Fur Fox's Sake (Shifters Undercover Book 2)

by Milly Taiden

  Marika leaned against the table in the lab at FAWS and watched the blood drain from the face of her friend’s mate. She’d tried to make the blow easier to handle, but it didn’t seem to have worked.

  Barry looked at Charli, then at her. “What does that mean, I’m not human? What else could I be?”

  Charli held onto his hand. “Barry, let me speak to your other half like I did in my office when we first met.” Marika watched as Barry calmed. Then slowly, the two began to glow in their own soft light. The shimmer was faint, but there. The sign of true mates, Marika had no doubt. Charli released his hand, and they looked at each other with such love. Marika and her fox could only sigh, anxious to get their hands on their own glowing partner.

  Her friend turned to her. “When I talk to Barry’s bear, he’s quiet and hard to reach, almost as if he’s detached and I have to bring him in. Now I want to compare that to yours, Mari.” Charli reached for her hands. “Hold onto mine.” Marika grabbed on tightly, excited to see what the outcome was.

  Immediately, her animal jumped to attention. Ho, boy, Charliiiii. I love you so much and you’re so much fun and I love being with you and—

  Charli’s body stiffened with a jerk and then pulled away. Barry caught Charli before she fell backward. Marika frowned. “What’s wrong, Charli?”

  Her friend burst into a laugh. Between gasps of breath, Charli spit out, “And I thought you were hyped-up on mega caffeine. Your fox runs a million miles a minute.”

  She smiled. “Oh, I could’ve told you that. She can’t sit still long, either. It’s ADHD—Animal Deadlocked in Hyper Drive.”

  Over the lab’s intercom system came a voice. “Ms. Paters, please call reception. Ms. Paters.”

  She looked at Charli. “That’s strange. You’re the only one who’s ever visited me during the day.” She bounced toward a phone to dial the front desk.

  “Ms. Paters,” the receptionist said, “there is a man here to see you. He says he’s with the fellowship.” That meant nothing to her.

  “What’s the fellowship?”

  “I don’t know, Ms. Paters.” Marika picked up a hint of hesitation from the young woman.

  “All right. Give me two minutes, then escort him to my office. Please let him know I have others with me.”

  “Yes, Ms. Paters.”

  Marika hung up and turned to her companions. “Someone is here to see me. He says he’s with the fellowship.”

  “Oh, he works with me, then,” Charli said. “We going back to your office?”

  “Yes, we’ll meet him there.” Marika stored the glass plates in the safety container and left everything else as is. She’d be coming back to it shortly, anyway.

  They hurried to her office. When entering, Charli shook her head.

  “I know, woman,” Mari said. “It looks like a paper atomic bomb exploded. But I know where everything is, so don’t move anything.” Charli held her hands up in innocence and proceeded to the cleared sofa she and Barry sat on the last time they were there.

  Marika heard the hall door open and figured that would be her guest, so she waited by her open office door to greet the man. For just the one person that the receptionist had referred to, there were quite a few smells, and feet walking. By her estimate, there were three others, and judging by the heaviness of the footfalls, they were men—big men.

  The closer the group came, the more she smelled the young receptionist’s fear. Why was she afraid of someone who worked with Charli? Unless that was a lie to lure them back to her office. Her training and safety protocols flashed in her mind.

  Her company was very conscious of security and terrorist activity. They were, after all, the only lab in the world devoted to animal forensic sciences. And shifter research now. Several times a year, the company had lockdown rehearsals and role-played various attack-and-rescue situations.

  With little thought to her own safety, Marika flattened against the wall next to the door and prepared for unwanted visitors. Her fox lent extra strength for speed and decisive blows.

  “Ms. Paters?” the receptionist said, stepping over the threshold. As soon as the woman cleared the door, Marika grabbed for the arm of the male, flipping off the lights at the same time.

  With help from her animal, she flung the guy against the wall. If she could capture him, then maybe the others would back down or at least cease to be a threat. A high-pitched scream rent the air, from the receptionist, no doubt. And then all kinds of shit hit the fan.

