The Unveiling (D'Shar Men)

Chapter Ten



Zasha chewed over the new information she’d received from Phelan while she prepared to go in to work. After a year and a half dating and mating she was still amazed at the things the Shar were able to do. Contacting the souls of their slain parents had come at a great personal price, but it also gave them a starting point. They had a motive. It'd make it easier to find a pattern and figure out their next move. She smoothed back the stray hairs of her braid and began to secure the rope-like length into a bun. She'd been toying with the ideal of bringing in the top geneticist, Dr. Guerin, for a while, but needed the justification to do it. Now she had good reason. After she delivered the brief she'd send a request in to her commanding officers. Then hopefully she could get started on the process of contacting the woman and getting her brought on to their team.

Zasha studied herself in the mirror as she worked on pinning her bun. A slight swell had begun to transform her once toned abdomen. It wouldn't be much longer in regular clothes. Her breast had grown a cup size. They were often tender, along with her sore nipples. These were the not-so-wonderful things people didn’t tell you about pregnancy. She'd read What to Expect when Expecting, but they didn't have a section on interspecies pregnancy. Done with her hair she grabbed the gun holster off the dresser, slipped it on, and added her detective badge. She'd been moved to desk duty after she'd announced her pregnancy to the chief. It was the stipulation he and Phelan insisted on, not that she'd put her child in danger.

She rested her hand on the swell. He or she was the reason she'd been burning the midnight oil and pushing everyone so hard. They would never really be safe until Tavel was caught. The mad man still haunted her dreams, and at times her waking hours. All it took was the sight of a close shaven blond head to set her on edge when she was caught off guard. It was no way to live. The thought that Tavel might have captured others who weren't lucky enough to get away pissed her off and made her sick to her stomach.

"I swear we'll bring him to justice, little one. You will never know what it feels like to constantly look over your shoulder and live in fear," she whispered.

"We'll get him, Zash." Her husband came up behind her, wrapping his strong arms around her body. Used to his ability to walk soundlessly she allowed her head to rest on his chest for a moment, basking in his comforting smell and support.

"I think this new information can help turn the tables. I'm just not sure how to present it. Telling them you can do this with your powers would be—jarring, to say the very least."

"Tell them we found a new recollection of our parents’ death. It's not a lie, and they won't ask how I'm sure. It's too personal and not relevant as long as you have proof, which you do. I've typed up the statement, signed, dated, and given it the royal stamp of approval. You don't get much more official than that."

"I know, I just worry. I'm walking a very fine line being with you and working for the P.I.U. I know I'm not the only one who thinks so either. I can't afford to slip up."

"You won't," Phelan whispered. He gave her a gentle squeeze and she leaned her head back, going up on her tiptoes to peck his lips. She went to step away, and he deepened the exchange, slipped his tongue inside her mouth and kissed her thoroughly.

"Okay, enough of that, or I won't get out of here on time.”

Phelan's amber eyes sparkled with mischief. "I'm sure we have time for a quickie."

"The look on your face has anything but quick written all over it," Zasha said. He chuckled.

"You're right."

"I called my team in on the weekend. If I'm late they'll never let me live it down. Besides I put in an order for doughnuts and coffee I need to pick up on my way. My way of boosting morale and saying I love you, don't kill me for cutting into your off time."

Zasha forced herself to step out of his arms to grab the black bag she carried to work off the balsa wood dresser. "It shouldn’t be a late night. We're going to work this new information into what we've already collected, come up with a new game plan, and get back home to enjoy our families.”

"Be safe and call me if you need me."

"Always." Zasha paused when she reached the doorway. "By the way, I know you have men following me. I don't like it, but I understand the need for it."

"How did you know that? I told them to be cautious," he said.

"I wouldn't be very good at my job if I didn’t know when I was being followed. Besides." She tapped her head. "Heightened senses and all that jazz, thanks to you and baby wonder in my belly." She gave a wink. "Love you, Phe. I'll see you later on."

"Love you too."

His words still sent a rush of joy to her system. It was a struggle at times to blend their two cultures. In the end she was happier than she'd ever imagined she could be. She had a career she loved, one that filled her with purpose and allowed her to help others and make a difference. It was her dream growing up. Then a man from the stars had shown her she could also be a wife, and now she was soon to be a mother. She was blessed to have it all, and once Tavel was off the streets she could actually enjoy it.

Twenty minutes later she was placing copies of the new evidence in a stack on the desk in the front of the room. The traveling cardboard dispenser full of coffee and the set of twenty-four assorted doughnuts were set on a table, ready to go. Please let this be the break we're looking for. Zasha picked up one of the packets and walked over to one of the numerous rolling white boards, hoping something would spark. Her eyes scanned the information. Come on, where’s the pattern?

"Hey Johnson, why the big pow wow?"

Zasha turned and smiled at Richards.

"Break in the case, just came through last night, we have a motive." She picked up a packet and handed it to him.

"Other than crazy, you mean?" he asked.

"Yep, which is a relief because crazy has no rhyme or reason. This guy actually does."

"Jesus Christ, genetic experiments? This is straight out of a comic book," Richards muttered. His gaze scanned the paper. His blue eyes grew a bit wider with every line he read.

"So he's what—trying to create the perfect donor?"

"That's what we think. It's the only thing that fits."

"He must've run out of this—compound that was allowing him to function normally by now?"

"I don't think so. Not yet, but close maybe. So far his actions haven't been well thought out and calculated. But he's taking risks. That either means it was a part of a plan that's finally coming to fruition, or his time is running out. When I saw him he looked normal, maybe even younger than his true age, which means it was still working. Of course, that was a few months ago."

"We need to figure out if there's a way to screen for people he's come into contact with and run the experiments on."


"Well that's actually something I've given a lot of thought. I think I know someone who could do it," Zasha said. "Here, let me hook my laptop up to the projector."

Richards took a seat, and Zasha made her way to the back where she busied herself with attaching wires and booting up her laptop while the others arrived.

"Hey, guys. Grab a packet, help yourself to breakfast, and take a seat. I want you to go ahead and look over the information so we're all up to snuff before I tell you why I called you in here and the new direction I want to take this investigation in," Zasha said. Once the five members were gathered she began. "This just came to me last night. Phelan grew curious about his parents and started to think maybe there was another motive for the murders besides revenge. A reason connected to why he chose Earth and stayed underground—until now."

"So he's trying to stop this rapid aging process?" Camden asked.

"We think so," Zasha said. "If we can figure out what he did to himself and how he plans on fixing it, I think we have a real shot at not only finding him, but also stopping him."

"How do you plan on doing that?" Griffin asked.

"With the help of her, Dr. Ivy Guerin, she’s the top geneticist in her field, one of the pioneers of alien D.N.A. She’s accepted among their circles, as well as our own. I believe between her and the Shar we can bridge the gap in our research, and get this son of a bitch before he does any more damage. Maybe even help the people he's already altered. Those poor souls should weigh heavily on my mind." No one spoke for a moment. By right she should've been taken off the case, as it was a major conflict of interests. They all knew it. Yet, who else could act as liaison between the royals and the P.I.U? Removing her right now would be suicide to the case, and it was too important to let that happen.

"What do you need us to do?" Miller asked. Zasha grinned. I can always count on my team to have my back.