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  “Food isn’t an enemy, or at least not for us right now.” McKenna shrugged finishing off a slice. “Enjoy it I guess.”

  “Well, I’m certainly envious. If I ate more than this single slice I’d regret it for the next month.” Anne glanced down at her piece of pizza and shrugged. “But this also tells me we should start packing squad cars with high calorie bars. Both for the officers and if they run into someone who has shifted.”

  “Huh,” JD muttered around a mouth full of pizza. He swallowed and continued. “Good idea, we knew we needed to keep some bars on us but hadn’t thought much farther than that.”

  “I’ll add it to my list. Anything else I should know?”

  “It doesn’t hurt?” McKenna offered.

  “Bullshit,” the word exploded out of Raul’s mouth and everyone glanced at him. He’d shredded the piece of pizza in front of him, looking like he’d only eaten the meat. “When I changed it hurt, tearing my body apart reforming it into a creature. I have no plans to do it again.”

  McKenna sighed and took a small bite of her pizza. “Yes, it hurt the first time, the second time too, but now it just feels like a weird stretch that your body once knew. And you said you turned into a hyena. That has to have some cool aspects. Playing around I know I hear better as a cat, and the sense of smell is insane.” It was a peace offering, she still had to work with him. But McKenna made a point of not mentioning that she had noticed her human body performing better in those areas too, no sense in giving way everything.

  “Try it a few times, prepare and be ready for the change. You might find it isn’t as bad as that first time.” JD offered, and Raul sneered a bit pushing back from the table.

  “Sergeant, if you’re done with me I’d like to get my new schedule and work out needs with my partner,” he smiled at Kala and McKenna bristled at the smile.

  “Hernandez,” Holich’s voice turned ice cold. “I don’t give a damn you have seniority. You will not do anything to make officer Mansour uncomfortable. If I hear any rumors of you trying your playboy moves on her, I will press charges. Is that clear?”

  “Crystal, Sergeant. Don’t worry, she isn’t my type anyhow.” He sneered, giving everyone a mock bow as he stomped out of the office.

  “He comes across as a complete ass, Ms. Holich,” William said, the first words he’d uttered since they came in.

  “Just Anne. And he is. But he’s also a decent cop. Knows the rules back and forth, has no violence complaints against him, and most of the women enjoy his flirtations. But I’ve never known him to be partnered with a woman.” Anne turned to Kala. “I’ve got no reason except what he has said lately to believe he will act in a method that isn’t professional. But flat out, you are still on probation. You have any issues, you come see me. Got it?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Anne shook her head and popped the last piece of pizza in her mouth. “Okay finish up, JD, McKenna, go change into your uniforms then go get re-qualified on your weapons, fill out the paper work, and schedule to take that damn test. I don’t want to have to deal with Hernandez on this crap.” She stood up, swept the room with a look and stalked out.

  “Few more slices and I’ll be ready to go.” JD offered as he finished the box he was on.

  “Might if I stoke the furnace?” asked William. “I’m thinking I might go home and try this out. See what my roommate thinks.”

  “Help yourself,” McKenna waved at the food, snatching a last piece before heading out to change and deal with paperwork.

  By the time they finished getting re-certified, getting their guns back, paperwork filled out, not only was McKenna wrung out, their shift had ended. But per the rules they still had to see a counselor, but none were available until tomorrow. She and JD headed to find Holich.

  “Crap, I was afraid of this,” Holich admitted. “We were worried about scheduling.” She sighed and looked at her desk. “Okay look, I can’t afford not to have you out there. I’m already getting pressure from the ACLU and the governor’s office. I will make appointments for both you. After shift tomorrow, you MUST go talk to this person and set up a regular schedule. Technically I’m not even supposed to let you back into the field before you’ve been seen by a counselor, but at this point I’m going to have to roll the dice. The pressure on us about this is extreme.” She lifted eyes that had dark rings under them and nailed them with her glare.

