Free The Shifter's Conspiracy (Paranormal BBW Werewolf Romance Novella) by Cassie Laurent Page A

coworkers and I knew he was a professional; he wouldn’t want to jeopardize the investigation with some quick fling.
    After getting up I headed into the bathroom and had a quick shower. It was then that I realized I didn’t have a change of clothes; I’d have to let Elias know we had to stop by apartment so I could change. I didn’t want it to look like I’d been out on a one-night stand or something.
    I came out of the shower dripping wet only to be greeted by Elias. I saw his eyes widen, surprised to see me like this. I felt desire rise up inside me, but I did all I could to force it back down; I knew he didn’t feel the same and it was for the best that I just kept quiet instead of expressing my feelings and looking like a fool in front of him.
    While I waited for him to shower, I couldn’t help thinking about the new developments in the case. We finally had a substantial lead, but I was new to this and didn’t know the next steps. I figured we’d brief Agent Henderson and Dr. Geiss. After that, what else? We’d probably need to go down to 41X and talk with the owner and employees. But if they were anything like the crew at Arturo’s we knew they wouldn’t let us in without a warrant, and probably wouldn’t even say a single word until they were subpoenaed.
    We still didn’t have any substantial evidence, nothing that would directly link the Giordano crime family with the various abductions. I’d have to follow Elias’s lead; I only hoped that he had some sort of plan for working this all out.

After a quick detour to my apartment to change, we arrived at the station an hour later. Elias came in a few seconds after me and we pretended to bump into each other in the lobby so as not to arouse suspicion. Even though nothing had happened between us, we knew we had to make it obvious that this was the case.
    In the elevator, Elias turned to me, a serious look making its way across his face.
    “Tess, we’re going to 41X today. But it’s strictly off-book.”
    “Off-book? What do you mean?”
    “I mean no one can know about it except for you and me.”
    “But why? I mean, shouldn’t Dr. Geiss and Agent Henderson know about the connection between 41X and Arturo’s? It’s the most substantial lead we have.”
    “Of course, of course. I’m going to tell them, obviously. Listen, I’ve got an idea for an operation, one that will really let us nail those bastards, but it’s a bit unorthodox and I know Dr. Geiss would be against it. But I think it’s the only chance we have, so we need to keep it private between us.”
    “What kind of operation do you have in mind?” I asked, very curious given the secretive element involved. Was it some sort of sting? A trap for the Mafia?
    “I’ll tell you later. We don’t have the time to discuss it now,” said Elias as the doors opened on the eighteenth floor.
    We walked down the hallway to the task force work room where we found both Agent Henderson and Dr. Geiss already busy at work.
    “Listen up, guys,” said Elias. “I think we’ve got a bit of a break in the case.”
    “Let’s hear it, we’re all ears,” said Agent Henderson.
    “Last night we stumbled upon another property owned by the Giordano family. This one too, not coincidentally, happens to be owned by Paul Cipriano. 41X, a club in Midtown. Anyone heard of it?”
    “Doesn’t register,” said Dr. Geiss.
    “Well, if you’ll recall, about eighty percent of the girls who went missing checked into this club not more than three weeks prior to their individual dates of disappearance,” said Elias confidently, giving me a knowing look in a quick side glance.
    “And you think there’s a connection?” asked Dr. Geiss.
    “Yes. I think it’s quite obvious in fact. This is pretty clear evidence that the mob is in some way affiliated with these kidnappings. I don’t know the details, but there’s something here and I mean to find out what that is.”
    I smiled to myself. I liked seeing him in