Disguised as Human

“Yeah.” The man didn’t look at him. “There are no paw prints here other than from the dog that found her, but I’m sure it’s one of them.” 

“Right, contact me when you have everything.” Fuck, this was not good. 

“Where are you going?” 

“To talk to the dog walker, then set up some interviews with the people she worked with.” He could guess what they would say, but it needed to be done.  

He walked over to the woman with the dog. Someone had already taken her statement, but he introduced himself and asked her to tell him everything again. 

“I didn’t touch her. I could tell she was dead already.” She shuddered.  

“How could you tell?” 

“The eyes. They were open, staring into nothingness. Milky almost. And all the blood.” 

Oscar exchanged a few more words with her, but it was clear she didn’t know anything and hadn’t seen anything helpful. 

Back in the police car he’d borrowed for the day, he called Hamilton to let him know what they had so far, as well as a heads-up about which way this investigation would take, then he drove to the grocery store.  

He called Jasper as he drove. 

“Major.” 

He smiled into the phone. “That’s a new one.” 

Jasper hummed, and when he spoke it sounded as if he held something in his mouth. Oscar imagined a pen. “What can I do for you?” 

“Bad news, I’m afraid.” 

Jasper plucked whatever he’d had out of his mouth. “Is she hurt? Shit, did he get in here? How? Are the kids okay?” 

The image of June Towers flashed before Oscar’s eyes when Jasper asked about a woman, then he realized he was talking about Esme White. “Esme and the kids are fine, as far as I know. I’m calling because a woman from the grocery store has been murdered.” 

There was a loud bang as if Jasper had dropped something. “June?” 

Jasper’s whisper had Oscar squeezing his eyes shut for a second before he opened them and looked at the road again. “You knew her?” 

“It’s June?” Jasper’s voice shook. “Fuck.” 

“I’m sorry. Were you close?” 

“No, not close, but I was to meet her for a drink on Friday. I met her in the grocery store, and she asked where we hang out nowadays when The Virgin Drop isn’t around anymore.” 

“You’ve known her for some time then?” 

“I don’t know her. I was surprised to see her at the checkout. I didn’t have a clue she worked in the grocery store. She might have been all the time. I don’t know. She and her friends used to go dancing at The Virgin Drop. I poured them drinks. I haven’t seen her in months. Where was she found?” 

Oscar turned into the parking lot outside the grocery store. “I’ll need your statement.” 

“You want me to come into the station?” 

Oscar didn’t answer straight away. 

“If I come into the station, will I leave there in one piece? Or at all?” 

“I’ll swing by the community. I’m about to interview her workmates now, and I suspect they’re gonna mention you. I’ll have to investigate you.” 

Jasper didn’t answer, but there was a rustle. Oscar hoped he was nodding and not shaking his head.  

“Where was she found? By the grocery store?” 

“On the outskirts of the park. A dog walker found her. Looks like she was on her way home after having ended her shift at work.” 

“I wouldn’t kill her, Oscar.” 

“I know, but I have to prove it.” 

“I’m starving.” 

Oscar frowned at the clock, he guessed it might be supper time. “So eat something.” 

“No, you don’t understand. I need to feed. Had I killed someone, I’d have fed. Did she have any bite wounds?” 

“I can’t disclose that.” 

Silence stretched, and Oscar gave a silent snarl, then he whispered into the phone. “She bled out, several cuts looking like claws across the throat. The forensics aren’t done with the crime scene yet, but they’re convinced it’s a shifter.” 

“And you?” 

“Thinks it’s a little too convenient, but I could be wrong, and either way I have to prove it because I’m pretty sure what the report will say.” 

“I don’t have claws, Oscar.” 

“No, but how many of those who saw you talk to her know that?”