Chapter 16
Time seemed to be dragging. We were waiting even though everything was in place.
To make it seem that we were alone, Gunnar, Nico, and Keir had packed the SUV with their luggage.
That was in case anyone was spying on us.
They said goodbye to us loudly before they left, thanking us for our hospitality.
As soon as they were out of sight, Nico teleported himself back to the house.
Gunnar and Keir kept driving for an hour, watching for a tail, then doubled back and parked the vehicle in an extended-stay parking structure.
They waited until late at night, then sneaked back to the house and were let in through the back door.
From there, while five of us lived in our small house, we went about our day as if we were unconcerned and alone.
We tried to stay home as much as made sense, but we couldn’t become shut-ins, or it would raise suspicion.
Gal had to attend school, so those trips were made.
And I had to go to the grocery store to restock on what had been eaten.
Man, the Sentinels could eat. Each time we left the house, Nico would accompany us as mist, or whatever it was he turned into.
The hours seemed to drag. To keep from going insane, we kept packing.
I worked on my lab plans with input from Keir and the others whenever I needed a break from the sorting and packing.
The guys had gotten me the lab’s policies and procedures for starting the satellite lab, so I wouldn’t have to start from scratch.
They left it to me to modify, delete, or add whatever I felt was necessary.
There were plenty of calls to the other Sentinels.
They were in town, a mere mile from us, staying in an Airbnb.
I felt guilty for taking them away from their lives and mates, but I was assured it was fine.
I spoke to Cerys and Akiva on the phone several times.
Each time I told them how sorry I was, they chastised me, telling me we were family.
It was something you did for family without needing a thank you or an apology.
The ladies hadn’t been left unprotected in Needles.
The other shifters who had moved there and the ones who already lived in Needles were watching over them.
One particular family, the Bhaers, was providing close oversight.
Keir told me a few interesting stories about the four of them. I looked forward to meeting them.
The waiting was killing all of us. We stayed alert, but not hypervigilant. We did things to relax and have fun. For the two extra people staying each night, we busted out the extra camp beds from the garage. We used them when we went camping.
It was around ten p.m. when Keir’s phone rang.
“It’s Brax. Wonder what’s up?” he said before answering. He automatically put it on speaker.
“Hey, are you guys bored? Or missing us?” my mate asked.
“Bored, yes, missing you, never. But that’s not why I’m calling. We have a problem.” Brax’s gruff voice made us all straighten.
“What is it?” Gunnar asked.
“We got a notice through the tip line. It’s from one of the local families you guys talked to.
It’s bad news. Their son, a twenty-year-old college student, was found dead outside his dorm.
The police were called. The body was picked up and transported to the morgue.
The family has tried to insist on no autopsy and straight to cremation, but the cops keep insisting they need to know for sure how he died.
They’re going to perform an autopsy. We can’t risk them finding anything unusual. We need to get that body.”
This revelation had everyone muttering and a few cursing.
Brax continued, “That means a few of us need to go in tonight and get to the body first. Nico, we need you to take control of the staff and lead them to believe a story that isn’t true.
We’ll remove the body, and then take it to the mortuary that will handle it for the family. A shifter family runs it.”
“Excuse me, but if they took the body to the main morgue, that’s in the building where I worked.
You’ll have to get in and out using a back entrance.
It’s not marked, and the route can be confusing.
No way can you go in the front. They have a desk sergeant there at all times.
I might be able to get in that way if Wally is working, but no way I can get all of you in with me.
If we use the back route, I can get you in without setting off an alarm and take you straight to where you need to be,” I added when Brax stopped speaking.
“Piscín, thank you, but you don’t work there anymore. You can’t access it,” Keir reminded me.
“Not via usual means, but I can by making a call. I’ll find out who is working tonight.
It can only be one of two people. Either one is friendly with me.
They’ll let me in. I’ll come through the back entrance since it’s after hours.
Nico can come in with me in his invisible mode, then let the rest of you in.
