Farah was dealing with paperwork in her sun soaked office. There was so much paper on her desk that they had to move several stacks of paper before Jason could see the woman sitting on the other side of the desk. The sun was hitting the window, where Farah turned around her back, was reflected from the earrings, which was exposed by her army cut hair. Her hair was fair in contrast to her tanned skin. Some officers even made a bet about the natural color of her hair.
''Does it seem to me or is there more paperwork than usual?'' Jason asked with a mix of pity and toying in his voice.
''You have to make statements more than usual when people in your area keep dying.'' She shooted a glance through tons of paper. ''There are some documents you have to fill. The City Council and Safe City Organ is seeking testimony of someone educated in these matters in every case involving nonhumans.'' She took the papers in front of her and started shuffling. ''Where did those goddamn papers go?''
Jason looked at the papers for a few seconds and felt the headache come back. ''No need to hurry. I'll stop by again towards the evening.''
''Ah, right. Little brat.'' She threw the papers on the table. ''Where did you find her? More importantly, what are you planning to do with her? She is too old for accepted by temples.'' She was not wrong at all. Temples were usually raised from infancy for future disciples, this was the better fate for orphans in Zmir'a. The worse option was to end up into seashore neighborhoods. Jason knew that well.
''I will try to find her family. Otherwise, I think I can find a way to get her accepted at the Nyx temple.''
Farah leaned back in her chair and stared at him. ''Don't you have too good connections to be assigned here, seashore precinct?''
''Don't you have too good skills to be assigned seashore precinct?''
Farah smiled and nodded. ''You know how to compliment a woman. Have something you want to say? I have paper works to take care of.''
Jason was getting ready to stand up when something came to mind, ''Chief, are there any progress on the recent shape shifter murders?''
Her smile disappeared and she shook her head, ''No, is there any improvement on your side?''
''In fact, I was about to ask if victims' blood tested for shape shifter virus.''
Farah frowned. ''I don't think so. There is no such thing in the standard protocol.''
It was Jason's turn to frown. ''You should have it tested just in case.''
''Are you saying victims are shape shifter too? How?'' Farah cross her arms in her chair.
''No. I am not sure but, I mean, nobody claimed the corpses, right? Not even one of the three. Don't they have families? Friends? It makes sense if their friends are also their killers,'' Farah didn't seem convinced. ''Also, staff who interact with corpses can catch the virus if they are truly shape shifters.''
Farah's face turned pale, ''Are you serious?'' It was a good point. She always valued her staff.
''Yes. Even if they were not shape shifters at the beginning, they may have gotten the virus when they being attacked. The entire autopsy and crime scene team needs to be tested,'' Jason patted his chin and remembered that he hadn't shaved yet. ''Also, if they are truly shape shifter, they may miscalculate their death times because of their healing speed.''
Farah found pen and paper to take notes in the small battle on her desk. ''Is it possible that they actually got a virus in the attack that caused their death?''
''Yes, it's possible, though it won't make any difference to them because they died already. After contact with the virus, it will be certain whether you got it between half an hour and two days. If there is half an hour between their first wound and their last breath, they may have caught it.''
Her shoulders relaxed, ''So there is a low probability that they got the virus. Do you have anything to add?''
Jason thought for a few seconds, ''Let them purify the crime scenes with fire and salt. So does all the equipment used.''
Farah nodded and wrote something , ''I will request that those to be included in the procedure in cases involving nonhumans.''
''How will you know if they are shape shifter without testing them first? The corpse reverts to human form, even if they die in animal forms.'' Farah noted.
An unexpected siren sound interrupted their conversation. Farah got up to watch the police car moving away from the window. When she got up, Jason felt small, very small in front of the woman's height. He stand up too.
Farah rubbed her forehead, ''What if the corpses really belong to the shape shifters? Not in attack, if they got it long ago?'' She asked while looking out the window.
''Then we can say that there is a link between the victims.''
''Shape shifter victims and shape shifter murderer. Then what does that means?''
''Execution among themselves? That happened in other cities before.''
''In other cities, in cities with shape shifter gangs, never happened here. We have more 'friendly' relationships with them in Zmir'a.'' Farah stopped looking at the window and looked at Jason.
He shrugged.
''Are you done or will you get me more paperwork?''
Jason thought that. Should he tell what happened in the forest last night? Shape shifters who want to be hunted? His heart hurt when he remembered that Vivian had helped set him up. Yes, he was trapped. The lion men had not given him a rational reason to start a city wide hunt. Actually, they were victims. Someone wanted chaos in the city, but why? If he told the other cases to the police now, they would have to pull out the big guns. No, not yet.
''You are lucky, no more paper works,'' Jason suddenly felt the weight of the sky on him. 'Storm,' something whispered deep inside him. ''It will rain.''
''Oh?'' She turned to the window but saw no clouds. ''You can leave.''
Jason leaved. There were no clouds however he knew that it would rain like he knew his own name. Blowing fire? Infinite wisdom? No, He was able to make perfect weather predictions as a dragon feature. It wasn't a bad feature. As it was said in the old saying, never trust Zmir'a's weather and its women.