“Why Marty?”
“I didn’t do it. You have to believe me. I might be many things. I’ve killed before, but I’d never do this.”
“Miles said your magic was uncontrollable. We all thought he was wrong. But he wasn’t, was he?”
“I didn’t do this. You have to stop them. The cult is still out there and they have blood magic. And the Rare Herbs and Medicinals Company is in cahoots with them.”
“A lot of people have blood magic. And you’re accusing both the Institute of Reawakening and the Rare Herbs and Medicinals company of doing this?”
“Not like this. Please, I’ll never ask anything of you again and will never bother you. Just look into them. Or, ask Miles to send in a squad of enforcers. At the Institute, they take blood from their disciples every day. Mine was taken as well. They are working with the Rare Herbs and Medicinals Company to make edible incense. This stuff is bad. It does something to your blood and is highly addictive. That’s why Xavier’s blood donors tasted bad. It was the herbs contaminating their blood.”
I was rambling and probably made no sense to him.
“You’re unbelievable. You aren’t even sorry. I never thought I’d be drawn to a monster. It says something about me that I was.”
Our time was up and he didn’t spare me another look. He left and I didn’t even bother to stop my tears from falling. Let the guards and whoever else was watching me see and hear me cry. They already thought the worst of me.
Time dragged on. I was brought tasteless food three times a day by the prison guards. No one spoke to me and they never let me near anyone, not even the prisoners.
On the fifth day, Miles came to see me.
“I heard what you said to Lochlan. We sent enforcers to the Institute. It was empty. There wasn’t so much a speck of dust in that place. It’s a sudden move given the timing and your accusation. The Rare Herbs and Medicinals Company let us search their building and we found nothing. Not the incense or even herbs you described. There is no apparent connection to the followers of The True One. And, while I’d like to say that indicates your guilt, something about the sudden mass evacuation is suspicious. However, all evidence points to you.”
“You investigated what I said? Does this mean you believe me?”
“I’m not sure what to believe. For now, the safest place for you is here. Someone leaked to the press that you were to blame for the blast. The citizens are braying for your execution. I’ve stalled them until I can finish the investigation. I make no promises that I’ll find anything other than confirmation of your guilt. I don’t think I need to tell you that it doesn’t look good for you.”
“Thank you.”
He walked off, shaking his head in disgust.
34
The concrete floor didn’t muffle the approaching footsteps or perhaps I was hyper sensitive to my surroundings. So far, I hadn’t been given a cell mate, but I wasn’t naïve enough to think that wouldn’t change. And once my future cell mate found out I was the one responsible for the devastation of Germanna, then my life would be forfeit.
“What do you want now? Do you enjoy seeing me like this?” I asked Miles.
“I’m sure you think that is the case. I don’t take any pleasure or enjoyment from your imprisonment. It’s the outcome of what I’ve feared all along.”
I needed to ask him the questions I’d been dreading to speak, but I was scared to hear the answers.
“How bad is the damage? How many were killed?”
“They are still pulling bodies out.”
I swore.
“Yeah, that’s how most of us feel.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
“If you insist. We lost 589 people, another 430 are missing.”
Tears spilled down my face. That was because of me – all of those deaths.
“You didn’t mention injured. How many?”
“So far, over a thousand. We lost most of the Mid Line and part of Uptown. It could have been far worse had you not sent your devil dog.”
“Are you done?”
“No, I’m not. I have a deal for you.”
“I don’t want to hear it. I’m right where I belong. Those people would still be alive if not for me.”
“Are you done with your pity party. I’m going to offer you a chance at redemption.”
“Oh? Are you now a god? Did you gain the ability to time travel or bring back the dead?.”
“I have a case for you. If you agree to take it on, then you will be in the company of a trusted agent. Your freedom is dependent on solving the case.”
“You’re joking?”
“Actually, he’s not. I demanded your assistance,” said Julia Huntington.
I hadn’t noticed her arrival until she was right in front of my cell, but she wasn’t alone. Seeing her was like rubbing salt on a wound. I ignored her comment and planned on giving her the silent treatment until I saw who was with her.
“Frank! You brought him?”
“Of course I did. One doesn’t enter a den of criminals without protection.”
The bone man was silent at her side, but he did spare me a glance and even nodded his head at me. That was a positive and cheery greeting from a creature like a bone man, but Frank was more than that to me. I had grown fond of him after our adventure together in the Nether Realm. He’d saved my life and I’d saved his in return. I owed him a life debt.
All three stared at me, waiting and I realized that I hadn’t responded to Julia.
“Why me Julia?”
“Because you are the only one who can help.”
The End
Read on for a sneak peak of the third book in the Croft and Sterling Paranormal PI Agency series – Magic Wants
It was a sick