  Able to see perfectly in the darkness, Marika leaped onto the man trying to get up after hitting the wall. They rolled into stacks of papers and books, knocking them everywhere.

  Barry and Charli jumped up from the sofa in front of the desk, tripping into a chair, sending more file folders flying. True to a mate, Barry dragged Charli to the far side of the room and kept her hidden behind him. His growls and her friend’s shouting added to the cacophony.

  The other three men stormed into the room, slamming into the screaming young lady who just stood there. They held a weapon of some kind. Marika couldn’t make it out while fighting her intruder.

  Shouts of “Turn on the lights,” “Marika stop,” “Don’t shoot,” and “Shut her the hell up,” echoed off the walls. When the lights came on, everyone froze, and Marika quickly surveyed the situation.

  Barry had Charli smashed into a corner, her friend yelling at him to move his furry ass out of the way. One of the intruders had his hand covering the receptionist’s mouth, muffling her continuous shriek. Marika wasn’t sure if the woman had taken a breath yet or not. And the two other men stood by the door, one with his hand on the light switch, both holding gun-like weapons.

  Marika sat on the floor with the main man securely wrapped in a choke hold. He wasn’t going anywhere. She and her captive were probably a sight. A five-foot-tall lady pinning a man at least six feet and a hundred pounds heavier to the floor. Her fox was really damn strong and faster than most shifters. She had this.

  “I suggest,” Marika said, “that you drop your weapons, or your companion’s head will pop from his body like a whitehead zit.” She noted the man’s dark hair in front of her face. “Well, more like a blackhead zit.” The men didn’t move from their readied stance. Her prisoner moved his hand and the men backed down, placing their weapons on the floor.

  Charli slid around the desk, coming to her knees in front of the captured man. “Colonel Rupen, I’m so sorry.” Charli pulled at Mari’s arms. “It’s okay, Marika. I know him. You can let him go.”

  Mari narrowed her eyes and sniffed the air. No fear came from her friend nor the young lady who’d finally quit yelling. Barry stood behind Charli, so the bear could back her if drastic measures were needed once the guy was freed. Slowly, she released her hold. The man coughed and leaned away from her.

  “Even though a bit late,” her friend said, “Marika Paters, meet Lieutenant Colonel Rupen, the head of the fellowship program I work for.”

  Marika looked at the frowning man. “Oh shit.” She jumped to her feet from the floor where she’d tackled and pinned down Charli’s boss’s boss—the big kahuna of the entire fellowship. “Colonel Rupen, I’m so sorry.” Both Charli and she helped him to his feet. “I smelled our receptionist’s fear and thought you had bad intentions for coming here with a group of armed men.”

  Looking him over, she understood the receptionist’s fear. The guy was freakin’ huge, and if he had worn a scowl when arriving with the three Secret Service–like men behind him, she’d be ready to piss her pants too.

  “Please, call me Rupen. And I apologize, Ms. Paters, for our hasty and barging entrance. I just received some information and scurried to put a team together to get here as soon as I could.”

  Charli brushed off the back of her boss’s shirt. “What happened to have you rushing here?”

  He looked at Barry. “Him.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  After Devin left his mate in the safe hands of his coworker, he headed for the se
nator’s house. Time to get the investigation going. But the taste of his mate’s kiss lingered on his lips. How could he think about anything else?

  The image of the monster wolf lying on the autopsy table popped up. That answered that question. His panther had a bad feeling about the whole case, as did he. So many questions needed answers—answers he had to find before the other wolf killed again. Yes, again, he was sure of it, as was his cat.

  The large house at 1711 Magnolia Avenue had a line of cars parked along the street. Seemed every person in the neighborhood was at the home. Great. This wasn’t what he wanted, an audience eavesdropping for gossip.

  Detective Gibbons mentioned earlier that she’d take care of informing Mrs. Hayseed of her husband’s tragic animal attack and death. He wondered who got to the senator’s wife first, Gibbons or the neighbor ladies. He placed his bets on the rumor mill.

