Even Cowboys Get The Blues (Jade)

[Aaron Sheppherd]

Even Cowboys Get The Blues

--------------------------------------
Time to shed the mortal disguise, for the beast is coming to life.

 

Scribbling his signature on the bottom of the piece of paper with a sigh, he closed the folder in front of him. Putting it on the pile to be filed he rubbed his eyes tiredly. It seemed that most of his days were taken up with signing things in triplicate these days. It didn't help that he couldn't just sign off on things. He needed to review each case and make sure that everything was done properly. It was one of the things that made him so good at his job.

Wearily he scowled at the three folders still waiting for his attention and stood, aiming to go get himself a coffee. Leaving his office he smiled as he walked through the bullpen, desks crowded with people. It was early in the day yet so most of those hanging around were police waiting for a call or doing as he was - finishing paperwork. He nodded and greeted those who noticed him but headed straight for the kitchen.

The noise cut off with a click as the door shut behind him and he gratefully bustled as he poured his coffee. The small, comfortable room was a sanctuary for most of the people who worked there, with its coffee machine, chairs, tables, fridges and comfortable sofas. Everything a guy could need while taking a break. He loved his job, and he loved his team but sometimes the press of people weighed him down. Leaning on the counter he closed his eyes as he inhaled the steam from his cup, a small smile on his face.

The door opened again, letting in the noise of chattering and ringing phones and he opened his eyes to see who was interrupting his peace.

thank you noa?! of caution!

[Jade Stone]

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[attr="class","mytitle1"]so you think you know how this story goes[break]
are you ready for this?

[break]

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[attr="class","mymainpost1"]So far, so good, Jade thought as she tried to make herself look like she fit in. She had made it into the 'working' area of the homicide unit. No easy task that was either but, she had her employee badge (or perfect forgery of one anyway) dangling off one of the belt loops of her jeans. It indicated she worked for the Information Technology (IT) unit as a civilian employee. To that end, she had her messenger bag slung across her body that was full of electronic gadgets and tools she might need if she were a computer technician. In her hand she had her slimline laptop/tablet combo that she had in tablet mode and would look down at it studiously whenever someone came to close. Trying to make it seem like she was busy working. Her other hand held a cup of coffee. Another functioning prop to make it look like she belonged there.
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Finding an empty desk she slipped into the cubicle and sat down. Sipping her coffee and looking around. She could clearly see the offices lined along the back wall. Scanning the name plates she found what she was looking for, Detective Aaron Sheppherd. His name had floated around the Roadhouse. Jade had also done her homework. Checking out his name and the cases he had worked on. When she got a lead out here on a case, it seemed logical it would be one that he might know about. So, she decided to pay him a visit. Of course, she was trying to do this under the radar. Even if he was 'in the know,' she couldn't just walk into the police department and ask to see him, then tell him she was a 'hunter' and wanted information on a homicide. Thus, she was trying to blend in as a member of the IT staff.
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Looking through the open door she could see him sitting at his desk. She had seen his pictures during her research process so she knew it was him. Pretending to be working on something, her head was tilted down but her eyes were peering up, watching the door and the other people milling about.
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Then there was movement inside the office. Lifting her head up to take a sip of coffee, thus enabling her to watch as the man walked out into the office common area. Her eyes tracked him as he moved across the space. Then he disappeared behind a door with a sign that read 'Break Room'.
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Quickly, Jade grabbed her things. Looping the messenger back back over her shoulder. Coffee in one hand, the tablet device in the other she made her way through the room after him. She had no idea what she was going to do or say, but this was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.
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Arriving at the door she took a glance around then opened it. Slipped inside and let it close behind her. No one else was in the room, just him. This was good, maybe. She wasn't sure now. Not wanting to make it seem like she was avoiding him her eyes shifted to him and she smiled. Taking a seat at one of the tables, looking up at him as he leaned on the counter.
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"Hey. It's nice and quiet in here, huh? Those phones ringing all the time really get on my nerves."