  “Promise me you’ll make this appointment.”

  “Promise.” McKenna murmured. At this point she might have agreed to anything to get to go home. Holich gave them a sharp nod, and turned her eyes back to her desk, dismissing them.

  Too tired to deal with anything, McKenna just waved at JD as she started the car and drove away. The idea of home, a hot bath, and letting the stress get burned away sounded like heaven right now. The drive home created a sense of peace. People were still antsy, but that created a desire to stay home and protected, which made for low traffic and a quiet drive. She listened to the news as she drove, and what she heard did nothing to raise her mood or make her feel better about the craziness that seemed to encircle her world.

  She pulled into her parking space and got out gratefully.

  I'm pretty sure I've got some whiskey and some enchiladas I can toss in the oven while I soak in the tub.

  The idea sounded so good, she could almost feel the hot water soaking into her bones. After all the pizza she didn't have hunger clawing at her, but she could still eat without any issues. Head whirling with various thoughts, and still mulling over the ramifications of the events of the day, she didn't consciously see it until she had reached for her door.

  "What the hell?"

  McKenna stared at her door, feeling something inside her crumble, something she thought the years in a foster home had destroyed.

  Chapter 16 - Home Life

  Most people have returned to normal, the markets are back open, and life is slipping back into the shape we knew. But here in Rossville where we know the cops can change, are we safer or in more danger now? Can an animal control itself? We all hear stories of police brutality, how will that be exacerbated now that some cops will always have weapons? Do I want an animal living next to me? No way. ~ caller on Harvey Klein radio show

  This is so great, we have people with real live super powers and they aren’t scared to use them. The only thing I’m sad about is I wasn’t lucky like they are. They will help change us for the better, I just know it. ~ caller on Harvey Klein radio show

  McKenna’s door had a pile of shit in front of it, smeared over the knob, and written in something that smelled like menstrual blood was the word ‘Animal’ and lower down ‘Get Out’.

  Slow deep anger and rage welled up in her, and she felt the cat coming to the forefront. With an internal snarl she pushed it down. Focusing on her breathing she analyzed what she would need to clean it up. She didn't allow anything else to cross her mind. Going back to her car, she pulled out latex gloves from her emergency kit and some bleach wipes she kept just in case. Cleaning off the knob, she let herself in, got the rest of the supplies and set to cleaning up her door. She listened as she cleaned. The entire complex was silent, no one played music, no one talked, and she could hear everyone listening for her response.

  So be it.

  Once her door was cleaned up, she shut and locked it, threw food in the oven and poured a bath. With a glass of whiskey in one hand and her phone next to her, not on mute, she sank into the tub and let everything wash over her. Raul, the Governor, Kala, her job, and now this. Listening to the news hadn't provided any sense of things getting better.

  She sipped the whiskey and thought about the obvious message being sent with the scene at the door. The question was, did she want to fight or just walk away?

  Dammit, I thought I had friends here, the kids usually smiled and waved, I helped if someone needed it. I mean no one came over for drinks, but I’m not that type of person. I work, I come home. Nothing else.

  The ut
ter truth of that statement rocked her, and she took a larger sip of whiskey and it went down the wrong way, leaving her coughing and choking. It took a minute to get the whiskey out of her lungs and she sat back wheezing.

  “I need friends, I need a life.” She thumped back against the tub and tried to figure out what the hell she wanted to do about all of it.

  Her nose told her food was done before she had figured out any answers to her questions. Slipping on a long t-shirt she dished up the food, then sat in front of her desk, her out-of-control email blaring at her with a number with six figures. With a sigh she closed it, unable to take more of the proof of no intelligent life on earth. Instead she pulled up a document and started listing things on it.

  I need a social life.

  Do I care about this place enough to stay?

  What happens if we - shifters - become second class citizens, or hunted?

  What do I want?

  That last question taunted her as she ate mechanically, her mind going over it over and over again. JD and that was it. She didn’t have any other friends.

