Alpha Micah Black: Werewolf Detective (Complete)

Chapter Twenty

“Dr. Frederickson, is there anything wrong?” Hanna asked. She began to reach to knock on Professor Bryant's door, but the Dean knocked for her instead.

“Who is it?!” Patrick barked out in a slur.

“Hanna, your TA, and Dr. Frederickson,” she answered back looking in the Dean's direction.

“Come in,” he said with a hard sigh.

“Professor,” Dr. Frederickson acknowledged his colleague as he and Hanna entered his office. Hanna places the box on top of a long folding table that is located off to the side of Patrick's desk. Sensing that she needs to stick around, Hanna leans up against the table with her arms crossed in front of her waiting for what needs to be said.

“So what brings you into my office?” Patrick asked, his curiosity caught.

“About that,” Dr. Frederickson began, “our forensics equipment is needed. It seems the Police Department's equipment is acting...off.”

“And what does this have to do with me?” Patrick whined and getting irritated.

“Well, Hanna needs to pull some DNA off of a piece of evidence.”

“Why Hanna? What evidence? Does this have to do with my brother's....” Patrick's defensive voice trailed off.

“I'm afraid so,” Dr. Frederickson humbly said.

“Okay, let's go,” Patrick said getting up from his desk rubbing his face. Turning to Hanna he spat, “Don't mess up.” She just nodded in acknowledgment. She was just too tired to argue at this time of day.

Dr. Frederickson, Professor Patrick Bryant, and Hanna all move toward the door. Hanna is moving a bit slower than the two men. Professor Bryant is a little wobbly himself. He's gonna need another cup of that nasty stuff that Hanna gave him earlier.

When the three of them reach the bottom landing, they are greeted by a small crowd from the Wolfdale City Police Department. Hanna immediately recognizes the two of us.

“You two again?” Hanna stated with a half-smile. “You know Detectives, we simply need to stop meeting this way,” she spoke with sarcasm. She is just as thrilled as we are to be here. Next time, I'll have to remember to bring her some more food.

“Sergeant Black, Officer Peterson, I presume. I'm Dr. Frederickson. I'm the Dean of the Biology Department,” he said introducing himself extending his hand. “Chief Edwards called and told me of your... predicament.”

Hanna pushed her way through the small crowd to the laboratory door with her key in hand and unlocked it. She angrily flipped on the lights and made her way over to the designated area in the science lab.

“Yeah, thank you for being willing to help us out,” I acknowledged shaking his extended hand.

“I'm not the one who you should be thanking,” the Dean humbly remarked. His eyes looked in the direction of Hanna and Professor Bryant. Cass and I caught on to the hint given.

“Of course,” Cassidy nodded.

As we all started to file into the science lab, Patrick Bryant slammed his shoulder into mine. I'm pretty sure it was done on purpose. His eyes were blood-shot and glossy, as he gave me a cold hard stare. He also had a faint hint of alcohol on him. With the news that we bombarded him with, I really can't blame the guy. Perhaps I misjudged him yesterday? We'll see.

“Excuse me,” he said in gruff. His body language holds undertones of clear animosity.

“Sure, no problem,” I muttered back. I'm still on the clock. “Thank you Professor Bryant for your help with this.” I tried sounding sincere. Technically, I'm pretty sure that we are riding a fine line where ethics are concerned since the victim was his brother.

After everyone did the usual formal greetings, we got right to the matter at hand.

“So where's this piece of evidence that needs our equipment?” Professor Bryant inquired. He is getting more frustrated as the senseless minutes tick by. He would like to go home sometime, as would we all.

Demi Mason, our forensics minion, slowly steps out from her hiding place, behind Patrol Officer Roger Oren. She hands over the small plastic bag. Patrick Bryant immediately recognizes it. It's his brother's sterling silver fraternity ring. He quickly remembers that Hanna can't touch that. She's allergic. He is also aware that his own DNA would be embedded in it. All thanks to a fistfight they had a couple of weeks ago. He still bears a scar from where the ring cut into his face.

“Yeah, Uhm, we have a problem already. Two in fact,” Patrick began his confession suddenly sobering up. “My brother's ring is made from silver, and Miss Grimm is highly allergic to it. Even if she wears a few layers of examination gloves it poses a problem for her. Second, I can tell you with utmost certainty that my DNA will be found on the ring. We got into the worst fight we ever had. I didn't kill my brother! We may have had our disagreements, but I never wanted--” he spoke still trying to hold back his tears of grief that have been threatening to fall all day.

Hanna reached out to touch his arm. Patrick jerked his arm back and glared at her, dismissing whatever comfort she was offering.

Cass, Roger, George, and I all took notes during this important rant. If the DNA comes back as so, and if he's willing to let Doc Jacobson look him over. Patrick Bryant will have had taken himself off of the suspect list. But I'm still going to keep my eyes on him. He still seems “off”.

“Okay, so if Hanna can't touch silver, how are we going to figure out who's DNA is on it besides the Professor's,” asked Cass.

“I could help,” offered our forensics minion.

“No. Thank you,” the Professor quickly dismissed her request. “If you would have followed the proper procedures, we wouldn't be in this spot. Now, would we, Miss Mason?” he smirked in her direction with one eyebrow raised.

Ooh, getting called out for wrongdoing by a former professor has got to sting. So Professor Bryant knows our little minion. He doesn't seem to think too fondly of her either. Ha, finally, some common ground.

“N, no sir,” she sheepishly replied. She somehow made her way over to Hanna.

“I get guarding the evidence, but you're beginning to act like a henchman. Please go hench someplace else. You're getting into my space,” she snapped. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound so harsh. It's just been a long day for me.”

Turning to Professor Bryant, with her hand on her hip, Hanna asked, “so how exactly are we going to do this?”

“I have an idea,” an authoritative voice spoke up. “Why don't you Professor Bryant handle the ring and swab off the promising areas, and Hanna can get the test tubes ready for the separating machine?” suggested the Dean. “Then within a couple of hours, the samples should be ready to move on to the next step.” Both Hanna and Patrick couldn't disagree with that logic. They immediately went to their tasks. And surprisingly made a good team. Despite the obvious awkwardness between them. What is his problem with her anyway?

“How long does the next step actually take?” George asked out of curiosity.

“If it's done properly, three days for the least amount of info to any length of time beyond that, depending on what you're looking for,” Hanna answered while arranging the tubes needed. “Oh, and for the record. I'm not staying here the entire time. Once the samples get placed into the machine, I'm out of here. Find someone else to babysit your evidence.”