Chapter Text
April 2008
Dani stares at her hands as she wrings them anxiously, too nervous to drink in the sophisticated room around her. The waiting room in The Willowbrook Institute is unlike any doctor’s office she’s seen in her life before; expansive windows with a spectacular view of Manhattan thirty stories up. The chair she’s sitting in is of soft, supple leather that probably costs more than all the furniture in her bedroom and the lighting was bright and clean. Every surface was spotless, and there were no four year old magazines to flick through, instead you had four televisions to choose your own entertainment.
On any other day Dani would have been soaking it all in, but today is different.
Dani was only here because her regular doctor realised what she was. There hadn’t been a recorded female alpha in New York City for forty years, until Dani had walked into Mount Sinai with her mom two weeks ago, a ball of emotions that she couldn’t place mixed along with fear. Her cousin’s birthday party had gone sideways about an hour in, when all of a sudden Brenton started to become aroused around her, and tried to make out with her. His own cousin. She noticed a citrus scent that she’d never smelled before, and to her horror she realised it was coming from her. After that Brenton’s friends advanced on her as well, and her fear quickly turned into animalistic defence. She kneed three of them in the groin and snarled at all of them before her mom had managed to drag Dani away from the out of control boys. Once she was out of range of anyone Dani was able to calm down some, her heart was racing and the urge to defend herself took some time to dissipate. Once Dani was able to get out of her own head she glanced at her mom to apologise, and found only horror reflected in her face.
Her mother had never looked at her like that before. Like she was afraid of her.
That afternoon she was whisked off to a private room in Mount Sinai hospital where doctors confirmed her biological designation- female alpha.
Word spread quickly among the medical community about the mystery emergent female alpha, and within a day she had been contacted by the best Alpha medical facility in the city- The Willowbrook Institute. Once her presenting rut had passed her family had accepted an invitation by the Willowbrook Institute to assist the next tenuous part of Dani’s life. They were willing to educate her about her biology, and what to expect beyond the old wives tales and whispers she had heard all her life. These past few days had been nerve wracking, waiting for signs of pointier teeth and bushier eyebrows to manifest. While she hoped that they were mostly just stories designed to scare people, a part of her was terrified that they might be true. So many thoughts swirled around her head in a maelstrom of worry and nerves, it was all she could do to stop herself from running out on everyone and hide, never to show her face again. The scrutiny was too much.
Dani’s mum reached over to clasp one of her shaking hands, and smiles reassuringly at her.
“You’re in good hands here, Dani. There’s nothing to be worried about. Nobody else here looks worried.”
Yeah, a bunch of male alphas wouldn’t. Not when they occupy the top social strata. Nevertheless, she follows her mother’s gaze to discover why she would be smiling in a place like this. On the opposite side of the waiting room was a boy who looked to be a similar age here with his mother. Her chocolate brown hair sat straight against her shoulders, her round face was accentuated by chunky jewellery, and the pencil skirt and blouse she was wearing had been lifted straight from Vogue, a classic 1% omega wife. The boy was average height (maybe even a little on the small side) with light brown hair styled midway behind his ears, was wearing a simple button-down shirt and dress pants, the fashion house logos small yet distinguishable. Their wardrobes screamed Upper East Side, and yet the boy didn’t seem to carry the same kind of arrogance that Dani was used to seeing in alphas from that part of town. If anything, he seemed more of a beta-type personality, neither posturing nor deferring to those around him. He projected an aura of calm, and to her surprise Dani found herself relaxing just looking at him.
Maybe this wouldn’t be the terrible experience she has been anticipating.
Taking a deep breath and glancing over at one of the TV’s happening to play MTV Dani convinces herself for a second that this might be okay. She continues to glance up at the boy across the room for reassurance, catching his eye a few times before quickly finding an examination of the floor infinitely fascinating.
After the third such connection the boy smiles to himself before walking over to Dani and her mom, occupying the seat one over.
“I couldn’t help but notice you staring. I’m Malcolm. Are you okay?” The boy’s sparkling blue eyes are sincere in their intent. It sends Dani’s heart a-flutter and she deflects her gaze once again to the floor.
“Me? Oh, I’m fine.” Dani lies.
