chapter 5

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"Who's going to follow up on this lead?" said the Captain.

Aidan looked at Anna who was looking at the ground.

"I think Anna should do it."

Anna looked up in surprise.

"But you're the lead," she said.

"I have to prepare my statement for court," Aidan lied, "Besides, this is good experience for you."

She looked at the ground again.

"Okay," Anna said, fiddling with her coat, "I'll see him after lunch."

The captain nodded, and Aidan felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

Aidan ran his finger over his desk and huffed in irritation as he looked at the digit, which was grey.

"Not again," he said, grabbing the cloth.

He rubbed along the desk vigorously as if he could permanently will away the dirt. He continued buffing until a gentle cough stopped him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you," began Anna, looking sheepish, "I finished the interview."

"What did he say?"

"He says he hasn't seen the girl before. He also maintains that his assistants carry around his business cards as well and that they're put around in several other law offices as well."

Aidan leaned back on his chair.

"Which means that she could have got the card from any one of them, which means it's basically useless, unless we want to interview dozens of assistants and law firms."

Anna hesitated and Aidan saw she was about to open her mouth and then closed it again.

"Speak then," he said, irritated.

"It just feels... too significant to be just something she picked off the street. It was the only thing in her pockets and I saw her ankles. One of them was almost mangled. She was definitely running from something or someone," Anna gabbled.

"And you think she was running to this lawyer?" nodded Aidan.

"Maybe. I mean, that lawyer is known for taking on were cases. Maybe she thought he could protect her."

Aidan sunk back into his chair as if lost in thought. Then he leapt back up.

"I'm going to take a little walk," he said, "Really think about what you've said. Great ideas, Detective."

Aidan walked out of the building, his mind swirling with ideas. He opened his car door and took out the packet of cigarettes he kept in the glovebox and opened it, putting into his mouth.

"Smoking's bad for you," said a voice from behind him.

"So is having to deal with nicotine withdrawal," said Aidan, swivelling around, with his teeth digging into the filter.

Aidan saw nothing until the woman moved closer where her whole body was illuminated by the harsh glow of the streetlamp. Her hair was piled haphazardly on her head and her glasses were smudged, the eyebags underneath it pronounced.

"I would know," she said, her hand on her hip, "Give me one."

Aidan passed her a cigarette and the lighter which she accepted with a singular quirked brow.

"God, I haven't smoked since med school," she said, leaning against the side of the car.

Aidan rolled his eyes.

"I get it, you're a doctor," he said, lighting her cigarette.

"Guilty," she chuckled, "Still a resident though."

He handed her another cigarette and she raised her eyebrows.

"For the road," he said, getting in the car.

"Thanks," she replied, leaning over the window, "My name's Ivy."

Aidan started the car.

"I didn't ask," he said.

"You didn't have to," she called out, walking away from the car.




"I wasn't expecting you here," said Thomas, leaning against the doorframe, "I was half expecting your delightful subordinate to show up again."

"Well, she's off braiding her vagina so it's just me," snarled Aidan, pushing past him.

Thomas watched Aidan pace up and down the hallways with a smirk on his face.

"Are you always this incandescent when you interview a suspect? Or do I get special privileges?"

"Cut the posturing bullshit," snapped Aidan, "You and I both know that it wasn't some random coincidence that that girl had your card in her pocket."

He strode the few short steps between them and jabbed his finger into Thomas's chest.

"Tell me why she had your card," demanded Aidan.

Thomas sighed and rested his hand against his forehead.

"I leave them in women's shelters. Specifically ones for weres," said Thomas, leaning against the wall, "I've seen women like her before and half the time they end up dead. A boyfriend, a husband, a john. Doesn't bother anyone because the police don't publicise them."

"Which makes me wonder why they even started investigating this at all," added Thomas.

"She wasn't tagged."

"So they thought she was human," snorted Thomas, words bitter and acidic, "Figures."

"They only figured out she was a were after Anna told them."

"They'll probably drop the case, then."

"Why would they do that; it's clearly homicide."

Thomas gave him a scathing look.

"They won't pursue it because it'll get publicised and they don't want people to know that weres are being murdered by humans. It doesn't fit their narrative."

"By humans?" asked Aidan, his eyebrows shooting up, "How could a human overpower a were?"

"You would be surprised," said Thomas darkly.

Thomas took a breath of air.

"You have any leads, then?" he huffed, harshly blowing air out of his nose.

Aidan shook his head mutely and turned away.

"Haven't got the autopsy report yet."

Thomas' eyes tracked his movement as Aidan rested his head against the wall.

"Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?"

Aidan turned to face Thomas abruptly.

"What is there to talk about? "

"You have no idea, do you?"

Aidan remained silent. Thomas took a deep breath and sighed.

"First of all, you've probably already understood this but we cannot tell anyone about this. You can't tell anyone because they'll likely fire you from your job and I assume you don't want that."

Aidan said nothing even as Thomas' harsh stare began to dig into his eyes with its intensity.

"I can't tell anyone because it will put you in an immense amount of danger. So we can't tell anyone."

"I think you've made that abundantly clear," drawled Aidan.

Thomas snarled.

"This isn't a joke. This bond only gets dissolved if one of us dies. "

He let go of Aidan who was breathing hard but trying to conceal it.

"What about heat cycles?" said Aidan, his voice ragged.

Thomas eyeballed him.

"Been watching a lot of porn?" he replied roughly, "Painkillers and water. You'll be fine."

Thomas sat down.

"I'd like you to leave now," he said, his voice tightly measured.

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