The Chief stared at him for a long moment and then turned into his office, gesturing for them to follow. “A small one.” Stepping behind his desk, he rifled through the top drawer and finally came out with a small make-up mirror. Shrugging, he passed it to Lamar. “I use it when I have to shave.”
Lamar nodded. “I pulled Trask in like we discussed,” he explained, holding the mirror up so they could all see his reflection. Turning to Genov, he nodded in satisfaction when he saw no reflection at all. Finally, he angled it to the Chief and gave an admittedly relieved sigh when he saw his boss’s familiar face glaring back at him. “He said the easiest tell for a shapeshifter is to check a mirror. No matter what form they take, their real reflection will show.”
The Chief gave a low whistle. “Now that’s some handy info, but it doesn’t explain the lockdown.”
“The killer is in the precinct,” Lamar said bluntly. “It were pretending to be Genov to find out what we know.” He launched into a quick description of his interaction with the assumed killer, stopping just before the radio on the Chief’s desk squawked.
“Officer down! Repeat, Officer Down! Lobby level. We need a bus!”
“Identify yourself!” the Chief barked into the microphone.
“Scaline,” the tinny voice came back. “The bastard shot Lovato and took off through the parking garage.”
“Genov?” the Chief asked after hearing a confirmation that an ambulance had been dispatched.
“Confirmed,” Scaline’s voice came through again. “Where’s that ambulance?”
“It’s been dispatched,” the Chief said calmly. “I’m on my way.” Shoving the radio back to its usual spot on the desk, he sighed and pulled his service weapon free from the bottom desk drawer and clipped the holster onto his belt.
Shaking his head at Genov, he sighed. “I think you better sit this one out, son. Lock the door behind us and stay put, understood?”
Genov nodded and grabbed the mirror off the desk, tossing it to Lamar. “Looks like you’ll be needing this, Coop.”
Lamar forced a grin. “You just keep those fangs where I can see’em.”