Malcolm tilts his head as he considers the tension Dani is holding throughout her entire body. Her newly discovered grapefruit scent builds around her like a protective cloud, and she desperately tries to clamp it down before he notices. As his nostrils flare Dani can sense it is already too late for that, so the words that he speaks are all the more surprising.
“It seems like you might need to hear this right now, but I can promise you’re in good hands here. My life is about to change for the better today because of the Institute. I trust them.”
She glances up again to catch Malcolm’s dazzling eyes, and the knots in her stomach relax a fraction. As Dani takes a moment to improvise a reply a clear voice calls out to the odd few couples waiting.
“Alpha Powell?”
Starting slightly at the first time her designation has been paired with her own surname, Dani is on her feet before she even realises she’s vertical. Blood colours her cheeks in embarrassment as she looks down at Malcolm, who to her relief hides his amusement reasonably well.
“That’s me. I’ll…see you around Malcolm.” Dani offers a small hand wave as her mother stands to meet her.
“I certainly hope so. Good luck.” Dani holds her gaze with Malcolm as she walks past, breathing in his faint woody scent one last time for good measure.
One week later
The morning sun is creeping ever closer to the bench Dani is lounging on, her elbows resting on the off white limestone wall behind it. She tilts her head back to bask in the warmth of the sun’s rays, today was the first day she had been allowed out of her house following her appointment at the Institute. The bench was the usual spot Dani had always met up with Honey, her oldest friend from school. She had been dying to meet up with her since her first rut presented, but her mom and doctors and suggested all contact be cut off until her new condition had stabilised. It had taken days of insisting she was fine for the doctors to agree that Dani could begin to resume her normal routine, and the first thing she did was message Honey with their standard code for an emergency talk; the SOS emoji.
Dani’s heart wasn’t so much racing as it was cantering, the news was still shocking for her to try and take in. Dani knew that she wouldn’t be able to get through this without her best friend though, so here she was. Honey’s braids were distinctive among the crowds walking on the street, and Dani couldn’t help but break into a jog and race to close the distance between the two of them, enveloping Honey in a tight embrace as Dani reached her.
“Whoa, whoa! I’ve got you, Dani. What happened?” Honey asks, her voice muffled through Dani’s thick curls.
Dani shudders as she forces a cry down, determined not to fall apart two seconds after reuniting with her bestie.
“So much Hon. So much.” Dani continues to hold on to her friend for dear life for a few more seconds, before finally releasing her now very concerned companion. “Let’s take a walk.”
The pair walked in silence for a few minutes. Even though there had been nothing but time for Dani to practice how she would tell her best friend that her life had completely changed, the words eluded her like the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Eventually, Honey breaks the silence.
“You had your first heat, didn’t you?”
“You think I what?” Dani gasps, unable to hide her surprise.
“Well, what else would make you disappear off the face of the earth for over a week? My neighbor did the same thing when he had his first heat. Apparently it’s rough.”
“Uh, I had a first something. But not that.” The words Dani needs to say flash in neon above Honey’s head, yet she can’t bear to speak them into existence just yet.
“Well, what else is there? Beta’s don’t need a week off school when they present. Is it something else? Do you need a new kidney? You don’t look like you need a new kidney.”
“No, no. My kidney is fine.” Dani pauses before diving in. “I had my first rut. I’m an alpha.”
It feels as though the entire sidewalk has gone silent as Dani whispers the words out in public for the first time. A quick glance proves this feeling to be false, everyone around her continues to bustle through their days, oblivious to the bomb that Dani just dropped on her best friend.
“You’re…an alpha.” Honey rolls the word around on her tongue as one would a new food. “How is that even possible?”
“I don’t know. There aren’t any alphas in my family at all. Not even the cousins we don’t talk about. I’m freaked out Hon, there’s so much I have to learn about that nobody has ever told me.” Admitting her deepest truth lifts the weight off Dani’s shoulders. Talking to Honey was the right thing to do.
The pair walk along in silence for half a block before Honey’s head snaps up from the floor, eyes round from shock. “You’re the one they were talking about on the news! You went to that fancy Alpha hospital! What did you learn there? Are you going to steal people’s husbands?”
“What? No! Why would I do that? I might not even want a husband.” Dani’s stomach flipped at the thought. She was only 16 and couldn’t figure out what to have for breakfast most days, let alone if she even wanted a partner.
