by Terra Wolf
We all mumbled an agreement. Whoever this asshole was, I couldn't wait to nail him to the wall. But we had to catch him first.
“I gotta say though, he's dropping them in different locations all the time. He’s always a step ahead of us. How long has this body been here?” I asked the group.
“Coroner said about two days. Can't believe nobody found her before then. This is a busy street, but the body was behind the dumpster, and nobody sees that until the garbage man. People only see what they want.” Grady sounded older. The job was wearing on him too.
That only pissed me off more. “So he’s dumping bodies in various locations, and he knew that the garbage men wouldn’t find her until today. So is it possible that he's got some ties to local government? Or that he pays attention enough to know when the garbage men would've seen her? I mean last time we found the body it was over three days old. And he’s dumping them fresh. There's blood on the sidewalk, we've got a drag trail this time. He drives, empties the trunk, stashes the body where he thinks it’ll be found, and moves on. You know what this means: a dead body means he’s already picked up another victim. I can't imagine what he's doing to that poor soul.”
We broke apart as we all searched the grounds and brick walls for clues. We knew it was futile. This guy was good, clean. He always picked up after himself. There wouldn't be any fingerprints on the body because he used gloves. All the instruments were medical grade, so they didn't leave any marks that shouldn’t be there. It pissed me off how good this guy was. Just made my job a little too hard for what I liked to do. I saw Gavin calling me over and thought maybe he found something.
“What's up?”
He lowered his voice to just above a whisper. “You know I've been thinking about something with some of these bodies.”
“Yeah, what are you thinking? That this guy has to die? Because I've been considering that myself.”
“No man, don't you smell that?”
I cocked my head at him. “Smell what? All that I smell is garbage.”
“Exactly. He keeps dumping the body near garbage, underwater, he left a couple in the river for us. Nowhere that bears would pick up the non-human scent. I think these people are shifters.”
“Are you serious? Someone is abducting shifters and killing them for sport?”
He nodded solemnly. “I really started to think it after the last victim. And do we ever see bodies turn up looking like this? No way. Nobody dissects people like this person. I think these people are being tested on.”
I watched as the coroner peeled back the sheet to show Sarge the face of the girl. Her eyes were still open, but even glassed over, she looked terrified. If someone was testing on shifters, I had to find out who. And soon.
Before they start coming after me.
Chapter Four
Penelope
I stood there waiting, with Camden's car seat clutched in my hand like it was a lifeline. It was a brisk fall day, but there was sweat dripping down my face. Why was I doing this? After not speaking to Harrison for a year, I was just going to show up here? What the hell did I expect? That he would take Camden and I in and protect us? This whole thing was entirely crazy. But it wasn’t for me, it was for Camden’s safety. I would do anything for my baby. I raised my shaky hand and pressed the doorbell and waited. It only took a moment before Harrison's face appeared behind the glass door. He didn’t look any different. Same messy hair, same beautiful body that immediately turned me on. Same gray eyes that pulled me into him so quickly I could hardly breathe. But as my eyes settled on his, I realized he had a very confused look, and every right to look that way.
“Penelope?”
I smiled at him feebly. “We need to talk.”
He looked down at the car seat I was holding and his eyes grew wide. Clearly he assessed the situation pretty quickly. I shouldn’t have expected any less from a detective. He opened the door and I stepped in. “It's been a long time. How have you been?” he asked anxiously.
“Busy.” I held up the car seat. “You have somewhere I can set him down? He's sleeping.”
He nodded and extended his hand. I followed his direction, walking into the kitchen. I put Camden down on the floor and sat down at the table. My hands were shaking. I had to get this out. I needed to get help.
“How have you been?”
He stood next to the refrigerator with his arms crossed. He was directly between me and the car seat. The baby, his baby. “Fine. Just a little bit crazy.”
“Yeah. I saw. They're talking about it all over the news. You’ve had twenty unsolved cases in the past couple months? That mustn’t make you very happy.”
“No,” he said roughly. “Is that why you're here?”
“No, it's not.”
“Then tell me what all this is about.”
I didn’t respond right away. I looked at my hands.
He continued. “I mean you just left that morning, you didn't even say goodbye.”
“I know, and I've thought about the morning since then…”
“So have I.”
He thought about me? That wasn't something I was expecting him to say. He seemed so standoffish, like it was just a simple one night stand. I was surprised he even remembered my name.
“So I think I need to start at the beginning. Can you sit down? You're making me nervous.”
He pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and sat across from me. As soon as he sat down he looked tense, which didn’t help my nerves. He folded his arms again like he was assessing me. He had to know what I wanted. But I couldn't blame him. I just showed up on his doorstep after a year of not speaking to him, with a baby. If he only knew that I also had a bag in my car and no place to sleep tonight. That was going to make this conversation extra interesting.
