Daniel’s hand rested on the folder as he stared at the pair. Something didn’t sit right with him. He had never seen the king’s companion before. “About that,” he said, picking up the completed file and sliding it into the drawer on his desk. “I haven’t finished it yet.”
Kyle looked shocked. “But I thought you said you were working on it?”
“I am,” Daniel said as he turned to pull another file from the shelf next to his desk. “But something more important came up.” He flipped it open and pretended to read.
“What’s more important than stopping these murders?” the man following Kyle snapped.
Daniel looked up from his file. “Things.” He closed the file and set it on his desk. “And who would you be?”
The man stood rigid, on the edge of anger.
“This is Alan Meyer,” Kyle said, holding his hand out to the man. “Mr. Meyer is here as a representative for Minister Driskell.”
Daniel ran the man’s name through his memory. “Minister Driskell? But doesn’t he already have a liaison?” He was definitely sure the senator had another man on staff. A name popped into his head. “Eugene Henderson?”
Alan shook his head. “Eugene is Minister Lewis’s aide. Christopher Turner was Minister Driskell’s aide, but he had a family emergency. I’m taking over for him as of today.”
“Ah.” Daniel nodded his head as he remembered the man. Tall, dark hair, dark eyes, well built. He paused as things clicked into place. Christopher Turner fit the description Noah had given of the man who had been in the lab. Daniel licked his lips as his mouth went dry. “I do hope everything’s okay,” he said, trying to cover his alarm.
“He’ll be fine,” Alan assured him. “He just needed to be with his family for a while.”
Daniel drew in a deep breath as Alan spoke. The only scent of dragon on the air was himself and Kyle. Alan smelled human, but he’d have to get closer to be sure. He cast a quick glance at Kyle, but the king didn’t seem bothered by the new man.
“Enough about Chris.” Alan waved Daniel’s worry away and pointed him back to the conversation at hand. “What can you tell us about Noah Dove?”
Daniel cocked his eye at Kyle, but the king just shrugged. He turned his attention back to Alan. “I haven’t had time to complete my report, but Noah is safe. He’s working through his issues with Miss Rose, and I hope to have a detailed account of what happened in the very near future.”
“You don’t have that information already?” Alan pressed.
Daniel glared at the man. “Pushing a dragon who’s experienced a catastrophic rift the way Noah did can cause them to regress in their treatment.”
“Very true,” Kyle said, backing Daniel up.
Alan’s spine went rigid. “When do you think you will have his report?”
“Soon,” Daniel said vaguely.
Indignation made Alan bristle. “Don’t you care that an Ancient was killed while she was in this man’s care?” he snapped. “What did he see? What does he know?” The man’s eyes narrowed. “What aren’t you telling us?”
“I will get you my report as soon as it’s ready,” Daniel said as smoothly as he could.
“We cannot wait for your report!” Alan demanded, “Where is Noah now?”
“He’s in the care of a qualified psychiatrist who is helping him reconnect with his dragon,” Daniel answered in a very even tone. “He will be available for questioning when she deems he is stable enough for it.”
Kyle raised an eyebrow in question at Daniel.
Daniel locked eyes with him for a moment before looking back at the upset aide.
“Where is he?” Alan tried again.
“Can you get me some kind of report by this evening?” Kyle asked before Daniel could answer Alan’s question.
Daniel gave the king a sharp nod. “I will have something for you by this evening.”
“Very good,” Kyle answered before Alan could protest. “Then I will expect a report on my desk by midnight.” He turned and ushered the angry aide out.
Pausing in the doorway, he gave Daniel a knowing look. “And I need you to be available for a flight later. I need to stretch my wings.” With that, he followed the aide out and shut Daniel’s door.
Daniel let out a sigh of relief. Kyle knew something was up. His request was proof that he understood Daniel was holding back. A flight would give them time to talk alone.
Moving the file on his desk back to the shelf, Daniel took out the file he’d finished on Noah. He couldn’t turn this in to the king. It would end up in Eternity’s records, where anyone with the right security clearance could find it. He set the file on his desk and went to his safe.
Opening the door, he considered the contents. He had planned on giving everything to Kyle and letting the king decide what to do with it, but Alan had changed that. Taking out the files he had on Michael and Alex, he placed them on the desk with Noah’s. He pulled out the heart and added it to the pile. They would have to be removed from the building. This case was no longer safe within the walls of any Eternity location.
Making a decision he knew would get him in trouble, he shoved everything into his bag and slung it over his shoulder. Shutting off his computer, he went to his door and checked the hall. Clear. Moving quickly, he made his way towards the main gate. It was nearly quitting time, and no one but Alan would question Daniel leaving a little early.
A quick nod to the guard at the gate saw him out of the building and away. Now, he just had to make sure he wasn’t followed. He had to get this information somewhere safe, and he could only think of one location. The Dragon’s Wing. Brigs would know where to hide this stuff away until Daniel could figure out what to do with it. Then, for the safety of his men, he had to find a way to falsify all of the documents pertaining to the biggest case they’d ever had and pray that Kyle would understand and not have him court-martialed and hung for treason.
Acknowledgements
It’s always hard when I come to the end of a book. I’ve fussed with it for weeks, lost sleep over it, chopped whole sections out to rewrite, and added thing in I never intended. It’s been bounced to betas and editors so many times, by the time I get the finished manuscript back before formatting I want nothing to do with it. But when the book ends and the characters are finally done arguing in my head, it lonely.
My friends have gone off and told me what they wanted me to know and left me to deal with my real life again. I don’t know what to do in those days after the final words are typed. Should I take a break and finally do those dishes that have piled up in the sink? Or maybe slay the laundry monster that’s creeping down the hall? But before I can do any of that, I have to take a moment and thank all of those people that make a book possible.
So many people have helped me along the way. My mom and Aunt Laura are still my best beta readers. You make sure I stay on track. Kathy-Lynn and Ethan have both listened to me and encouraged me when things haven’t gone the way I wanted. Krys and Karl, the loves of my life, need to be thanked for putting up with me while I slave away on my computer (No I’m not just playing on Facebook all day). The ladies of CTP have always been outstanding and encouraging. My editors are wonderful and put up with me when I’m difficult, and for that I need to thank them. And of course I need to thank my readers. Without you this book would not have happened. Thank you for supporting me and I hope you all have enjoyed the ride as much as I have.
About the Author
