Scrutinized Novels & Stories

Conner scanned through the typed pages, familiarizing himself with the new information. Wielding the remote in one hand and a red felt pen in the other, he replayed the killing of the hooker, studying the action carefully and marking an asterisk next to anything in the report that was matched by what occurred on the screen. Several times he switched the player to slow motion to check details. Then he repeated the whole process with the forensic reports.

I huffed in annoyance. "What, can't you see I'm eating, you standing at my back watching me eat is pissing me off, are you even suppose to be this creepy with customer". He scowled at me before heading back to his counter. Did he just scowl at me, I can't wait to see how he will behave with me tomorrow, his goofy self or this confident side, I doubt the latter.

Two to go. "Ms. Smith." She turned back to Serena. "Is that your only concern?” Serena's eyes darted around the table, looking for support. "Yes. That's my primary concern.” “On the contrary,” Arabella said evenly, meeting Serena’s gaze. “A properly structured internal audit does the exact opposite of what you’re describing.” She turned slightly to the board. "This won't be a witch hunt. The audit will be phased, confidential, and independently supervised." She ticked off points on her fingers.

She stated, setting the timer. I went through and put a check on everything I wanted our little one to have from me and everything I wanted her to get from Jarren. It didn’t take me long since I’d sort of thought about this before. The timer went off, and Aunt Carla went around and picked up everyone’s pens. Her way of making sure no one tried to change their cards when I called out my answers.

Chen's head tilted. The specific tilt of someone listening to something no one else in the room could hear. "Dr. Chen," Nadia said. "Quiet." Not sharp. Concentrated. The scanner was in her hands before I tracked the movement. She ran it once, read the output, ran it again. The second reading produced the same expression as the first—not alarm, not yet. Something prior to alarm. The expression of a person whose data was telling them something their existing assumptions couldn't account for.

The weight of unsaid words and concealed facts hovered in the air like a storm cloud preparing to release its wrath. "Selene," Gabriel repeated, his voice now laced with a combination of skepticism and awareness. "Is it really you?" Selene nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes, Gabriel, it's me. I've spent my whole life hunting for you." A tense hush crept over the area as the pack members, including Isabella, watched the reunion occur. It was a vulnerable moment, one that had the capacity to transform the dynamics of the pack and the fates of those involved.

I forced a smile when I encountered the dark haired man officer behind the glass counter. His eyes scrutinized me as he spoke. “ID and inmate number.” After the call, my mother had sent me a text which contained her ID and inmate number. Retrieving my phone, I called out the required information to the man. “This way please.” I was ushered into a small room where a female officer was conducting a search. I rolled my eyes disappointedly as I stepped into the queue of visitors that were being searched. As the officer gave me a quick pat down, I smiled as I imagined how amazing my content in the prison was going to be.

a male Kea says with a magnified voice from the front of the massive room, and my eyes scan the room in search of a good seating area. When I spot an unoccupied table I head for it with my chin high. I try not to lock eyes with anyone as I pass them. So I don't loose concentration on my steps. As soon as my bottom meets the chair at the table I have chosen, I sigh. Thank goodness I didn't trip.

It's funny, how people can change. Vanessa looked at Kaylee in disgust. Her eyes flickered when she saw Kavinsky, Anna, Harry, an adult, and a young girl approaching them. She looked at Kaylee again. Kaylee did not even take a glance at her for once. 'How rude!', Vanessa thought in annoyance and stomped her feet as she walked away before Kavinsky would meet her there. * * *

I studied each Elder present and really looked at them. They could feel my stare and they knew I was thinking of them and all their faults. All the times I had endured their incompetence and cleaned up their messes. The longer I stared the longer they all started to squirm. Except for Elder Scott. He had said nothing during the outcries of the others in the room.