C.J. Frost and K.J. Reynolds

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Burn

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Living with my grandparents 

Chapter One

Detective Marqui O’ Conner walked through the ashy rubble of what once had been the small town of Myrtle Point, Oregon. The smell of burned flesh and still smoking wood permeated the air overwhelming the senses of whoever stood there, all except Marqui. She was used to the smell, the sting of the smoke in her eyes, seeing the charred bodies and buildings. There was a hand full of survivors, every time just a handful, some badly burned, and others were in shock. This is how it had been, every year for the last three years a small town was burned. The people of the U.S. had taken to calling the arsonist “The Black Death”. This was her first case where the arsonist burned the town from the outside in. She had seen other cases where the arsonist had burned homes or warehouses, even schools and people were killed. She had never seen one this bad though, where almost every man, woman and child had been slain.

     At four that morning Marqui received the call. By the time the fire fighters were pulling away from another fire in Powers the outer ring was burning too hot for them to get through. So the entire town burned. A young fire fighter who went by Keys sat weeping as he recounted his story to the Deputies. He could not get past the fact that over the roar of the flames he could hear their screams and he could do nothing.

“Do you think the fire in Powers was an intentional set to distract us?”

Marqui was only slightly startled as she drifted back out of her thoughts. She turned to face the questioning voice. It was Detective James Wells with the F.B.I. She could not think of any reason to like or dislike him. He was arrogant but who with the F.B.I. wasn’t. He did his job and was good at it.

“Maybe, but how did he get here so fast, somebody would have seen him coming into town.” She replied as she crouched down to pick up a burned picture frame.

“You thinking hitchhiker maybe?” He asked, pulling a small notebook out of his back pocket.

She stood, letting the picture frame slip from her hand and let her eyes scan the area. This was bad, real bad; there was no way of knowing where this arsonist would hit next.

“I want you to ask every survivor from both towns if they saw this man and where he came from. I want to know if he hitchhiked, walked, or drove here and get me the name of every small town within a fifteen mile radius, we’re going to catch this son of a bitch.”

“Who says it’s a son of a bitch? Daughters burn too.”

“It’s a figure of speech, Wells. It doesn’t literally mean it’s a man.” Marqui said, giving him a hard look.

“So, question the survivors, find a witness, and find the towns that haven’t been burned down?” he asked as he flipped his notebook closed and slipped it into his back pocket.

“Yes and make it quick.”

As Detective James Wells left the crime scene, Marqui stayed to look through the rubble; maybe she could find something that C.S.I. had missed. She sifted through the ashes on the ground and found nothing. She moved to the outside of the town where the fire had started. A ring of gasoline went all the way around, touching the back wall of every outside building, some had even been poured on the inside of the town to ensure that the fire spread.

How long had the arsonist stayed before leaving? She wondered and she watched the ground as she walked. That’s when she spotted what she was looking for, footprints in the ash ring around the town. He had been there after the burning, with the survivors, maybe even with the fire fighters. People never paid attention when they were in a panic. Their killer could have been among them and they would have never noticed. She pulled off her rubber gloves as she walked back to where five agents and an ambulance were setting just outside the ring of ash.

She made her way to the tallest of the five, his name being Casey Silvereyes, a Navajo/Cherokee Indian with a splash of Scottish with olive skin and almond-shaped eyes. He was a serious man, his arms were always crossed when he was standing, and she was sure she had had never really seen him in a relaxed mood. His long red hair was pulled back in a neat braid that trailed down his back and his cloudy grey eyes turned to her as she approached him.

“I know that look, you found something.” He said, voice void of all emotion.

“Am I that obvious?” She replied, planting her hands on her hips and staring up at the man who was almost a head taller than her.

“Tell me.”

She moved closer not wanting any of the survivors to hear what she had to say and start panicking.

“The arsonist was here after the burning, maybe mingling with the survivors or firemen, and I think he could possibly still be here.” She explained and watched as his eyes trailed to the group of survivors being treated by the EMTs.

“You want me to keep an eye on them?” he asked, looking back down at her.

“That’s what I’m suggesting, put two agents on each of them, and follow them around. I’m going to take a closer look at some prints I found.” She said

Hesitating before walking away she said, “Casey, if I disappear for a few minutes don’t come looking. I’ll be fine.” She winked then turned and walked away. Casey knew better than to ask. He had worked with Marqui for five years. He knew by now to ask was a direct invasion of the Marqui bubble and to pop the bubble was to bring the wrath.

