Page 17 of Shifter for Brains

I knocked on the wall with my knuckles. "Looks soundproof too."

"Are you even going to answer me?"

"Can’t,” I said. “My head’s too busy being in the game."

"Is that the dark place where the sun doesn’t shine?"

I ignored his ‘witty’ comments. "I’ll listen, you scream."

Exiting the secret room and concealing the door once more, I waited and listened for my partner. Four months together and Temple and I still hadn’t connected or become a real team yet.

Temple opened the door with a wry expression a few minutes later. "Yep, the sound proofing works."

"…If I heard what you said, would I be trying to kill you right now?" I guessed.

"Guess we’ll never know."

I rolled my eyes. "You’re not nearly as cute as you think you are."

"Wow, I think the same thing about you all the time."

For the millionth time, I cursed my luck for being stuck babysitting the guy.

I had piss poor luck all around. I wanted Lucas’s case too, and my bastard brother/boss refused. Lucas and I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye. Was he really gone from my life as quickly as he entered?

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I answered the incoming call.

The rookie started talking immediately.“Hey, I have a quick question. I’m on case B457-XJniner—"

"You’re gonna have to give me more than a string of official gibberish, Ro."

“Oh, I’m on the guy you brought in this morning? Lucas,”Papers rustled on his end.“Lucas Milton.”

"Merritt gave him to a rookie?!?!” Oops. “Uh, no offense.”

"I understand.”God, Rowan Masterson was too nice. The lion shifter was my favorite rookie… largely because we played video games together when off duty.

"Slate." Temple’s bitch face told me to hurry the hell up.

“Look Rowan, whatever’s going on, I’m sure you can handle it.”

“Thank you! I only wish I had the chance."

"What?"

"Milton withdrew his complaint. The weird thing is that someone came looking for him, he seemed shady and… I thought I even smelled magic on him. Do you know what’s up with that?”

“I’ve gotta go,” I said.

"Right, no worries.”Rowan heard the dismissal and assumed its meaning.“I’ll figure it out. See you later.”

"No,youstay on the line.” I nodded to my partner. “We’reabout done here, right?"

"Are you kidding me?" Temple bitched immediately.

"There’s something here,” I said. “I don’t care whether you believe me or not."

"And what about the case we do have?" Temple stood between me and the door, an unspoken signal not to cross.