My strange brush with the supernatural world wasn’t over yet. There was a target on my back and dammit… I was the freaking innocent waif after all.
~
Chase
This oppressive silence had to end sometime. If they killed me, at least the suffering ended.
I spoke up. "Uh, are we done here?"
Two unhappy werewolves tried to murder me with their eyes even harder.
"Don’t glare at me! Nobody has spoken for three minutes and 47 seconds."
My bosses speaking to me alone typically involved, you know, speaking. Sometimes yelling. But definitely words.
“We’re trying to fight our better judgement,” Merritt grumbled. “You and Temple are in the best position to handle this since you’re after the Brokers, so we’re letting you proceed. But you’re on thin ice. Why did you go see Milton again?”
“Because I had a feeling something was happening here,” I said, ignoring how I felt like a suspect they were trying to catch in a lie. “And I was right.”
“You were lucky,” Stone said. “Remember what happened last time you ignored your assignment and followed your instincts.”
Damn, how could I forget? Another civilian getting hurt because of my mistakes was the last thing I wanted. Seeing the words hit their mark and left me without a response, Merritt cleared his throat.
“Let’s move onto Vince Bolton, CEO of a pharmaceutical company who claims he’s honestly seeking love and is as shocked and horrified at the thought of selling people as we are.”
He handed me a tablet with the interview Temple just conducted when I brought Bolton in. Were they finished already? I hit play.
“–presented themselves as a legitimate bond making service. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if this is all some kind of misunderstanding.”
Bolton looked out of place with his fancy suit and impeccable grooming in a sterile interview room yet he acted completely at home. Unlike Masterson, I smelled no magic on him but that didn’t necessarily mean he wasn’t a mage.
“The supernatural world seems so amazing. I suppose I’ve been naïve not to think this world has the same problems and corruptions as the rest. On my part, I simply became impatient and decided to meet my betrothed in person to discuss finalizing our arrangement."
“His attorneys broke up the party not long after that.” Merritt took the tablet back and shut off the recording.
"We don’t actually believe him, right?" I asked.
“The Brokers operate under the radar and leave little trace of their presence, and Bolton’s an outsider to the supernatural world and has plausible deniability,” Stone responded. “He alleges his ‘courtship’ here is legitimate. We need more to hold or charge him.”
"He could be our way in,” I said. “Our weak link."
“We have to break him first,” Stone reminded.
"Be careful,” Merritt ordered. “And stay sharp."
"And don’t kiss anyone else." Stone, never one for jokes, seemed serious as always.
"Wait, what?” I looked back and forth between them but neither cracked even the hint of a smile. “What if they’re not involved on a case?"
"No more kissing,” Stone insisted. “You’re banned from kissing until further notice."
"Merritt, seriously? She can’t do that. Right? Come on!"
8.Fox in the Henhouse
Lucas
First a chance meeting with Chase saved my skin. Literally, from being flambeed. And now our paths crossing put me at risk. Was he good luck, a bad omen, or both?
