1
Tiger's Eye Investigations
Memo to File
From: Jack Shepherd
It has been subtly (ha!) hinted—yes, I heard you, Tess—that, as the principal of Tiger's Eye Investigations, I should participate in writing my "own darn case reports."
So, from here on out, I will include my viewpoint on the events that occur in each case.
Reluctantly.
(Tigers hate typing.)
Jack
2
Tess
"We really don't need to make a big deal out of my birthday," I lied, raising my voice to be sure Jack heard me, since I was currently hanging upside down inside the well in his backyard, taking cell phone pictures of some strange markings on the ancient bricks that lined it. It was a chilly November day here in central Florida, so at least I was out of the wind, but still.
Upside down in a well.
When I'd protested this whole plan, he'd pointed out thatIwouldn't be able to holdhimupside down by the ankles, which was a valid point, since he was much heavier than me, and I was a mostly human pawnshop owner and he was a tiger shapeshifter, currently in human form but still with supernatural strength.
"Of course we do, Tess. It's your birthday," he called down, continuing the conversation we'd begun when I'd driven over to his place with two dozen donuts an hour earlier. Sunday was my day off, and after church, I'd thought I'd do a nice deed. Next time, I'd just go home and take a nap. "Are you done yet? I'm hungry. Hurry up, so we can go get lunch."
"Hey! You're the one who wanted these pictures. And you just ate twenty-one donuts!" Stupid tiger metabolism. Sadly, the other three weren't enjoying being upside down in my stomach. Maybe I should have stopped with two, but I'd barely snagged the last pumpkin-spiced donut before Jack got it and hadn't been about to relinquish my claim. November was prime pumpkin spice time in Dead End.
I quickly took several photos—some with flash and some without—of the markings, which looked like runes or hieroglyphs. How he'd noticed them in the first place, I didn't know. Tigers loved water and swimming, but I doubted that included hopping in the well.
"I got them. Pull me up."
He did, but shifter strength meant I came flying up and out of the well, only to be caught in a pair of very muscular arms.
I made an "oof" sound, and gorgeous green eyes laughed down at me.
"How are you so beautiful, even upside down?" he asked, not waiting for an answer before he kissed me.
I was still getting used to the idea of being in a relationship, but the kissing part I really loved. Being able to touch him and not worry about seeing how he'd die—I'd already seen his first death—was a gift. The kissing itself was amazing.
Toe-tinglingly, brain-meltingly amazing.
Just when we got to themmmpart, where thoughts of finally doing more than kissing started floating through my mind, his phone started buzzing.
I sighed, and Jack groaned.
"You should answer that," I said, stepping back and pulling my long red hair out of the bun I'd wrapped it up into when it had become clear that I was going down the well. Jack watched, all of his attention suddenly intensely focused on what I was doing.
"Jack?"
"What?"
"Shouldn't you answer your phone?"
"Huh?" He reached out and pulled a strand of my hair through his fingers, a faint amber glow touching his eyes. "I really love your hair."
