Dodger clears his throat and looks at the detective for a single second. Then he focuses on Adelaide and Cierra and seems to ignore the other wolf entirely, deciding it’s easier to share this story with the wolves he already knows. Guess the detective makes him nervous. Honestly, I get that.
“Uh, sure. Strange things have happened my whole life. Seeing people who weren’t there, seeing monsters. It turns out I’m a necromancer. I call to beings from beyond this world and see things others can’t.” For some reason, he goes red again and glances at the detective. Then he shakes his head and keeps going. “When I came to Brighton, I was supposed to meet with someone who could teach me.” His face darkens, a bitter laugh escaping his throat. “But he was more interested in using me. He wouldn’t let me go. And getting help wasn’t possible since…” Dodger shoots a nervous glance at the detective. “Since he’s the police chief.”
A muscle in the detective’s jaw twitches while he tightly grips the armrest of his chair hard enough that the leather audibly protests but otherwise he contains his reaction and manages not to object.
“I was desperate and decided to fake my death,” he continues. “So, uh, I set it all up and opened a passage.” He looks at Marlow, his face twisted with guilt. “Nobody was supposed to take the blame. I wanted it to look like I summoned something I couldn’t handle, an accident caused by a baby necromancer biting off more than he can chew."
Marlow stumbled on the crime scene he invented before the cops, and they reached a different conclusion instead.
Dodger keeps looking at Marlow with the most pitiful expression. Marlow kicks his leg out in Dodger’s direction. “Hey, it’s cool. Accidents happen. You picked a neat place to hide. I particularly enjoy—” A growl fills the air. “—the scenery? You know, the trees, bushes, and assorted benches? Some really great benches in Concordia.”
He was going to say something about me until Adelaide growled. We’re on the opposite end of the couch from Dodger, both of us twisted toward the necromancer, and Marlow has an arm around me while I’m leaning against his side. When I glance at my cousin, she’s trying to burn a hole through Marlow’s forehead with the force of her stare, apparently not liking how cozy we are. I wave my hand in her direction, roll my eyes, and she finally knocks it off.
“And how did you end up with the Iron Pack?” the detective questions Dodger.
“A city of witches seemed like the best place to find other necromancers.”
Huh. Necromancy is considered a form of witchcraft, but I can’t say I’ve ever come across any covens catering to Dodger’s talents or even met one necromancer, not until now. Maybe Concordia isn’t as accepting as I thought.
"I couldn’t find anything useful for my powers, but I found the Iron Pack.” Dodger looks at the Alphas fondly. “With thegiant wall and werewolves patrolling the territory, I liked it here. It felt safe. I asked them for shelter.”
Makes sense. I've seen Adelaide and Cierra make grown men cry before. In terms of protection, it's hard to get more muscle than them. The more surprising part is whatever led them to agree. They aren’t the most nurturing or compassionate wolves, especially to a stranger.
Now all eyes turn to Adelaide. "Dodger needed a place to hide and we have no allies with his particular skills. It seemed like a beneficial alliance for everyone. He was running from someone in Brighton and then a wanted murderer from Brighton showed up. I knew he must be after Dodger."
Well, she was right about that. Marlow was after Dodger, just not to hurt the man. He thought he was tracking the killer.
"Handing over Maddox quickly was the best option. It showed we were cooperating and was supposed to get rid of the extra attention." She scowls. "Then you escaped."
"And suddenly I was poking around in your business," the detective concludes. "Did you miss how the man Marlow was accused of killing shared the same name as the guy you were harboring?"
"She didn't know," the man in question speaks up. Guess he’s gotten over his nerves because he stares down the detective defiantly. "It never occurred to me to tell her my real name. Yeah, it’s on the license I left for the cops to find, but I’ve gone by Dodger since I was a kid. I knew Adelaide was dealing with some crisis, but she didn't share the details. If I’d known someone was accused of killing me, I would have come forward sooner."
Harper thinks for a minute, then heaves a weary sigh. “I don't suppose you're willing to walk into the police station in Brighton and clear up the reports of your untimely demise?"
"Absolutely not!" Adelaide objects.
"Why would he go back after getting away?" Cierra grumbles.
Harper holds up a hand to stop the protests. "That's what I thought." He turns to Marlow. "And you—"
"I'm free to go with your sincerest apologies?" the demon guesses.
"Not quite that simple." Harper’s face is normally so blank but now it darkens as he thinks it over. The victim is alive and well. The man hunting for his killer now knows Marlow is innocent. But Dodger isn’t about to go back with Harper. And if Harper reveals too much to his bosses, he’d be putting Dodger’s life in jeopardy.
"You're free." The detective sighs. "Looks like I've got a mess on my hands."
We discuss things for a bit longer and the detective has more questions for Marlow and Dodger, though for the most part things are settled.
As the three of them talk, I get a moment alone with my cousin. We stand together in the living room entryway.
"Sorry about this mess," I tell Adelaide. "The last thing I wanted was to make things more difficult for you."
She sniffs, shaking her head. "You were doing the right thing. That's obvious now."
"So were you, protecting Dodger." I feel guilty for not giving her more credit. “I’m sorry I… should have known better than to doubt you.”
"A fight is no fun if it isn't fair," she says. "Picking on those who are weaker doesn’t make you any stronger."