 There were several sets. Some were crossed with smudged prints here. She was sure it was people running trying to escape the flames. Others though were lonely witnesses to someone who kept himself from everyone else. Just on the outer edges of the chaos. She paced the steps with her own feet. He was not running. His steps had been casual and deliberate. Marqui followed the steps outside of the yellow hazardous ribbon to an area where no fire trucks had been. Here the earth was still firm and the tracks evident.

When she looked up again she had already traveled out of the other officers’ sight. She had lost time, a rarity for her. Turning around a couple of times she marked her area by sight and by scent. She would recognize this place when she found her way back. Further into the forest when she could no longer hear the sound of radios and cop chatter is when she also lost the prints. Whoever the burner was they were in shape. Unless they had found a trail that circled back to the road they had taken one hell of a hike out of there. Seeing she was out of range it might be time to take advantage of the moment and hunt. This is why she was good at her job. The wolf in her was primed for the hunt. Perhaps with a little preternatural aid she would find the bastard starting the fires. The foot prints were the first real clues she had been able to find. She could not let this pass and sleep at night. She stripped quickly down to her panties and bra and let the change roll over her.

Muscle and bone contorted, a muzzle pushed forward from her face, hands and feet turned into large paws, legs and arms stretched and became long slender, wolf legs. Dark brown fur sprouted from her skin to cover her body and her green eyes turned an almond shape. She stretched her muscles and wagged her tail, making sure everything was in working order, and then she put her nose to the ground and followed the footprints that the arsonist had left her.

It wasn’t long before the scent became fainter and fainter, hidden by the smell of pine as a slight breeze blew through the forest. She continued to follow the footprints until her eyes suddenly met smooth earth, unmarred by footprints. She searched the surrounding area and found nothing. He had left the trail, but there was no way to tell how, it was as if he had flown away.

Marqui stretched and licked her paws a few times before shifting back to her human form. After finding her clothes she returned to the scene of the fire. Casey was squatting near something dark on the ground. Once close enough she could see the matted feathers slightly burned on the edges. She looked up to find just above them a few more tattered feathers hanging delicately from a telephone pole. A sound drew her attention to the sky, the cry of a bald eagle as it circled just above the crime scene, a rarity to see such a bird so near this town.

“Get me somebody up there Casey and collect those please.” She said.

“They’re feathers.” Casey bowed his head in surrender. He could feel “the look” burning a hole into him.

“You got it boss lady.”

Casey stood making sure to not look her way again and headed in the direction of the boys collecting evidence. Marqui took one last glimpse at the scene before climbing in her jeep. Before she could pull off the scene her cell began to vibrate against her hip. She jumped a little startled at the sensation. She was always a bit over sensitive after the change. Pulling it out of her pocket she read “Declan” across the display window. Her little brother was her world. He was seventeen now and in his last year of high school. It was a precarious time in his life. The stress of making it through high school and passing by all the dangers of drugs and parties was harder than any case she had ever faced in her opinion. At least she always knew what she was up against. Declan on the other hand was surprised every day by the darkness of human kind.

“What’s up baby brother?” she asked.

“Oh, nothing much sis, I was just checking on you. You know, doing the brother thing.” He replied

For some reason Marqui did not believe him. His voice sounded strained.

“Are you sure that’s all Declan?” She asked

“Well I picked up a funny vibe you know? I was worried it was you. I felt danger near, like you were being stalked.”

There was a long silence. Looking at her phone she thought maybe she had lost the signal.

“It’s ok now, Marqui. The feeling’s not there anymore.” He remarked before she could say anything.

Marqui could feel the lie in what he said.

“Hey, Marqui, I need to get to my next class.” He said

“Am I still picking you up for dinner, it would give mom a break.”

“Yeah I should be able to make it.” He said.

“Ok baby I’ll see you then. Love you.” She said

“Love you too sis”

The line went silent. Marqui closed her phone as the frown began to crease her brow. It was getting harder for him. He lived in a modern world but was forced to live by old laws. The change would come for Declan soon. The urges were coming on him like thunder in the desert. He would not be able to control them much longer. This worried her even more than the drugs and drinking of young adult life. The change could take his life.

She shook her head, knowing that her brother was strong enough to survive. The change would not take his sanity or his life. She would be there none the less, holding him, lending him strength, but that was all she could do. She tossed her phone onto the passenger seat and started her jeep then took one last look at the crime scene and pulled away from the burn ring. Up above the eagle stared down at her, eyes full of murderous intent.

