Finding The Lost Mystic Islan - Liberty Parker Page 0,2

to keep an eye on her. She’s a seductress seeking out a mate. When she closes the gap between us, I look up and read her name tag. Meadow, beautiful name for a beautiful woman, just not a woman I’m interested in nor attracted to.

“Cal,” she says in greeting as she lifts the pot and pours an ample amount into his already steaming mug.

“Meadow,” he greets her back. “This here’s Trigger. He’s going to be taking over for me. Trigger, this here is Meadow, the best waitress in the country.” He compliments her with words and with a wink of his eye. The young woman blushes as she tilts her head in his direction.

“You sweet talking me, Cal? If so, keep going, I love a good compliment.” She teases him back. “What can I get for you?” She turns herself in my direction as she asks this. “Our house specials are on the back of the menu; Stew makes a mean waffle.”

“I’ll take three waffles, a slab of bacon and a pot of coffee,” I answer.

“Big breakfast for a big man,” she laughs as she writes my order down.

“What can I say? I’m a growing boy.” The laughter that follows her as she goes to give the cook my order is nothing more than friendly. I think my first assumption of her was wrong; she’s more of a friendly, innocent flirt.

The next hour is nothing more than me filling out paperwork and being informed about the inner workings of this island.

Looks like I’m gonna have my hands full here. This isn’t going to be a job where I can sit back and toss my feet up on the desk. This is going to be an all-hands-on-deck situation. I will turn this island back to what it formally was meant for. To protect and cherish the supernatural and all of those who live here, including the innocent children who are currently being searched for.

One

Trigger

In the two weeks since I’ve relocated to Mystic Island and gotten settled in my new home, I’ve come to appreciate the many abilities that other supernaturals possess. Specifically, the team I now lead at the sheriff’s department. While it’s up to each individual to decide who knows what, as the sheriff, I have that information at my fingertips. Knowing, for instance, that Gaia, our dispatcher, has the ability to discern the level of a call, is invaluable. So when my phone rings and I hear her voice on the other end, I immediately sit up from my prone position on the couch and start pulling my boots on.

“What’s going on, Gaia?” I question, nabbing my hat and keys from the table that sits inside my front door. As places to live go, this one is nicer than most if I’m completely honest with myself. The island itself has everything—interior lakes, mountains, and beaches. My log cabin is on the outer edge of one of the mountain ranges with plenty of woods for me to shift and roam whenever I want.

“Sheriff, I took a call a few minutes ago that has the nonexistent hairs on the nape of my neck raised. The caller claims to have seen someone pick up an unknown female and toss them in a vehicle before they took off. The caller gave me a description of the vehicle but couldn’t see the license plate. Also, the unknown individual was wearing all black and had one of those beanie caps on, so they couldn’t give me any details as far as hair color or length.”

“What direction were they moving?” I ask, already in my SUV. “Did you send the patrol officers out?” I’m wondering if I need to have some of my deputies shift to see if they can pick up the scent trail or not.

“Yes, sir, I did. Notty is already there and he said he picked up the scents so he’s tracking them now.” Good. Notty is someone from my past that I immediately brought onboard to work with me. Cal left me with a decent team of men and women so I’m not going to waste time reinventing the wheel per se, but if any of the men I’ve worked with in the past come to me, I’ll definitely add them on. In fact, I have been exchanging messages with a few already.

“Send me the coordinates so I can examine the scene myself.”

“You got it, Sheriff. Gaia over and out.” I chuckle when she disconnects. She’s Fae and so tiny that a