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Pounding footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Petra slid her gaze toward the open door. “And speaking of occupational hazards.”
Dearborn, wearing a tank top, running shorts, and tennis shoes, as if he’d been disturbed mid-run, strode into the room. “What the hell happened in Grant Park? I don’t appreciate hearing about supernatural goddamned drama on the radio. And I certainly do not want to brief the mayor on another disturbance caused by Chicago’s supernaturals.”
Just like with the fairies, Theo looked totally unperturbed. “The fairies appeared via some magical mechanism in Grant Park. They attacked, we defended, and they disappeared.”
“What do you mean, they appeared and disappeared? They can’t suddenly transport themselves with magic.”
“Actually, that’s precisely what it looked like. We don’t know how—this is new behavior for fairies.”
Dearborn cursed under his breath. “And why were they in my park?”
I guessed everyone apparently had a claim on Grant Park these days.
“We don’t know,” Theo said, glancing at Yuen. Theo might have been answering Dearborn’s questions, but I had the sense he was also reporting to the man who did the bulk of the work. “We asked, and they didn’t answer. But they were in formation, had weapons, and tried to claim the park. They had something planned, but we don’t yet know what that is. And we’re lucky thenymphs were there to feel the magic—and that we got there in time, before they did something destructive.”
“‘Lucky,’” Dearborn said, “is the operative word. We can’t afford further destabilization or bad publicity right now, any more than we can afford to deal with speculation about a crisis involving the fairies.”
“It’s not speculation,” Theo said. “The crisis is here. If it wasn’t for me and Elisa, they might have attacked, damaged property—who knows?”
“Are you asking for my thanks?” Dearborn asked. “Because you won’t get it.”
“No, sir,” Theo said. And for the first time, he looked unhappy with his boss. “I’m advising you that they’re preparing for something.”
“And they’ve probably been preparing for something since their interruption at the peace talks,” I added.
His brows lifted. “Their appearance at Grant Park tonight has no obvious connection to the peace talks, and I won’t accept speculation in that regard. They have no bearing on the matter of the death of Tomas Cardona. An arrest has been made in that case.”
“Riley Sixkiller didn’t kill Tomas,” I said. “A fairy did.”
“You have a fairy’s confession?” he asked. “You have direct, forensic evidence tying a fairy to the crime?”
I glanced at Yuen, who shook his head slightly. I guessed he didn’t want to elaborate in front of Dearborn, and reminded myself to follow up later.
“No,” I said.
“Ms. Sullivan,” Dearborn said, rubbing the spot between his eyebrows. “Even assuming your analysis is correct, there is a reason that I am the Ombudsman and you are not. I have the training. I have the resources. I have authority of the city of Chicago. My methods do not damage property. My methods do not sendfairies from their homes. My methods do not end up with fairies in the middle of Grant Park.”
“Neither do mine,” I muttered.
“We have someone in custody. He has motive, opportunity, and means. And there’s physical evidence that links him to the crime.”
“He didn’t do it. And the Pack’s demands that he be released are only going to get louder.”
“The Pack isn’t in charge,” Dearborn shot back.
“No, it isn’t,” I agreed. “But it’s their city, too, and they’re entitled to the same rights as humans. Including being considered innocent until proven guilty.”
“That’s surprisingly naive for a vampire.”
“It’s not naive,” I said. “It’s the ideal. If we don’t live up to it, we’ve failed.”
Dearborn held up a hand. “I don’t have time for this. I’ll need to shower, change, communicate with the mayor, and figure out how to spin this debacle.”
“It’s not a debacle,” I said. “But if we aren’t careful, it’s the beginning of a war.”
His eyes were hard and sharp, his pointing figure accusatory. “That is precisely the kind of hysteria we do not need.” He took a step forward. “If you so much as suggest to the media that a war is at hand, your father and I will have a long talk about Cadogan House’s continued existence in this city.”
My blood began to speed, the monster to stir.
