Hush

Sarah's day was starting to look bleak as Mr. and Mrs. Hawk sat down in front of her with a folder in their hand. Mrs. Hawk had a handkerchief in her hand and teary eyes as she introduced herself collapsing in the chair while Mr. Hawk was stony with a firm handshake.

“Good morning Ms. Locklan we are here for our son” Mr. Hawks said in a steady no bullshit voice that rang firm, standing at almost 6′6 with salt and pepper buzz cut hair and aura of authority you could see he was not a man to beat around the bush, i appreciated that he was getting straight to the point as i knew if it was just Mrs. Hawk this would go on forever, she was already clutching the handkerchief in her hand sniffling.

“And how can i help you with your son?” i responded back just as firmly, if you show an ounce of weakness in front of men like this the respect would never be there especially being a woman in this industry.

Mr. Hawk reached out with the file he had in his hands and gave it to me “Our son disappeared while out with his friends last Friday night and nobody has seen him since” i looked at him with a strange look “So why here? This sounds like a case for the police not for me. I would recommend filing a missing persons report so the police can find your son” Mr. Hawks eye hardened “We have already spoken to the police” as he clenched his fists he continued “They wanted nothing to do with this case when they realized that he is a shifter”

Sighing i looked down and opened the file, unfortunately this is a common occurrence as the prejudice against the shifter community is at an all time high, “There isn't much information here, did he say where he was going or did his friends tell you anything where they ended up going or splitting?” the only thing within the file was the basic personal information along with possible clothing he was wearing, Jacob is a 19 year old wolf shifter at 150 pounds and 5′11 which is unusually petite for a male shifter.

“His friends said they went to a nightclub called Hush which they all left at 3AM but Jacob wasn’t with them, they couldn't find him or smell him so they assumed he had left before them” Mr. Hawk replied, “We have already spoken to the manager of Hush but he doesn’t remember seeing him or seeing anything unusual happening” Mrs. Hawk looked up while crying “Please Ms. Locklan, please help us find our son, we just want him home”.

I sighed once Mr. and Mrs. Hawk left, i had agreed to take the case i knew if i wouldn't nobody else would as its just another missing shifter. My assistant and friend Ember popped her head through the door “Everything okay bossy?” “Jesus Em don’t startle me like that just because you can!”

I said shook, i have known Em since i was 8 years old and she still managed to surprise me with her gifts, she had the handy talent of being able to walk through walls and in this case a floating head through a door.

It came in handy for some cases when sticky fingers were needed. As for me i had the gift of an empath i could feel the emotion of others, manipulate or drain which can be a curse as people radiate their emotions all day which is be taxing without having a constant block in my mind up.

Thankfully i have been able to block out for the most part but extreme emotion can seep through quickly becoming overwhelming and draining, especially when people are driven on high emotions like Mrs. Hawk which was bleeding through the air.

“I'm sorry i zoned out there for a bit, did you need anything?” i asked when i noticed Em was looking at me like i lost my mind “I have been calling your name for a few minutes but you were off in lala land, if i didn't know better i would think you were finally getting some” oh damn this was a hot topic for her as apparently not jumping on every guy that looked at me was a sin, i was perfectly happy with Bob my battery operated boyfriend.

“I have a bad feeling that that this case is a part of something much bigger” i muttered, being an empath in a world full of monsters that could eat me easily usually didn't keep me alive so i had my trusted knives in my thigh holsters for cases when i had to act quick and i'm thinking this is one of those cases. “You think there's more to it?” she looked concerned as she looked at me.

“Yeah, this is the third so far this week i've heard about, all boys around 20, slim and shifters” i knew there was something brewing in the city but i was hoping i was wrong as if i didn't get any answers soon i would need to visit the local shifter community which i wasn't looking forward to due to a certain persistent alpha.

Hush looked like a run down warehouse from the outside and i couldn't see the appeal but what can you expect at 4PM on a Monday, its not exactly peak hour at the place if it was even open. I knocked at the door in the front of the building but didn’t get any response as i expected so i walk around to the back where a door was open ajar,

“Hello, is anybody there?” a crash was heard from within the club and a blonde head popped up from behind the bar “Sorry i didn’t see you, we are closed right now you’ll have to come back later darling” a southern twang in his voice that i could hear, maybe Alabama.

“I'm Sarah Locklan, i wanted to ask you a few questions about Jacob Hawk” he frowned but quickly changed his expression to an easy smile “Never heard of ’im” he smirked. “Well his parents are looking for him and would appreciate any information you might have”.

He looked me up and down and quickly dismissed me as a threat “Darling why don’t you sit down and have a drink, you must be tired from running through my mind all day” jesus is he serious? ” Oh honey, even drunk i could still put you on your ass so i wouldn't even try”.

A shocked laugh erupted from him “Cant blame a guy for trying, Duncan Cane at your service ma’am” a grin was playing on his face “Like i told the boys parents, i don't remember seeing him, we have hundreds of shifters that come here every night so its impossible to keep track”.

I reached out and felt his aura, he felt like a fox which means that even if i could feel the usual emotions that came with lying they are tricksters and experts at twisting you around until you don’t know up from down “Did anything unusual happen that night? This is now the third shifter that has gone missing in this area so this affects everyone, foxes might be survivors but they are also loners which makes it easier to target”.

He went still and stared hard at me “How did you know?” i could see him trying to figure out what i was “I can feel you” i answered “Which means i can also feel when you lie to me” he didn't need to know i couldn't distinguish his emotions they were changing so fast, call it gut instinct but he was leaving something out. “I didn’t see the kid, but there's been rumors in the community that someone is preying on young shifters but no one knows much, i try to keep my ear to the ground but so far people are keeping things to them self”.

I think there wasn't much else he could tell me or knew so i gave him my card and left, once i was at the door he shouted “if you’re ever in the neighborhood the offer still stands for that drink” i shook my head and kept walking, looks like ill have to pay the alpha a visit after all.