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[attr="class","mycredit1"]tag: Aaron Sheppherd

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[Aaron Sheppherd]

Even Cowboys Get The Blues

--------------------------------------
Time to shed the mortal disguise, for the beast is coming to life.

He smiled at the slip of a girl who entered the room. He thought he remembered her sitting at one of the desks in the bullpen but hadn't been paying enough attention to say what, exactly, she'd been doing. Apart from that brief glance though he didn't recognise her. Spotting the I.D. badge he scanned it quickly. I.T. and a civilian at that. Well, that would explain why he didn't know her. Maybe they were finally getting round to upgrading the outdated computer systems that everyone complained about constantly.

He shrugged lightly, "You get used to it.I barely even hear them any more." He took a sip of his own steaming hot coffee. It tasted like boiled socks, having been sitting there for a good hour and he grimaced, gesturing at the girls' take-away cup, "You have the right idea. Don't drink the coffee unless you've seen it brewing." He took another sip reluctant to dispose of the caffeine regardless of the taste.

"So, what are you working on?" he pointed to her badge, keeping a friendly smile on his face."We finally getting rid of Office '95?" He stayed where he was at the counter, ankles crossed and left hand tucked casually in his pocket.

Even though he looked completely relaxed he was ready to move at a moments notice; there was something about the sharp watchfulness in the girls eyes. The way she'd entered the room and immediately checked to see who else was there, he was sure she'd noticed that there was only one exit too.

thank you noa?! of caution!

[Jade Stone]

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[attr="class","mytitle1"]so you think you know how this story goes[break]
are you ready for this?

[break]

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[attr="class","mymainpost1"]Okay then. Color Jade a bit surprised. Though she did her best not to let that show. The man was actually nice. She wasn't sure what she was expecting really, but a little more grouchy and grumbling had come to mind. The man was a homicide detective after all, plus, if the rumors were true, he was also fully aware and involved in the supernatural world. Well, this was interesting turn of events. Still she kept herself alert. Nodding when he spoke about getting used to the phones.
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She smiled again, keeping up the facade. Unhooking her bag from her shoulder and setting it on the table and sliding her tablet next to it. A little chuckle bubbled up when he mentioned the crappy office coffee. Her smile brightened before she took a sip from her own cup that contained her coffee drink of choice. Something that was less coffee and more a sweet, delicious mixture of chocolate, caramel and espresso. She needed the caffeine that coffee provided but she never did get a real taste for straight up regular coffee. Though, she would drink it if she had too.
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An eyebrow raised when he asked what she was working on. Her gaze following his finger as it pointed to her badge.
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"Oh, yeah. They are working on that update, not sure when it's gonna get rolled out. I'm new. I'm here to work on one of the computers that's on the fritz. I'm not sure who's it is. Might be an open workstation. I just go where they tell me, ya know."
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Sure, that sounded reasonable. Just there to work on a computer that needed fixing. Nothing major, nothing that would require any background knowledge about upgrades and what not. A plausible cover was simple. She took another sip from her cup before she asked a question of her own. Getting him into a light, casual conversation was good.
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"What about you? I take it you're one of the officers here. A detective? I bet you see some interesting stuff as a cop, right?"

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[attr="class","mycredit1"]tag: Aaron Sheppherd

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[Aaron Sheppherd]

Even Cowboys Get The Blues

--------------------------------------
Time to shed the mortal disguise, for the beast is coming to life.

A flicker of something crossed her face but it was gone too fast for him to place it. It was probably nothing, he decided. He was getting suspicious in his old age; the poor girl was in a police station which was enough to make even the innocent feel guilty. Even the regular church goers had secrets that would cause some sense of unease. He couldn’t sense any fear from her either, and he could usually smell it like cheap perfume.

Her bag clunked lightly as she put it on the table, the sound indicative of metals and plastics. That, combined with the small tablet computer gave him no indication she was telling anything but the truth with her story. He could smell the sweetness of her own drink although he was loath to call it coffee - some sugary concoction that made his teeth ache to think of. Necessity dictated that he learn to drink his as it came, black as the night and hot as hell. There often wasn’t time to gussy up his cup and reheated creamer tasted like ass.

