control of this investigation. It was his order.’
That still didn’t explain why they’d done it.
The walk was quick and mostly silent. It was only when they reached the stairs leading to the Westin’s front entrance that the captain paused. ‘What do you think is going on in Simon Alder’s head?’ the hunter asked.
It wasn’t a question she’d expected. Before the Tabernacle attack she and Simon had been dating and everything had gone just great. After he’d been seriously wounded, he’d come to believe that Riley or her dad had somehow conspired with Hell to destroy the Atlanta Guild. Simon’s bizarre accusations had ended their relationship on a bitter note. In his own way, he’d sent Riley right into Ori’s arms.
Instead of unloading her heartbreak, Riley shook her head, too weary to go there. ‘Simon’s changed. He was so nice and kind and now suddenly he’s seeing Hellish conspiracies everywhere. He’s nothing like he was before the fre.’
‘Post traumatic stress disorder?’ the captain asked. ‘Or is someone playing with his mind?’
She looked up at the hunter, surprised by the latter suggestion. ‘Maybe a little of both.’ Lucifer had said something to that effect, but she didn’t dare tell the hunter he was closer to the truth that he might imagine.
Salvatore nodded thoughtfully, as if she’d confirmed a suspicion. ‘How do you like being a demon trapper?’
Another question she hadn’t expected. ‘I like it, when I get to do it. There’s been too much . . . drama recently. That’s not much fun.’
‘I’ll tell you a secret,’ he said, looking around as if he was worried someone might overhear him. ‘Being the captain of the demon hunters isn’t as much fun as I thought, either.’
He’s not playing nice. This is the real guy. She’d seen all the hunters as enemies, but maybe that was being shortsighted.
‘What are you going to do with me?’ she asked.
‘Ask a lot of questions,’ he responded.
‘What if you guys like the answers?’
‘You’ll be set free.’
‘And if you don’t?’
No response.
‘Got it,’ Riley whispered.
Chapter Seven
After a night spent in fitful sleep, it came as a welcome relief when the guards returned to Beck’s hotel room a little after nine. During all those hours he’d spent too much time dwelling on ancient history, most of which was littered with regrets, the kind that get a chokehold on you and never let go. Why hadn’t the Guild bailed him out?
If they can’t find Riley, will they let me take the fall?
The door opened. ‘Come with us,’ a hunter announced, beckoning to him.
Beck swung his feet over the side of the bed and pulled on his boots, lacing them with deliberate slowness while trying to read the situation. Was he free to go or was this the start of something worse?
‘What’s up?’ he asked.
‘Not my place to say,’ his guard replied.
When he reached the hallway, Beck saw a grim-faced Captain Salvatore headed towards him.
‘What’s this all about?’ Beck demanded.
Before the hunter could reply, he had his answer. At the end of the corridor, Lieutenant Amundson exited the elevator. The guy looked like he’d just won the lottery. Behind him, inside a cluster of four-heavily armed hunters, was a shorter figure.
Oh, God, they found her. No matter how angry he was at Riley, Beck had hoped she wouldn’t have to face this. To her credit, she wasn’t crying. In fact, her chin was up in defiance.
Amundson’s booming voice echoed down the hall. ‘Get that trapper out of here, now!’
‘I’m not goin’ anywhere,’ Beck shot back. No way I’m leavin’ her on her own.
Salvatore positioned himself between Beck and the approaching men, no doubt sensing the trapper’s potential for violence. His hand was on his firearm.
‘If you remain, it’ll be harder on her. Grand Master Stewart is on his way,’ he advised. ‘We’ll not question her until he’s present.’
Beck eyed him. ‘I
That still didn’t explain why they’d done it.
The walk was quick and mostly silent. It was only when they reached the stairs leading to the Westin’s front entrance that the captain paused. ‘What do you think is going on in Simon Alder’s head?’ the hunter asked.
It wasn’t a question she’d expected. Before the Tabernacle attack she and Simon had been dating and everything had gone just great. After he’d been seriously wounded, he’d come to believe that Riley or her dad had somehow conspired with Hell to destroy the Atlanta Guild. Simon’s bizarre accusations had ended their relationship on a bitter note. In his own way, he’d sent Riley right into Ori’s arms.
Instead of unloading her heartbreak, Riley shook her head, too weary to go there. ‘Simon’s changed. He was so nice and kind and now suddenly he’s seeing Hellish conspiracies everywhere. He’s nothing like he was before the fre.’
‘Post traumatic stress disorder?’ the captain asked. ‘Or is someone playing with his mind?’
She looked up at the hunter, surprised by the latter suggestion. ‘Maybe a little of both.’ Lucifer had said something to that effect, but she didn’t dare tell the hunter he was closer to the truth that he might imagine.
Salvatore nodded thoughtfully, as if she’d confirmed a suspicion. ‘How do you like being a demon trapper?’
Another question she hadn’t expected. ‘I like it, when I get to do it. There’s been too much . . . drama recently. That’s not much fun.’
‘I’ll tell you a secret,’ he said, looking around as if he was worried someone might overhear him. ‘Being the captain of the demon hunters isn’t as much fun as I thought, either.’
He’s not playing nice. This is the real guy. She’d seen all the hunters as enemies, but maybe that was being shortsighted.
‘What are you going to do with me?’ she asked.
‘Ask a lot of questions,’ he responded.
‘What if you guys like the answers?’
‘You’ll be set free.’
‘And if you don’t?’
No response.
‘Got it,’ Riley whispered.
Chapter Seven
After a night spent in fitful sleep, it came as a welcome relief when the guards returned to Beck’s hotel room a little after nine. During all those hours he’d spent too much time dwelling on ancient history, most of which was littered with regrets, the kind that get a chokehold on you and never let go. Why hadn’t the Guild bailed him out?
If they can’t find Riley, will they let me take the fall?
The door opened. ‘Come with us,’ a hunter announced, beckoning to him.
Beck swung his feet over the side of the bed and pulled on his boots, lacing them with deliberate slowness while trying to read the situation. Was he free to go or was this the start of something worse?
‘What’s up?’ he asked.
‘Not my place to say,’ his guard replied.
When he reached the hallway, Beck saw a grim-faced Captain Salvatore headed towards him.
‘What’s this all about?’ Beck demanded.
Before the hunter could reply, he had his answer. At the end of the corridor, Lieutenant Amundson exited the elevator. The guy looked like he’d just won the lottery. Behind him, inside a cluster of four-heavily armed hunters, was a shorter figure.
Oh, God, they found her. No matter how angry he was at Riley, Beck had hoped she wouldn’t have to face this. To her credit, she wasn’t crying. In fact, her chin was up in defiance.
Amundson’s booming voice echoed down the hall. ‘Get that trapper out of here, now!’
‘I’m not goin’ anywhere,’ Beck shot back. No way I’m leavin’ her on her own.
Salvatore positioned himself between Beck and the approaching men, no doubt sensing the trapper’s potential for violence. His hand was on his firearm.
‘If you remain, it’ll be harder on her. Grand Master Stewart is on his way,’ he advised. ‘We’ll not question her until he’s present.’
Beck eyed him. ‘I
Similar Books
