KALLE

Kalle's eyebrows flew high.

"Shaw?

" she said, praying her shock and fear that this police officer might have stumbled on the Anima came off as disbelief.

"You said he was eccentric.

"

"Yes, but… dangerous? Do you mean that he got involved in some kind of crime? Or… what exactly do you mean?

"

"I mean that I did some digging and what I found…

" He blew out a breath and shook his head.

"Look, I don't go for this conspiracy stuff, right? It's not the way I think. But every case is a conspiracy of some kind—people working to stop me finding information. So I know how to look, and how to read between the lines. So I did that here, too. And… what I found… I wasn't expecting this to be so… big.

" He shook his head again as if he couldn't believe he was about to speak the words.

"Kalle, there are people in this country who claim there's a whole other… well, race I suppose. And until I got that blood sample, and contacted another officer in Canada and read his case notes, I would have just assumed the lab **ed up. But there's evidence. Physical, tangible evidence that this monster exists—and not just this one, several of them.

"

"M-monster?

" Kalle said faintly.

The detective nodded.

"I know how crazy that sounds, believe me. And I'm not encouraging you to use that term to anyone else. But I couldn't…

" He sat forward quickly, his eyes intense.

"The officer I spoke to lost his job because he continued to pursue this. He warned me to look for anyone around the victim who showed up for a short time before it happened, then disappeared after—and I'm not talking about some homeless guy or whatever. He said they're always connected. They're always someone no one knew a lot about. Someone who left a trail, but didn't—who no one could identify. Sound familiar?

"

Kalle blinked.

He didn't wait for her to answer.

"I have to tell you, Kalle, that it's possible that the man you married wasn't a man at all—and I know, I know that sounds crazy. But it's not!

" he said frantically, his hand clawing through his hair again.

"Look, I'm not here on official business, okay? I'm off the clock. My commanding officer doesn't even know I'm here because he's convinced this is just a lab screw up and… I mean, that's definite easier to swallow. What I'm thinking… I can't believe what I'm thinking! Who knows, maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and be embarrassed I even told you this but… but every time I dig deeper I find more, not less. And I'm telling you, there's something going on in this country. Someone is making these… things. And they're deadly and dangerous and somehow your Uncle is all hooked up in this.

"

Kalle gaped at him for a long, breathless moment before she forced her mouth to move.

"Canada?

" she blurted.

The detective's brows pinched over his nose.

"That's the part that seems weird to you?

"

"No! I mean, no. I don't… I can't… I'm not even sure what you're saying. I'm just trying to process all of this.

"

He sighed.

"So am I. But I'm going to tell you—not just as a cop, but as a decent human being: For **'s sake, Kalle, if you hear from your husband… run. Just… run. Whoever he is, whatever he is, he's connected with this. And it's… it's dangerous and crazy. It's impossible.

"

Kalle nodded. Because no matter what else he had said… impossible was definitely the best word to describe her mate—and all of the Anima.

Then she blinked.

"Wait… officer… did you say someone is MAKING these… these… things?

"

The detective nodded.

"It's Sam, by the way,

" he said dryly, rubbing his eyes.

"I'm… what?

"

"My name is Sam. And like I said, I'm off duty. As far as the precinct knows, your Uncle died from an animal attack. And even if it looks suspicious, they've got no evidence that will stand up in court to prove otherwise. So… so you might not see me much after this… unless you want to?

" He watched her closely, his eyes widening a little. But she couldn't think. Her head kept screaming, he knows. HE KNOWS.

"They're closing the case?

" she said, just to say something because he was waiting.

Sam's face went blank and she realized he'd put himself out there a little, to test the ground with her. She hadn't even registered it.

Oh well, it was probably for the best.

"I don't think they'll close it,

" he said.

"It looks bad to close a case that we've marked homicide. It will depend if the Coroner changes their findings. But right now… right now the case goes to the back of the file. And unless something new comes up… well, I you're off the hook, I think. I was the one keeping this alive and now… now I'm not sure I want to.

"

Kalle watched him carefully, barely breathing. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? He seemed to be waiting for her to respond.

"Thank you?

" she tried.

Sam the detective sighed.

"Promise me you'll be careful? You can let me know if this guy shows up. He's a person of interest in this case and since it won't be closed, I can come look into it. If he gets in touch with you, find out where he is and send me the details okay?

" He pulled a business card from his pocket and pushed it across the table towards her.

Kalle stretched across the wide table to reach it and pick it up, nodding as if she was reading it.

"Okay,

" she said finally.

Sam stared at her a minute longer, then the light in his eyes went out. Kalle felt bad for him, but elated as well. If no one else was going to pursue this…

"I guess I can say, Merry Christmas, Kalle. I know it's not going to be an easy one with Shaw gone. But at least you won't have me banging down your door every few days anymore, huh?

"

"Sam,

" she said carefully, but he shook his head.

"It's fine. It's fine. I just don't want to see you get hurt, Kalle. That's all. It's my job, okay? So please… if you see this guy, get rid of him, then call me. Let us take care of him, okay?

"

"Well, of course,

" she said again, lying through her teeth—and almost laughing, because that

"monster

" was upstairs, tense and angry, because he couldn't be involved in this conversation.

"Thank you for all your help, Sam,

" she said..

"I hope that somehow you have a good Christmas.

"