Check

  Mate

  A Sassy Mates Novel

  Sheri Lyn

  Tucker "Rook" Jameson is having an interesting week. First, he finds a body, then he finds his mate... the new Sheriff. Someone has decided to make the pack of Blue Creek pay, but for what is the question.

  Sheriff West Graelin moved to Blue Creek for a change of pace. Instead in his first week, he meets a naked man over a dead body who tempts him beyond his ability to think straight. Now the bodies are piling up and their killer is taunting them.

  It's time to team up in more than one way. Love, lust, laughter, friendship and murder...It’s just another day in this small town.

  Dedication

  To Milly for letting me play in the amazing world I’ve been following for so long.

  To my readers. Thank you for supporting me, pimping me and reading my stories.

  Chapter One

  If he didn’t know better he’d swear she was sleeping. She looked peaceful and innocent. Until you took into account her blueish skin. He sniffed the air and frowned, no smell. How did a body not have any smell to it at all?

  “I called the Sheriff’s office. They’re sending someone right out.”

  Rook nodded his head in acknowledgment to the young wolf. “Go tell Barbara what’s happened. She’ll know what to do and take care of spreading the word to those that need to know.”

  “Yes, sir. I brought you some clothes as you requested, I’ll leave them here for you.” The young wolf answered before shifting and sprinting off into the woods from where they’d come.

  He knew it wouldn’t take long for the sheriff’s office to show up. Blue Creek was a tight knit community, and something like this was big news. Rook looked the body over one more time, before stepping back carefully. He didn’t want to destroy any evidence that might still be there.

  He’d just finished dressing when he heard the soft footsteps of someone approaching.

  “Hello?” A strong masculine voice called out, “I was told someone was here waiting.”

  “I’m here.” Rook responded as he buttoned his jeans and stepped out of the shadows of the overhanging tree.

  “And you are?” The voice asked with authority ringing in every word.

  Rook smiled softly. “The guy you’re looking for.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Name’s Tucker Jameson, but most everyone calls me Rook. You’re new around here, aren’t you?”

  “I’m the new Sheriff. Are you the one who found the body?”

  “You smell amazing and yes I did.”

  The sheriff cocked one eyebrow and smirked slightly. “Excuse me? Did you just say I smelled good?”

  “Amazing, but yeah.”

  “I’m standing ten feet away from a dead body and on the opposite side as you. How can you possibly know what I smell like?”

  Rook laughed. “Never been round shifters I take it.”

  “No, I haven’t.” The sheriff shrugged. “What can you tell me?”

  “About the body, not much. I was out for a run and came across her body. Odd thing is there’s no smell at all. I can’t even find a trace of how she got here.”

  The sheriff squinted at Rook as if he was trying to put puzzle pieces together. “Did you mess up my crime scene?”

  “Nope. I walked up to her there.” Rook pointed to the trodden grass beside the body. “You can see my path. I was careful not to touch her or anything. When I moved back I went back exactly as I’d come.”

  “So, you didn’t touch her?”

  “That’s what I just said. Are you sure you’re the Sheriff?”

  The man’s lips twitched as if he was trying not to laugh. “Yeah, got the badge to prove it. So, if you didn’t touch her, how did you verify she was dead?”

  “I’m being punked, aren’t I? The real sheriff’s hiding in the woods laughing at me, isn’t he?”

  “No, just answer the questions. I need to make sure I have all the facts straight for my report,” The sheriff responded with a tinge of anger entering his words.

  “She has no smell, she isn’t breathing and her skin is blue. I’m no doctor, but that’s not normal for humans. Hell, that’s not normal for shifters either.”

  The sheriff chewed his lip and studied Rook before nodding. “I called in a crime scene unit and the coroner’s office. It may take them a few to get here. Until then you mind stepping back with me a few yards so I can take down your statement and ask questions without having to do it over the deceased.”

  Rook shrugged, back tracked into the woods and met up with the sheriff. “There’s no trace of where the killer entered to drop the body.”

  “Yes, you said that before. Care to explain?”

  “We have heightened senses, I could track you in and out of this place even if you’d come days ago. Whoever dropped that body didn’t leave a scent trail at all, and this body wasn’t here two days ago, when I ran through this area.”

  “Do you recognize the victim?”

  “No, don’t recall seeing her before.”

  “Come this way often?”

  “You know,” Rook said with a cocky grin. “That’s a shitty pick up line.” Rook waited but the sheriff didn’t reply. Well it was worth a shot he thought silently, before adding, “I like to run the borders a couple times a week. We’ve been known to have issues with some of the town kids coming out here.”

  “Why is that an issue?”

  “We’re shifters, we run, hunt and do other things in these woods as man and animal. When we shift from human to animal and vice versa, our clothes don’t magically appear and disappear.”

  “Point taken,” the sheriff said with a chuckle. “Did you see anything suspicious today or notice anything the last time you were here?”

  “Nothing at all.”

  “You said your name was Tucker Jameson, right? If I need to ask you more questions, where can I find you?”