With a small sigh he turned, rinsing out his now empty cup in the sink. He would make a fresh pot but he’d had to put up with the swamp-water that passed for coffee, let some other poor sucker taste it too. A wry smirk crossed his face at that thought.

He turned back towards her as she spoke again, wiping his hands on the towel. His movements slowed until he just held the scrap of fabric as he thought about how best to answer. He decided to keep it simple.

“Yeah.”

Whether she took that as the answer to her question of his role, or an affirmative that the job itself was interesting he didn’t really care. His mind turning back to the paperwork he still had to finish he nodded with another small smile.

“Well, I got work to do. Nice to meetcha.”

thank you noa?! of caution!

[Jade Stone]

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[attr="class","mytitle1"]so you think you know how this story goes[break]
are you ready for this?

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[attr="class","mymainpost1"]Watching as the man finished his coffee and washed out his cup in the sink. She sipped her own brew waiting with anticipation at his answer. When his reply was simply, "Yeah," she frowned. Yeah? Really? That was all she got? For a moment she waited, wondering if he was going to expand on that but, nope. That was all she got. His next words were just to let her know he was leaving.

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Shit.

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"Hey, wait a second," she blurted out, unable to help herself. The tone of her voice pitching up. Damn it, now what did she do? She had information she wanted to get from him. So much for mister friendly. Now she was scrambling to find another tactic. The sly, undercover approach did not seem to be working for her. She decided to try a more direct approach.

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"I need to talk to you. I mean..."

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Even though the room was relatively small and she was aware they were the only two people there, she couldn't help but take a look around. Making sure no one could over hear what she was saying. Call her paranoid. Her voice came out as little more than a whisper. Trying to stay as quiet at possible but making sure he could still hear her.

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"Truth is... I don't really work here. I came to find you."

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Well, that sounded weird. Now that she started this new plan she had no idea where she was going with it. Her mind was turning with what she could say. Something that would keep his attention but didn't make her sound like she was a complete lunatic.

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"I've heard about you. You handle 'special cases' sometimes. I need some information and maybe I could help you too?"

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[attr="class","mycredit1"]tag: Aaron Sheppherd

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[Aaron Sheppherd]

Even Cowboys Get The Blues

--------------------------------------
Time to shed the mortal disguise, for the beast is coming to life.

 
He hung the towel carefully out to dry before taking two steps towards the door. That was as far as he got before she called out to him, stopping him in his tracks. He turned slowly to face her, folding his arms across his chest. The shirt pulled tight across his biceps and the move put his hand closer to the gun in the holster under his arm. Now she seemed anxious, the tone of her voice rising. He raised an eyebrow at her, wondering what she wanted, why she needed to talk to him.

Her next words didn’t exactly put him at ease, or answer any of his questions which were appearing quickly. Neither did the way she looked around the room again, as if to make sure no one had sneaked in while they were occupied with their coffee. Or the fact that she was whispering as if afraid she would be overheard. He could feel the tension creeping across his shoulders, binding the muscles in his neck as he stiffened almost imperceptibly.

There were several reasons why someone might need to talk to him, not all of them related to work but the fact that she’d tracked him down here at the station of all places, along with the questions she was asking earlier about him and his job, made him think it was something to do with a case he may have been working. Not that he'd be able to do much if it was an open case; he wouldn't even be able to discuss it.

Of course he could be completely wrong. Her reference to ‘special cases’ could only mean one thing.
“Where’d you get my name?” he asked her, voice low and gravel-filled, suspicion lacing his tone.

thank you noa?! of caution!

[Jade Stone]

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[attr="class","mytitle1"]so you think you know how this story goes[break]
are you ready for this?

