Alpha Micah Black: Werewolf Detective (Complete)

Chapter Twenty-nine

Chief Edwards walked over to Jabberwocky’s limo. “Madame Mayor, perhaps you can have the Blackwater Industries men rest in a more comfortable environment, instead of their SUV?”

“Where do you suggest?” she huffed having one of her sculpted eyebrows arched. “Surely not inside my limo.”

“No, of course not. That’s not what I was implying at all,” the Chief shook his head flabbergasted by the whole situation. “The Broken Badger? I can call and see if Miss Lowell could open early for them.”

“The Broken Badger? Is that the old police bar off of Scrimmage Drive?” she thought out loud tapping her finger to her chin. “Hmm, that could be an idea...I hear the food is spectacular. Let me get their thoughts first.”

Before store hours at The Broken Badger...

A frantic Tiffeny Lowell and a couple of her employees were busy trying to catch a rogue bat. Not the nasty ugly blood-sucking shifting kind, just a regular bat. Outside the large window with bars stood Hanna and Mitch eagerly waiting to come inside. They definitely looked like an odd couple. Each one carrying large objects, a large pool skimming net, a small animal carrier, an overstuffed messenger bag filled with various items, and a baby scale. Upon seeing them she quickly ran to the front door and let them in. Before Tiffeny could even get out a quick “hello”, the bat dived bombed Mitch unexpectedly causing him to squeal like a girl. He quickly glared at Hanna and Tiff.

“Mitch, if you can’t handle a low-flying bat, I suggest you leave,” Hanna snipped at him. She still hasn’t forgiven him for his over possessiveness and jealous behavior the other day. She’d rather be alone than to be stuck into someone’s pre-made box on how she should behave. That ain’t gonna happen.

“I just wasn’t expecting that to happen. I’m not going anywhere,” he quickly defended himself. Leaving was out of the equation. He still needs to win back Hanna’s heart. But did he have it to begin with?

At that moment, a rush of air blew through the empty bar. In the doorway stood Mr. Blackwater and his head security officer, still emitting the same deadly aura.

“What an asshole,” muttered Hanna silently to herself.

“You there, bar wench, what did you call me?” Mr. Blackwater demanded. His steps were sure and fast. He came toe-to-toe and almost nose-to-nose with Hanna. His nostrils still flared and his eyes were raging with all kinds of emotions.

“Have you tried taking a laxative?” Hanna politely suggested refusing to move a single inch. “It should give aid for the removal of your cranium from your rectum. Just so you know, I'm not a bar wench. I'm a biologist.” Before Mr. Blackwater could answer and tell this little thing off, the small rogue bat flew too close to his face causing him to swat at the creature with tremendous force. The poor little creature crashed hard onto one of the wooden tables. Ooh, not the best move. Welcome to “Hell hath no fury as a Hanna scorned”. Ya don’t go messing with her wildlife.

“What the hell?! You had no right treating that animal that way!!!” now Hanna yelled, fists balled and her nostrils flaring.

“What exactly was I supposed to do? It was coming directly at my face,” he spat out now with his muscular arms crossed over his heaving chest. In Mr. Blackwater’s defense, that was a natural reaction, but he could’ve used less force. The poor thing.

“Ya could’ve duck, dumb ass!” She hollered grabbing her biology gear and went to the motionless bat on the table. During the whole commotion, no one noticed Dr. Kierstan Abernathy come into the bar with some animal medical supplies. She slowly made her way over to the table where Hanna and the knocked-out bat are.

“Did I just miss something?” she asked cautiously. She and Mitch shared a meaningful glance. “Who’s Mr. Hot-and-Bothered?” Key’s curiosity got the better of her as she looked toward Mr. Blackwater. He only rolled his eyes at her and huffed towards a corner booth still in the same foul mood.

While Hanna and Dr. Abernathy were looking over the dazed bat, Tiffeny offered the Blackwater Industries men food and non-alcoholic drinks. Too early in the day to serve beer or whiskey. She is not going to risk losing her liquor license over a couple of assholes. Mr. Blackwater clearly enjoying the food, never took his eyes off of Hanna the entire time. Great, another creepy guy. Cole Grayson, his head security officer, leaned over and whispered something private into Mr. Blackwater’s ear. Whatever it was, caused Mr. Blackwater’s mouth to twitch at a corner.

Hanna and Dr. Abernathy checked the bat’s heart, lungs, and pupils. They then weighed the animal. It showed that it was slightly underweight. That can be remedied. They measured the bat’s wingspan and overall height. Hanna had Key insert an IV solution to help hydrate it. Hanna made sure that the bat was well secured in a towel so as not to freak it out when it would wake up. The entire time that Hanna and Key were working on the bat, Mitch never took his eyes off of Hanna either. Every so often he would glare in Blackwater’s direction.

“So when it comes to, are you going to release it?” Mitch asked being hopeful.

“Unfortunately, no. It’s underweight and dehydrated. Plus, there’s some bruising,” she glared in Mr. Blackwater’s direction. He smirked back at her. “It’ll get banded then taken care of at the University,” Hanna stated dashing Mitch’s hopes. Great, now he has a flying rabid animal vying for Hanna’s attention. First that damn wolf pack and now a damn bat.

“Tiff, what do you think about hanging a bat house out back?” she suggested to her friend.

“Would it help keep them outside?” Tiffeny asked.

“Most likely. But stuffing the holes and cracks in your walls would also help.”

“Right. You told me to do that. There’s been no time to do it, unfortunately.”

“Seems like there’s plenty of help here today to get it done.” she looked in Mitch’s and Blackwater’s directions. Mr. Blackwater quickly caught on to what Hanna was implying. He stood up and stomped his way over to her.

“I’m not doing any such thing,” he glared down at her cuddling the injured bundle in her arms. She looked cute looking up at him. Guilt and another emotion that he wasn’t familiar with battled within Mr. Blackwater. Mitch seeing that this could get him back in Hanna’s good graces jumped at the opportunity.

“What can I do to help?” he asked Tiffeny grinning a cheesy smile.

“Well, my Dad left me some boxes of old newspapers in my office. We can use those to start,” Tiffeny confidently gave out the orders.

After a meaningful look to Cole for assistance, Cole and Mr. Blackwater pitched in to help as well. Might as well, they haven’t heard back yet from the PD. This is just as good for a time-waster.

Mr. Blackwater and Cole Grayson carried the stacks of boxes out of Tiff’s office effortlessly, while Mitch and the other employees struggled with the heavy ladders. Soon every able body was patching in the holes with the newspapers provided. Before they knew it, Mayor Jabberwocky, Chief Edwards, and a slightly better Sergeant Black entered the bar.

“Would someone please explain why Mr. Blackwater and his associate are doing up on a ladder?” Jabberwocky hissed out. “Guests should not be subjected to hard labor! Really, Miss Lowell? Mr. Blackwater, I don’t know what transpired here, but you shouldn’t lower yourself to such menial tasks. My sincere apologies for...” she was interrupted at the small shrieks coming from the bundle in Hanna’s arms. Apparently, the bat doesn’t like Jabberwocky also. Her voice could peel paint off a wall.