  After parking his SUV as close as he could, which was a block away, he proceeded to the fancy front door he’d driven past a few times since moving to Shedford. Before he even knocked, he was ushered inside and offered coffee, tea, or milk, plus a Danish roll or sweet cake to go with his beverage selection. He felt as if he was in the midst of a Tupperware party, with all the ladies buzzing room to room.

  He asked twice to talk with Mrs. Hayseed, and both times a lady went to fetch her and never returned. This was getting out of hand. But the stories his supersonic ears took in were almost worth the wait. Some said aliens were the culprits, along with vampires, and some mystical creature he’d never heard of.

  Guess the real story of an animal attack wasn’t exciting enough for these ladies. Probably would be if they knew the truth behind the animal. They’d all have coronaries if the truth leaked. Then again, he wasn’t sure he knew the real story yet.

  Deciding he should search for the mistress of the house on his own, he wandered from one highly decorated room to another. The backyard was spectacular with a pool lined with rocks and waterfalls, expensive-looking furniture, two gazebos, a grilling kitchen, and a four-car garage. Wow, he needed to research how much senators earned annually. He should get into politics, if only he could stand the constant bureaucratic bullshit.

  Coming upon ornate dark-stained double doors, he paused to peek inside. When opening one of the doors, he found the woman he was searching for quietly sitting behind a heavy cherrywood desk. He cleared his throat and slipped inside.

  “Excuse me, Mrs. Hayseed. I’m Agent Devin Sonder working with Shedford City Police. I’d like to ask you a few questions, if you have a moment.”

  She looked up at him with dry, but red-rimmed eyes. “Yes, Agent, please have a seat. Can I get you a beverage?” She set down the picture frame she held and raised the half-full glass of water in front of her.

  He raised a hand. “No, thank you. The ladies have taken care of that already.” She gave a nod and sighed.

  “Please ask your questions, Agent. I’ll be as helpful as I can be, but please know that Earl and I don’t—didn’t talk much. He had his life and I have mine.”

  That was a sad marriage arrangement. What’s the point of being married if the couple lived separate lives? Marriage was forever, but were they doing each other the disservice of keeping the other from finding someone who made them happy? Would he be contented if his and his mate’s relationship was to produce kits and that was it? No. He wanted more.

  “Mrs. Hayseed, have the Shedford police spoken to you about the attack on your husband this morning?”

  “They have. But I was aware of the news before they told me. One of the ladies’ daughters is a morning runner and saw the aftermath.”

  “Mrs. Hayseed, I’m going to ask some questions that seem to have no relevance to your husband’s death, but I’d still like you to answer them if you can.”

  “Absolutely,” she said.

  “Does your husband have any enemies or someone who would want to cause him harm?”

  She raised a brow and tried to stifle a wry smile. “Agent Sonder, my husband was a US senator. Of course he had enemies. Mainly the entire Democratic Party. Now, as to those who’d do him harm . . .” She paused. “I don’t know anyone.”

  Not letting his thoughtlessness ruffle him, he went on with another question. “Was the senator working on any particular bill or piece of legislation?”

  Mrs. Hayseed shook her head. “I don’t know, Agent. I apologize. I try to stay out of that part of things. Believe it or not, I don’t like politics that much.” Perhaps it was just the money she liked, then. He couldn’t imagine mating for material wealth that could disappear with the flick of a dropped candle on a carpet.

  Devin closed his pocket notebook and sat back in the chair. The library they were in was very impressive, of course. He wouldn’t expect anything less after seeing the rest of the house. Dark, leather-bound books lined shelf after shelf. He wondered how many the senator had actually read.

  “You know, Agent Sonder”—he turned to see her pouring the rest of her glass of water into a potted ivy that looked a lot like the one he had found on his desk that morning—“there was a time when Earl and I spent hours going through many of these reference books, looking for legal precedents and results of trials that would give his clients a leg up.

  “Those days are long past, but I still love my husband. Agent Sonder, please use any means necessary to find and kill whoever took Earl from me.”

  He swallowed hard. “I will do my best to uphold justice, Mrs. Hayseed.” She gave him a sad-eyed grin. The woman understood what he meant and accepted it as how it would be. He would not step outside the boundary lines of the law to catch her husband’s killer. Did she know it was a shifter who tore out her hubby’s throat? For being a secret, the shifter world seemed to be known by a shitload of nonshifters.

