“So who did it?” Connor asked.
“We can’t provide details in an ongoing investigation,” Gwen said, and she held up a hand when Connor opened his mouth toprotest. “But you should both be careful. Perhaps this was a random killing, but I don’t think it was. Whether this was aimed at the AAM, or the result of some AAM struggle, it’s likely to touch you again.”
“We’re leaning toward AAM involvement,” Theo said.
“Lean harder,” Connor said, and we left them standingthere.
EIGHT
I got the message on the way to the SUV he’d borrowed from the Pack. Simple, concise, and heartbreaking:i must suspend you pending investigation of blake’s murder. i’m sorry—roger.
It wasn’t a surprise. But that didn’t make it any less painful. While my great-grandfather had been the first Ombudsman, I was the first one in the family to be fired from the office.
I had more than enough savings to cover rent; I rarely bought anything other than blood and coffee and fine leather pants. But the work kept me sharp, and I liked Roger and Theo and Petra, even if I wasn’t thrilled about the current circumstances.
I stopped when we got to the vehicle, rested my head against the closed door.
Connor stopped, looked back at the dullthump. “That’s not how you get in.”
I grunted.
“Are you practicing a new vampire power, or taking a moment?”
I swiveled my head to look at him. “I got fired.”
Temper flared in his eyes again. “They just said they believed you were innocent.”
“The case is open,” I said. “Having me continue to work for them while they investigate me looks like a cover-up.”
“That’s bullshit,” he said, coming around to me. “And I’m sorry.”
“Yeah.” I lifted my head, looked at him. “I don’t know how to feel.”
“About Theo? Or Blake?”
“Yes.”
“Come here,” he said, and beckoned me forward. I went, and put my head against his chest with another dullthump.
“Your head is, and I’m not exaggerating, hard as a rock, Lis.” He rubbed my arms. “How’s your shoulder?”
“Better.” The ache was slowly receding, a lowering tide.
“So what’s wrong?” he asked.
“I can’t get angry.”
He chuckled. “If you want to be angry, I’m pretty sure I can make that happen.”
“Shouldn’t I be angry?” I lifted my head, looked at him. “Shouldn’t I be pissed at Theo or Gwen, or Clive or whoever did this? Instead, I just feel numb. Someone is dead. Not because I killed him, but dead because the AAM had to come to Chicago and that precipitated it somehow.”
“Lis,” he said, concern furrowing his brow, “they want you unbalanced.”
I frowned. “What?”
“The AAM comes to Chicago to threaten you. They make demands, and when you say no, they accuse you of starting a physical fight. Then a member of the entourage, one of the vampires that confronted you, is violently murdered. Maybe Blake’s death has nothing to do with you. Maybe it was happenstance, or he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But what are the odds? Maybe Blake’s dead because the AAM wants to put more heat on you. Maybe they want you off your game.”
“They have succeeded.”