The woman angled her brow, deepening the fine lines around her eyes. Her half-smile suggested she’d heard it all before. “A mistake, hmm? You said your last name was Archer?” She glanced at her ledger and ran a wrinkled finger down the list of names. “I’m assuming your father is Thomas Archer? The man caught stealing from Bowen MacKenzie.”
My teeth clenched. “He didn’t steal anything.”
She pursed her lips and folded her hands together. “Because it was a mistake?”
“Yes!”
“How original,” she said dryly. “Have a seat, please. I’ll inform Detective Chambers you’re here.” She pointed toward a line of rigid chairs set against a dark-paneled wall. The first few chairs were occupied, so I walked to the far end and settled in to wait.
As the minutes ticked by, I drew in a slow breath. Any lingering nerves were replaced with a swell of irritation. Thomas was an honest man. He’d never stolen anything in his life, and neither had his business partner Charles Edwin. There had to be a way to prove their innocence. Though, given the skepticism of the clerk, it appeared providing character references wouldn’t be much help.
Minutes stretched into a half-hour as I waited for the detective. The chairs beside me emptied and refilled. My irritation reached a tipping point, and I launched from my seat to pace the room. On my third lap, a bulletin board caught my attention.
The board was covered with sheets of parchment detailing lost items, suspicious circumstances, and a series of wanted posters. But what drew my eye was the drawing of a teenage boy. His unsmiling face and gaunt cheekbones sent a shiver of foreboding down my spine. I tried to shake it. Adults and children vanished all the time in a kingdom as large as this. So many succumbed to the hardships of living on the street or were runaways. Most had no one to report them missing.
There was no sign the boy had been taken, yet his features morphed into a familiar face that pleaded with me to come back for him. The room narrowed, the walls closing in. Waves of dry heat flamed my skin, and the phantom scent of mint filled my nose. Darkness crept into the corners of my vision as Hendrik’s urgent cry echoed in my ears.
Make it stop!
I spun and staggered away from the board, only to collide with an immovable object. Ironlike hands clamped over my shoulders, steadying me from the force of the impact. I tilted my head back, blinking away the swirling darkness.
My gaze connected with a pair of copper-colored eyes flecked with gold. The man had thick strands of dark hair that framed a hawkish nose and chiseled cheekbones. His mouth was firm, deepening into a scowl the longer I stared. And I did stare, shocked to find the panicked flight that possessed my body had faded, and even though his grip held me in place, there was a subtleness making me believe I wasn’t truly trapped. Given the slightest resistance, his hands would drop away, allowing me to escape.
What a strange feeling, to be imprisoned and free at the same time.
It was then I observed the scars. A jagged slash peeked from beneath the strands of hair, running the length of his jaw. It marred the flesh, a juxtaposition to the skin that was so flawless on the other side. Smaller scars crisscrossed the larger one, vanishing beneath the collar of his coat. His fingers stiffened around my shoulders when he realized where my gaze had stalled.
I brought my focus back to his eyes, and he flinched. His arms dropped to his sides, but the heavy sensation of his hands still lingered in the same way the ghost of mint had captured my senses.
“You’re here.” His voice was deep like the low rumble of thunder before a rainstorm.
I frowned and broke his gaze, stepping out of the oddly soothing bubble I’d found myself in. I recognized him as Bowen MacKenzie, the man who’d charged through the crowd earlier and had accused my father of theft. But he spoke as if he knew me, unsurprised Thomas Archer’s daughter stood before him. Almost as if he knew I’d come.
Wariness made me take another step back.Never trust a stranger no matter what your gut tells you.Somehow, I had to convince this man to release my father, and I couldn’t let a few tantalizing moments sway me from my purpose.
“Lord MacKenzie, we weren’t finished with our discussion.” Another man stepped into view. He was the same height as Bowen, with similar broad shoulders, but this man was more refined and had the classically handsome features women usually swooned over.
Assuming the man in front of me was my father’s accuser, that meant the newcomer was likely the detective handling the case. I angled my body away from Bowen and addressed the detective, but I could still feel the weight of his gaze against my back. I may have dismissed him, but he hadn’t dismissed me.
“Detective Chambers? My name is Liana Archer, and I’m here to negotiate the release of my father and his business partner. I understand they were arrested for theft.” I darted a glance at Bowen, cursing the action when our gazes locked and heat climbed to my cheeks. Clearing my throat, I continued. “Neither my father nor Mr. Edwin are thieves. It’s obvious to me there’s been a misunderstanding. I insist you release them while we work through this situation.”
“You insist?” Bowen’s mouth curved into a smirk. “They were caught with a priceless item from my collection inside their carriage. How do you explain it got there, Miss Archer?”
My mouth opened to answer, but nothing came out. The heat from my cheeks sank into my belly from the way he drew out the syllables of my name. It was like warm honey sliding down a knife.
I scrounged around for a reply that would knock some of the smug confidence off his face and give me a fighting chance.
Angling my head back to meet his gaze, I said, “I suspect someone planted it.”
Bowen tensed. Surprise flashed across his features before his eyes narrowed in challenge. “Are you accusing me, Miss Archer? Be careful. Many have lived to regret such an act.”
“Is that a threat?” My hands landed on my hips.
Detective Chambers stepped between us. “Miss Archer, if you would follow me into my office, we can discuss your father’s case further. Under normal circumstances, we would proceed with sentencing, but after a conversation with Lord MacKenzie, he’s willing to drop the charges if reparations are made.”
The detective gestured down the hall, but I refused to move from my spot. They weren’t taking me to some isolated room for more intimidation. I should have seen this coming. Justice wasn’t going to be served or even considered. I’d have to pay our way out of this situation, and depending on how much Bowen wanted, I might need to pawn my lucky blade. I cringed at the thought. A pawn shop wouldn’t give me what it was worth. They never did.
“How much does he want?” Disgust dripped from my tone.
