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He nodded. “I want to find the person who killed your niece’s friend and Calli just as much as you do.” It was his job to protect the Society, and whoever was behind these murders was threatening everything.
“Do you believe me that the two deaths are related?”
He hesitated but finally gave a curt nod. Relief filled her eyes and her shoulders sagged slightly.
“Okay then. I’ll let you know if I find out anything.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked. Her eyes were watchful but there was hope in their depths.
Something in his chest twinged. He was, in the end, going to crush that hope but for now, he had to use it. It was his job. The Society had to come first. It didn’t matter how sexy she was, or how smart, or how brave. She was, for all intents and purposes, the enemy at the gate. It was his job to keep her out.
* * *
He was striding across the salon when Payton careened around the corner. She was wearing a pair of light gray sweatpants and a pink crop top. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her hands were shaking. “Do you know what happened to Calli? Am I in danger?”
“Why would you be in danger?” Did she know something?
“I-I… It’s just that we were here doing the same thing and I…I got worried.”
“Did you see anything?” Flynn asked.
She shook her head. “I was in bed sound asleep.”
“Then I think you’re fine. Try to relax. You’ll be able to head home soon.”
She sighed. “Not soon enough.” She gave him a weak smile and then moved around him and continued toward the kitchen.
Flynn watched her go. The poor girl was terrified. This was why the Society running their own girls was a big mistake. He turned and headed for the basement. “You want to tell me what the hell you’re doing? I’ve been covering for you all morning.” Flynn crashed down in the guest chair across from Shah who was hunched over his desk.
Shah looked up. “I’ve been reviewing the video of the library from the time when Astrid went missing and reviewing all the video from last night.”
Flynn rubbed his face. “So? Did you find anything?”
Shah remained silent but tapped on his keyboard. Then turned his laptop around so Flynn could see.
“Hey, Dad?” Donovan walked into the office.
Shah snapped the laptop closed. “What do you need?”
“Uh, I just wanted you to know that I don’t have any classes until this afternoon so I’m going to finish up checking all the outside security cameras like you asked.” Donovan’s face looked a bit swollen and his red-rimmed eyes darted between his father and Flynn.
“You okay?” Flynn asked.
“Allergies,” Donovan said and then sneezed. “Sorry.”
Shah checked his watch. “Just make sure you eat something.”
“Um, I wouldn’t right now,” Flynn offered. “Merritt and Lazlo are in the dining room interviewing members.” He took his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out a few bills. “Why don’t you get pastries from that great place in town, the one on the main drag? Bring some back for your father and me.”
Donovan’s face lit up. “Can I Dad?”
Shah nodded and handed him a small black key fob. “See you in a bit. Don’t eat everything on the way back.”
Donovan grinned and waved then disappeared down the hallway.
“Sorry about that.”
Flynn waved it off and then opened the laptop. He clicked on thePlayarrow and the video began playing. A young girl, all dressed up, walked around the room looking at the books and admiring the shelves. Then she tried the door, and pulled more aggressively a few times, but it didn’t open. She went to the windows and then the screen went black.
