“Am I missing something?”
“You cannot possibly believe in that claptrap? They don’t exist Mr Delavega. The vampire equivalent of Santa Claus. They have never been seen. Only a legend that says they exist and how they operate. One that has continued for as long as anyone can remember.”
“You’re the one that has been talking of gods among us.”
“With physical proof all around us right now. Tell me, how did you come to be ‘anointed’ as king? You took it upon yourself to murder your predecessor. No Falcon delivered any consequences for you. Only your orders, am I right? A theoretical slap on the wrist?”
Dante took a minute to think it over and nodded in agreement.
“Wouldn’t you think the awe inspiring, mysterious and deadly vampire overseers would say more than ‘You’re a naughty boy’ or more to do than treating you like a teenager by removing your allowance, as in, access to the vampire fund.”
“My position is under review, as it were.”
Gavin gave another smirk. “Well, once you stop believing in fairy tales and the boogy man, you might turn out a decent contact for us. The Messengers do not hold your fate. Believe it or not, we do.”
“You accuse me of believing in fairy tales yet you are the one talking of prophecies and gods walking among us.”
Gavin popped another almond and smiled. “I see I haven’t convinced you.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“Fair enough. Why don’t you come along to our headquarters for a tour. That way, you can see for yourself. That way, you may assist in furthering our potential partnership.”
Gavin stood, clearly meaning now and wanting an answer. Dante’s first instinct was to say no. There were plenty of other things he should, or could, be doing. But then another thought struck him; it was best to know all he could about these people.
“I would welcome that.”
Chapter Twelve
The Last Place I Thought You’d Be
“Mish?”
“Yah honey. What’s up?”
“I um… I need you to come and get me.”
“Car trouble?”
“No. Um… I’m in jail.”
It was a conversation Michelle never thought she would have with Alex, of all people. But Michelle never, in her wildest dreams, thought to consider the fact that Dominus had made a public display with Alex or that there would be witnesses. Dante had never said anything, so Michelle assumed he didn’t know either. It must’ve been around the time Alex came to her apartment. Until this moment, Michelle had never considered where she had been before then, only afterwards.
She found a parking space quite near the station and walked towards the entrance. How the hell was she going to explain this? How was she going to help Alex? Alex would be so scared and confused. Hell, Michelle was too.
Michelle approached the front counter, so nervous she almost forgot to use the last name Dante had organised for her after her ‘death’. After being missing for so long, in Julian’s clutches, the Police had called off the search. But her case was still open to this day, even after a makeshift funeral organised by her family for some sense of closure. “Hi, my name is Michelle Dav- Delavega. I’m here to talk to Alex Hensley. Or with someone about her?”
“Ah yes, that would be me,” a voice called from behind the wall. A well-groomed, thirty something man gave her a small wave. He wore neat, casual clothes. He didn’t strike her as a stereotypical cop. He disappeared briefly before reappearing through a door to the right of the counter. He walked up and held his hand out. “Solomon Crane. Just in here if you please.”
He opened the door for her and she sat down in an interview room.
“Ok,” he said, pressing play on the recorder. “Miss Delavega, let’s start with the easy ones. You agree you are here today to give evidence in the case of Peggy Deltone against Alexandra Hensley as defence for Miss Hensley?”
“Yes.”
“Very good. Now, you received a phone call from Miss Hensley. Do you know what she has been accused of?
Michelle held in a breath. “Attempted murder.”
“For the record, can you please tell me if you believe she’s innocent of this accusation?”
Michelle let out her breath. “I know she is innocent.”
“Ok. Can you tell me where Alex Hensley was on the night of the twenty-fourth?”
“She was with me. All night.”
Solomon gave a relaxed smile. “Date night?”
“Is that really relevant?”
Solomon’s smile faltered a touch and cleared his throat. “I was simply trying to ascertain whether you went out to dinner. A movie. Something where you could provide a receipt, a credit card transaction.”
“No, sorry. We were in all night.”
“Order in?”
“I cooked her dinner. There might be an empty pasta packet in the bin, but that’s it.”
“Is there anything you can tell me that would verify her not being at the school at the time she was accused of? Anything that proves without doubt she wasn’t there. There were two male witnesses there supposedly. One was described as a young Aboriginal man, the other a Caucasian man with reddish hair. Do you have any ideas as to who they would be?”
Michelle knew exactly who those two were but shook her head all the same.
Solomon made a note. “Now, Alex tells me she has been in hospital recently. She’s been having some memory trouble. I’m sure you can appreciate the fact that having memory trouble at the same time as a serious crime accusation doesn’t look good.”
“Sure, but you don’t have to ask proof from me. You can check with the hospital. It’s all there.”
“I have. But I wanted you to fill in the blanks for me. The hospital confirmed she was there but not why.”
Michelle shifted in her chair.
