Page 44 of Hard Shift

“What can I do for you?”

“Your name came up in our investigation.”

“Oh, yes, I heard. Are you looking into Sadie’s disappearance?”

Her lips twitched. “Yes, we were told she works for you. Were you aware that you’d employed a shifter?”

The senator leaned back in his chair and gave her cocky smile. “Yes, I know everyone on my staff. Believe it or not, Detective Hanson…”

Ah, now we’re getting somewhere.

“…I don’t have any problem with the shifter community.”

Elizabeth sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. “No? Then why are you trying to pass a bill to have them all implanted with microchips? Are you scared of them? Us?” she amended, throwing that little fact back in his face.

“On the contrary.” His smirk fell. “It’s just as much for their safety as it is for ours. Without some type of log of who is where and what they are, then we’ll never be able to treat them if something should happen. If you were to have read my bill, you’d know that it’s not about the chip as much as it’s about providing them with equal rights to everything. As with our government, regardless of race, color, or creed, we’re all accountable for our actions.”

“And this chip? Do you just plan to use it for identification and GPS?”

“No,” he answered without pretense. “It will also contain a paralyzing serum to disable them from shifting.”

“Do you realize how that sounds and how it will be affecting the rights of all shifters?”

He leaned forward and crossed his arms on his desk. “What happens if a shifter goes on a killing spree? How do you suppose we track him and stop him?”

“How do we stop a human from doing the same thing? You call the police, and in this case…” She sat back in her chair. “You’d call us.”

“And in the event that it’s organized crime? More than one, hell, more than you have on your force. How do we stop them then?”

She tilted her head. “And just who does your bill suppose holds the remote to stop us when we get out of line? You?”

The senator narrowed his eyes. “A third party, justice department board, of course, comprised of shifters and humans. I hired Sadie, not based on what she shifted into but based on what type of job she did. I don’t discriminate, Mrs. Hanson.”

His eyes flicked from hers to Rhys’ and back. “Now, if you’d like to schedule time to debate my bill, you can set that up with my office. If you’ve come to ask questions about Sadie’s employment, then I suggest you stay focused and on task.”

Elizabeth held in her anger and re-crossed her legs. “Are you aware that Emily Fisher was found murdered?”

“Should I know who that is?” he asked.

She could smell the deceit from across the room. She refrained from calling him a moron, knowing that if she did, she’d get kicked out.

“She was an attorney at Kleinfield and Summers.”

His eyes quickly narrowed before he masked his frustration. “Is there a question?”

“She was working on a case for you the night of her disappearance. Do you mind telling me what it was about? It would save me time from having to subpoena the records.”

He rose from behind his desk. “You’re going to do it anyway, aren’t you?”

She grinned and rose, too.

“This meeting is over. Any other questions can be asked through my attorney.”

She chuckled and headed to the door, followed by Rhys.

“Afraid that’s impossible.” She glanced back over her shoulder. “Emily is dead. Which partner are you using now?”

“Get out,” he growled.

“With pleasure,” she answered back as she opened the door. “Oh, one more thing.” She turned to face him. “Are you aware shifters can smell when you’re lying?”

His nostrils flared, but he didn’t say anything.

“Rebecca is a pretty girl. Funny thing, she doesn’t take after you or your wife.”

The senator balled his fists when Rhys ushered her out of the room and toward the front door.

“I’ll have your job,” the man called after her.

She gave a full belly laugh and turned around walking backward as Rhys continued to drag her out of the house. “I’ve already turned in my resignation, but I have every intention of finding Sadie first.” She winked, before turning and strolling out of the door. “You can count on it.”

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