Read Online Chaos Broken by Rebekah Turner - Free Book Online Page B

his flaxen hair starting to streak silver, Caleb Haskett had the fresh face of a young man. The last time our paths had crossed, he’d tried to manipulate me into dancing to a madman’s tune. Of course, once I figured out he’d been blackmailed with the lives of his family, it was hard to maintain a grudge.
    â€˜How have you been?’ Caleb asked with a smile.
    â€˜The usual. What are you doing in this neck of the woods? Your beat is in High Town, isn’t it?’
    â€˜Yes, still serving at the Piccano Square station. But I was in the area when the message came in. This is your old school, isn’t it?’
    â€˜Sure was.’
    â€˜Just how you remembered it?’
    â€˜I guess.’ My eyes skittered over to the greenhouse. ‘With a few exceptions.’
    We both fell silent, the seriousness of the situation weighing heavily between us.
    â€˜You look tired,’ I said finally.
    â€˜I’ve been working on a law degree,’ Caleb said. ‘Don’t want to be stuck being a Captain of the City Watch for the rest of my life.’
    I gave an impressed whistle. ‘Law, hey?’
    â€˜In theory I’ll be finished in one more year. Should be worth it if I can get a position on the judicial board.’ Caleb gave me a tired smile. ‘That’d be something, right? Me being a judge. Maybe I could make some real changes, instead of just cleaning up the blood and chasing down killers.’
    â€˜That would be something,’ I said. ‘And it’s always nice to have friends in high places.’ I helped Sabine up and she shook her legs about, trying to get the blood flowing. ‘If it’s okay with you I’d like to go home, and I think Sabine is exhausted as well.’
    Caleb turned to Sabine, noting her eyes, swollen from crying. ‘Sounds like a sensible idea. We have both your statements. I’ll get a constable to escort Sabine back to the orphanage.’ He gestured to a uniformed man, who gently led Sabine away.
    I watched her leave, then met Caleb’s eyes. ‘Do you remember being that young?’
    He gave a subdued chuckle. ‘Not really.’
    Crowhurst strolled over. ‘I’m told we need to speak to the Captain in attendance before we leave.’ His eyes fell on the stripes on Caleb’s shoulders. ‘Which would no doubt be this dashing gentleman.’
    â€˜I’ll just need a few more moments with Lady Blackgoat,’ Caleb said.
    â€˜Fine.’ Crowhurst sighed and walked off, retrieving the flask from his pocket and taking a swing of the filth he’d tried to inflict on me. I ran a tongue over my teeth, still able to taste the sweetness of the herbs.
    Caleb pulled out a notebook from his jacket and flipped through the pages. ‘I’ve gone through my constable’s notes on what you saw. Are you sure there’s nothing more you can tell me?’
    â€˜I gave a description of the little shit who I think did it. That’s about all I got.’ Regret made my voice catch. Poulter may have not been my favourite person, but she was a piece of my past and the attack felt almost personal.
    Caleb consulted his notes. ‘Kalin?’
    â€˜And his merry bunch of delinquents.’
    â€˜The constable’s notes said that the girl, Sabine, and yourself were attacked?’
    â€˜Just a punch to the guts.’ I patted my stomach and felt it wobble. ‘But you know me. Abs of steel.’
    The corner of Caleb’s mouth twitched, but he fortunately didn’t question the integrity of my abdominal muscles. ‘You didn’t see any weapons on him?’
    â€˜I think he was concealing something, a sword maybe. I didn’t get a good look.’
    Caleb nodded. ‘Well, I’ve already got people out looking for him and his friends.’
    My eyes dragged back to the greenhouse. A depressed grey winter sky loomed over us and a chill settled in my bones as the