“But you could do it if you wanted to, right? You would just take what you want. That’s what alphas do.” Honey presses on, gradually increasing the distance between the two girls as she did so.
“Honey, do you really think I could do that to someone?” The dubious gaze emanating from her best friend suggested she did think Dani was capable of such abhorrent behaviour. Honesty may be the only way to bridge the divide growing wider by the second. “The doctor said that I can choose whoever I want as a mate. Alpha, Beta or Omega. I have a special…scent, I guess?...that will help whoever I choose be willing to become mine. It helps to counteract the ingrained fear of female alphas from thousands of years. But I would NEVER do that to someone with a partner. I couldn’t.”
“So I was right. You would just take whoever you wanted. And you’ll be aggressive like all those other assholes.”
“No, I couldn’t! I don’t feel any different, and the doctor said female alphas can control their base instincts better than men can. Please Honey, nothing’s changed.”
“You can’t say that, Dani. Everything’s changed. You know I’m an omega. How am I supposed to act around you, knowing that you can make me do whatever you want because you feel like it?”
“I would never do that to you. Please Hon, I need a friend right now. I need you. I can’t go through this on my own.” Dani pleads, reaching out to stop her friend from drifting any further away. Honey recoils from Dani as though burned, her face set in an expression of fear. The weight that had lifted off Dani’s shoulders temporarily crashes down once again as she imagines a portcullis severing the bond of their friendship within seconds.
“You can’t ask me to be friends with you. Girl friends are supposed to be safe. No chance of biology ruining anything. I’m not okay with this. You can’t ask me to be okay with this.”
The portcullis flows straight through their friendship and smashes into her heart, shattering her fragile organ upon impact. The world that she has known has collapsed in a matter of minutes, all because she dared to tell the truth. Knowing Honey as she does, Dani knows that no amount of pleading will change her mind today. She might come around tomorrow.
Dani decides to take the chance that Honey will come back to her. There’s no telling what the young alpha will do if she doesn’t. She takes a deep breath and forces out the words that her heart can’t bear to say.
“Nothing has changed for me. I’m still the same person who texted you last night about whether you should go out with Jake. We’re still best friends, and I will always be here for you. I love you. But I will leave you alone. I’ll be waiting for you if you change your mind.”
Honey’s shoulders sag with relief, and she melts back into the sidewalk crowd without a wave or a backward glance. Returning to their bench, Dani collapses onto the flaking red painted wood slats and sobs quietly into her hand.
She never asked for this, and yet her new life is already taking things from her. Changing her life for the worse.
Dani can only hope with a bit of space that Honey will remember the depth of their friendship, and will come back to her this afternoon before her return to school tomorrow.
The call never comes. Their DM chat is silent.
Dani faces the gauntlet of school on her own, and spends all day searching the sea of faces for her best friend. Honey is nowhere to be found.
Although Dani is never able to find her friend, she notices that nobody else is treating her any different. Female alpha chemistry must be so different to male alpha chemistry that the traditional scent receptors haven’t picked up the change in her physiology.
When Dani survives a second full day of school without being singled out for her designation she pulls up the DM chat with Honey and types a message.
Thanks for not spilling the beans on what I am. I still love you. I’m here.
Over the coming weeks Dani opens that last message time and time again. The one that she knows Honey has read because the colour of the tick changed from grey to blue.
Sometimes she cries for what she has lost. Other times she is grateful that her secret is safe for now.
The Institute had recommended keeping her alpha designation under wraps until she decides to apply for college, at which point it will become mandatory to disclose your biology to the applications panel.
Her family do not know that she has no intention of applying for college. Another four years of school will crush her, having to hide who she is, putting up with the whispers and rumours. She intends to make a difference in a different way. The same way all the betas in her family do: joining the NYPD.
The motto of the Powell family cross stitched into a pillow in her nanna’s house is Always find the silver lining . Dani Powell was determined to find more than just a silver lining in life, she was going to turn the whole world silver.
June 2020
“Morning, Powell.” Lieutenant Arroyo greeted Dani as he joined her in the conference room.
“Morning, Gil.” Dani’s eyes never strayed from the whiteboard leaning against the wall.
The case board was getting crowded with the photos. Three bonded omega murders, each found in an enclosed space after a riddle with the answer to their location was delivered to the victim’s alpha.
