“I have to call one of the investigating officers.”
“No, you don’t, not until Jennel does the reading.”
Jen was watching them.“What’s going on?”
“There was a series of assaults committed in the ward where Axa was being maintained.She was one of the victims about four years ago.What will connect them is in that bag.”
Amy looked.“The medical bracelet.It was here the whole time?”
“No, it was found in the hallway four years ago.”
Jennel nodded.“I will start with that.”
She nodded.They recorded and laid out the bags and then got to work.
Never watched and listened.She heard what she thought she would hear and what the records at the hospital told her.Volunteers came and went on that ward, usually under supervision.The book that Jennel picked up told a lot of the tale.It was a dark romance and had been read to Axa in a variety of husky voices.It had provided the opportunity he was seeking.
They went through one piece of evidence after another.And when Amy had solemnly sealed and marked the bags, Jennel had thrown up.
Never rubbed her back.“May I go?”
Jennel looked at her with eyes that should not have seen what she had seen.“Yes.You will get him?”
“Oh, yes.I know precisely where he is.This is barely worthy of the title of hunt.”
“Then, please.Get him.”
Amy smiled and said, “Call when you have found him, and the XIA will be there.”
She chuckled.“Thank you.”
Jennel called out, “Good luck!”
Never grabbed her helmet and walked out of the evidence room with long strides.She dropped off her pass and headed out on her motorcycle.The line between her and her target was clear.She just had to snag him, subdue him, and bring him in, then she could go back to Cora and tell her all about it.
Tibalti Reins, bartender at the venue where Axa had fallen, tried to get away, but she used her move to break his limbs, and he screamed on the floor as she interrogated him with a recording device.She shut off his nerve endings to his limbs and said, “There, is that better?Is that how you like them?Limp, broken, unable to feel?”
He looked at her.“I can’t feel my body.”
“Nope.And you just pissed yourself.Shall we continue discussing Axa?You can’t feel your body again until you do.”
Tibalti stared at her and started to talk.Dates, times, other women with dwarf genetics and that alert bracelet.She did the recording on an open line, and sirens approached.
When she concluded getting the information, she reset his bones but left him numb.
She had learned the why, and it was sick.Well, the whole thing was sick.She had heard worse, but not by much.
When the agents arrived, she looked them in the eye.It was Jennel’s speaker.“Oh, night shift.I have been at this longer than I thought.”
Day-ek nodded.“We just got on shift and heard the call, so we knew what we were getting into.Where is he?”
“On the floor.He pissed himself during our talk, and he can’t feel his arms or legs.So, he’s a bit floppy.Grab near the upper arms; the rest of his bones are being held together with magic until after sentencing.”
Day-ek blinked.“Damn, Shaman.You don’t play.”
“Just hunter.Shamans require a tie to the land or clan.You know that, Speaker.”
“Yeah, I also have been dealing with Tam-or blowing up my phone.He wanted to make sure you were treated like a fucking lady.”
