Sawyer raised his chin. “Tell me what you want with him.”
Ciaran cleared his throat and nodded to the storefront window. “Company incoming.”
Fray and Tobin were coming across the street when Hudson and Beau met them on the footpath just outside the shop. Of course Fray said something that made them laugh.
“It’s stopped raining,” Ciaran said. “How about we get some fresh air. Inspector Hadeom, I think Beau and Hudson wanted to show you the vegetable garden they’ve been working on.”
He gave Ciaran a polite nod. “Of course. They’ve fit in well, I take it.”
“Yeah. Nice guys,” Ciaran said, holding the door for Hadeom to walk out first. He then cut Sawyer a what-the-fuck look as he followed Hadeom out.
Sawyer knew he was being pissy, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. Like yesterday with Cern, which admittedly hadn’t turned out particularly well, and after his little revelation earlier, Sawyer was sure he now owed Cern a better apology.
He sighed and tried to get a better hold of his emotions.
“Nice to see you both again,” Hadeom said to Beau and Hudson.
“Same,” Beau said. “Thanks again for bringing us here.”
“Happy to help,” Hadeom said. Then he nodded at Fray and Tobin. “We meet again.”
Fray grinned at him. “We finally get the chance to thank you personally for bringing Sawyer to us too. It’s been nonstop shits and gigs since he got here.”
“Hey, Fray,” Sawyer said, lifting his middle finger, making Fray laugh.
Ciaran sighed at them both.
Hadeom ignored it all and looked up the street. “Where is everyone else? Kinda quiet, is it not?”
“Kellan took the younger guys to Hobart,” Tobin lied.
“A couple days of nightclubs and bad decisions,” Fray added.
Hadeom’s gaze went to Tobin. “Tobin, yes?”
“The one and only.” Tobin held out his hand again for Hadeom to shake. “Welcome back,” he said. Hadeom shook his hand, the pair of them locking eyes.
Sawyer wanted so badly to know what Tobin was seeing, but then Tobin pulled his hand back, his smile long gone. His nostrils flared, and he swallowed hard, but Hadeom looked like he’d just stumbled upon the holy grail.
Oh no.
Just then, the door to the police station opened, and the four workmen walked out, carrying their steel cases, and without even acknowledging any of them, they headed straight for the chopper.
“Time’s up,” Hadeom said. He gave Sawyer a curt nod. “It’s been... interesting.” Then he walked off toward the helicopter, they all climbed in, and the rotors began to whirr.
“What the fuck?” Fray asked Tobin, sliding his arm around him. “Are you okay? What did you see?”
Tobin shook his head, his gaze darting from Fray to Sawyer to Ciaran. “I think... I think I fucked up. I saw into his mind and he... was looking straight back at me. Like he was prepared this time. He, uh... he saw into my mind. I think... I think I showed him Aurin’s little cave. I didn’t mean to. He asked for Salem.”
“He saw into your mind?” Sawyer asked. “He can do that?”
“He asked for Salem?” Ciaran asked.
Tobin blinked a few times. “It’s like he stood in front of my mind and said, ‘Salem,’ like a command. Like hitting the Search button. I dunno.”
Ciaran growled. “Did he see him?”
“No. No, just the entrance to the little cave. Not where the cave was. Just where Salem was. When I realised what was happening, I broke the connection.” He looked at Fray, upset. “I didn’t mean to give anything away. I was trying to spy on Hadeom, not give away ours.”