Marqui stood in her shower the warm spray of the water loosening cramped muscles. She had become tense since the arsonist had been burning towns in Oregon, it was the first time she had truly been scared. All she could think about was the arsonist burning down Coquille where her brother and mother lived. She had a horrible feeling that it was next on the list as she would stop at nothing to catch this killer. Her ears picked up a loud banging sound and it took her a few minutes to realize that there was someone at her front door.

She waited, hoping that maybe they would go away, but when they proceeded to knock, insistent on her answering, she turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. She knew that she would have no time to get dressed; whoever it was would not have the patience, so she grabbed the fuzzy purple housecoat that was hanging on the bathroom door and slipped it on.

She did not open the door immediately, but breathed in the scent of the person outside. She almost sneezed when the heavy scent of cologne invaded her senses, Old Spice, it was Casey.

“What do want, Casey?” She asked as she finished tying the robe’s belt.

“We need to talk, Marqui, about the arsonist.” He said from the other side of the door, his voice its usual calm, cool self.

Marqui gave a loud sigh before opening the door, glaring up at the tall red head leaning against the stair railing of her house.

“Purple and fuzzy, never expected you to have a soft side.” He said, his voice flat, but his eyes dancing with amusement.

“The only fuzzy things I truly enjoy playing with are usually found roasted on the end of a stick.” Marqui bared her teeth letting a low growl roll from her lips.

Casey held back a sigh. He hated how is gut sank whenever she talked like that. She awoke every animal within him, the deep and savage parts, but he knew who and what she was. He had thought at one time he could have her until the first time he saw her shift. What could he offer a woman of such power? He was after all only human.

Marqui nodded her head towards the den and Casey followed. A soft yellow light filled the room as they walked in. Marqui let out an exaggerated sigh of exhaustion. She flopped on the couch stretching her tired and aching limbs. It was good to be home, but the unexpected house guest ruffled her fur. The heavy scent of worry filled the room. It was unmistakable. That was the last thing Marqui needed was one more man worrying about the risks she took.

“Is there something you needed to tell me or did you just come here to make fun of my housecoat?” She said.

Casey tampered down his feelings and his face grew dark and serious. The room shifted to a deep silence, feeling crowded and less welcome. The heaviness of his demeanor made her stomach clench. He was on serious mode and it would do no good to play with him.

“You have my full attention Casey what’s up?” Her eyes matching his in intensity.

“We got the results from the lab on those feathers of yours.” Marqui sat up expectantly, her heart beating rapidly.

“They’re not exactly bird feathers.”

Casey frowned because he did not know how to tell her the rest of what he knew.

“Not bird how?” Marqui asked, lifting one dark eyebrow in confusion.

Casey immediately became uncomfortable which was very rare for him and cleared his throat before he spoke.

“Somehow human DNA showed up in the results and I thought maybe you could tell me something about how that’s possible.”

Marqui leaned back, not liking the look in his eyes, as if he could see inside her where the wolf was sleeping. She sensed him withdraw, his aura shifting from calm to suspicious. It was disturbing to think that he knew what she was, but it was impossible, she was more than careful.

“Why would you think I could help you?” She asked, shifting her eyes away from him.

“No reason in particular,” he lied, “it’s just that your intuition seems to be better than most.”

Casey could see the disturbance in her eyes, she knew he was lying, he knew she could smell it. He knew her kind could feel the subtle change in the air when someone’s emotional state changed. He had kept the secret of his knowledge of what she was for this long and had no intentions of letting the cat out of the bag.

Something shifted in Marqui’s eyes, their green halos grew a shade darker while the air around them seemed to electrify. Casey hated to admit it, but he felt uncomfortable, damn near in danger.

“I just thought maybe you could pick something up out of this.” his voice wavered, “I’ve got to get home and do some work and maybe later we can discuss what you find.”

Marqui stood, her movements fluid, her muscles flexing as some invisible heat rolled over her.

“That’s a good idea, I was supposed to be at my brother’s an hour ago. I’ll call you.”

He would have sworn the tone of her voice was threatening and he backed out of the room, not daring to turn his back on her. He was confused; he had never seen her react to him with anything other than friendly respect. He could not find his voice to add on to the conversation so he left quickly and did not look back.

Marqui watched her friend leave, realizing how lethal it would have been if he had stayed any longer. She took a deep breath, pushing back the change before going to her room to get dressed.

Casey was right, she thought as she pulled on a pair of jeans, she did have an idea about the feathers. There was a new shifter in town and all he had on his mind was fire. 

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