A/N.  Hello my lovelies.  Hope your weekend is going great and you are all safe and well :)

Thanks for all your support, it really does motivate me to keep it up :-)  

I would also ask a favor of you all.  In my quest for world domination (muahahahahah)... I would really appreciate if you recommend either Masked or Buried (or both) to others to get more readers to both books.  Every read and vote counts :)

Take care, and I hope you enjoy the chapter.

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Kaitlyn was humming to the latest Maroon 5 song, when the music dimmed and the distinct sound of a call routed to her car stereo, sang out its own melodious tune.

Glancing at the display on the dash, she smiled as she reached over and pressed the answer button. "Parker, you can't possibly have taken the new ones down already."

A chuckle could be heard from the other end. "I'm good," Parker said, "but not that good. I am actually just giving you a heads up on something we found."

Since the first Werewolf attack video went viral, Kaitlyn had been in regular contact with Parker Johnson, a computer forensic analyst who was currently breaking a number of state, federal, and international laws to bring down all media related to both attacks.

Like Kaitlyn, Parker was human and had been thrust into the Werewolf world a decade before when her cousin was bitten by a Rogue wolf and turned. Over the years, Parker's skills had often been called upon to deal with issues related to the exposure of Werewolves where it threatened to spill into the digital world.

Once the first video had gone viral, Murphy had contacted the Alpha Commander, Daniel Locke to seek Parker's assistance. Kaitlyn had quickly warmed to the efficient and friendly computer hacker. It felt good to talk with someone who had and was still walking the thin line between the two worlds.

"Should I be worried? Kaitlyn asked, immediately becoming serious.

"During our scouting expedition into the Boston Globe's network we discovered that there is a reporter who's been making noises about the wolves in the videos. He's convinced his editors to give him free reign on a story exposing the Boston Wolf Killer's Wolf as genetically enhanced. I just thought you'd better get on top of it before it gets out of control and people actually start listening to him," explained Parker. "I've emailed his details to your personal address."

"Am I ever going to wake up and not have my life complicated further?" Kaitlyn groaned.

Parker chuckled. "Welcome to this side of the veil."

"Is it always this bad?"

"I think that you have just arrived into the fold on a bad day, that's all," said Parker attempting to reassure the FBI Agent.

Parker knew it could not be easy working with Murphy. But she knew Daniel trusted him implicitly. And, had been instrumental in rescuing her from Elise and Matheo. However, she realised the baggage the gruff Werewolf carried around with him was a heavyweight that he needed to be rid of. Unfortunately, his partner had been inadvertently thrown in at the deep end and was valiantly attempting to keep her head above water.

"But does that feeling that you need to filter every word you say go away?" Kaitlyn asked, referring to the precarious conversations in 'mixed company' where she had nearly overstepped and almost come out with something she knew she shouldn't have.

Parker chuckled down the line. "That, I'm afraid, will be a constant. It just becomes easier with time. After a while it it'll be second nature, and how you act, based on which side of the boundary you are walking will not be a problem. You'll also stop second guessing yourself," she added before changing the subject, "so, has Mr Moody forgiven you yet?"

Kaitlyn let out a sigh. Murphy, after receiving a message from his parent, had stormed out of the apartment before she had a chance to respond. Since then, he had retreated behind his impenetrable granite wall. He was back to his formal, limited communicative old self.

Up until that point, they had developed what Kaitlyn had considered an amicable friendship. A strange and tenuous one. But a connection just the same. The past few days with their relationship back to colleagues who just tolerated each other had affected her more than she liked.

Until that disastrous moment, they had evolved into a comforting routine. Each night they would train. After that, they would have dinner and they would either discuss the case or scattered information on their past. At first, conversations with Murphy were hesitant and stilted, as he was reluctant to talk about anything he considered too personal. However, once he had relaxed the communication began to flow and she observed he smiled more frequently.  

She found she had missed his comforting presence. Kaitlyn's hands tensed on the steering wheel as a revelation overcame her. She was aghast to realise that she missed his constant presence. She missed the training. She also missed the dry sense of humour that he had slowly allowed out into the light of day.

Pulling her thoughts to the conversation at hand, she sighed. "No, he's still back to being stoic."

Parker had very astutely guessed that the situation between the FBI agents was strained and had managed to elicit details from Kaitlyn, threatening to deal with Murphy directly, if she didn't comply. Horrified that the other woman would follow through with her challenge, Kaitlyn had finally given in and briefed Parker on the events that led up to their awkward working environment.

"Perhaps you should speak to his Mother and try and get the visit postponed," she suggested.

"I can't do that," blurted an alarmed Kaitlyn, "Molly would be devastated. And I can't really tell her to leave Liam at home." She cringed when she recalled the way in which Murphy had reacted to discovering his Father would be accompanying his Mom to Boston.

"So what are you going to do?" Parker asked gently.

After ending the call, Kaitlyn continued to dwell on the conversation. The situation between her and Murphy was eating away at her and she had no idea on why it had affected her so much.