Do whatever needs to be done to get the guy’s body and take the memory away from the coroner. ”
There was a moment or two of silence, then I heard Royal, I think it was, chuckle before speaking.
“Damn, why didn’t we think of asking her to help? And she’s laid out a plan in less than two minutes. Tell the truth, Fiona. Have you stolen bodies before?” he teased.
“Wouldn’t you like to know? I’ll keep my secrets,” I joked back.
There was laughter all around before we got back on track.
When the phone call with Brax and the others ended ten minutes later, we were all set on who would go and when to be ready.
We’d have to sneak out. It would be Nico, Keir, naturally, since I was going, and me.
Excitement, along with an edge of anxiety, filled me as I went to change.
?
We were on our way to the precinct. Fennick had come to the house to stay with Gunnar.
They’d watch over my grandad and brother, while the three of us met up at the Airbnb house with Brax and Royal to get the young man’s body.
Banner stayed at the rental house on call in case extra help was needed at my place.
I made the call I needed before we left the Airbnb.
I called the morgue's back-line. It was Hewie I found working tonight. He greeted me warmly and asked how I was doing. I told him I was good. Before he could get too far into a conversation, I told him the story I’d made up.
“Hewie, I have a huge favor to ask. I’m hoping you can help me.”
“For you, Fiona, I’ll do anything,” he said with an undertone of flirting to his voice. I saw Keir scowl. I kept going.
“I can’t find a bracelet that my granddad gave me.
It’s special, and I’ve looked everywhere at home.
And I know I cleaned out my desk at work.
The last time I remember wearing it was one day, down in the morgue.
I was wondering, if I came by, would you let me in so I can search?
I hate to ask, but if I come during the day, I have to see people I’d rather not see, or jump through stupid hoops.
I just want to check if it’s there. I swear, I won’t take up too much time.
Are you busy? Anything new and exciting coming in tonight? ” I asked.
“Of course, I’ll let you in. I don’t blame you for wanting to avoid the brass or some of the people around here.
You’ve been a topic of conversation ever since that fiasco happened with Daniel and Wanda.
As for anything exciting, I don’t know about that.
They brought in a young guy not long ago.
They want me to autopsy him to see the cause of death.
I’m saving him for later. I bet he dropped dead from some undiagnosed heart condition or something.
There’s not a scratch on him. But I’ll wait until after you’ve come to do it.
Just let me know when you get here, and I’ll let you in the back way. ”
“Thank you. You’re a lifesaver, Hewie. I should be there in twenty minutes. See you soon.” I finished the call.
We were already in the vehicle. The silence was deafening as I put my phone away. I waited for Keir to ask about Hewie. Instead, Royal spoke first.
“Keir, it sounds like you have a male who needs to be dealt with. He wants your mate,” he drawled.
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. You heard that tone, too, did you?” Keir asked.
There were murmurs of confirmation from the other Sentinels. I rolled my eyes as I faced my mate.
“There’s no need to do anything to Hewie. He’s harmless, and he’s our way inside without having the entire department after us. Behave,” I reminded them.
“Like hell there’s not a reason. His syrupy tone was enough to give me diabetes. I swear, if he gets all lovey-dovey, I’m asking Nico to implant the mental conviction he’s a squirrel,” Keir threatened.
I burst out laughing. “A squirrel? Why one of those?”
“I couldn’t think of any animal small and beady-eyed except one of those,” he confessed.
The whole ride there, I was treated to their teasing and silly threats.
All of that ended when they stopped a block over from the precinct.
All but Nico got out. The others would come in on foot.
I’d told them where to watch for cameras.
I knew the vehicle would be captured on the security cameras, so no one else could be seen with me in it. Nico could naturally go ghost.
After parking, I called Hewie to say I was there, then I got out and walked to the door. I couldn’t sense Nico in his current state, though I knew he was nearby. Two minutes later, a smiling Hewie opened the door.