Ding Dong Dead by Patti Larsen

Author:Patti Larsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Patti Larsen Books

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Chapter Twelve

“Ms. Drake.” Hunter Perriweather took the lead this time, pointing to the front door. “A word.”

Sam must have read the reluctance in my face, because he immediately put himself between me and the Artemis team. “This isn’t about Benny,” he said. Leave it to the man I loved to figure that out. Far too clever for his own good, my Sam. “What do you want with Georgia?”

“That’s none of your business, Mr…?” Inquisitor Dosh trailed off, looking up at Sam with enough intensity I knew I had to cut him off before the handsome therapist made himself more of a target.

“I asked you to stay out of this,” I said. Sam’s hurt look hadn’t diminished, but I could at least be kinder this time since it was obvious he cared about me. “Please, Sam. You can’t help.” I didn’t add he was only making things worse because why bother at this point?

Josephine wasn’t taking my request to heart, however. “What do you want with Georgia?” I’d known Sam’s mother to be protective of him, but I had no idea she’d share that version of herself over me. It touched me as much as it troubled me, so thankfully Mavis chose that moment to step in and save me from myself.

“Jo, Sam, why don’t we let Georgia talk to the nice officers.” She firmly led Jo away while Sam lingered, but only a moment. Long enough to take and squeeze my hand, frowning at me and then the team.

“I’ll be right over here,” he said. While his whole body told me we’d be having a chat about this situation as soon as possible.

Argh.

I followed the duo outside into the morning breeze, sunlight muffled under a heavy hang of gray clouds that threatened rain. Perfect, they mirrored exactly how I felt.

“You lied to us about Benjamin,” Dosh said.

“You lied to the Hounds,” Perriweather added with threat in her voice.

“No,” I said, “I lied to my friends about Benjamin going missing because he’s hunting and what else am I supposed to tell them?” It was the best I could do but there was no way in Hades itself these two were going to make me crumble. Benjamin was counting on me. Let them glare and shuffle and push with power—to the point I actually snapped.

Use of magic in front of normals is illegal, I sent to them both with sharp disdain. Unless you’d like me to report you both to Artemis for such blatant activity, you’d best be on your way.

This isn’t over, Ms. Drake, Dosh sent. Ah, finally, there was his truth, buried deep but surfacing along with his resentment and, oh yes, jealousy. So, this wasn’t about Elias or Benny or anything other than outright class discrimination. He hated me for who I was, for my last name and this was a fishing expedition that sadly had substance to it. But honestly? I was actually relieved. He had nothing to go on, and if his main commitment was coming for me or my family, he could keep coming.

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