Page 14 of Shifter for Brains

"What about the fireball?” I grit my teeth, reminding myself he wasn’t being regular hardheaded Merritt, only considering the situation from every angle as his job required. “Despite fresh rain, a giant gas puddle was just there waiting."

"Sure, it’s kinda odd. Especially if youweren’t at a gas station near an overhang on the side where semi-trucks fuel up.”

"…Oh." When he put it like that…

Meritt continued. "There’s no harm looking into this and seeing if anything turns up, but this doesn’t require a senior agent."

"But I brought him in." Great. I sounded like a kid with a favorite toy being taken away.

“You should have brought him in last night… You’re sure you don’t like him?"

“Yes, I swear—"

"Damn,” he grunted. “I’d understand that."

Bullshit. “You’d gut me.”

“Andunderstand.Even—" what expect that from me? Ouch.

“This guy doesn’t mean anything to me,” I promised. Later I could consider why the words put a funny taste in my mouth and an image of Lucas borrowing and wearing one of my favorite t-shirts sprang to mind, but not with Merritt right there.

"Whatever the fuck’s going on,” Merritt growled. “Don’t let it happen again."

"Right. Alright, Merritt.” Whoops, still a superior agent! “Sir? I understand, sir… Merritt."

"Sir would be correct."

"Except it sounds like I’m mocking you." More “sir” than sir.

"Wasn’t sure if I was imagining that." Merritt frowned at me. “There’s a good chance all this leads nowhere. Do you still want the case?”

Shoutingyesseemed too revealing. “You already decided,” I said. “So you tell me. Am I on the Milton case or not?"

~

Lucas

My head hurt. No, my whole body ached with actual physical pain. Interrogation hurt.

"One second the road was clear and suddenly he was just there."

“Did you look away from the road?” Officer Masterson questioned.

“No, I—"

“Were you looking at your phone or tired? Did you close your eyes for a moment?”

“No.”

The regular authorities asked these same questions and found no evidence of wrongdoing. No evidence of much at all, judging by the notes Officer Masterson scribbled down onto his report. White space dwarfed the writing, representing all the holes in my memory.

Did I think of this as an interrogation? No, this was an interview. An interview with the surliest, largest officer on the force. The largest man in theentire freaking worldbecause anybody bigger would have their own gravitational pull.

Even interrogation put it too nicely. Inquisition might be more accurate.

The inquisition came first, then the firing squad.

"What about a description? Most shifters can change elements of their face and occasionally the hands, so anything about him as a fox, hybrid,orhuman is helpful.”