No no no no no. With dread, I look down, and yep, there’s my body. Visible again. Would it be too much to ask that nobody noticed?
Yes, it would be. Because when I look to Harper and the man behind him, their eyes are already locked on me. Harper’s gone totally still, face wiped blank, but there are fireworks going off in those golden eyes of his. And behind him…
The surprise on Rowan’s face slowly melts away, something keener and more interested taking its place.
“Dodger,” says my former kidnapper. “What a pleasant surprise.”
~
Dodger
Rowan keeps staring at me like he expects me to disappear at any moment. I wish I could. “New evidence,” he says faintly, glancing at Harper. “You weren’t kidding.”
“Not known to be a joker, sir,” the detective answers tightly.
Rowan’s grin is slow. “True, but I expected your proof to be flimsy, circumstantial at best. This?” He laughs, staring at me again. “It doesn’t get more definitive than the supposed victim being alive. Well done clearing Marlow of murder. Not guilty indeed.”
Harper’s jaw clenches. “Yep.”
“You don’t look very pleased.”
“I was just doing my job.”
Staring at Rowan’s smug face makes my skin crawl, but it’s hard to look at the wolf too long. He’s so stiff, and I don’t know what’s going on in his head. Probably a whole lot of swear words and anger, all directed at me.
Rowan turns back to me, all warmth and brightness. “Good to see you, Mr. Williamson.”
My fists clench. It’s a good thing I don’t have coffee or I’d chuck it at him. “That’s not my name.”
“Right, right. Dodger,” he amends with a fond smile. “It suits you. First you slip past our security to get into Brighton, then you vanish without a word.”
“Telling you I’m about to escape ruins the whole part where I getaway from you,”I seethe.
The worst has already happened and I’m visible. Can I get away with punching him now?
The chief laughs, not taking offense in the slightest at the accusation. “From me? You were trespassing, and I was only trying to help. What gave you the idea I was violating your rights?”
I clamp down on the urge to snarl. “From you holding me in the basement of your house.”
“What an imagination. I’m on your side. I take the safety of everyone who crosses our borders very seriously. Hearing about your demise was such a tragedy. I took getting justice for you very seriously, even though you had no business being in ourcity in the first place.” He pauses, darkness seeping into his tone. “And I intended to prosecute the guilty party to the full extent of the law.”
“So kind,” I say, voice edged with sarcasm.
He nods solemnly. “I’m glad that malicious people and their insidious powers didn’t take another life here.”
“Careful who you’re calling malicious.”
“You might not approve of all the choices I’ve made, but I’ve seen what the wrong kind of powers can do in terrible hands.” His solemn, concerned act doesn’t fool me for a second. “I was there during the necromancer attack that took innocent lives and witnessed the destruction myself.”
What? This clusterfuck has a silver lining. I didn’t know he was there before. “You were there? You obviously did it.” Is that even possible? He had to be involved somehow.
Harper steps between us. “No, he didn’t.”
The denial stings. I glance at Harper, hurt flashing in my chest. “You’re taking his side.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Quite right,” Rowan agrees sadly, still playing his part. “I’m only one of several witnesses to that day’s tragic events. Unfortunately, these things happen with dark powers. You know firsthand what rogue necromancers running amok are capable of, don’t you, Detective Harper?”