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[attr="class","mymainpost1"]Welp, she wasn't sure if this was the right approach either, but she seemed to have gotten his attention now. Jade chewed on her lip as she watched the different expression flash across his face. The change in his body language, moving from being casual to a more aggressive stance. She chewed on her lip and didn't move from her chair. Fingers circling her coffee cup, letting his question hang in the air for a moment.
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It was a moment she needed to collect her own thoughts again. Her eyes drifted down to her hands on her cup while she took a deep breath. She thought it over quickly. If she wanted something from him, seemed fair to give him something in return. Seemed the rumors about him were true. At least judging by his reaction. What she could give him right now was the truth. Hopefully, it would be a gesture that instilled some trust. Especially since he had no idea who she was and she at least had some background on him.
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"Okay, fair question. Ummmm. My family owns a Roadhouse in Whitefish, Montana. Before that my grandparents owned a similar Roadhouse in Nebraska. They both catered to... let's say a particular type of clientele? Hunters, maybe... and truth be told, those dudes gossip more than old women. Just throwing that out there."
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Lifting her gaze back up from the table she looked him in the eye. Still nervous about his reaction she wanted him to see that she was telling the truth. She wanted his help. Things would be much more difficult if he became an adversary rather than an ally.
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"I need your help with something. Please."
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[attr="class","mycredit1"]tag: Aaron Sheppherd

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[Aaron Sheppherd]

Even Cowboys Get The Blues

--------------------------------------
Time to shed the mortal disguise, for the beast is coming to life.

The tension never left his shoulder as she stared at her coffee cup. She appeared to think carefully about her answer. Whether she would tell him the truth or was just fleshing out a fabrication was yet to be seen. He could almost see the thoughts cross her mind, saw the moment when her decision was made; the minute slump to her shoulders before she spoke.

It was a relief to hear her mention the Roadhouse. It lent credence to her story. The Roadhouse was one of those bastions of the hunting world. Any one who was anyone in the hunting world knew about Harvelles. Not that he was a regular there or anything. Being around that many hunters raised his hackles, kept him on guard and tense so he tended to avoid it, but it was a useful place to know about.

He forced himself to relax, to take a deep breath and blow it out. There was entreaty in her eyes as she finally turned to face him. Her plea for help was genuine and he was helpless to resist. Unfolding his arms he nodded. His voice, when he spoke again, was softer, gentler.

"Not here, okay? Come to my office. No one will disturb us there." He turned and walked to the door, turning once he had a hold of the handle to make sure she was following. He didn't speak on the journey across the bullpen but offered her a reassuring smile as he held open the door to his office.  "Take a seat and tell me what you need." he told her as he touched the switch that turned the glass wall from transparent to opaque.

thank you noa?! of caution!

[Jade Stone]

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[attr="class","mytitle1"]so you think you know how this story goes[break]
are you ready for this?

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[attr="class","mymainpost1"]Jade blew out a relieved breath when he didn't actually pull the gun out that she knew he had tucked under his arm in the shoulder holster. She still wasn't sure on whether she might be forcibly escorted from the building though. Her picture plastered everywhere telling every person that worked for the department that she was not to be allowed entry. That would hamper her investigation for sure. So, when he finally spoke again she let herself relax more fully.
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Not one to have to be asked twice, she quickly gathered her things and jumped from her chair. Scrambling to follow after him lest he change his mind or something.
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They walked through the main room in silence. Jade doing her best not to call attention to herself. When he smiled at her, she smiled back as she went inside and took the offered seat. It wasn't until he closed the door and blocked out the glass that she spoke.
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"Thanks," she said quietly. Even though they were alone again now. His office being more secure than the break room. She was still working on being relieved. Settling into her seat she set her coffee on a nearby table and her bag on the ground next to her. She nodded and took a deep breath.
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"Okay, so... you may know some of this already, because... Uh... some of the information I got from police reports. " She glanced up at him apprehension on her face. "Don't ask, okay?" This was going to be interesting. She hoped he understood what she was doing here. Trying to build trust. Telling him the truth. She sure as hell hoped he wouldn't arrest her for something dumb like hacking into some police reports to get information.
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"The thing is... I know there are some... shall we say, details missing from the police reports. Plus... some people may not have put together some of the other incidents being related because they weren't technically crimes."
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Jade made eye contact to see if he was catching her drift. Though, she wasn't sure why she was talking around it so much now. Habit she figured. He was still relatively an unknown. Visions of handcuffs in her future danced in her head, the unpleasant kind, not the kinky kind.
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"Murder victims with missing hearts maybe... cattle mutilations, a rash of eviscerated deer, all of them within a thirty mile radius of a certain area. Hearts all gone, no where to be found. Hunters are talking back home."




