Chapter 37
Jamie closed his eyes and let the warmth from the hot mug of coffee in his hands seep into his body. A few minutes earlier, Mac and Iris had stepped out to make some calls and peek in on Amber. Heath was now back from the police station, helping with body removal. He and Aiden were presently wrapping the dead man’s body up in a tarp. The plan was to have Beau and May head on over with their truck to pick him up and bury him deep in the woods behind their property.
Jamie was stuck in his own thoughts, ruminating over the images he saw in the broken hyena shifter’s mind when bits of the conversation in the room caught his attention. Heath and Aiden were discussing ways of getting rid of a body.
“You know, I bet I could incinerate him. We wouldn’t have to worry about anyone finding him and asking questions,” Aiden said.
“You know how to do that already?” Heath asked.
“I haven’t tried it on command, but I bet I could.”
Jamie opened his eyes. The two men were tying rope around the blue tarp that held the body. “How about not trying it for the first time in the house,” Jamie quipped.
Aiden gave him a sheepish look. “I’d do it outside.” He turned back to the body in front of him. “Besides, I’m not really referring to him per se. I’m just thinking about the future.”
Jamie shuddered. He didn’t want to have to worry about a future that included more dead bodies.
Heath stood up from where he’d been kneeling and stretched his back. “Well, for this body, we could also have Leah teleport it somewhere far away.”
“He deserves a proper burial.” Jamie’s tone must have been harsher than he thought because both Aiden and Heath turned to gape at him.
“He tried to kidnap Amber,” Heath said evenly, “an innocent baby.”
“He was manipulated,” Jamie countered. “He was trying to be made whole. He was lied to.”
Heath put his hands on his hips. “Still, no one forced him to work for Williamson. There’re other shifters out there without their full abilities. They haven’t all turned to a life a crime.”
Jamie sighed. “Look, I’m not excusing what he did, but he didn’t actually hurt, much less murder anyone.”
“We don’t know that,” Aiden said. “Besides, he saw the pictures of you and our friends with ‘exterminate’ written on them and did nothing. He could have gone to the police or SCB.”
He knew they both were right. It was just so sad. “It’s just that he didn’t seem evil,” Jamie said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Maybe he didn’t think he was evil, and that’s what’s bothering you,” Aiden said. “When you were in his mind, you were seeing his thoughts, right? You saw how he viewed himself.”
Jamie shrugged. “I just wish there was a way to help those like him before your father gets to them.”
“Help who?” Mac said. She and Iris stood inside the now open office door.
“The shifters Williamson is targeting to work for him. Besides those that are greedy or easily influenced, he seems to be targeting those with health issues, like ones who can’t shift. He promises to help them if they work for him. Before they realize it, they’re stuck,” Jamie said.
“Like Finn’s brother Felix. I think he went along with my father because of his greed,” Iris said. “Miles and Terris at least had somewhat more noble goals. They wanted to be able to shift. Sheesh, at least Terris is still alive.”
“Yeah, but his best friend was slaughtered,” Heath said. “And we don’t know what really happened with Felix.” Finn’s brother Felix was caught working with Alden Williamson a month or so earlier. When Felix had outlived his usefulness and seemed like he could snitch, Williamson tried to kill him. It actually looked as if Felix had been incinerated in his prison cell. They’d learned from Leah that her brother teleported the man away to parts unknown right before Williamson had gotten to him. Only Quinn knew where Felix was, but he’d assured Leah that he was safe and somewhere he couldn’t cause any trouble.
“These other shifters, the ones not like Felix, don’t have health issues per se. They can’t shift because of their genetic code. It’s not like they’re ill,” Mac said.
“But aren’t there diseases that gene therapy can cure?” Jamie asked. “I thought I read something about that.”
Mac stilled, frowning as she answered. “Yeah, gene therapy is being used for some human diseases, but the field is still pretty young. I’ve never heard about it being used for shifter-specific issues.”
“Maybe your shifter healing powers could fix their genes?” Jamie asked.
“But there’s nothing to fix. Humans don’t need to be fixed because they aren’t shifters and vice versa,” she said. “The genes they inherited from their parents enable them to shift or not. They’re just who they are. It wasn’t as if they could shift and then they got sick and couldn’t.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think anyone needs fixing, but this man”—Jamie gestured to the body of the man rolled up in the tarp—“when I was inside his mind, I could tell he thought of himself as being sick. I felt his desperation, his hopelessness. He was willing to take drastic actions for the chance to shift. He knew it wasn’t guaranteed, but he was looking to be made whole. Maybe others like him would be willing to listen to us if we could offer them hope.”
Mac squinted and bit her lower lip. “I don’t know about interfering with someone’s genetic code.”
“I think the only hope we can give them is a life of freedom if they walk away from this power-mad lunatic,” Heath said. “Aiden and Iris are the first I’ve known to shift into their beast form as adults.”
“There may be more. No offense, but you’ve lived your whole life in Grey Lake. There’re plenty of other shifters scattered throughout the world,” Jamie said.
“Offense taken,” Heath said. “They”—he pointed to Iris and then Aiden—“obviously are different. Probably comes with having one of the few living phoenix shifters as a father.”
“They may all be different. Or not,” Mac said.
“What do you mean?” Heath asked.
“We don’t know why these people can’t shift. It could be the same genetic marker in all of them, or it may be different for each one,” Mac said. “I don’t know if I would want to alter someone’s genetic code even if I could. It seems dangerous and just wrong.”
“Could you at least see if it’s possible? Like if you examined someone close enough?” Jamie asked. “I know the answer for a normal doctor would be ‘no,’ but perhaps with your Guardian healing powers…”
Mac’s lips formed a thin line. “I don’t know.” She plopped down on one of the empty armchairs, seemingly deep in thought. “If Terris consents, I could examine him, see what I can detect.”
“I’ll ask Jasper to talk to him. He’ll consent,” Heath said.
Aiden snorted. “I’m not sure you know what the term ‘consent’ means. You can’t force him.”
Heath had the good sense to look offended at least. “Hmpf, wasn’t planning on forcing him to do anything. I just happen to know the good professor is eager to help us. He also wants vengeance for Miles. They were, um, close.”
“Like us?” Jamie asked. “Aiden and I? Mates?”
Heath shrugged. “I got the impression they were, but they hadn’t acknowledged it to each other yet. Kind of like you two until recently.”
“They probably thought they had more time,” Iris said wistfully. “It’s so sad.”
“I’m done waiting for things I want,” Aiden said. His eyes bore into Jamie’s, causing his heart to skip a beat. “We don’t know how much time we have. Especially with monsters living among us like dear old dad.” He flicked his gaze back to Heath. “Where should we put him for now?”
“Let’s take him out to the garage. We’ll have Beau back his truck right in. He’ll have the cap on the back so we can avoid anyone seeing a body shaped tarp being driven around town.” Aiden and Heath carried the man out with Iris following to help with the doors, leaving Jamie alone with Mac.
The door thudded shut behind them. Jamie shuddered. He hoped the man was finally at peace.
Mac placed a hand on his shoulder. “So much pain. Williamson has hurt so many. I shouldn’t wish death on someone, especially as a healer, but I do.”
“You’re a better person than me, Mac,” he said.
“What? Why do you say that?”
“Because I’m wishing for him to die a slow, painful death.” When she squeezed his shoulder, he turned his face up to see her sad expression. “I want to hear him scream,” he said.