Three weeks passed between the second and third murders, but the most recent crime scene had additional artistic flair that wasn’t present at the previous two.
Their killer was growing confident, and needed to be stopped.
“Any sign of our friend?”
“You mean the FBI agent that’s supposed to be helping us? No. I’m pretty sure I would have noticed the rain clouds in the office if he was here.” Dani scoffs.
“Dani, you have to realise that we are in way over our heads with this guy right now. He’s not finished, and we need to stop him before he kills again.”
“But the FBI? I know we’re close to solving this Gil, we just need a bit more time. JT and I have got this.”
“I have no doubt that we will get there eventually, but we’re losing time between murders, and even I know when we need to call in for backup.”
A part of Dani agreed with what Gil was saying, as much as she hated to admit it. They’ve been working together for three years, two of them in major crimes. The beta Lieutenant had taken a chance on her by selecting her for his narcotics team at the time, and since then Gil had never steered them wrong. When Gil was appointed Lieutenant and transferred to Major Crimes he requested Dani move with him, and her detective skills really began to shine through.
For years she was only known in the NYPD for being an alpha, the title overshadowing any of her achievements or attempts to better herself within the force. Because of the collars she’d brought in over the last few years, her name came up as Detective Powell, not “that alpha” Powell. She had to trust in Gil that calling in the FBI was the right move for their case.
“What is this guy’s name anyway?” Dani asks.
“Agent Vickers. That’s all I’ve got. In the meantime, let’s make sure we’ve got everything he needs when he gets here.” Gil turns his attention to the three boxes on the desk, one for each victim. He flicks through the files in each until Detective JT Tarmel walks in with a guest in tow. Dani senses the beta’s normal muted scent along with something different.
“Boss, I picked our FBI agent up at the front desk for you.”
The medium statured man had brown hair gelled back against his head and a suit that would cost more than the furniture in Dani’s apartment. The man walks with the confidence of an alpha, yet his scent is nowhere near as strong. If Dani had to guess she’d say he was a rich beta. The expression on his face isn’t one she is accustomed to viewing on an FBI Agent, he leers at Gil like the cat who got the cream.
“Morning, Gil.” Is the man’s introduction, completely disrespecting the NYPD’s rank system.
Dani feels duty bound to correct him. “Excuse me Agent, it’s Lieuten-“
“Bright!” Gil exclaims, cutting her off. “What are you doing here?” The beta jogs around the large table and wraps the FBI Agent in a huge hug, which the man returns heartily. After a few back slaps the two men pull apart, happiness shining through their faces.
“Agent Vickers had a family emergency, and the agency needed a replacement. When I heard it was a case with Major Crimes I volunteered to step in. Couldn’t pass up a chance to work with the fine folks in Precinct 16.”
“Well, we are very happy to have you.” Gil smiles.
“Are we?” JT wonders quietly. The NYPD and FBI relationship has always been a fraught one, and Dani would agree that their brief interactions with the agency have never fostered a warm relationship.
“Malcolm, allow me to introduce you to Detectives Dani Powell and JT Tarmel. Detectives, this is Malcolm Bright. Profiler Extraordinaire for the FBI.”
The agent laughs off the compliment and claps his hands together. “That’s going a little far, Gil. Now, would anyone care to introduce me to our victims?”
“Whoa, whoa. That’s it? You walk in here like you own the place and we just start working with you?” Something about this guy just doesn’t sit right with Dani. Even though Gil seems to know him there’s something about Bright that sets her warning bells off. After observing him through Gil’s introduction she’s not sure her assessment of beta is correct. His eyes are piercing, bright, and disarming. The man’s relaxed demeanour is completely at odds with the standard FBI Alpha personalities they’ve dealt with before, and the excited flush in his face as he inspects the case board is definitely not normal. Dani’s never met a person more confounding.
Malcolm raises his hands in a non-threatening gesture. “Apologies, Detective Powell, I meant no offence. It’s just that your case is a fascinating one and I want to get started straight away.”
On a normal day Dani would have been placated by the apology, but the mixed signals Dani is picking up is sending her alpha senses haywire. The hands up motion feels patronising, and the hackles on her neck stand up in preparation to attack. “You feel a need to apologise just to me?”
