Page 33 of Hard Shift

Chapter 12

Elizabeth slid into the passenger seat and dialed the number to the precinct. She waited for the lab to answer and told them she was sending Jennifer there for an analysis. She wanted DNA and to know what shifter strains were showing in her system. Then she had them transfer her to Colton. He answered on the first ring. This wasn’t a call she wanted to make, but she had to keep the jerk in the loop.

“I need you to get one of the investigators to work up background information on Jennifer Smith. Her parents’ address and numbers and anything or anyone else who can tell me about what type of animal she can shift into.”

“You close to finding her?” he asked.

“I did find her, but something is wrong.”

“Elizabeth, we should talk about what happened with Evan.” She heard the remorse in his voice. Too bad his conscience had kicked in a day too late.

She swallowed around the lump in her throat and kept her resolve. “There’s nothing to say unless he told you where the lab is and where the girls are being kept. My resignation still stands. After this one, I’m out. I’ll send you my report when I have something new. I just really need that information like yesterday.”

“The Jordanian Protectors already have the inside track on this case. His division pulls rank, and they actually want us to fall back. I’m trying to stall them to buy you some time.”

“Yeah, well, you can tell Evan that if there is a shred of evidence in what he’s said, then I outrank his sorry ass by being the damn princess and I’m not stopping until I bring down whoever and whatever is involved. I’ll be waiting for your email, but otherwise, I’ve got an investigation to run.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “Goodbye, Colton.”

She hung up the phone, not waiting for his response. What was he going to do, fire her?

“So, now you’re their princess?” Rhys asked.

Elizabeth saw the disappointment in his eyes and the way his muscles tensed. He was becoming guarded, and she couldn’t blame him. She’d warned him she didn’t know what the future held, and that was because it was true. She really didn’t.

“It’s just a title, one that even I still don’t believe, but lucky for me, he does.” She started typing notes into her phone. “Bink’s Labs and then the senator’s residence. He’s somehow connected to Emily and Sadie.” She glanced his way. “Unless you want to take me to my car. I can finish this alone if you need to go help your brothers at the Honey Pot.”

His jaw ticked. Had she hit a nerve?

“I think that might be for the best. Can you take me to my car?”

He looked her way, even more disappointment in his eyes. “I’ll take you to your car if you promise to have dinner with me.”

“Negotiating?”

“More like compromising.” He pulled out onto the road. “I need to check in with the guys and handle the shipment at the bar. After that, I’m free.”

She nodded and grinned. She could do compromising. He wasn’t trying to rule or run her life. She respected that. “I can compromise.”

****

Elizabeth relaxed behind the wheel of her own car and felt alone driving to the lab. Her entire life she’d lived that way. Why it bothered her now, she didn’t have a clue. Her first stop was on the outskirts of the Glades, where the lab was located. She parked in front of the building and got out walking up to the rotating doors; she pushed on them and ended up in a large, white, sterile entrance. Waiting areas were scattered around the room with splatters of cheap, fake green trees. She could smell the plastic from the fake leaves as she walked. The open area was void of people, though perfume and cologne scents lingered. A curved welcome desk with two security guards sitting behind it was the only sign that someone actually worked in the building. There were two elevators on her left with a marque hanging on the wall showing a list of names and office numbers.

“Can I help you?” The guard closest to the elevator stood as she approached. She sniffed. Human.

She flashed her badge toward the guard. “I need to speak with Patrick Smith.”

He picked up the phone and punched some numbers. “SID needs to speak with Smith.”

A couple grunts later and he dropped the phone back in the cradle. “Have a seat. He’ll be down in a minute.”

“Thanks.” She smiled before heading to the seating area. She stood next to one of the plants with her back to the guards, ignoring the seats that looked about as welcoming, and as comfortable, as sitting on a rock. She gazed out of the floor-to-ceiling window until she heard the elevator ding in the lobby.

She pivoted around to find Patrick Smith strolling her way. He’d ditched the trench coat and suit jacket and was now wearing a white lab coat in its place. He smiled at her, and she sniffed the air, expecting to smell whatever drugs or liquids he’d been using. Instead, she smelled his…fear?Oh, Mr. Smith, don’t you know our kind can smell the stress in your sweat?

“Detective.” He held out his hand in greeting. “I wasn’t expecting to see you again. Is everything okay with Jennifer?”

“She’s fine.” She shook his wet palm and hid her reaction behind the fake smile on her face. Elizabeth gestured to his clothing. “Your wife said you were an accountant.”

“Oh, right.” He lifted the lab coat. “I spilled something on my suit jacket.”

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