First in Melissa F. Olson's gritty urban fantasy series, Nightshades: A Paranormal Thriller is a "fast-paced, action-filled clash between federal agents and vampires" (Christopher Farnsworth, author of The President's Vampire ). Alex McKenna is the new Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Bureau of Paranormal Investigations―the division tasked with investigating crimes involving shades. Or vampires, as they’re more widely known. Children have been going missing, and agents are routinely being slaughtered. It’s up to McKenna, and some unlikely allies, to get to the bottom of the problem, and find the kids before it’s too late. "Melissa F. Olson writes with razorblades made of moonlight, cutting through shadows to share with us the beating heart of her characters and story. My only problem with being immersed in Nightshades is that I had to keep coming up for air. If I could breathe words, they’d be hers." ― Charles de Lint, World Fantasy Award Winner “A page burner that left me wanting to be able to one click that next book! You will not be able to turn away from Nightshades ”! ― Shannon Mayer, USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental series. " Nightshades is a fast-paced, action-filled clash between federal agents and vampires. For anyone looking for a new twist on the old mythology of bloodsucking fiends, Melissa F. Olson knows how to deliver the sharp end of the stake.” ― Christopher Farnsworth, author of The President's Vampire and Killfile " Nightshades is a tautly written paranormal mystery, and Melissa Olson’s bloodsuckers don’t screw around. This is a suspenseful, fast-paced, enjoyable read―a bloody-knuckled X-Files with a dash of Silence of the Lambs , featuring the scariest vampires this side of Peter Watts’ Blindsight ." ―Marko Kloos, author of the Frontlines series Melissa F. Olson is the author of the Scarlett Bernard series of urban fantasy novels for Amazon's 47North and the mystery The Big Keep . She lives in Madison, WI, with her family and two comically oversized dogs. Nightshades By Melissa F. Olson, Lee Harris Tom Doherty Associates Copyright © 2016 Melissa F. Olson All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-7653-8850-6 CHAPTER 1 Washington, D.C. Friday morning "Tell me again why you would ever want to take this job, Special Agent McKenna." Alex squirmed in his seat, unaccustomed to having to sit still for so long. He'd been interviewing for the promotion all day, working his way up the chain to Deputy Director Marcia Harding. "I feel that I'm the best person to implement the FBI's evolving mission in Chicago," he began again. "The operational changes require a dedicated field agent, not just a supervisor —" Harding's eyes narrowed. "Cut the shit, Alex. I didn't ask you what the job requires, I asked you why you want it. Why on earth would you want to transfer into the BPI at this point in your career?" Alex opened his mouth to start again, but before he could speak she added, "And don't tell me what you think I want to hear. I changed your diapers, I can tell if you're lying to me." "Yes, ma'am." Alex took a breath, composing his thoughts. Unlike the last two interviewers, Harding had known him for years. She wasn't about to just hand over the gig, even knowing no one else wanted it. "I don't agree with what the media is suggesting about the BPI," he said carefully. "The director wouldn't have created the division if she didn't think the threat from shades was a serious one. I know that internally we consider the BPI a place to send fu — er, screwups and trainees, but I think this division is going to be as important to the Bureau as Counterterrorism was in the early 2000s, or Cyber in the 2010s." She nodded, the suspicious expression finally beginning to clear up a little. Harding was in her midfifties, a naturally rounded woman with short gray hair and gray eyes that had cut right through Alex since she'd babysat him as a child. The trainees had bestowed the rather obvious nickname of "Bureau Battle-ax." "Go on," she said. Alex leaned forward in the visitor's chair, ticking off points on his fingers. "First off, if I get this job, I'll be the youngest SAC in the BPI. Even my mother wasn't a SAC until her late thirties. Secondly, the shades interest me. You know that I majored in biology; I think the science aspect is fascinating. Finally, if I can straighten out this mess in Chicago, I'll have made my bones in the agency. I'm tired of everyone assuming nepotism got me here." And just a little afraid it's true, he thought, but knew better than to say out loud. Harding cocked a pewter eyebrow. "Ambition? That's your reason? People are dying. Agents are dying, and we're no closer to understanding why the shades have changed their behavior. Surely a promotion can't be worth running straight into a death sentence." "Of course not," Alex said. "But I don't plan to get killed." "Neither did any of the others." She sighed heavily. "Yo