“Well, not to be adolescent about it, but you kind of started it. I just wanted to go through the crime scene photos.”
A growl rumbles in Dani’s throat which causes Malcolm’s eyebrows to shoot up comically.
“You’re the NYPD’s alpha.”
Dani curses herself at the mistake. There’s something about Bright that is keeping her off balance.
“Alright kids, that’s enough.” Dani has the presence of mind to wince at the rebuke and take a beat. Gil’s tight mouth was enough for Dani to know that she’s let him down. The alpha breathes through her mouth to limit the sensory input through her nose and calms her racing heart for the good of the team.
Satisfied everyone has their impulses under control, Gil continues. “Malcolm and I go back a ways, I need both of you to give him a chance. We need his help on this one.” Gil reminds her
“Shall we get started then? Great.” Bright turns back to the board, ending the conversation. Typical FBI arrogance, but his tone isn’t unkind. The beta has done nothing wrong apart from speaking directly, and if Gil is comfortable around the man that should be enough for her to give him the benefit of the doubt. Feeling herself spiralling out of control Dani steps back towards the door, giving herself some much needed space to regain control of her senses.
JT steps up to fill Bright in on the particulars. “We’ve had three victims linked to the same killer. Our first was two months ago, 40 year old Keiran Moss who was found in the trunk of an abandoned car. They were originally reported missing by their partner four days earlier, the widowed alpha received this condolence card in the mail with a riddle on it on the day they disappeared. We didn’t make the connection between the location and the card until after they’d been located.
“And Vickers mentioned the cause of death was an embolism?”
“Yeah, no other visible marks on the victim, though they all showed signs of dehydration and lack of food.”
Bright nods to himself as JT fills him in. “That goes without saying. Was there anything else other than a location written into the riddle?”
“Not that we could tell. The second victim was five weeks later, 32 year old Ezra Holden who was found inside a burlap sack by a salvage crew in Suffolk. That’s when the figurines started showing up with the bodies, a wooden carved man.”
“We only got called in on that one after local PD ruled out the death as a potential Long Island Serial Killer case. Got most of the case files sent over two weeks after Holden’s body was discovered.” Gil adds.
“Again, the widow was mailed a clue to the victim’s location but it wasn’t discovered in time.” The frustration in JT’s voice was seeping through.
“This killer’s got a sense of humor, you gotta appreciate that.” The profiler laughs to himself, unaware of the stony faces staring back at him. The man’s face falls when he looks around and reads the room. “The guy could have displayed Holden’s body anywhere, but he chooses Suffolk of all places? In a sack? With a token that would absolutely rule out its connection to the real LISK? That’s one dedicated homage right there.”
A soft groan from Gil is the only sound in the conference room, it’s clear from his exhausted tone that this is going about as well as he would have imagined. Bright turns his gaze to Gil and asks a silent “ What? ” before he returns his focus to the images on the board. JT sidles over to his boss and asks him “Who is this guy?
Gil breathes in deeply and pleads, “I know he’s not to everyone’s taste, but please give him a chance. Bright is one of the best the FBI has, and we’re lucky to have him.”
The shorter than normal distance between JT’s eyebrows and his hairline suggest he’s not convinced yet, but doesn’t comment any further. He glances over to Dani and she knows her face mirrors his own scepticism, but respects Gil too much to make a scene about it. Meanwhile the profiler’s attention is solely focused on the board once more, oblivious to the stares and murmurs behind him. His scent remains maddeningly neutral, unphased by the incredulous looks behind him.
Bright mumbles to himself as he continues perusing the case board. “Hmm, maybe I can take a look at the messages, see if there’s anything that got missed the first time.”
“Why do you need to look at them, do you not trust us to do the job ourselves?” Dani snaps, the alpha’s discomfort at the man in front of her that she can’t figure out boiling over into a sharp reply.
“Easy Powell, he’s here to help, remember?” Gil admonishes, the warning in his tone unmistakable. JT’s expression is also one of confusion, as Dani is nowhere near this aggressive with other consultants they have worked with in the past. The profiler waits patiently across from her, seeming unfazed from her accusation. The urge to growl is back, however irrational the desire is at this point. She stalks to the opposite end of the conference room and plants herself in the corner. Her glare could melt and ice cube, but the distance is already starting to calm her furious mind. They need to work together to catch this killer.
