Pack Balance (7 page)

Josiah hung up and glanced at him. “Good news,” he said. “One of Jordan’s cousins is there to pick the boys up.”

“Who?”

“Lexis,” Josiah told him with a grin.

“He’s back?” Cooper asked.

Lexis Bradley was the worst of the entire family. The last time Cooper had heard his name had been when Lexis was arrested for murder. If Cooper remembered correctly, Lexis had been accused of killing an eighteen-year-old street kid who owed him money.

Since he didn’t work homicide, Cooper hadn’t been involved in the case, but because the Bradleys were so deep into drug running, Cooper always got a heads-up when they were involved in anything illegal.

“They couldn’t make the case stick,” Josiah said. “Their witnesses kept ending up dead.”

“Damn it. Weren’t they protected?” Cooper couldn’t believe the district attorney would be stupid enough not to hide anyone attempting to rat out Lexis.

“They were in safe houses,” Josiah corrected. “They just weren’t safe.”

“Fuck! We have got to get something on them.”

“That’s why we’re doing this,” Josiah agreed. “And there they are.”

Cooper glanced through the passenger window as Josiah pulled up across from the police station. A black SUV with dark windows was idling at the front steps. Jordan and Kade strolled out of the front door, appearing not to have a care in the world. Fury raced through his blood. Those two kids were as evil as they came. It didn’t matter who was hurt, as long as they made money.

Jordan slapped Kade on the back before he yanked open the door of the SUV. Cooper wanted to shift, run to the vehicle and tear all the three men apart.

“Calm yourself.” Josiah’s hand landed on his shoulder.

Cooper hadn’t realized he was growling until Josiah broke him from his anger. “They’re taking off.”

“I’m following,” Josiah said. He did indeed put the truck into Drive and began to follow.

Cooper used the time to regain his control. It wasn’t always easy being a shifter in his line of work, but he’d spent years learning how to contain his wolf when he needed to.

They followed the SUV down the main streets of Clear Creek, heading north. Cooper wasn’t surprised when the first stop was to a run-down apartment complex where the Bradleys dropped off Kade. While Jordan and Lexis lived in a nice house in the central part of town, Kade didn’t get the same treatment. He was only a foot soldier. Cooper still believed he would be the key to bringing down the Bradleys.

“Should we go talk to him?” Josiah questioned.

“No, stay with Jordan. I’ll call Grant and have him watch Kade’s place.”

“That’ll work,” Josiah agreed.

Cooper made the phone call, relieved that the young officer was available and not out on another assignment. While Cooper was busy making arrangements, Josiah kept up the surveillance. Instead of heading home, the Bradleys continued south in the same neighborhood. “Where are they going?” he murmured.

“There’s an old store the Bradleys used to own that is boarded up. It’s only two blocks from here,” Josiah told him.

“I remember,” Cooper replied. “It used to be an old bar.”

“It closed down about two years ago. I’ve had one of the street informants watching the place,” Josiah said.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Cooper asked.

“Nothing to report yet,” Josiah responded.

Cooper shook his head. “You still should have told me.”

His partner chuckled. “We’ve always used our own contacts. Why is this any different?”

He couldn’t really answer that. The entire case hit him as weird, and he knew he was missing something big. He hoped now that he had his act together, he would be able to figure out what was bothering him so much. Sure, he hated to see his shifter brethren dying, but something in the back of his mind was trying to break to the surface.

Josiah was right. The SUV pulled to the side of the building. Josiah parked on the other side of the street, a couple of spaces down from the building.

“If they haven’t been using this place, why are they here now?” Cooper asked.

“The reason I started watching this place is because while the Bradleys never entered, they have been keeping an eye on the place. Some of my informants saw them hanging around and thought I should know. I grew suspicious,” Josiah informed him.

“You’ve been busy,” Cooper said. He didn’t know how he’d missed what Josiah had been up to. “You going to tell me what’s really going on?”

Josiah sighed while he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “You remember the first victim? The eighteen year old?”

“Ricky something…” Cooper supplied.

“Ricky Norris. We interviewed his entire family, hoping one of them could tell us who he’d been hanging around with.”

