“Don’t promise,” she said. Moisture glistened in her eyes. “You can’t control fate. If she wants you, you can’t stop her.”
“Did your mother—”
“Promised us everything would be fine. Don’t worry, she said when we were kicked out of our apartment. Don’t fret, she told Teegan when he got sick. I’ll return with enough money for a season, she promised. She never came back.”
Sorrow gripped my heart and squeezed. I knelt next to her. “You’re right. I can’t stop fate, but I can stay one step ahead of her.”
She squinted at me. “Can you really do that?”
“Already have.” I winked.
Faith opened the door and welcomed us inside. She had a plate of cinnamon cookies on the table, and she addressed Reema as if she were an adult, gaining bonus points from the girl. We chatted about nothing in particular until I needed to leave.
After I said my goodbyes, I stood in the doorway.
Faith led Reema upstairs to her new room and office. “You’ll be my assistant. First Adviser to the First Adviser.” Faith’s laugh floated down the stairs.
Confident Reema would be safe, I returned to the Keep and saddled Quartz. I mounted and patted her on the neck. “First stop, Fulgor. You know the way.”
As Quartz walked to the Citadel’s east gate, I enjoyed the sunny day. Only seven days into the heating season, the cool temperature would warm as the sun climbed the sky. No humidity and a light breeze kept the flies from annoying Quartz. The hot sticky weather wouldn’t arrive until late into the season and by then, I planned to be back at the Citadel. And then? No idea. I hoped this trip would be decisive.
Five days later, I arrived in Fulgor. Again. No matter how far away I traveled or what else was going on in my life, I seemed to return to this town. Mixed emotions fluctuated in my chest as Quartz navigated through the morning business crowd.
The familiar streets comforted like home and upset my stomach like a horrible nightmare. I did have friends here, and the factory, which I should sell. And Devlen was here. Why was I so… Impulsive? Confused in Fulgor? At least, this stop would be short. In other words, no visiting Devlen.
I had missed the morning training at Fulgor’s Security HQ. The new annex looked complete from the outside, but various workmen carried supplies into the building. Not wanting to see Devlen, I hustled into the reception area.
The same bored receptionist sat behind the counter. Would she recognize me as the prisoner Rhea Jewelrose?
“Can I help you?” she asked.
Guess not. “I’d like to see Captain Alden, please.”
“Name?”
I told her.
“One minute.” She swiveled around in her chair and shouted through the opening in the wall behind her. “Collin, tell the Captain Opal Cowan’s here to see him.”
So much for a quiet return. Chairs scraped the floor and Nic and Eve filled the doorway.
“The Captain more important than us?” Nic asked in an unfriendly tone.
I sighed. “I’m here on business. If I asked for you first, the Captain would be upset. Besides, I thought you’d be out.” I pointed toward the door. “You know, working?”
While Nic scowled, Eve cut to the heart of the matter. “What business?”
“I need to check with the Captain first,” I said.
“Come on in.” Eve gestured toward two desks facing each other in the back corner.
“Cozy,” I said.
“Not my idea. Believe me. It’s bad enough I have to work with the guy,” Eve said.
“Cap’s in with some bigwig from the Councilor’s Hall. Take a load off.” Nic pushed a chair out with his foot and patted the seat. “So… Besides the new hairdo, what have you been up to?” He acted casual, leaning back and resting his arms on his waist, but his gaze pinned me with keen interest.
“Not much.” I yawned, playing along. “I went down to Booruby for my sister’s wedding and then to the Citadel to hang out with the Master Magicians. Boring stuff.”
“Too bad.” Eve tsked in mock sympathy. “You missed all the fun here.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah. Lots of laughs,” Nic said without humor. “There was a prison break at Wirral.” He studied me.
I kept up the inquisitive facade. “Did anyone escape?”
“One person. And she left a mess in her wake.” Hard lines formed on his face. “Five max security prisoners dead, two missing officers and one enraged warden.”
“We’re still dealing with the consequences and the cleanup,” Eve added.
“Sorry to hear that,” I said with genuine sorrow. No matter what anyone else said, Ulrick’s death rested on my shoulders. It wasn’t guilt. It was regret.
“Are you?” Nic asked.
“Of course,” I snapped. “Spit it out, Nic. What are you implying?”
“Evidence led to one of the hotshots as the killer, but he could have taken them out at any time and made it look like suicide or an accident. I suspect the escapee planted the evidence to cover her tracks.”
He thought I killed them. I glanced at Eve. She looked curious and not hostile.
“Why?” I asked.
“For someone who allegedly committed a crime of passion, she certainly knew what she was doing. She smuggled in lock picks and darts treated with a sleeping drug. The deceased prisoners had no connection to this woman, who, by the way, doesn’t exist except on paper. I would bet a month’s wages she was a hired assassin, paid to eliminate them, except for one thing.”
“Go on, you’ve created quite a story.”
“You.”
“How am I involved?”
“You’ve been asking about the prison. You disappeared the same time she appeared. You had an excellent reason to see those men dead.” Nic clutched the chair arms.
“Easy, Nic,” Eve said.
I locked my gaze on him and leaned closer. “Do you really believe I am capable of cold-blooded murder?” No answer.
“I’ve met only one person in my life that I would have gladly killed if I’d been given the chance.”
“Who?” Eve asked.
“Devlen.” I stood. “Good thing I don’t know how to hold a grudge.”
Captain Alden’s door opened. He shook hands with an elderly man. Without saying another word to Nic or Eve, I crossed to the Captain. He invited me in and I closed the door behind me.
“I guess this isn’t a social call,” the Captain said when I refused to sit down. He stood behind his desk.
“No.” I pulled Councilor Moon’s letter from my pocket and handed it to him. “I’ve a request.”
Alden scanned the document. “Shouldn’t be a problem. Take Nic and Eve with you. The three of you seem to work well together.”
I barked out a humorless laugh. Originally, I had planned to request them. “I don’t think they would…enjoy the assignment. I’ll take your two best officers.”
He gave me a sardonic smile. “They are my best officers. I don’t assign people based on enjoyment, but on skills. When do you need them to start?”
“Right away. I should brief them.” I suppressed a cringe. This was not going as I had imagined.
Gesturing for me to take his seat, he strode to the door. “There’s no privacy out there, I’ll send them in for the briefing.”
I sat down, placed my elbows on the neat desk and rested my head on my hands for a moment. The air thickened when they entered. A surly resentment pulsed from Nic, but Eve seemed more annoyed at her partner than at me.
Tossing a small sackful of coins across the desk, I outlined what I needed them to do. They nodded in understanding. Eve tucked the purse into her pocket, and they left to prepare for the assignment.
I had completed my business at HQ before noon. Glad for the extra time, I led Quartz to Justamere Farm and groomed her. The owners were happy to see her, but I explained she would be there for one night only. After I had brushed all the road dirt from her copper coat, I checked on my factory.
Stale air and dust puffed in my face when I entered the factory. Darkness filled the first floor and I groped for the lantern, hoping it remained in the stone alcove. I found and lit it, breathing a little easier when the soft light illuminated the kilns. Walking around, I inspected the equipment. In order to return this place to a true glass shop, I would have to tear down the boards on the windows and install shutters.