Satisfied that the tension has passed, Bright’s eyes track across to the smiling portrait of an ashen haired omega. “And now you have a third victim.”
JT glances down to refer to his notes, even though he has every facet of this case memorised. “Dylan Wilson, 34, an accounts manager from Hoboken. We recovered their body from inside a closet in an abandoned apartment three days ago. Cause of death was identical to the first two, the only difference being that the victim’s body was surrounded by flower petals. Found a wood carved lion nestled in the petals, same style as the man from the previous scene. The card was mailed again to the widow, we missed this one by about a day.”
“Interesting. Have you identified the type of flower?”
Dani’s voice cuts in from the back of the room. This was her lead after all. “White artificial roses painted black.” The heat from her voice is gone, as she’s curious to see what the man makes of this development.
The beta’s brow creases in concentration with his hand tucked under his chin. The room is silent as the gears turn inside his head, then a thought sparks to life and the profiler spins back around to face the case board. “You mentioned widowed alphas for each of the victims. Were the victims betas or omegas?”
“Bonded omegas, as far as records show us.” Gil supplies.
Dani can see another puzzle piece click into place on the man’s face. “So the killer clearly has a preferred type of victim. And the flower choice is interesting.”
JT scoffs at the comment. “Roses? I wouldn’t call them interesting. They’re easily available, difficult to track. It actually makes our job harder.”
Bright winces at JT’s comment, and the compulsion to correct the detective is too strong. “Hmm, no, I meant more the colour than the petal type, though the ubiquitous nature of roses is probably why the killer picked them in the first place.”
“Black is all about death, right?”
“Not exactly. Black roses can signify loss, but they can also signify revenge. The consistent targeting of omegas as victims suggests that this may be the case. I think we also need to re-examine any possible connection between the victims. The age of the three victims so far are roughly in their thirties, the similarity in their ages can’t be a coincidence. The killer could be projecting their issues with an omega of their own onto these victims.”
“And what about the figures that have been left with the last two bodies, can they tell us anything?” Gil asks, and Dani swears she watches the profiler’s eyes brighten in interest. The alpha has only ever seen this kind of enthusiasm from Edrisa, and it’s still weird every time.
“The choice to whittle the figurine out of the same material connects the two figures, though it’s too early to know what that connection is. All I know is that the decision to place them on the last two victims is a conscious decision that the killer is making, so it must have significance to them or to the victim’s family.”
Gil frowns, though Dani knows that particular theory is one he has kicked around in this conference room before. “We are keeping that particular detail under wraps at this stage, until we know more. Where do you want to go from here, Bright?”
“We need to keep any searches into the omega’s backgrounds limited to contacts in the local NYC area. The killer is native to the city. The victims so far have been abducted from three different locations throughout New York state. The lack of camera evidence on the body dumps so far suggests an intimate knowledge of Manhattan, and the dedication to bring the bodies back here tells me the killer wanted to come back to his comfort zone.”
“Anything else?”
“Not yet. The choice of victims suggests something personal, but racial and socioeconomic factors don’t appear to be an overarching motivation. Neither does occupation as one would traditionally see with an opportunistic killer.” Bright steps away from the case board, satisfied with his profile.
As the man turns to face the group again Dani finds herself captivated by the beta’s eyes. The blue hue is unlike anything she’s ever seen before, and they appear alive with a spark of something that the alpha can’t place. Her eyes drift towards his collar, and she wonders what might be hiding beneath the luxurious threads concealing it. Dani drifts off in her thoughts, and when a clap from Gil drags her back to the room the alpha finds herself staring into Malcolm’s eyes. The profiler is regarding her with equal intensity before he huffs in amusement.
The floor is incredibly interesting all of a sudden as a blush blooms on Dani’s cheeks. Gil wraps up the session, oblivious to the scrutinising looks being exchanged behind him.
“I think that gives us enough to work with for now. We’ll call you if we find anything.” Gil lays a hand on the small of Bright’s back and begins to lead him from the room. “Why don’t you tell me what that sister of yours is up to these days?” he asks as they head into the corridor.