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[attr="class","mycredit1"]tag: Aaron Sheppherd

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[Aaron Sheppherd]

Even Cowboys Get The Blues

--------------------------------------
Time to shed the mortal disguise, for the beast is coming to life.

He got the impression that the girl had been expecting a different outcome, and if it had been any one else she may have got one. But then, she wouldn’t have come looking for any other officer, there was a reason she’d come looking for him specifically. She still seemed a little apprehensive, though, even as she sat.

He pulled his own chair out from behind the desk, placing it kitty-corner to hers before sitting in it. It brought them closer, made the setting less informal than if he’d sat behind the desk. Leaning back he crossed an ankle over his knee, posture casual. He could tell she was still nervous and wanted her to open up, to tell him the truth about what she needed. He couldn’t help her otherwise.

The reason for her nervousness became clear as she started talking. She’d illegally hacked the police data bases. A grimace passed his face quickly. While he didn’t agree with it, he understood the need sometimes. A hunter only stayed alive by being informed and police reports were a big part of the research. He shook his head, indicating that she should continue.

Her own research had been thorough, he thought approvingly. No one else had linked the animal mutilations with the murders. The news that other hunters were discussing it was disheartening, though. The last thing he needed was a bunch of tooled-up rednecks tromping around his mountain.

Everything told him she was telling the truth and the time had come to repay her. He sat forward with a sigh, dragging a hand through his hair. Hands to his knees he stood before moving around to open one of the drawers in his desk. He took a file out and dropped it on the desk in front of her. Turning his back, he moved to the bookshelf at the rear of the room, staring unseeing at a photo as he spoke.

“It’s a Were. Alone as far as I can tell. I’ve been tracking it for a while, but it’s mad; random, which makes it hard to predict. I think I have it pinned down, but tonight’s the last night to end it, unless you want to wait another month. That’s my file, the whole thing.” He turned, pinning her with his look. “I don’t need to tell you what happens if word gets out that I’ve been hiding details?”
He stopped, speech done. He didn’t think he’d said so much to one person that wasn’t family in a long time.

thank you noa?! of caution!

[Jade Stone]

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[attr="class","mytitle1"]so you think you know how this story goes[break]
are you ready for this?

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[attr="class","mymainpost1"]The grimace that crossed his features didn't go unnoticed by Jade but he didn't say anything or make a move, that made her feel better at least. He listened intently as she gave him the Readers Digest version of things. When she was done she sat back and kept her eyes on him. Watching as he seemed to be thinking through something.
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When he got up her eyes followed him. She saw the folder he sat down on the desk, but she didn't move to touch it. A frown creased her lips, her brow furrowing when he turned his back on her. Not at all sure what he was doing until he spoke again. The tone in his voice had changed. He had made a difficult decision, he was giving back some of that honesty she had given him.
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Reaching out she picked up the folder and started leafing through it as he continued. Telling her his theory. A Were. Though, he thought it was a lone wolf. She wasn't sure about that part, neither were the hunters that came through the Roadhouse. His information was solid though. Maybe it was a lone rogue wolf. One could only hope at least. If it was a whole pack of wild wolves that would be worse. Still, something was niggling at the back of her brain.
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There seemed to be a lot of incidents for only one wolf. A lot of them dating much farther back in time than she had mentioned. Those were all animals though. There hadn't been a human killing involved until more recently. She supposed it could have been one wolf getting progressively more aggressive. Maybe going mad and out of control after being bitten. She still wasn't sure they were getting the whole story though.
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One of the reasons Jade had taken off to handle this case on her own was because she didn't want some other overzealous hunter jumping to conclusions and taking out a whole pack unnecessarily.
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Jade knew that there were packs out there that lived quietly, in peace, along side humanity even if they kept their identities secret.
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It was something she believed in, not all supernatural creatures were bad or evil. Some were just trying to get by, survive and live a life like everyone else. A lot of hunters didn't see it that way.
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She closed the folder and set it back on his desk. Looking up at him as he explain his precarious position in all this. He was taking a huge chance with her, she realized that now. Even a bigger gamble than she had take coming to him. He had a job here, one that he was sworn to uphold the law. The man was doing his best to keep doing that but also do what was right and what needed to be done. She could tell it weighed heavy on him.
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"I understand. I won't say anything. To anyone."
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She nodded, giving him a sincere look. One she hoped would convey he didn't need to worry about her. Jade could keep a secret. She was just glad to have someone who listened and believed her too.
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"Yeah, we need to do something tonight. If we don't... if this doesn't stop there are going to be hunters not far behind me. They think it's a pack and most of them will shoot first and not ask questions."
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Pausing for a few moments. Turing over and processing the information she had just been given. He had implied that they would do this together, right? That's what it had sounded like to her.
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"I'm in. Do you have a plan?"



