Death Comes Ashore by Corinne O'Flynn

Author:Corinne O'Flynn [O'Flynn, Corinne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Big Ink Books
Published: 2019-08-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

On the short walk to the MCU building which was next door to the PIO headquarters, Corey’s mind kept going back to Alicia. She stepped through the automatic doors and made her way upstairs to the cubicle she shared with her partner. Young was on the phone when she arrived, so she dropped into her chair, closed her eyes, and allowed herself some deep breaths.

She needed to shake off the unsettled feeling she took away from meeting with Alicia and Bronwyn. Inhale—exhale. She visualized her breath flowing around her like a calm wave of light. She hadn’t been prepared to see Alicia like that. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it wasn’t that.

Alicia and Corey had been friendly before. Not close, but more than just passing acquaintances. Alicia had worked at the station as an intern for two years, and her mother was a fixture at the reception desk. Corey used to stop by and chat several times a week, and whenever there was an office party, the women would definitely visit.

Corey didn’t have many female friends, and being able to connect with Bronwyn and Alicia through their connection at work had been a bright spot in her life.

Alicia had once had a plan for her future. She was once tight with her mom. She had hope. But now, it was like that Alicia, the confident, calm, happy woman Corey once knew, was gone—replaced by a nervous, agitated, and scattered woman unable to relax.

Alicia had been through hell. Everyone dealt with trauma in different ways. If therapy had taught Corey anything, it taught her that. But watching someone else’s life flip like that. And knowing first-hand what had caused it? It was too big. Too close. If nothing else, she hoped the trial would do Alicia some good.

Young hung up the phone and spun around in his chair. “That was Dr. Albarexi. He wants us to come by later on today. Says he has something he wants us to see.” He handed Corey a one-sheet printout.

She scanned the page. It wasn’t a criminal rap sheet, quite the opposite—it was a profile from the Prestigium Army’s Elite Blue Guard. “This is our victim? He sounds like one of the good guys.”

“Squeaky clean, actually.” Young read from his notes. “Wizard First Class Gregory Brian Cullen, Weapon Spells Specialist, Elite Blue Guard, Retired.”

“Blue Guard? Really?”

“The one and only. Age thirty-four. Did three tours with the Mage Squad in the War of the Balkans and helped with the Siren Uprising in Greece. And he’s local. Lives up in Swan Grove Estates.”

“Nice. What’s he do to be able to afford such fancy digs?”

“Teaches self-defense, if you can believe it, you know… I mean, considering how he ended up and all. Private clients. Had his own freelance gig.”

“Says here he’s married. Anything on the wife?” Young flipped the page in his notebook. “Wife is Della Olson Cullen. A nurse. Works at Rathmoore Academy, in the hospital there. I called over and spoke to the headmaster.

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