  “I’m almost always around. Most nights you can find me at one of the Wolfe Clubs around town.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “I’m renting the garage apartment from Old Man Summers.”

  “That’s your address?”

  Rook laughed. “You really haven’t been in town long have you?”

  The sheriff didn’t respond, just waited with a look of exasperation on his handsome face.

  “Everyone around here knows him. The man’s crazy as a loon, but sweet. I’m just off main street. Ask around you’ll find me.”

  “Would it kill you to give me the address? You know I could consider this obstruction of justice and haul you in.”

  “Or you could just take it as flirting and let it go for now,” Rook said with a wink. “By the way your people are approaching and loudly at that.”

  “Fine, go. Just don’t leave town.”

  “Why would I do that? My pack needs me, and suddenly I’ve found even more reason to stick around.” Rook waggled his eyebrows. “I’ll see you around, sheriff. Maybe next time you’ll give me your name.”

  The sheriff frowned but didn’t comment. Rook smiled and stepped away before turning and melting into the woods. It was time for a bit of investigating on his own. Blue Creek had good people, but he wasn’t sure their crime scene people or the sheriff were ready for murder.

  First things first, he needed some answers, the most important being what was his mate’s name? He was gorgeous, smelled like chocolate, pine and everything Rook had ever loved. When he’d first seen the sheriff he’d almost cursed. He was fine as fuck. A couple inches taller than Rook’s own six feet, the man was lean with muscle definition and hair as dark as a raven’s feathers. Rook stopped in shock, what was wrong with him. Sure, he’d found his mate, one look in those pale green eyes and he’d been a goner, but never had he waxed poetic over a guy before. Then again, he’d never met his mate before either.

  Now, he needed to know more about the new sheriff, then he’d find out who the woman was and why she’d been discarded like yesterday’s trash on pack land.

  Chapter Two

  “Sheriff Graelin?” A soft lilting voice called breaking him out of his stupor. He glanced over to the crime scene tech and nodded.

  “Photograph everything, keep an eye out for anything the killer might have dropped. Make sure you’re thorough before you let the coroner have the body. With this area being exposed to the elements, we’ve only got one chance to gather anything we can. Get me the fingerprints as quickly as you can and check to see if she had any ID on her.”

  “Yes, sir,” The tech replied before turning to issue orders to the others standing around.

  “There’s a deputy on his way. He’ll stay out here with you until you’re done.”

  “Sounds good.”

  West stepped back and watched as they did their thing, carefully examining and cataloging every inch of the body.

  “Sir, no wallet or ID anywhere on the body.” The tech called out after a few minutes.

  He nodded and once he was satisfied with what he saw, he turned and left. There wasn’t anything more he could do here or for the victim until he had more information.

  West had just entered the clearing where he’d left his car when a deputy called out to him. “Sheriff, we’re cordoning off the area, but unless we have someone out here once we leave it won’t do much good.”

  “I know, we’ll have to get everything we can tonight before we leave and hope for the best.” West glanced around the packed area filled with cop cars. No way was this place not going to be filled with nosy people before long. “Hey Dex, you know a Tucker Jameson?”

  The deputy smiled. “Sure, everyone knows him.”

  “What’s your take on him?”

  “He’s a good guy, quiet and reserved. He’ll go out of his way to help anyone that needs it, but doesn’t like recognition for any of it. He’s extremely loyal and dependable.”

  “Are we talking about the same guy? Around six feet, dark hair, pale brown eyes, olive skin with a dimple on the right side and bit of scruff on his face.”

  Dex smirked. “Can’t say I’ve ever noticed the dimple, but yeah that sounds like him.”

  West nodded absently ignoring the officer’s gentle teasing, as he thought back on his conversation. “He a drinker?”

  Dex grunted a small laugh. “Rook, heck no. I’ve seen him have a beer, but never more than one a night. Why do you ask that?”

  “He mentioned he could be found in the Wolfe club’s most nights.”

  “Well, yeah. He’s one of the pack enforcers and their pack places. He likes to keep an eye on things and rotates around them most nights.”

  “I’m heading back to the station, let me know if anything turns up.”

  “Chief,” Dex called out stopping West from climbing back in his truck.

  “Yeah?”

  “What’d he say about the body? Did he give any idea what happened or a place to look for the trail the killer took in by any chance? It’d narrow our search, you know.”

  “You’d believe him?”

  Dex looked taken back by that question. “Yes, sir. I’ve never met a more honest man in my life. He’s as straight forward as they come.”

  “He said the body had no smell at all, and that he couldn’t find any trail leading to the body either.”

  “Shit.” Dex nodded and moved off with the crime scene tape.

  West watched him go for a second puzzled at the odd reaction before shrugging it off and climbing behind the wheel of his truck. The bumpy dirt road didn’t leave him time to think much as he had to concentrate on the road and avoiding the potholes. That at least gave him an idea about the killer. A regular car would have been hard pressed to travel this way. The woman hadn’t been tiny, so he wouldn’t have been able to carry her that far either… Unless he was a shifter, he silently added. It just might be possible for them to carry the victim that far without leaving a trail or struggling.

