My Shifter Boss

Chapter 5

After a quick briefing of the events that unfolded that led to the Head’s death, Nathan called the mayor. Mayor Andrew Quisenberry had been elected only six months ago, and thus far, his time in office had been without problems. After this morning’s were debacle, his office was in a tizzy, fielding calls from news stations all over the country. He’d called the Guard, which had been in chaos. He’d been told the Head was dead and his temporary replacement would call him as soon as all the reports were in.

Andrew had grown up around weres. He’d been born in Colorado, in the mountains. Several of his friends had been weres, and although they hadn’t shifted in the middle of town, everyone had known what they were and had treated them like everyone else. He’d been shocked when he’d moved to the city and the weres lived in hiding. He hadn’t known a place like that had existed. After he’d been elected mayor, he had appointed his best friend, a werewolf, as one of his advisers. Robert had immediately made contact with the Guard when he’d arrived in town and introduced Andrew to the Head. He and the Head had hit it off, had agreed on many human/were issues, and wanted to pull the city into this century by bringing the weres out of hiding.

“I should be hearing from the guy who is taking the Head’s place temporarily any moment.” Andrew sighed. “This is such terrible timing. Right when the Head and I were getting ready to start integrating the two peoples.” He shook his head pensively as he stared out the window of his office.

“The opportunity isn’t lost, Andrew,” Robert mused as he took a seat in front of the desk, opening the laptop he’d carried in with him.

“You’re right. It depends on who they elect, of course,” Andrew murmured. He turned back to Robert. “Does this event destroy that plan?”

Robert shook his head thoughtfully. “I don’t think so. It will just take more time and more charm, both on your part and on the new Head’s, than may have been necessary before.”

Andrew nodded and straightened. “This will happen, dammit. Whoever takes over will get on board.” He looked at Robert again. “Who’s the temporary guy? Do you know him?”

“He’s a good man and would make a good leader. But he doesn’t want to be the Head. He’s not a politician at all, isn’t interested in any of that kind of stuff.”

“How well do you know him?”

“I’ve met him here and there. He works in security dealing with newbies or weres who have broken were law.”

“What does he think about integration?”

“I’m pretty sure he’d be on board. He’s a rule follower, sure, but he’s got human friends who know what he is. He used to see the were, Marissa, who caused this.”

“Marissa is behind this? I had no idea,” Andrew said.

“She staged a coup after being arrested for something. She escaped from the detention center and killed the Head. I’m not sure what she did to get arrested, but she was the number two.”

“Yes, I know. She was in on all the meeting between the Head and me about the integration plans.” Andrew considered. “I wonder if she’s against it.”

“I have no idea. Rumor has it she plans to start her own group of weres to lead the city, to end the Guard. She has a good start; the Guard will be in chaos until the new Head is elected.”

“And this Nathan guy would be a good leader, but I really don’t think he’ll accept the position,” Robert reminded him. “He is dating a were; maybe she has some influence over his decision.”

“We may be able to talk to her as well, if necessary. Although that could hurt us more than help. You never know.” Andrew lifted an eyebrow at Robert. “You seem to know him better than you originally implied. Are you friends?”

Robert smiled mysteriously. “I have sources. I don’t have to be pals with someone to know about them.”

Andrew snickered. “You worry me sometimes, my friend. And you know too much.”

“You know too much about me as well. So we’re even,” Robert added with a laugh.

Andrew’s secretary buzzed in to let him know Nathan was on the line. Andrew thanked her and hit the button for speakerphone. “Nathan?”

“Hello, Andrew, how are things?” Nathan answered, his voice loud over the speaker phone.

“Better for me than for you, I’m afraid,” Andrew replied. “I have you on speaker phone, Nathan. My advisor is here with me. Is that all right?”

“That’s perfectly fine,” Nathan said. “Hello, Robert.”

Robert’s eyebrows lifted as well. Obviously Nathan had his sources as well. “Hello, Nathan. Sorry to be talking to you in these circumstances.”

“Well, a beer after work certainly would have been better.” The three men laughed at Nathan’s joke, easing some of the tension.

“All right, let’s discuss what’s going to happen. I’ve got the news stations breathing down my neck for an official statement, and I’ve got nothing to say.”

“First, a question. How many humans are aware of the Guard’s existence?”

Andrew and Robert exchanged a look. Andrew replied, “Honestly, probably not that many. When weres became public, the city council asked that they remain hidden in this city, not showing their were forms. The leader of the weres at that time agreed it would be safer. The Guard was created to maintain that order.”

“Safer? For whom?” Nathan asked, an edge in his voice.

“I have no idea. I wasn’t even born then, and my parents aren’t from here,” Andrew replied.

“Robert?”

“No idea, man. I’m from the same small town as Andrew. We moved here together for college and never left.”

“I assume you know about Marissa’s involvement?” At the murmurs of assent, Nathan continued. “The official statement needs to include the Guard, what it is, and what has happened. Knowledge is going to be useful in dealing with Marissa.”