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[attr="class","mycredit1"]tag: Aaron Sheppherd

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[Aaron Sheppherd]

Even Cowboys Get The Blues

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Time to shed the mortal disguise, for the beast is coming to life.

His first emotion when she promised to keep his secret was relief. Instinctively he knew she was telling the truth, nothing about her posture, heart-rate or scent indicated subterfuge and it felt like a weight had lifted off his shoulders. The corner of his mouth turned up in a half-smile.

It was followed quickly by a tendril of dread at the mention of other hunters. He tried to wipe out the threats as soon as they arrived to avoid the necessity of others coming onto his territory and threatening his pack. He knew that for most of them the world was black and white. If it wasn't human, it must be evil even with evidence to the contrary. Unless it was useful, of course. There wasn't a hunter alive that would kill a witch, say, if she might prove herself to be of use.

But most things - Weres, Vampires and skinwalkers for example - were only children of Satan and must be wiped off the face of the earth as soon as possible. Of course, he may be a little jaded and bitter about hunters. He pushed his negative thoughts away and focused on the rest of what the girl was saying.

He hadn't meant to imply that she should come with him. He didn't want her to put herself in danger when he was perfectly capable of taking care of things himself. He'd already decided he wasn't coming home until this thing was in the ground. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it with a snap. From the wayshe was talking this wasn't her first hunt and who was he to dictate what she could and couldn't do? Besides, she was probably safer with him than roaming the woods on her own.

He blinked before replying, "I don't really have a plan other than 'get out there and put it down'"

thank you noa?! of caution!

[Jade Stone]

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[attr="class","mytitle1"]so you think you know how this story goes[break]
are you ready for this?

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[attr="class","mymainpost1"]Jade waited while he took a few moments to think. She saw him blink a few times. Maybe she had been wrong about thinking he had wanted her to come along. Her mouth turned down in a frown.
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Well, too bad for him. If he didn't want her to come with him, she wasn't going to turn tail and go home. She had come out here on her own anyway. This was her hunt just as much as his. His reply, while not coming right out and saying it, seemed to be resigned that she was coming with. Therefore, she was not going to make a big deal of it.
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"That's as good a plan as any."
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Smirking she stood up, grabbing her messenger bag and slinging it back across her body. Picking up her coffee cup again.
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"I'm staying at the Rustic Pines motel on the outskirts of town. There's a coffee shop there. How about we meet there tonight before the sun goes down. Let's say about 6pm? It's close to the woods, we can go from there."
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She nodded like it was already solidified that was the plan. Giving him a smile as she turned to leave his office. Stopping and turning back around to look at him again.
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"Oh, by the way. My name is Jade. Jade Marsh. Pleasure to meet you Detective Sheppherd. I'll see you tonight."
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With a grin, she turned again to leave. Reaching out she pulled the door opened and slipped out into the work area and made her way out of the police department building.



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[attr="class","mycredit1"]tag: Aaron Sheppherd

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