It was not as though he had stopped all communication with her. If it was related to the case, he was amicable and fully participated in any discussion. But she found the moment she attempted to step over the line he had constructed he retreated even further.

To compound matters, they had been running around in circles with the case. Leaving neither of them in the best of mood in the first place.

Kaitlyn's head was ready to explode. Not only did they have no clue on Elijah's current location. He had gone to ground. No fresh victims of the Boston Wolf Killer had surfaced.

They were still struggling on ascertaining the reason behind the profile of the fifteen deaths they had discovered. One thing was clear. There was a link to organised crime.

The more immediate problem, however, was they had a newly turned wolf that they needed to track down. Since the Freeway Incident there had been no further sightings, but knowing their luck, that could and would change at any given moment.

What was more disturbing was they were faced with the fact that Elijah had deliberately bitten people across three states. This was obviously a ploy to keep them occupied and distracted from discovering his primary goal. How many more would surface to create havoc?

It was this search that was troubling Kaitlyn. She was walking a fragile line between what the FBI though she was working on, in contrast to all the other impending disasters she was juggling.

Doug, still applying pressure on a result, had been breathing down their necks. Making it harder to explain some of their avenues of investigation. To top it off, he was insisting on daily reports as well as ensuring that both Kaitlyn and Murphy keep up with their paperwork. Kaitlyn's paper bin was full to overflowing with screwed up forms which she had half-heartedly completed and failed.

The office was empty when she arrived at work. Kaitlyn knew that Daisy was in court all day and that Tony was interviewing the family of one of the bodies that had finally been identified.

She breathed a sigh of relief. At least she would be undisturbed until Mr Moody arrived. She had just settled in and caught up on her overdue paperwork when the familiar ding of an email arriving in her mailbox rang through the quiet room.

Glancing at the sender, she let out a small cry, "Finally!" She immediately proceeded to open the message and scan through its contents.

As she continued to read through the information attached to it, air of excitement began to grow around her. Kaitlyn's concentration was destroyed when she heard Murphy walk in the door.

His only greeting was a slight nod as he headed towards his desk. Looking closer at her partner, she could see the beginning of fatigue setting in. "Any luck?" she asked as she continued to watch him settle in.

Murphy shook his head without turning around. A terse "No" was the only answer she was given.

"Did you get any sleep?"

Murphy shot her a scowl that told her it was none of her concern.

"You know you can't keep this up," she vented with annoyance, "even Immigrants need sleep. You'll be no good to anyone."

Murphy continued to evade her interrogation. Choosing instead, to fire up his computer.

"Fine, ignore me all you want," she muttered in frustration. "While you have been out all night galivanting around the city searching for Elijah and the Freeway Wolf, some of us have been actually trying to help your sorry ass."

Kaitlyn paused before continuing, knowing that she finally had his attention. "I think I have found a way to narrow down our search for the new Werewolf."

Murphy swung his chair around and stared at her without speaking.

Unperturbed at his steady, unyielding gaze she elaborated. "Well, you mentioned that Elijah's Wolf would have had to make sure that the bite was deep enough to cut through the skin and transfer the right amount of saliva into the bloodstream?"

Becoming more animated, Kaitlyn continued. "With the way Massachusetts laws are with animal attacks, we are more likely to seek medical treatment than any other state. I contacted the Department of Public Health to get some information on reported attacks in the past four months."

"And?" Murphy prompted after it looked like she wasn't going to say anything further.

She grimaced. "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?"

Kaitlyn noticed the slight tightening of his jaw. Indicating that he wasn't in the mood for lengthy discussions right now.

"We are grumpy this morning," she threw at him before briefing him with the remainder of the information she had just received. "We have over two thousand people who sought medical attention after an animal bite during that time."

"Was that the good news or the bad news?" he remarked dryly.

Kaitlyn hid a smile. At least he hasn't lost his sense of humour, "They've given me enough information here to narrow it down further. I think we can safely assume that children and the elderly can be discounted," she said as she began to filter the list. Thinking through other possible exclusions she again reached for her mouse, "We can also exclude the attacks from an animal that was known to the victim."

Kaitlyn sat back to review the results. "Which leaves us with...." Kaitlyn frowned.

She looked up at Murphy. "Nearly two hundred and fifty names."

Kaitlyn could see he was running scenarios and possible outcomes. "Is there a way to cross-check that list with anyone involved in the freeway accident?" Murphy finally asked.

She considered how to go about the task before replying. "I would need to run the names through the DMV database and then against the list of vehicles involved that night, but it should be possible."

"What are you waiting for then?" Murphy asked in exasperation when she failed to move.

Kaitlyn rolled her eyes and poked her tongue out at his turned back, muttering, "Didn't we get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Oh wait – that's right – we're attempting the world record in sleep deprivation," before attempting to generate the list of names for uploading into the system

"I heard that."

Kaitlyn had just kicked off the search when her phone rang. She picked it up without looking who the caller was and immediately regretted it. After what seemed forever, she finally managed to escape from the conversation. Informing the person at the other end, in the nicest possible way to next time email the details through. Or better yet - Phone Detective Garcia.

