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ChapterOne
“Idon’t need a partner.”
“Actually, you do. You need someone a lot prettier than you for effective bait, unless you want to put a wig on that huge fin of yours, slap on a bikini, and go splashing around in the water on your own.”
Mike Stone knew his boss wasn’t making a dig at his looks, though he could see it on the man’s face that he was cringing a little on the inside for the comment.
The crooked scar that ran down half of Mike’s face was enough to get most people who didn’t know him to stare. It was enough to make a few of the people whodidknow him to stare at times.
He was lucky he still had use of both of his eyes, but deep scarring on his right cheek, the crooked set to his mouth, and the red lines that raked down half his face didn’t make him the best looking guy in the world.
But he didn’t give a shit about his looks, and he was glad his boss didn’t make some kind of casual apology for his words either.
Honestly, it would have been insulting. Mike didn’t work for the Aquaterrestrial Task Force, a department of the Federal Paranormal Unit, because he got his feelings hurt easily.
If he did, then he wouldn’t deserve to be there in the first place.
“You’re getting a new partner.” Jack Williams wasn’t budging.
“AILE already sent Chase down. We were supposed to handle this on our own.”
“Chase is here for the communications and surveillance. You still need a female. That’s what the killer wants. This woman is a mer shifter, can shift just her bottom half when needed. She’s also got a few natural skills on her side that will make it harder for anyone to do anything with her if something happens while you’re at a distance.”
“What could another mermaid do to this guy? He’s already killed six of them.” Mike pictured the traditional fish-tailed beauty. It was a shame what was happening to them, but he didn’t know what special skills could help this new one get the better of the killer.
“She’s not a mermaid. Not specifically.”
Mike frowned. To this day, the action pulled at the scarring where his right eyebrow used to be.
“She’s a kraken shifter. Think Ursula—”
“I know what that means.” Mike really didn’t have the time for this. “Where did you find her?”
“She came to us. Offered her services when it got out the killer was leaving suction cup marks and digging their claws into the victims.”
Mike popped his knuckles. “So she’s saying she came in because she thinks the killer is one of her kind. And we’re sure she’s cleared? That she didn’t do it?”
Though it was a worthless question to ask. Of course, their department would do a complete and thorough background check into anyone working for them, but especially one who could fit the description of a killer.
“She’s got alibi; work-related and social activities. Phone traces ping to towers confirming her location, and none of her tentacles match any of the marks we pulled off any of the victims. Whoever this is, is much bigger than her.”
Fuck. Of course the bastard would have gone through every step. Dotted everyiand crossed all thet’s.
“You know I don’t like those types.”
“Mike.”
“You know exactly what my issue is with this, too, so don’t go pretending this is something you don’t understand.”
Jack nodded. The man carried himself with an air of self-confidence, more assured than stubborn. He knew what he wanted, and he’d already made up his mind, and there was nothing Mike could do that would change it for it.
Bastard.
“You’re going to meet her in an hour. She’s a volunteer, and we need her. You’re here to do a job, and you’re either going to do it or be reassigned.”
Mike was pretty sure his ears began to ring. The ridiculousness of those words… they couldn’t be real. “She… What? What do you mean she’s a volunteer?”
“No formal training, but we’re going to give her a week, a crash course in what we do around here and what her role will be, then we’re putting her out in the field with you and a few other men.”