  When he walked back into the station a few minutes later still lost in thought, he almost collided with the officer on duty at the front desk.

  “Sorry, Sheila. I wasn’t paying attention.”

  “Quite all right, Sheriff. I have a message for you from the medical examiner's office. He’s tied up at a traffic accident. He sent some of his assistants out to pick up the body once crime scene has cleared it.”

  West nodded his appreciation and started to move around her, but her next words stopped him cold.

  “Also, sir. Dex called. He said you weren’t picking up your phone, and he didn’t want to announce this on the radio, but the victim was tentatively identified by one of the techs. He says she used to work at the Naked Wolfe, but he hadn’t seen her there in some time. She went by the name of,” Sheila rolled her eyes and grunted, “I can’t believe I’m saying this but her name was Titty Bell.”

  He tried not to smile, but between the ridiculous name and the disgruntled expression on Sheila’s face it was priceless. “Thanks, I’ll check it out.” He said as he quickly sidestepped her and raced for his office, while biting his lips to keep from laughing the whole way.

  He had no problem with women stripping for money, but did they have to use such corny names? Did guys really go for that?

  West turned on his computer and sat down behind his desk with a groan. This was not how he’d expected this day to go. He’d only been in town a couple of weeks and already he had his hands full with a murder and nothing much to go on.

  The club was a place to start though, maybe with luck he’d get an idea of who she was and what her real name was. In the meantime, he needed more information on the club, it’s owner and Tucker Jameson.

  “Sheriff,” Dex called with a soft knock on the door.

  “Hey, come in, I could use the break.” West groaned and stretched his stiff muscles. A quick glance at the clock told him he’d been sitting for a couple hours straight.

  “Just wanted to give you an update. Rook was right, we found no evidence anywhere at the crime scene. We have guys still out there searching, but we’re not hopeful. The body’s been sent to the medical examiner, who promised to get us information as quick as they can. We took fingerprints, but she's not in the system.”

  “Do we have a picture of her face I can use? I’m going to run by the club when it opens later and see what I can find out from there.”

  “Yes, sir,” Dex said with a smile as he passed the photo over. “I was actually bringing that to you.”

  “Thanks. I’m going to grab something to eat. Call me if anything turns up while I’m out.”

  “Will do,” Dex replied with a salute.

  West stepped outside to the sun setting and sighed, moments like this were the reasons he’d taken the job in Blue Creek. People strolled the sidewalks smiling and nodding to each other, the car’s driving by waved to the friends as they passed and the sunset glowed in the background turning the world into beautiful shades as the light disappeared. You didn’t see this kind of thing in the big cities.

  “Evening, Sheriff.” people greeted as he strolled down the street to the diner. He smiled and nodded, as he assumed was what was expected of him. In truth, everything was so different here and most days it confused the hell out of him. A few well-meaning mothers had already tried to offer their daughter’s up for dates. Hell, one even went so far as to offer her nephew up if that was his preference.

  Shocked the hell out of him on that one. He’d politely declined each invitation, with sincere gratitude and then quickly escaped. Call him crazy, but he liked to find his own partners and didn’t really like the idea of the town’s mama’s fixing him up with anyone.

  Unless maybe it was Tucker Jameson, if, of course, he wasn’t the killer, that was. West had never spent much time thinking about his sexual orientation, it was never anything that mattered to him or his family. As long as who you loved treated you right and with respect that was all they’d ever cared about. He’d never brought anyone home though. His family called him picky, but it was more that he’d never found anyone that interested him.

  And speaking of the devil, West thought as he pulled open the diner door and stepped inside.

  “Evening, Sheriff.” Burke the owner and cook acknowledged from his leaned position in the kitchen doorway surveying the diners.

  “Burke, how’s thing’s tonight?”

  “Can’t complain,” the burly cook said with a nod as he turned and headed back to his stove.

  “I’ll be right with you, just have a seat anywhere you like.” A waitress called as she hustled by carrying a tray of drinks.

  West took in the room and the few open seats and debated for half a second before he saw Tucker glance at him with a small smirk. That did it for him. West beelined for the stool next to Rook and sat down with a grunt of greeting.

  “Sheriff.” Rook acknowledged. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  “Funny, I’ve not seen you around town, and yet now twice in one day.”

  “Interesting isn’t it.” Rook laughed.

  “Sorry bout that, Sheriff. What can I get you tonight?” The waitress from earlier asked as she set a glass of water down in front of him.

  “What’s the special tonight?”

  “Pot Roast and mashed taters.”

  “Sounds perfect. I’ll have that.”

  “Rook, you want another coffee?” The waitress asked as she jotted down West’s order.

  “No, thanks, Lou. I’m good.”

  She eyed him with speculation and then frowned. “You holding out for that pie? I told you last night you weren’t getting a piece tonight. Don’t think I’ve forgotten.”

  Rook laughed. “No ma’am.”

  “Alrighty then,” Lou said with a wink, before turning her attention back to West. “And, Sheriff, your food will be right up.”

 

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