around. The walls were painted a light gray with black-and-white accessories here and there. It was much more modern than the senator’s, airier also. No sign of a dog yet.

  The lady stepped into the hall, followed by the mayor. She continued up the stairs, and the mayor zeroed in on him. “Agent Sonder, how are things in your department? I haven’t been able to get over there yet to congratulate you for solving the robberies last week. You did a great job, son.”

  Ugh, he hated when people called him “son” or “boy.” In most cases, he was older than they were. Just didn’t look it.

  “What can I do for you, Agent?”

  “I’d like to ask you a few questions about the senator’s murder this morning.”

  He looked taken aback. His face paled a bit. The man was definitely hiding something. “You don’t think I killed him, do you?” Then the big man laughed and slapped him on the back hard enough to sting.

  “Of course not, sir. I would just like your thoughts on some things.”

  “Absolutely.” Devin received another knock on the back. “Let’s go into my office. Don’t want to disturb the women today. They’re doing some heavy-duty cleaning before closing up the house for the winter. Airing out the rooms upstairs and such.”

  They settled into comfortable chairs in a masculine environment. Strong, bold colors, with a hint of cigar smell. “So, Agent, what can I help you with?”

  Devin took out his little pocket notebook like every good detective did. Even if it was a bullshit act, it looked professional.

  “Sir, do you know of any enemies the senator would have?”

  The man smiled. “You do realize he was in politics, right?” He spoke as if it were a rule to have enemies if in politics.

  “Yes, sir. I mean anyone more than usual.” He slowly drew in a deeper breath to sample the air. The mayor knew shifters existed, but hopefully didn’t completely understand all they could do. So far nothing concerning floated around. He did get a hint of fresh outside air. The mayor had said the women were upstairs airing out the rooms.

  The mayor shook his head. “Not anyone I can think of.”

  “What about anyone the senator particularly didn’t like?”

  The mayor flattened his lips into a thin line. “I don’t understand the question, Agent. Why would that be pertinent?”

  Yeah, that wasn’t one of his better questions. He was too focused on listening for Russel. “Mayor, do you have a big or little dog?” he asked.

  “My wife isn’t a dog person. She has a cat.”

  Devin swallowed wrong and coughed. Shit. The mayor asked, “You okay, son?”

  A crashing sound came from the other room. The man behind the desk frowned, but didn’t get up.

  Devin asked, “When was the last time you saw the senator, sir?”

  Scratching sounds in the hallway, like sharp claws on a wooden floor, passed on the other side of the door. Then a screech from a cat.

  “That damn cat again.” The mayor sat back. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Earl. We’re very busy men.”

  Too busy to go into the office, obviously. On a side file cabinet lay a roll of paper like the one in the senator’s office. He had already asked one stupid question. Why not one more. “Mayor, have you heard anything about a pipeline coming through the area?” The acrid scent of fear stung his nose. That was interesting. Maybe there was something to this pipeline.

  The mayor looked at him without expression. “I’m sorry, Agent. Wasn’t the senator attacked by a wild animal? I’m not sure what these questions have to do with his death.”

  A scream from somewhere in the house shot both men to their feet. They ran into the hall and heard a second scream. They ran upstairs, down the hall, and into a room with bed sheets and a heavy-duty carpet-cleaning machine on the floor. Two women stood against the wall screaming and pointing to the other side of the room.

  On the other side, the cat sat on the windowsill of the open window, reaching out, trying to swipe a skunk bobbing from the end of a narrow limb. Every time the branch brought it up, the cat jabbed.

  Oh shit. Devin didn’t know what to do. He hurried to the window, shooed the cat, closed the pane, and turned his back against the glass, hopefully hiding the skunk behind him. “Well, that’s interesting.” The cat swiped at his leg. That pissed off his bigger cat. He looked down at the fluff ball, let his panther’s teeth come down, and hissed at it. In a streak of white, the little cat disappeared under the bed.

  His eyes glanced at the women across the room. They were still hysterical, the mayor trying to calm them.

  “Mayor, this looks to be a bad time. I think I’ve asked all my questions. I’ll let myself out.” He left the room, not looking at the window. Russel was on his own.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Russel jumped from Devin’s SUV, scampered across the street after looking both ways, and headed into the shrubs encircling the yard of the fancy house. He didn’t see a dog anywhere in the yard; it must be inside. He’d have to watch for it.