“So I need to tell you about Camden.” I sighed heavily. I knew that once I started, the story would just come out in a rush of words and I wouldn’t be able to stop. But maybe that was the easiest way to do this, just like ripping off a Band-Aid. “The little baby that I have in this car seat is yours.” I paused for a moment, letting it sink in. Harrison's face remained unchanged. All those years of interrogation practice had really hardened him. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. I was a little impressed. “And up until about three days ago, we were making it. I was doing extra time at the diner, picking up actual work wherever I could. There's this little old lady who was taking care of him in my apartment building. She was amazing. Then three days ago, everything changed. I was at work and this guy in a suit came in.” Suddenly his eyes tensed. So maybe him having a baby wasn't as big of a deal as a guy in a suit? Or maybe he knew what was coming. I didn't know what was worse.
“He said that he was looking for me. But then I realized he wasn’t actually interested in me—he wanted Camden. He told me that there’s this place that we should go and they would pay for us to stay there, and it seemed like this great opportunity. But I should have known better. He gave me this really bad vibe, like he wanted more then he was letting on. But then he mentioned why. Do you think that maybe you should've mentioned about you being a shifter?”
Now his whole body tensed.
“I thought you knew.”
“No, I didn't. So you know what that means then. Camden's also part shifter. But apparently, the whole human-shifter relationship really gets some people going. He asked me all these questions about Camden, and who his father was. But I wouldn’t tell him anything. I couldn’t.”
It had only taken me a few minutes to figure out what the man in the suit truly wanted. And it terrified me. “They want to do tests on him, Harrison! They want to take my baby and hurt him. So I did the only thing I thought to do. I ran. I slipped out the back door and went to get Camden. I left my apartment, and now I have nowhere to go. And I didn't know where else to turn to, and I know that that's not fair and that I didn't tell you and I should have, but here I am. I need some type of support system. And you're the only shifter I know. So her
e I am. Please help me.” It came out in a rush of words and I realized I had been holding my breath. What if he didn’t take us in? What had I done?
I looked deep into his eyes, and for a moment, it was hard not to want to fall into his arms once again. His face softened. He knew I was telling the truth.
“You sure this guy didn't follow you? Tap your phone, setup surveillance on you?”
I shrugged. “I'm trying to take care of a two month old, who I just found out is part shifter, so I haven't really been paying attention to my surroundings very much. Besides, it took a lot just to find you. And clearly, they already knew that you were tied to us. How did they know that, Harrison? How do they know anything about Camden?”
He just sat there looking confused. I realized he wasn't sure either.
“The murders you've been seeing on TV? They’re not random. The guys at the precinct and I’ve kind of come to the conclusion that he’s killing shifters. And the fact that someone approached you about testing only confirms that. Some type of organization is going after my kind. And when it comes to my kind? I really thought you knew. I thought it's why you didn't stay.”
“Why I didn't stay? I didn't stay because I didn't think you wanted me to. I thought it was a one night stand. I wasn't going to become one of those clingy girls that hung around.”
“You weren't clingy. I wanted you to stay around.”
I sucked in a breath. He had wanted me to stay. He had wanted me.
“Well, I guess here's our second chance. So what the hell are we going to do with it?”
He shook his head as his mouth dropped open a little bit, clearly taking it all in. “Well, for starters, you’re obviously going to move in here, so I can keep an eye on you and… what did you say his name was?”
“Camden. And don't ask me why. I know it's a gross city name, but it is what it is.”
“No.” He smiled. “I like it. I like it a lot. So he’s two months old?”
“Yeah. Almost to the day. He's a joy. He's healthy and a really quiet, calm baby. I lucked out big time.”
He looked down at the little infant car seat. “Can I see him? Can I hold him?”
My heart about exploded out of my chest. I felt like I was going to melt into a puddle right there and then. “Of course you can. You’re his dad.”
His head popped up on the word dad. “Dad. I never thought I'd hear that.”
“Get ready to hear it a lot. Because you just went from being one of Seattle's most eligible bachelors to having an instant family.”
I thought he would look more jarred, like that would bother him more than it did. But instead he looked happy, content that we were there. Maybe Harrison had been feeling lonelier than I realized, or maybe I was just so desperate to make this work I was being overly optimistic. Either way, I should've given him the benefit of the doubt earlier.
We were here now. And that was what was most important: all of us.
Chapter Five
Harrison
Holy shit. Penelope was here. Not only was she here, but she was here with my baby. My son. Camden.
Every time I moaned about the fact that I was lonely, the guys had poked at me, said that she was the one that I let get away. But I wasn't going to keep her captive; I had always thought it was my bear that had scared off. I felt sorry that she didn't realize that our son was half shifter until now. Until some asshat in a suit came to tell her that they wanted to take him away.
She looked incredible, just as beautiful as I remembered her. She had that soft auburn hair and light blue eyes that struck me deep in my soul. She was angelic looking. My bear rumbled just beneath the surface clawing to get to her. It was like the moment he saw her again, he knew. She would have to be my mate. He paced back and forth just under the surface waiting for her to make a move. Neither of us wanted to scare her off again. Maybe we should take it slow.
I felt his surge of anger—not slow, apparently. He wanted her now. But as much as he wanted her, he also wanted that baby.
