Bat and the BoneA FUC Academy Story
Alexa Gregory
Copyright © 2020, Alexa Gregory
Cover Art © 2020, Dreams2Media
Produced in Canada
An EveL Worlds Production : www.worlds.EveLanglais.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This story is a work of fiction and the characters, events and dialogue found within the story are of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, either living or deceased, is completely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to digital copying, file sharing, audio recording, email and printing without permission in writing from the author.
Contents
Foreword
Introduction
Acknowledgments
1. Mila
2. Mila
3. T-Bone
4. T-Bone
5. Mila
6. Mila
7. Mila
8. T-Bone
9. T-Bone
10. T-Bone
11. Mila
12. Mila
13. T-Bone
14. T-Bone
15. Mila
16. Mila
Epilogue
About the Author
Foreword
A note from Eve Langlais…
Hello reader,
And welcome to the newest addition to the FUC family. Bat and the Bone is the third book in the Furry United Coalition Newbie Academy world, and written by one of my local friends, Alexa Gregory. She’s new to the writing world, but off like a rocket. I’m thrilled that she made some time to bring one of her trademark bat shifters over to FUCN’A. I’m even more thrilled that she made Mila a bone expert who is dealing with a serial killer mother! EEK.
I hope you enjoy this story from our self-proclaimed “blond Morticia Adams,” Alexa Gregory!
- Eve
Introduction
This bat likes a good bone…
Mila Starling is a forensic anthropologist who studies bones. And as a vampire bat, she loves her steak raw but her Highland cattle shifter detectives hot.
The last thing that Mila ever expected was for The Bloody Doctor to escape prison after nearly two decades of incarceration. But Detective T-Bone, a tall wall of muscular man cake, drops the bomb that the notorious serial killer is on the loose. He’s come to enlist Mila’s help due to her encyclopedic knowledge of the notorious serial killer’s crimes.
Too bad he didn’t realize that Mila’s obsession with the atrocities was the daughter trying to make up for the sins of the mother. That’s right. T-Bone’s new partner is the murderer’s daughter. But Mila is adamant that her link to the Bloody Doctor won’t stop her from bringing her mother to justice. They head out on the road, hoping to catch their mark before more bodies pile up. Their mission brings them to the Bloody Doctor’s jail cell where the proof is in the blood.
Does this premise and world seem familiar? That’s because it is based off the Eve Langlais Furry United Coalition. Eve Langlais has invited her author friends to come and play in her world. To find out more, visit Worlds.EveLanglais.com.
Acknowledgments
Mr. Fire, my wonderful husband has to be the first person I thank because there is no way I could do this without him. I walk around the house talking about all of my imaginary friends and start dinner conversations with, “hey, do you think *location* would be a good place to hide a dead body?” Yup, even in crowded restaurants. Also, thanks for letting me steal your love of cargo pants. I still say they should be burned. ;) Love you forever and always.
A huge thanks to Eve for letting me play in her awesome world. I had a lot of fun with the FUC agents. You’re a total badass and an inspiration.
Another huge thanks goes to Jessica Ripley. Witchy Yoda extraordinaire, thanks for answering all of my million questions and for not murdering me every time I have a very predictable meltdown about a book.
And last, but certainly not least - a profound thank you to you, dear reader. I hope you enjoyed Mila and T-Bone’s story.
1
Mila
"I'm really sorry for everything you've been through. I swear I will get you the justice you deserve. That's a Mila Starling guarantee."
I look down at the pile of bones on my glittering metal worktable and give the remains a comforting smile.
It appeases me to talk to my work like this.
Not that I ever expect a response from a cadaver. Not in the conventional way. Whatever I hear from the osseous matter comes strictly from the things I can decipher. Age, sex, any signs of trauma. That kind of thing.
It would probably make my life a hell of a lot easier if the bones did start talking to me. Alas, I have to rely on science.
That's better, anyway. People lie. Science doesn't.
The remains currently on my table have seen better days. Judging by the fractured disks, the neck was snapped. I search my brain for the obvious joke there, but nothing comes to mind. There are gouges and grooves along the humerus. It must have been anything but humorous to have those wounds inflicted.
That's the thing about working with dead bodies all day long. I love my work, but things tend to get a little dark in my brain. Making jokes, no matter how inappropriate they are, helps to lighten my mood. Not that I would ever share these quips out loud. I'm not a monster.
I'm a forensic anthropologist.
Some might say that’s kind of the same thing, but they would be wrong.
I make all the necessary annotations about the state of the bones, documenting every unnatural indent in them. This is meticulous work, and it's easy to get completely engrossed in what I'm doing. I let the thundering booms of the music soothe me, and I bring the volume up a couple of notches. I'm not even concerned about disturbing anybody. The entire wing of this sub-basement floor is mine.
From my lab to my archives to the classroom across the hall and the airlock tombs where we keep the bones of unsolved murders, this kingdom is mine. At least, it is while I teach at the Furry United Coalition Newbie Academy.
I flip up the lens of my magnifying glasses to look at the clock. It's not even midnight. Good.
That means I have plenty
