Page 73 of Captured By Chaos


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“Most of them do,” I informed him. “Although my boys over here are technically still working on this hostage case we handled a week ago.”

“Ah, heard about that.” Ollie nodded. “A few strung Shrivs attacked a tavern?”

“Yeah that’s it. Seems like an open and shut case except for…”

“We’re still trying to figure out those blasted words,” Taylor mumbled into his glass, before downing the rest of his whiskey.

Lucas leaned back, his fingers tapping against his own glass. “We’re convinced they mean something, but until we can find someone to translate them, all signs point to their acts being nothing more than a drugged bender gone wrong.”

My fingers drew circles along the rim of my glass. “Did you ask Emric if he knew anyone?”

Taylor nodded. “Waiting to hear back still from a few linguists at some of the other universities.”

“What do you need translated?” Ollie asked.

“Chu Fui na Déithe,”Lucas sighed. “We assume it’s Ancient Kazalonian.”

“It is,” Ollie said. “Means, ‘For the Blood of the Gods.’”

All of us froze, staring at him with wide eyes.

“How do you know that?” I demanded.

He shrugged, his expression puzzled, shoulder still slumped against the chair nonchalantly. “We had a robbery and murder case about two years back at a jewelry store. The robber had written it across the walls in the owner’s blood. Took us a while to get it translated, too, it’s not known by many.”

“But it’s still found its way into two cases in two different territories?” My mind stuck to that question. It couldn’t be a coincidence.

“I suppose…” He trailed off, eyebrows crinkling as he stared at me.

“Kas…” Eden leaned forward. “What are you thinking?”

“Shh.” I held up my hand, cutting everyone off so I could think; then I closed my eyes, trying my best to picture the details of the Elliot case board.

For months, I had been telling myself that I needed to listen to my instincts more and stop second guessing; so that was what I did, I focused in on the path he had taken over the years, his movements between the territories and where his hits had been.

Elliot was tracked in Vapalles seven years ago, killing thirteen people over an eight-month period before disappearing for a year.

This robbery had happened two years ago.

“Have you had any other cases besides the robbery that had those words in it?” I asked Ollie.

“Uh…I don’t think so, not based on any of the research I did during the investigation.”

“That’s it.” My eyes shot open, my heart pounding.

It was all too coincidental; it was all too perfectly timed. Nothing was ever this easy. Which could only mean…

“Move.” I pushed Ollie’s shoulder, trying to get him out of the booth so I could escape.

“Ow!” he chided, even though my little push barely hurt him.

“Move! I need to call someone!”

“Alright, alright. Calm down.” He shook his head, standing up and clearing the path for me to dart out of the booth and through the crowd.

I rushed out the door without another word, my mind racing. I had to let Nolan know my theory, let him know that we might just be one step closer to figuring out Elliot’s identity.

The outside was still rowdy with people, crossing by in drunken hazes from one tavern to the next, laughing boisterously. I needed somewhere quiet, so I rounded a corner, cutting down an alley off to the left of the tavern, the noise dissipating slightly. I struggled to get my Comms out of my pocket, fingers shaking as I typed in Nolan’s name. I was so wrapped up in the building pressure of excitement in my chest, I was barely paying attention to what was around me.

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