Total pages in book: 207
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
"Follow me," her boss said curtly.
Every AGNEX station was built to equip trappers with a particular service or supply, and since Zari had never been to Station 4, she hadn't known what to expect until they were at the back of the shop, and a cold blast of air struck her face.
A morgue, Zari realized. Why on earth would her boss have an urgent need for them to come—-
Micah started unlocking the doors to several cold lockers, and the answer came to her when she saw that all twelve of them were empty.
Alexandru's lips tightened. It seems our traitorous adversary is one step ahead of us.
"This is our first problem," Micah told them curtly, "and as for the second..." He stalked towards the row of trolleys at the opposite end of the room and whipped one of the sheets down.
The angel gestured to the corpse. "This," he bit out, "is Station 4's caretaker."
Clean kill, Alexandru observed dispassionately, seeing the singular headshot wound in the victim's temple.
Zari's lips tightened. No signs of struggle, Master.
Alexandru cast a sweeping glance around their extremely sterile surroundings. No signs of forced entry either.
"If it's not too much to ask—-" The angel's tone was sarcastic. "Can you two get off your private line and include me in the fucking conversation?"
Zari could feel her cheeks flush at the well-deserved reprimand, and knowing that her boss would only consider an apology an additional waste of his time, she dove straight into the facts to get Micah up to speed.
"The Devil's Door I tipped you off to months ago...I never saw - I mean, I never knew how it was opened, but now we have reason to believe that the demon who went through it used mandrakes—-" She heard her boss mutter an expletive and realized that the half angel was also aware of how mandrakes could be used to open Devil's Doors.
"Alexandru believed that if he could examine the bodies, he might be able to identify the demon by scent—-" The angel bit out another expletive, but this time she had no idea what he was furious about. She glanced at Alexandru, hoping he'd know something, but her Master only shrugged.
"Micah?" Zari's voice was edgy with tension even to her own ears. "Is there something—-"
"The Board's called for a meeting—-"
Zari stiffened.
"They believe Alexandru is behind this."
Hence your colleagues' bellicose stance , Alexandru couldn't help remarking.
While Zari didn't quite understand what 'bellicose' meant, Alexandru's tone alone had her gnashing her teeth and shooting a scowl at his direction. Will you please take this seriously? Turning back to her boss, she said right away, "That's insane. You don't even need an autopsy to know the caretaker recognized his killer—-"
"The Board also believes Alexandru used his powers as a demon to brainwash the caretaker."
Bullshit, Zari almost yelled. Brainwashing was only possible with the average human being, and caretakers, just like trappers, had to undergo special training before they could start working for AGNEX.
"Have they deduced any motives on my behalf?" Alexandru wanted to know.
"Unfortunately...yes. In Z's report for Warehouse 57, she insisted that there was still a thirteenth boy missing, and the Board has thus concluded the 13th boy was - or is - also one of your brainwashed minions. They also believe you stole the bodies as a way of covering your tracks—-"
"Those are all presumptions," Zari interrupted in protest. "Why can't they all see—-"
Enough, pet.
Zari clamped her jaw shut at her Master's quiet words.
I think you already know what the angel is truly telling us.
No! Zari strove to remain calm . There has to be another way—-
But her Master was already discussing the terms of his surrender with her boss.
"I am willing to turn myself over - but only in your care, of course, since your angel's blood will prevent you from betraying my trust. I am also willing to wait until your agency's investigation clears me of wrongdoing...but only if you do not hold me captive in some despicably urban prison," Alexandru drawled with a crooked smile. "Give me a good old-fashioned dungeon anytime—-"
"Shut up, Master!" Zari gave up all pretenses on being in any way agreeable to what was happening. "You're not going anywhere—-"
But both men appeared hell-bent on ignoring her.
"It will be as you wish," she heard her boss say.
Master, I swear to God, if you dare let them take you away—-
I'm sorry, pet, but I'm afraid I must dare indeed do that. The traitor you saw in your version has infiltrated your Board, and your boss...
Zari reluctantly turned to look at Micah.
"I'm sorry," the half angel said quietly, "but this has to happen."
The words made it seem like he was apologizing for Alexandru's impending arrest, but the look in his eyes told her a different story. Micah knew her Master was innocent, but the half angel also believed Alexandru's captivity was the only way to flush the traitor out.