I'd always wanted a family. I hardly wanted to live by myself anymore. And here was my opportunity. Not only that, but it was my duty to keep her safe, as she was the mother of my child, my mate. There was no way I was letting anyone get close to them.
She picked him up out of the car seat and handed him to me. I'd never felt anything so fragile in my entire life. This tiny little bundle in my hands was my flesh and blood. I couldn't believe my eyes. Especially when he let out a small yawn, and his fists balled up, and his eyes opened. It was like looking in the mirror. How did she look at those eyes, my eyes, for the past eight weeks and not feel like she should tell me? That wasn't fair. But I’d have to get over that. I had to move forward, but I had to figure out what was going on.
“So you got out of your apartment?” I said as the little boy wrapped his hand around my finger. He squeezed, and I felt how strong he was. It was the bear inside of him. Even though he was only half, he would still carry my traits. I felt pride swell in my chest knowing that one day he would be just like me. Or maybe even better.
“Yeah, I felt like I had to. It was kind of a shithole anyway, but it was home.” The first time since she arrived she looked truly afraid. She'd been so strong.
“How did you find me?”
She looked sheepish. “I went to your job. I know that's like totally illegal and everything but the sergeant there told me where you lived, as it was really important that I talk to you. I think he saw Camden and kind of assumed…”
Great, I would never live this down. “No it's fine, they would have found out anyway. I'm really close with the guys on my squad. They’re like me.”
“Shifters? All of them?”
“You really don't know anything about us, do you?”
“Not really. I mean I knew that you existed. But nobody really talks about it, not since the pro-shifter legislation passed. I know that we’re not supposed to treat you guys any different. Which honestly is fine by me. I just wish that other people wouldn’t, especially now that my son belongs to this world. I want you to know that the only reason I came here is because I’d do anything to protect him. This isn't about me or anything that I want.”
That one hurt. I didn't make eye contact with her, to avoid her figuring that a piece of me hoped that she had come to me not just because I was Camden's father, but because she still had some feelings for me. Whatever feelings could be based on one night for a human, I wasn't sure. I knew how much of my feelings were based on it, though.
“No, I totally understand. So without an apartment and without a job you're kind of shit out of luck? Am I right?”
She nodded again, this time looking desperate. She didn't need to look that way; I would take care of her. “I hope you’ve got your stuff. There's a guest room that you and Camden can sleep in. I obviously have no baby items, but I’ll get anything you need. The house isn’t much but it’ll work. This is obviously the kitchen and living room is right through there.” I pointed off to my left. “There's no dining room, as I eat in the living room in front of the TV most nights. I don't cook, so don't expect that. But I'll pay all the bills and you can stay here as long as you need to. Definitely until we get all this figured out.”
“I’ll work! I'm not expecting a hand out.”
“That's not what this is about. If you're outside this house, someone is going to find you. Staying here is about your safety. Yours and Camden's. So I can bring home whatever and you’re to stay here at all times. You can't trust anyone.”
She bit her lip, which was cute. I could tell she was thinking it over. She didn’t seem like the type of girl to just take anything given to her. I appreciated that. A hard working woman—it was a trait I admired. “Okay, I can cook. I have to go grocery shopping though—I can’t be a total prisoner in here—and I can cook for you every night. You'll never have to eat in front of the television alone again. We could eat here at the table, like a family or something.”
Like proper f
amily. She had no idea how good that sounded. “That would be nice. But send out for grocery service. I was serious that you can't leave the house. I’ll have to ditch your car, in case they’re tracking it. I’ll run it out into one of the state parks around here and just leave it there, they won’t think anything of it until they try to track it again. I can put surveillance on it to figure out who's been following you.”
“You can do all that? Because you’re a cop?”
“I can do all that because I'm going to. But yes, being a cop certainly has its benefits when it comes to a situation like this. But I need to inform the rest of my squad what's going on. We had our suspicions about the killings, but you're the first person to confirm it. I can't believe they offered you money, like they thought you would take it. It's your kid we’re talking about here, did they get that?”
“I think they did when I told him no. That’s when he told me that they would make me sorry. And that's when I knew I had to get away, that they wouldn’t leave me alone. Is this what your life has been like? People constantly chasing you?”
Camden started to doze off again as I rocked him in my arms. I couldn't believe how natural it felt. Within seconds, he fell back to sleep. “No. It's never been like this for me. All of this is brand-new. I don't know what's going on, Penelope, but I'm going to find out. You don't need to worry anymore.”
The first time since she had walked in, I saw her shoulders slump, and she finally relaxed. I wondered if she felt like she been holding her breath the entire time since she had been propositioned to give up Camden. I wondered what it felt like to finally let go.
Chapter Six
Penelope
“We need to talk about what you told me about Camden. About the man who offered you money. I need to know everything about him so we can figure out what organization he’s working for. And then I can take him down and anyone who stands with him.”
“He gave me a card. I don't know why I just remembered that. But he gave me a card with his name and number on it. No business though, I don't think. Let me grab it.”