He shook his head firmly and backed away, the crowd swallowing him up. I resisted the urge to follow, knowing he needed a moment alone. Guests looked my way, and I smiled, feeling my lips strain at the corners. Drifting toward the edge of the room, I watched as Olivia rejoined the receiving line. My chest ached. I pressed the heel of my hand against my collarbone to relieve the pressure. I was right about one thing: Derrick might seem impenetrable on the outside, but inside, he was wracked with guilt over the murders.
It went deeper than that though, I was sure of it. There was fear in his eyes. What if he couldn’t stop it from happening again? What if the cases went unsolved? It was humbling to think similar what-if questions plagued my mind. What if I lost everything? What if I ruined my mother’s legacy? Derrick and I weren’t that different.
I scanned the crowd, standing on my toes to locate him.
“Looking for someone?”
Whirling around, my lips parted in shock to find Argus grinning down at me like a predatory hawk spotting a mouse. His hair had been slicked back, away from his face, and his jaw was clean-shaven. He blended in among the rich guests, dressed in a formal black suit, white shirt, and starched collar. Only I knew he was a wolf in the henhouse.
“What are you doing here?” I dragged him into an alcove. “Are you following me? You said I have until the end of the month.”
Argus tapped his knuckle under my chin, making me snarl. “Witch, not everything is about you. You forget, I’m a man of means.”
“Ill-gotten means.”
He shrugged. “Gold is gold where these people are concerned. How I came by it makes no difference. Besides, some of my fortune is legit. I’m sure I found a copper in the street once.” He winked.
“Why are you here? You can’t be seen with me.”
Argus gave me a mock pout. “Why? You don’t want your illustrious detective to know you associate with a man of my reputation? Will he be disappointed?”
“Yes,” I grated.
“Well, we wouldn’t want that. I’m escorting my half-sister, Adella Lennox. Even a businessman such as myself has a family, and my family happens to be old money. I don’t need to tell you how money opens doors, do I?” He smirked. “Hmm…maybe I do, considering you don’t have any.”
“And whose fault is that?” My fingers tightened into fists.
He laughed. “Not mine.”
“What do you want?”
Argus lounged against the wall, folding his arms over his chest. “You amuse me, witch. It hasn’t escaped my notice that you’ve been helping the detective.”
“Not much would escape your notice since you have your men following me.”
He tilted his head and cocked a brow. “You noticed?”
“They’re not subtle.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t pay them to be. Let me guess, since you’re not helping the detective out of the goodness of your witchy little heart, you must be trying to collect the reward money?”
“That’s not your concern.”
“It is my concern when you and I are looking for the same person. Ironhazel.”
I froze. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t be coy, it doesn’t suit you. You’re searching for Ironhazel, and I want you to share any information you discover with me.”
“Did you trip down the palace steps and hit your head? Why would I do that?”
“Simple. If you don’t, I’ll let Detective Chambers know about our involvement. What will he do when he learns you’re indebted to a gangster and only after the reward money? How about when I tell him you’ve been working for me this whole time?”
“That’s a lie!”
“Only if you make it one.”
My palms grew damp, panic making my head spin. “So, this is blackmail? Why are you searching for Ironhazel?”