Cooper had an idea of what Josiah was going to say. “His sister—a pretty little thing… There was a spark between the two of you.”

Josiah nodded. “Cammi. She came to see me a few weeks after that. We went out for coffee and talked for hours.”

“She asked you to find out who was responsible for her brother’s death,” Cooper guessed.

“No,” Josiah said quickly. “We talked about Ricky and still do. But she never asked me to do anything. I decided to use some favors I have out on the street to put pressure on finding who is responsible. We have to close this case. It’s killing Cammi and the rest of her family. They won’t be able to put him to rest until this is over.”

Cooper turned to study his partner. “Just tell me if you did anything that you shouldn’t have. We’ll fix it, but I need to know.” He didn’t think Josiah would do anything illegal, but Cooper also knew what love could do to a person.

“No, never,” Josiah told him.

Cooper breathed in deeply. He brought his partner’s scent through his nose. Josiah was telling him the truth. He sagged with relief. “I’m here for you.”

Josiah smiled. “Thanks. I know I should have told you, but you were still mourning your relationship with Julie. I didn’t want to hurt you any further.”

“Jo!” He gripped his partner’s shoulder. “I will always have your back. No matter what.”

“And I’ll have yours.” Josiah met his gaze, his sincerity shining through his eyes.

After a few minutes, Cooper released Josiah’s shoulder and chuckled. “We really are turning into big old softies.”

“Ah, I’m going to blame the power of love,” Josiah said.

Cooper nodded before turning back to watch the building and their suspects. “So tell me about your girl,” he demanded playfully.

“She’s great.” Josiah’s voice softened. “She’s an artist and she is so talented. She’s smart and funny, close to her family. I really like her.”

He had to smile. It seemed like his partner had found the perfect match for him. Cooper had already done a basic search in the police files of the family. It was standard when they were investigating a death, so he knew Cammi didn’t have a criminal record. “You’re okay with the shifter side of her?” he had to ask.

While Josiah accepted his shifter side as his partner, it was a whole different situation when the person you were falling in love with had unique abilities that made them so very different. He knew better than anyone. Not that he didn’t think that Julie hadn’t meant every word she’d said, but Cooper knew they still had a lot to work on.

“I am.” Josiah surprised him. “I knew about her before, so maybe that’s why I never even considered not getting involved with her because she can transform. All I know is Cammi Norris is the woman for me. I know it’s fast, but I can’t help the way I feel.”

“The connection is stronger than it would normally be because of her abilities. Not only does she care for you, but her wolf has to have accepted you also,” Cooper told him.

“So you’re saying what? We were meant to be? I thought shifters didn’t really have a fated mate and all that. Isn’t that one of the myths that was broken when you all came public?”

“No, it’s nothing like that. You can still break up. Julie and I are proof of that. I’m just trying to reassure you that even though it might seem fast, your feelings for Cammi should be taken seriously. If both the human and the wolf parts of her want you, you’ll both feel the connection deeply,” Cooper explained.

“Which is why it really hurt when Julie left,” Josiah commented.

“Yes, as a man, it hurt me but as a wolf, I felt rejected. I would have moved on, maybe even fallen in love again, but I will always have feelings for her. I gave her my heart, and that’s important,” Cooper said.

“Okay.” Josiah nodded. “I can accept that.”

Cooper was relieved. His partner was a good guy and deserved happiness. Cooper’s attention was drawn to an expensive black car driving passed the old bar and slowing. “Check this out.”

The BMW pulled alongside the structure next to the Bradleys’ SUV. Cooper leaned forward. He knew that car. “Is that…”

A tall man with black hair stepped from the driver side.

“Holy shit!” Josiah grabbed for the camera on the back seat. “That’s Mayor Jensen.”

The Clear Creek Mayor was the biggest opponent of the shifters getting equal rights. Jensen believed that since the shifters were not completely human, they shouldn’t be treated as such. Even though several legal bills against the shifters had failed in Congress, there were still some vocal politicians that wanted the shifters treated like second-class citizens. Cooper didn’t know why he’d be meeting with the Bradleys, but he was certain it wasn’t for any good reason.