  She stood, and Devin followed suit. “Please look around his office here for anything that might help you.” She gestured to a table covered with binders and what looked like rolled-up building plans or land surveys. “He did all his work in this room when home. Feel free to search cabinets and drawers as well. If he was hiding something, it’s moot now.”

  Devin handed the older lady his business card. “Please call me if you think of anything that might help us in the investigation.”

  She smiled and slipped the card into her slacks pocket. “I will, Agent Sonder. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a house full of gossipmongers to appease.”

  “Yes, ma’am. And thank you for your permission and trust to go through your husband’s political dealings.” She nodded and left the room, quietly closing the doors behind her.

  He let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. He had no doubt the senator was murdered. Whether by the wolf shifter that got away or a conspiratorial group, he didn’t know. But Hayseed was guilty of something. He had to find it; he felt time ticking away.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Marika stood beside her office desk while Colonel Rupen, the big kahuna, stared down Barry. Charli stepped in front of the bear as if to protect him.

  “What do you mean ‘him’?” Charli asked. “He hasn’t done anything illegal on purpose. And—wait a minute.” She looked at those in the room. “What does Barry have to do with you? You’re not even from here.”

  This was so not good. Rupen’s puzzled expression showed he had no idea what the hell was going on. Shit, where to even begin with the story.

  “Who is Barry?” he asked.

  “Wait.” Marika jumped in before things got nasty again. “Hold up, there, big guy. You need to hear the entire story before you do whatever you came here to do.”

  Rupen’s brows drew down. “What story? What are you talking about? We’re here to take Perry Frid into custody.”

  Barry’s body stiffened. Charli whirled to face him and asked, “Does that name ring a bell? Is that you?” Then she whirled back around to Rupen. “You can’t arrest him. He’s my mate.” One of the three guards dropped his weapon that he had picked up, mouth gaping, eye
s bulging. Rupen snapped his fingers at him, and the guy picked up his firearm.

  The military commander narrowed his eyes and studied Charli and her mate. “If he is your mate, then you’re saying he’s a shifter. Perry Frid is one hundred percent human.”

  “That’s probably true, sir,” Marika replied. “But Barry, there, is one hundred percent shifter. Oh wait, I mean he’s half-human, half-bear.”

  The head honcho wiped a hand down his face. “Okay, Marika, you better get started on that story. Obviously, there’s a lot I don’t know.”

  For the next half hour, Marika and Charli rehashed all that had happened in the past week, starting where Charli first saw the bear at a neighbor’s farm, to the lab results they looked at thirty minutes ago. Barry’s complete amnesia hadn’t changed a bit. He was still as clueless now to his identity and past as he was then. Marika knew more about him than anyone else, since she had his fingerprints, blood, and DNA.

  Rupen sat back in his chair and crossed one ankle over a knee, then gave a deep sigh. “So, Barry,” Rupen said, “do you have any memories prior to meeting Charli?”

  “Funny you ask,” the shifter said. “This morning I felt”—he paused, looking for the right words—“I felt a tickle in my brain when sitting in the meeting at Charli’s office. Like something wanted to burst forward, but couldn’t quite do it. That’s the best way I can describe it.” He tightened his arm around Charli and hugged her closer. Marika sighed. How romantic.

  The big kahuna squirmed in his chair, then leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. “Charli, Barry, we have a situation here I’ve never dealt with, nor have I ever come close to imagining such a scenario, it’s so ‘out there.’”

  Marika watched Charli look at Rupen, then glance over her shoulder to her mate. “What could be that difficult to deal with? Barry’s a great guy—”

  “Stop there,” the lieutenant colonel said. “That’s the big issue. The Barry you know is not the Perry I know.”

  How could that be? Marika wondered. In school, she had studied the story about Sybil, an abused child who had multiple personalities. Well, until it was exposed as a fake story made up by three women. Was Barry a different personality of Perry? What would happen if those two mindsets collided?