  He scuttled to the little animal entrance and pushed on the door. It didn’t budge. He pushed harder. Still nothing. Well, shit. He hoped this wasn’t one of those doors that only opened when the transmitter collar was close. Even if that was the case, he should be able to muscle his way through.

  Backing a few paces, he prepared to put some elbow grease into it. Well, more like skunk shoulder into it. Charging on all four feet, he hit the door, prepared to bounce back. Instead, the barrier gave way and he flew through, hit the floor on the other side, and slid into the wall, feet in the air.

  Whoa. The room whirled. He shook his head to clear the cobwebs. Still lying on the floor, he opened his eyes to big angry gold eyes hovering over his. Long white teeth happened to be below those eyes. Very sharp long white teeth. Before he could roll over to get onto his feet, a hiss blew in his face, flattening the fur. Damn, someone give that pussy a mint.

  He slapped his bushy tail in the cat’s face and scrambled to his feet. Not knowing where he was going, he ran like a bat out of hell for the first open doorway. Sliding around the corner, he entered the kitchen. The remains of beef stew and cornbread lingered in the air. Smelled really good.

  A sharp pain trailed up his tail. Behind him, the cat had a mouthful of black fur. Shit, he needed to move faster. Maybe he should get on a different level. Coming around the corner of the center island, he leaped for the countertop. Being so low to the ground, he couldn’t see what was on the counter, which happened to be the sink with lunch dishes stacked inside.

  Immediately recognizing the danger, he was able to avoid the potential disaster. But the cat jumping up behind him didn’t. It slid into the sink, slamming bowls, silverware, and glasses up and over the side to crash to the floor. Russel squeaked a laugh and an extremely pissed-off puss with beef stew on the side of its face glared at him. Damn, if looks could kill—

  The cat launched from the sink, claws stretched, reaching for him. He scrambled backward and fell over the side. He landed on his back, but if he hadn’t fallen, he’d be a cat chew toy right now. Why did it always have to be a cat. He hated cats. Everything about them. He needed to focus.

  He was supposed to find a place to hide to listen to the mayor’s phone call after Devin left. Well, he wasn’t so sure that would be feasible. In fact, he wasn’t so sure he would even make it out of the house without flashing someone with h
is junk. He headed out another doorway, cat once again on his tail.

  Spinning out on the slippery wooden floor, he scrabbled down the hallway. He smelled Devin behind a closed door, but couldn’t really stop in and shoot the shit at the moment. Damn cat. Coming up on the stairs, he noticed they were covered in carpet. That was what he needed. He could get traction there.

  Swinging around to the front of the steps, he set his claws into the looped material, but his back end kept sliding until it bounced against the wall. The cat followed his path, squishing his ass end for a second before he took off up the stairs.

  At the end of the hall, he saw an open door and smelled fresh air. Giving all he had, he muscled toward the room where two female smells came from. He tried to make his entrance as stealthy as possible, which was not at all with a pussy caterwauling.

  When they saw him, both women screamed. He expected that. Nobody wanted a skunk in their house. A stabbing pain flared in his ass and he fell sideways, rolling toward the bed. He smelled his own blood. Damn cat got him.

  Regaining his feet, he jumped onto the bed and ran to the other side, cat still following. He controlled his fall to the floor and ran under the bed, then hopped onto the bed again. The cat was smart, or his own tail dangled over the edge, giving away his location. Either way, the cat was on him like white on rice. And he was getting tired. He was just a little guy with little legs.

  If worse came to worst, he would spray the cat, but in order to do that, he had to stand still. As soon as he stopped running, the cat would bowl into him with claws and teeth. He needed to keep on the move. Then he saw it.

  An open window became his ticket to freedom. Aiming for it, he pushed the animal further; putting the fear of God into someone could really get them moving. Along with a bit of survival instinct. Reaching the window, he launched off his back legs, touched down on the sill, then shoved off one last time, grasping for a tree limb.

  His tiny paws wrapped around a narrow, flexible branch, which, to his dismay, bounced up and down with his weight. The cat sat on the windowsill and swiped at him every time the branch dropped or raised him within reach. This was not good.