“Nice to meet you both!” The beta calls over his shoulder before devoting his full attention to Dani’s boss. As the finely tailored man walks away Dani’s eyes are drawn to the way he talks with his whole body, the jerky movements at odds with the clean lines on his suit. A suit designed to be admired, not tested. Her inner alpha is at sea, adrift in an ocean of feelings she can’t quite make sense of right now.
Some distance from the FBI profiler will do her good.
Two Days Later
Two days of grinding detective work later and the team is no closer to solving the puzzle of who their mystery killer is. Chasing another day of dead ends is a part of the job that Dani hates, and her agita is only increasing with each passing day. The team know they are getting close to borrowed time before the killer will strike again, and whatever light Gil’s profiler friend was able to shed on the case it wasn’t enough to cause a break in the case. Her scent begins to spike in frustration, but with JT being the only other person in the room she lets it out rather than attempts to contain it. She needs the freedom right now. “How have we found nothing? Bright said that there is a connection between the omegas. We’re missing something.”
“It’s not for lack of trying. I’ve just spent the last hour looking at Pinterest profiles, we’re not doing this half assed.” JT replies. The broad detective lifts his gaze away from the laptop on the table for a break and spies the speckled overcoat and slicked back hair of Malcolm Bright in the hallway and groans, “Oh I do not need this today.”
“Morning Jensen Terry Tarmel! Alpha Powell! Lovely to see you again.” The beta breezes into the room with a broad grin and oozing excitement despite the hostility rolling in waves off the detectives.
“It’s JT/Call me alpha again and I will drop you to the floor.”
“Easy there detectives, I come in peace. I just thought I’d check in on the case, have a coffee with Gil. He’s busy so I thought I could help you while I wait.” Malcolm’s face becomes puzzled and he scents the air, as if chasing something faint. Dani realises the man is somehow detecting her frustration from earlier and tamps it down quickly. The moment passes, and soon the profiler’s attention is locked onto JT’s open computer.
“What are we looking at this morning?” Bright asks as he paces towards JT, angling for a view of the screen.
“ We aren’t looking at anything. I was just about to take a break.” The beta snaps the screen down before the profiler can see the images of Scandinavian nest designs that are currently displayed there.
Unfazed at the denial, Bright claps his hands in excitement. “A break sounds great! I can make Gil a coffee. Can you point me in the direction of your French press?”
Dani shakes her head ruefully. “Where do you think you are? We’re NYPD, not Interpol. There’s a pot warming in the kitchen, and if you want a mug you can take your chances with the break room stash.”
“Sounds great. Can I get you anything?”
“Don’t you want to know where the break room is first?”
The beta adopts a bemused expression. “It’s a police precinct, I’ve been in dozens of them and they’re all the same. I’ll just follow the nauseating smell of burnt coffee grounds and reheated hot pockets.”
The profiler doesn’t get a chance to follow his nose as a uniformed officer knocks and enters the room. “The Lieutenant wanted me to pass on a message. A patrol looking into a warehouse B&E found something on the scene and called it in. It has a body in it.”
The bottom of Dani’s stomach drops out from under her, swooping down towards her feet. Judging by the expressions on her colleagues' faces, she’s not the only one who feels like they’re standing in an out of control elevator. The only dead bodies that Major Crimes have been called out to in recent weeks have been related to their new killer. For Gil to update Dani and JT specifically it can only mean one thing.
“We’ve got another victim.” Dani states the obvious, and when she does the mood in the room shifts. What started as a social media trawl morning has just turned into something with much higher stakes.
“ Damnit. ” JT mutters under his breath.
Gil enters behind the officer and claps his hands together to command the room. The team’s heads snap up in his direction. “I know it’s not the news we wanted but we have work to do. I need all of you focused, and Bright you’re coming with us. Let’s catch this guy before the trail runs cold.”
The two detectives shepherd Bright towards the precinct’s carpool while Gil collects the details they need. When they step out into the parking lot the sunshine from earlier in the morning has disappeared, replaced by dark clouds and sheeting rain. The noise reverberates through the steel and concrete, the sound buzzing like a hive of angry bees furious at being disturbed. Dani wonders if the world is trying to tell them that it’s pissed off they couldn’t find this killer fast enough.
Now all that they can do is take a trip across the bridge and hope that the killer slipped up enough for the team to catch him this time. Maybe having Bright nearby from the start will make all the difference.