“We need to get the records from Lexis’ release,” Cooper commented. “We need to see if he had any help getting the charges dropped. Maybe Mike will be able to help. He’s probably got someone he could tap for the intel.”

Josiah was snapping picture after picture. “I think we found the Bradleys’ money man.”

“Yeah,” Cooper agreed. He couldn’t believe this. The mayor being involved with a drug trafficker who Cooper suspected of poisoning the shifters would be even too far-fetched for him to believe, if he wasn’t seeing it with his own eyes.

“We’re going to nail these assholes,” Josiah said gleefully.

“Yes, we are. We have to take this to the captain. We should be able to get a warrant now,” Cooper replied. He reached for his cell phone when Josiah grabbed his arm.

“I think we need to talk to the captain in person. The mayor has a lot of powerful friends. Probably has spies watching us and the captain if he knows we’re close to busting the Bradleys. We don’t want to tip off the wrong person,” Josiah said.

“You’re right. I don’t really want to leave either. We need to watch for any more activity,” Cooper said.

“How about this. We’ll call Fisher and Turner. We need to let them know we have information for the homicide part of the investigation anyway. Then we’ll split up. Turner can take your place and you and Fisher can head back to the station and start the paperwork on the warrant and get Cap updated,” Josiah suggested.

“That’ll work for me,” Cooper agreed.

“Here.” Josiah handed him the camera. “Keep an eye out. I’ll get hold of Fisher.”

Cooper watched the building closely. The two vehicles were parked in an alley, but there was a back lot that should be empty. If he shifted, he’d be able to get closer and maybe overhear something. He glanced at his partner when Josiah had finished his call.

“What?” Josiah asked.

“I want to shift,” Cooper told him.

Josiah ran his gaze from the building back to Cooper. He grinned. “It’ll take Fisher and Turner about twenty minutes before they get here. Go ahead.”

He quickly opened his door and slipped from the front seat to the back. He started to undress as Josiah took over surviving the building. “You owe me lunch after this,” Cooper said.

“You got it. I’ll pick up the usual and bring it to the station.” Josiah always took care of Cooper after a shift. He knew how much energy it took for him to transform back and forth so quickly.

Cooper finished pulling his clothes off before he closed his eyes and concentrated. All he had to do was form a picture in his head and give himself over to the change. It was quick and painless, and in just a few minutes he was furry. He leaned forward and licked his partner’s face.

“Yuck!” Josiah pushed him away. “You do that every time.”

He did, but since Josiah never stopped him, even though he had to know it was coming, Cooper didn’t think his partner really minded. He pawed at the door, letting Josiah know he was ready. Josiah climbed out of the front seat and opened the back door for him. He jumped down and stretched. He hated transforming in a vehicle but in his line of work, he often found himself shifting in strange places. With his run the night before, his wolf was focused and eager to work.

Cooper butted his head against Josiah’s hand then took off. He moved with speed to avoid anyone getting a good look at him. He raced across the street before flattening his side against the bar. He concentrated on bringing in the scents and sounds around him. He could hear the low murmur of voices coming through the worn wood that covered the broken window but couldn’t make out the words.

As quietly as possible he crept forward, staying in the shadows that the building provided. He made his way to the side where the two vehicles were. Nose to the ground, he breathed deeply. Yes, there were only three fresh scents. Lexis and Jordan Bradley, along with the mayor’s. He continued past the closed door where the three men had entered, along the wall to the back of the building. The lot was overgrown with weeds that tickled his nose but he couldn’t let that bother him. The stink of piss, vomit and stale beer was strong and he had to ignore the horrible scents. Back here, the windows were also boarded up but they were falling apart. Rot or weather had cracked several of them. Cooper darted under the worst of the damage to stand directly under the small opening that a broken board provided.

“We need more product,” Lexis Bradley spoke.

Cooper’s ears perked up.

“I’ll get you more money, but you need to be careful. Right now the overdoses are being investigated by only a couple of officers. If we have too many deaths, the police force will assign a task force and that won’t be good for any of us,” Mayor Jensen replied.