  Friends.

  She pulled out her phone and looked at the lone text message she’d sent herself from Toni’s phone. Then shrugged and started to type, after all, what did she have to lose?

  *Hey Toni, it’s McKenna. Wanted to check and see how everything was going.*

  The message blinked then sent, and she put the phone down and thought about the door again. She understood fear and figured this would blow over after a bit and when people quit panicking. What if it didn’t?

  That worry ate at her.

  A ping from her phone had her heart racing. She picked up and smiled at the words.

  *Heya. It does. Munchkins are driving me crazy. But that's normal. I’m headed out the door to work, so I won’t be able to talk much.*

  McKenna glanced at the clock frowning.

  *Now?*

  *Yep, work nights. I’ll talk to you later. Dinner or something? Be nice to talk about this weirdness.*

  *Agreed. I’ll see. Enjoy work.* The words came easy, maybe this friends thing wasn’t as hard as she had made it out to be.

  The simple conversation did much to improve her mood. But the housing situation still needed consideration. Checking finances and credit score left her a bit more secure in what she might be able to do. But she wasn’t doing anything right now.

  Her phone rang, and she frowned as the number appeared without a name. She hit decline and let it go to voicemail, right now she refused to answer any calls that didn’t come from people she knew.

  The voice mail indicator popped up a minute later, and with a sigh she hit play.

  “Get out bitch. You aren’t wanted here. We don’t want to live with animals.” The message ended, and McKenna didn’t even feel offended just deeply tired.

  I can get all pissy about this, track down who did it, make a fuss. Or…

  Her thought trailed off, and she looked at her phone for a long time, then pulled up the computer and did two things. She made a new email account and sent it to JD and Anne. Then she logged into her bank and started the processing to be approved for a home loan. It might be time to try to take charge of the drama in her life. At least the parts she could control.

  Chapter 17 - Daily Grind

  Prejudice in all forms will always be prevalent as long as we humans have nothing else to focus on besides our own internal petty squabbles. This is proving itself with recent service issues. People saying they don’t want to serve shifters, or denying them employment based on some other spurious reason. Humans are tribal and until we can reach the point where all humans are the tribe against some other force, I don’t see it changing. No matter how many laws, rules, or other things we put in place to try to force our brethren to act like enlightened adults, history has shown us we will always devolve back to us against them. ~ Paper intro in Sociology Today

  Sliding into the squad car, two coffees in her hand and JD typing on the laptop, felt like coming home.

  "Lucy, I'm hoooome," McKenna crooned as she handed JD his coffee.

  JD took the cup, not looking up from the laptop as he responded. "Ricky, what happened to you? When did you get, gasp, boobs?" His voice remained flat though he did close his eyes in appreciation as he took a sip of coffee.

  McKenna laughed as she shut the door and buckled in. Being here, with JD, was more home than anything else was, and the feeling let her lead into the conversation she needed to have. The thoughts that had been bouncing around her mind since yesterday.

  “So, remember that conversation we had about two months ago?”

  JD lifted his eyes to her a sardonic expression on his face. “Since we talk on average eight hours a day, five days a week, and have for the last two years, the answer to that question is probably yes and no. So yes, I probably remember the conversation, but I have no clue which conversation you are talking about.”

  “Weak, just weak.” She muttered but had to smile. McKenna secured her coffee. “Normal patrol route?”

  “So far yes.”

  She flipped on the lights and backed out. Once the on the street she flipped off the lights and started to drive, eyes scanning on automatic as she headed to their assigned area.

  “Soooo? Which conversation?” JD asked about ten minutes to the drive and she smirked.

  “I knew you couldn’t resist.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Spill. What's up?” He hands moved, the spinner flicking back and forth. The sign of normalcy helped.

  “Remember you told me a while ago, the house a ways down your neighborhood might be coming up for sale. Had a few acres at the back of the house?”

