Alpha Micah Black: Werewolf Detective (Complete)

Chapter Thirty

“What is that horrid noise?” Jabberwocky screeched. Her eyes diverted toward Hanna.

“Your voice,” everyone thought to themselves in unison.

“An animal I came to rescue,” Hanna calmly replied. “It sadly became injured during the rescue attempt.” She comforted the bat so that it settled down in her arms.

“I guess you should be more careful next time,” the mayor chided. “Some biologist...”

“I am careful, Madame Mayor! It wasn’t me who injured the animal for the record,” Hanna defended herself. Jabberwocky rolled her eyes at Hanna’s “excuse”. “What type of animal is it?” she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“A bat,” Mitch said with a hint of disgust in his voice.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Blackwater and I stepped forward simultaneously to defend Hanna. There’s something familiar about him but, I shake off the weirdness.

“I was the one who accidentally injured the bat,” Mr. Blackwater confessed. Okay, that was unexpected.

“And I can personally attest to Hanna’s ability as a biologist. She knows her stuff,” I added. “You need to apologize to her Madam Mayor.” Yeah, I went there.

“Ha,” she scoffed. Apologizing is beneath her. She has clearly forgotten that election season is upon us. Here’s to hoping her reign of tyranny comes to an end. One can hope, right?

Using this opportunity, I introduce myself to Mr. Blackwater and Cole Grayson. While Hanna and Mitch gathered up everything including the little bat. Dr. Abernathy must have snuck out earlier.

“See you tomorrow Tiff,” Hanna said to her friend.

“What’s tomorrow?” Mitch suddenly seemed forgetful.

“The funeral,” Hanna reminded him as she gently placed the bat inside the carrier.

“Right. I knew that” Mitch scolded himself as he grabbed the other things. Both he and Hanna made their way out the door to head back to the University.

Now that, almost everyone has cleared out of the bar. Tiffeny orders her employees to cease their current task and to head into the kitchen to begin the food prep for the lunch and dinner rushes. Still feeling a bit worn out, I take a seat in the closest chair. Mr. Blackwater signals to Cole to bring over the footage in question. He quickly complies grabbing the laptop and a bag with other high-tech gear in it. It’s a good thing the chair I planted my tired body is at a fairly large table that accommodates everyone. The Chief scribbles something on a napkin. I can assume that it must be the secure password for the WiFi network. Cole shakes his head.

“Thank you, but we don’t need that,” Cole Grayson explained. After the laptop was fired up, he pulled out some sort of USB “do-hickey” that he inserted into the computer. “We have our own secured WiFi.” He then typed in something and quickly brought up the video footage that we need for the investigation.

Blackwater security footage, seven days ago...

A biped in a dark fur wolf costume carries the body of its victim. It makes its way over to the stack of lumber. It struggles with the tarp some getting a piece of the costume stuck. It then places the victim on the lumber. It seemed to have known where a camera was hidden, as it looked directly at it catching the full mask on camera, then it took off.

End footage.

We all just stared and blinked at the screen. Dumbfounded by the revolting display the perpetrator is showing. I don’t know if I should be laughing or be insulted. Well, this case just took a fast hard turn to the weird side. No wonder I’m so worn out. Mr. Blackwater and Mr. Grayson just sit there unfazed by what they watched. Zero reactions. Which brings me to question, exactly how much do they know what has been happening at their construction site? Why did they wait for Jabberwocky to contact them? Why didn’t they come forward sooner? Ugh, too many questions. My head is starting to feel the growing dull pain of a migraine. Chief Edwards must have noticed my sudden change and took charge of the meeting.

“Thank you, gentlemen. Would you be willing to give us a copy of those videos? It would help in resolving the investigation quicker.”

Mr. Blackwater nodded to his head security officer. Cole then pulled out an SD card and transferred the videos onto it. After each one was uploaded, Cole handed the memory card to me. Only because I was next to him.

“Thanks,” I mumbled. Out of habit I pulled out one of my business cards and hand it to Mr. Grayson. He then hands me one of their business cards as well. “We’ll be in touch.”

“So we’re done here,” Mr. Blackwater grunted out in a form of a question.

“Yes, for now,” the Chief answered. “If we need any more information from you, we’ll contact you.” And with that both Mr. Blackwater and Cole Grayson gather up their items and leave the bar, ignoring Jabberwocky as they exit.

Unknowing to either the Chief or me, Jabberwocky was present the entire time. She has been sitting at a corner table slowly sipping a coffee. Thankfully she looks oblivious, lost in her own thoughts as a devilish smirk form on her face. Explains why the Chief didn’t press them with questions. After the Blackwater Industries men leave the Chief calls over Tiffeny.

“Chief Edwards? Is there anything I can get you?” she asked in her usual bubbliness. In a hushed tone, Fenton Edwards asked Tiffeny, “would you mind taking Sergeant Black to his home so he gets some proper rest?” He winked at her in a fatherly way.

Tiffeny blushed at the unusual request. This is a first for her Dad. She knows that she’s been single for some time, but it never seemed to have bothered him before. Why the sudden change? Then she remembered that Sergeant Micah Black’s wife was mysteriously murdered over a decade ago around this time of year. He’s been suffering ever since. Okay, so now you know. The cat has been let out of the bag. Perhaps this is her Dad’s way of telling me that it’s okay to move on. Her Dad is such a shadchan. Ha, he could have picked worse.

“Of course, I’ll be glad to help,” she whispered back.

Turning his attention back to me, Chief Edwards told me in a serious tone, “Tiffeny is going to give you a ride home. No arguing with me on this. You’re taking the rest of the day off. Get some needed rest. You seriously look like cow dung.”

“Gee, thanks, Chief,” I mumbled under my breath. We both got up from the table. Tiffeny helped to steady me as she led me through the bar to her office. The Chief went over to where Jabberwocky sat making herself at home.