"That was twenty minutes I will never get back," Kaitlyn grumbled as she put down the phone. "That was the ME's office. We have an I.D. on another of the victims the Governors grandson stumbled on. They have already notified the family and they know that someone will be coming to see them."

"What are you doing?" Murphy asked after watching Kaitlyn ruffling around Antonio's desk.

"I need to get into Boston PD's system and I can't wait for Tony to return. I'm looking for his data encryption key," she explained.

Picking up both keys she turned them over. "That's odd," she mumbled. The two keys were identical and were standard issue. They provided a rotating unique number that allowed users, not directly connected to the police network, access to the systems after being challenged for the key displayed on the small device.

A handwritten sticker was attached to the bottom of each key. One clearly labelled with the Detective's name. The other had the name - J. Smith printed in small but legible writing.

Why does he have someone else's key?

Making a mental note to worry about it later, Kaitlyn placed it back where she found it and continued with her original purpose.

"I need to borrow your laptop," Kaitlyn said as she attempted to shoo Murphy away from his desk. Seeing his confused expression, she quickly explained. "I'm already running a search and it could take forever. I need another workstation."

Instead of moving away to give her enough space to work, Murphy turned the device so that she could access it. However, to do so she would have to almost be sitting on his lap.

Throwing him an exasperated look, Kaitlyn wheeled a chair as close as she could get it, and took a seat. A defiant look upon her face, expressing her displeasure at his tactics.

Bringing up a browser, she accessed the required system, retrieved the file logged by the ME's office and began to scan through it. "According to this, our Vic was a Desmond Crispin; thirty-eight; divorced; and owned a laundrette with his estranged wife-" Kaitlyn let out a tiny snort to keep from laughing. "Get this, Desmond was married to Desdemona. No wonder the marriage didn't last," she said as she accessed another area of the database.

Kaitlyn entered the victim's details to ascertain if he had any convictions or arrests.

"What about if he is a known associate, or goes under an alias?" Murphy suggested after seeing that there was no match.

Attempting to put some distance between them, Kaitlyn pulled the keyboard further away to give her some personal space.

She was shaking her head a few minutes later when nothing was returned. A thought struck her and she brought up a new search. This time, bringing up the ex-Wife's information.

A jubilant smile erupted a moment later when, instead of the usual no match, the screen blinked, letting them know something had been found. "Bingo," she said as she read the details aloud, "Mrs Crispin is suspected of money laundering, but there has never been enough evidence to even approach her. According to this, the ex-husband is a silent partner but has no dealings with the business."

"This may be the break we have been waiting for," Kaitlyn declared as she stood up, attempting to put some distance between them, "Let's go talk to her."

Kaitlyn's temper began to grow and simmer as they made their way across the city. Attempting to make conversation, and being given curt icy reply's, only exacerbated her mood and she was ready to pull her gun out and shoot the frustrating Werewolf.

It was like a rubber band had been snapped, and Kaitlyn could no longer hold back her frustration with the man. "I get it, you're pissed at me," she unleashed, "you think I have interfered, and that it's none of my business."

Not stopping to check if Murphy was listening, she continued to express her bottled up anger at the Werewolf. "But you can't go on like this and keep shutting me out. We are supposed to be partners and have each other's backs," Kaitlyn harrumphed, sat back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest. "But it's becoming rather difficult if my partner won't even speak to me."

The interior of the vehicle became deathly silent as the moments ticked by. Kaitlyn, not expecting a reply, was startled when Murphy eventually responded to her outburst by saying, "I don't want to talk about it."

"Stop being such a big baby!" Kaitlyn exclaimed, "And get over yourself."

She could hear a low growl from the back of his throat. "And what's more, you can stop with that as well. It doesn't scare me," she snapped at him.

Murphy was saved from having to reply by their arrival at the Crispin Laundromat. The strain between him and Kaitlyn was unsettling. Both to him and his Wolf - who was less than pleased he had refused to deal with what he saw as another betrayal. And, instead chose to hide behind the barrier he had erected. For some reason, his wolf was taking Kaitlyn's side.

Murphy knew Kaitlyn was correct in her accusation. He had been acting in a childish manner. But the overwhelming feeling that one more person he trusted had betrayed him was almost too much to bare. And he reacted in the same defensive behaviour he had become accustomed to – retreat so that they had no power to hurt him yet again.

Pushing the emotions that he had spent decade's suppressing, back down into the depths of his soul, Murphy cleared his mind and focused on the task ahead.

Mrs Desdemona Crispin, and how she fit into Elijah's plans.

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A/N. ... I knew her temper would get the better of her and she would not be able to keep quiet.

... and it looks like she gets on with Parker... who would have guessed ;-)

... at least we know now why Murphy is not happy.. he is looking at the situation as another betrayal.. he definitely needs to get over it.. what do you think ??

Take care and don't forget to vote and recommend this story and Masked to a friend :-)

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