  “Sure. Still for sale, the Jeremiah is being picky for some reason.” JD shrugged, then she saw his head turn to look at her instead of scanning the streets. “Why? I thought you liked having an apartment, not needing to deal with anything.”

  McKenna chewed on her lip for a second, then decided. “I had an unwelcome invite left on my door last night.”

  “A what? Spill, Kenna, what are you talking about?” Ninety percent of the time, his protective tone would have rubbed her the wrong way, but today, it felt nice to know she still had a friend.

  She described what had been left for her, and the words fell into the car like thrown bricks.

  “Those incredible jerks. Do they know how much safer their apartment had been because an officer lives there? You should press charges or let me come and make sure they know my displeasure.” His voice held a low growling tone that made her blink and then smile.

  “No. They aren’t worth it. I have nothing there worth fighting for, so why stay since I’m so obviously not wanted. Nah, I think it’s time I take all the money I’ve been hoarding and get a house. Besides, if I keep eating like I have been, land for a small garden would not be a bad thing. I started pre-qualification paperwork last night.”

  JD rumbled, a deep vibrating sound, but he subsided. “I know the seller, nice old guy, he just doesn’t want to sell and have someone turn around and make it into an apartment building. He’s been resisting. I’ll introduce you if you want.”

  “Please? While I still like the idea of an apartment, with everything that’s going on, the idea of land, someplace that is mine to do what I want with, sounds very attractive.”

  JD stilled, even his spinner froze, and he eyes narrowed. “Huh, that is a good point. I hadn’t really thought about it like that.” He sat frozen as McKenna drove for a bit. She recognized his overdrive thinking mode, it tended to be the only time he went completely still, or when they were about to be shot at.

  McKenna didn’t track how long they rode in silence, but they were half way through their first sector, and her coffee had disappeared before the spinner started moving.

  “Yes, good point. Let’s head there after shift, well after shift and counselor. And I think I need to start making some changes to my house too. If this ability stays, I’m not sure I’ll need a weight room anymore.” />
  She almost hit a trash can as she whirled to look at him, pulling the wheel as she did. Another quick jerk of the wheel prevented that, and she was damn glad the streets were quiet. Moving a bit more calmly she glanced at him. “You what?”

  “Oh, please. You heard me. I’m more toned than I’ve been in years, even when I was working out three hours a day. And I haven’t touched a weight in a week.” Her head jerked towards him at that, but she kept her eyes on the road. “Yeah. And with what I’ve been eating you’d think I’d have softened. I haven’t. If anything, I’ve never looked this good. So, I think you’re right. I’d been so focused on whatever this is I hadn’t thought about ramifications.”

  McKenna felt like one of her pillars of certainty had shifted. JD loved to lift, loved the strength it gave, made him feel like he had something to offer a woman when his face didn’t grab them. You’d have to weigh upwards of three hundred for him to not be able to sweep you up and carry you away. One night after a few too many drinks, he had admitted he always wanted to give a woman that feeling of being tiny and precious.

  She broke the mood by jabbing her head at someone waving them down. “JD,” her voice quiet as they pulled over.

  A man, Caucasian, mid-sixties, going bald, walked over, his hands empty and a smile on his face.

  “Heya, officers. Anything going on?”

  “I think that’s what I should be asking you,” McKenna replied with a smile.

  The man tilted his head, then his eyes widened. “Ah, you’re the cop that killed those idiots that were about to kill the kid. Shifted into a cougar I believe?”

  McKenna blinked.

  Stupid, stupid, I should have expected this, and for some reason it never occurred to me, even after Anne told me.

  She tensed but replied with a smile. “Yes, that was me.”

  “Ha,” the man slapped the door of the squad car, making both McKenna and JD jump. “Good riddance to bad rubbish. Threatening kids just isn’t done. Well, just wanted to say hi. Have a good day officers.” With a grin wreathing his face he ambled off on his morning walked leaving McKenna looking after him a bit dumbfounded.