His Name is Rodger: The Case Files of Abigail Collins, #2

By A.L. Kessler

When a report of a raptor sighting in nearby Mesa City comes in, PIB sends Abby and Nick on the road. They arrive to find someone is using a young boy with life magic for nefarious purposes. They’ll have to move quickly; in this town unfriendly to paranormals, things could quickly take a turn for the worse. 

Note: This short story was originally published in Domesticated Velociraptors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blood & Ink Press
• Release date: Jul 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386796657

Book preview

Author’s Note

This short story was originally published in the Domesticated Velociraptor Anthology published by the Midnight Writers of Colorado Springs. The theme was what if velociraptors were domesticated. This was a fun theme to work into the world of Here Witchy Witchy and with Abby, you never know where magic will lead you. If you enjoy this, please consider picking up the entire anthology.

Nick spun around in his office chair as I stared at my empty e-mail box. Nicolas Avarin had been my partner for almost a year now. It was supposed to be a temporary arrangement, but apparently, the higher ups at the Paranormal Investigation Bureau never got the memo. My phone rang and we both jumped, things had been so quiet lately neither of us expected it.

I snatched up the smartphone and slid the icon to answer the call. Abigail Collins speaking.

Agent Collins, this is Detective Schultz of the Mesa City Police Department. You were recommended as the person to contact for strange cases. Nothing in his voice told me what kind of strange case it might be, but an odd screeching sound came from the background. A noise somewhere near a wildcat mixed with a bird.

I glanced at Nick, and he raised his brow. I shrugged. What can I do for you, Detective?

Detective Mason down there said that you’d be able to handle our delicate situation.

We were getting nowhere. Which is what, Detective?

We have a young boy here who has a pet raptor.

I hesitated for a moment. Did you say ‘raptor’?

Yes, as in a dinosaur. His voice remained even, and that strange screech came again. He says he doesn’t know how he did it, but I thought that you might be able to handle this. He’s a young warlock adopted by humans, so they don’t know what happened either.

My heartstrings tugged. I had only been four when I lost my parents and had been adopted by a vampire. Levi did what he could to raise me, but he was clueless when it came to magic. On the other hand, I was clueless when it came to little kids. I have a partner; he’ll be coming up with me as well. Where should we head?

I’ll book you rooms at the Main Street Hotel. Come off the highway on 4th Street and take a left on Main Street. You can’t miss it. Biggest hotel at the end of the road. I’ll meet you there in say, eight hours?

I glanced at the clock. Mesa City is only a six-hour drive.