“So, not enough to narrow down our suspect list?” I ask. Not that it’ll do much.The Packhas many werewolves in the crew. But explaining the new suspect pool to Serena would have been a fun challenge. Maybe I could have bribed her by letting her put things on my murder board?
Marcus shakes his head. “It seems like the killer wasn’t just trying to hurt him to cause pain. More like they were torturing him for information,” he says.
I nod. We already knew it was personal. But torture? Even though it doesn’t narrow down the suspect list, we’re now looking for a really strong motive.
Marcus decides to become a gentleman and walks me back to my car.
“Do we know anything about the other body yet?” I ask him when we're well out of everyone’s earshot.
“Oh yeah, it’s the same combination of drugs. One for paralysis, the other for inducing a heart attack. And like all the other seven bodies, they didn’t show up in procedural bloodwork, and the autopsy showed clear signs of heartattack,” he says.
“Anything else?”
“No, there are no signs of resistance and no syringe marks, so the chemicals were consumed orally. The concentration must be extremely high since chemicals take much longer to enter the bloodstream when swallowed.”
“So, it's someone he trusted.”
“Can even be a human,” Marcus shrugs.
“Or a very smart and calm werewolf who did not want to leave any evidence.”
“I still think it's a human because why go through the trouble of gaining someone’s trust, securing the drugs, and then waiting for them to take it when you can just slit someone’s throat.” Marcus drags his thumb across his throat.
I give him a side-eye. “You scare me, man.”
Marcus waves me off. “At least, I’ll make it quick and painless,” he smirks at my bulging eyes. “Did you meet the new Bureau agent Meena had transferred to LAPD becauseyou apparently need help?”
“Not yet, but now I’m worried she doesn’t believe I’ll be able to hunt down the killer,” I think out loud.
“Just take the help, man. They’ve been on this case for years and have no leads. You need a proper team,” he says sagely.
Well, not bad advice. From what I’ve learned from our conversation so far, we’re still firmly in the no-lead territory. I should take help from my team.
“You will probably run into him on the field. And you can call him or any one of us for anything you need with the case,” he recites.
“Meena got you, too?” I ask.
Marcus snorts. “You really need to learn to delegate, Nick,” he mocks.
“Fuck you too.”
For his comment, I subject him to a hug before driving away. He grumbles the entire time.
I have no time to check on Elliot today because I need to pick Mickey up from Oliver’s. Matt and Oliver had happily volunteered to babysit. Their exact words might have been ‘Oliver just wanted to meet him. What do you mean you’re leaving him here?’, but I know they love Mickey and want all the cuddles.
I spend the night cooped up in my office, looking at feeds from the recent werewolf victim’s doorcam. No one went in or out the day he was found. It’s suspiciously uneventful until a patrol officer shows up for a welfare check.
I look up the drugs Marcus mentioned. They need prescriptions, so they can be tracked.
I pick up my phone and call Meena. “What am I hearing about this new patrol officer?” I ask as soon as she picks up.
“It’s me being the best supervisor and making sure my agents don’t run themselves ragged without any sleep. Mental hospitals are expensive, you know? Youneedto learn to delegate,” she stresses. “Now, did you need anything, or you just called me to complain about how no one gets you?”
I roll my eyes. “I need his info. I have work for him.”
“He’s been here two weeks and you haven’t given him any work yet? That’s honestly worrying, Nicholas. At least, you’re learning. I’m emailing you his profile,” she says, and my phone vibrates.
I sigh. “Thanks. I’ll reach out,” I tell her, already typing.
