Every Witch Way but Scales (Magical Misfits Mysteries Book 11) by K.E. O'Connor

Author:K.E. O'Connor [O'Connor, K.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: K.E. O'Connor
Published: 2023-09-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Shadowy trouble

It was almost lunchtime when we returned to Angel Force, and the open-plan office was quiet. Bertoli stood guard outside a closed interview room. He nodded at us as we approached.

“Is Tariq in there?” Finn asked.

“He is. And a word of warning. He’s a jerk. Strolled in like he owned the place and said he had valuable information that was available for the right price.”

“What else did he tell you?” Finn asked.

“He said he’d only talk to the person in charge. Since Cythera put you as the lead investigator, I figured you’d want to handle this interview.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” Finn said. “Does Cythera know Tariq’s here?”

“She’s not back yet. If she was here, she’d have interrogated him by now.”

“I’m glad Cythera isn’t around,” I said. “She’d be unable to remain impartial.”

“I hate talking bad about her, but Cythera’s been walking a fine line between stress and madness,” Bertoli said. “I’m scared of her.”

“Combine being a target for a killer and wedding jitters, and we have one scary angel on our paws,” I said. “Let’s see what Tariq has to say for himself.”

Bertoli opened the door for us and then stepped out of the way.

I walked in first and discovered a warlock dressed in sleek black clothing that clung to his sculpted frame. His midnight black hair stopped by his shoulders, framing a chiseled jawline and piercing smoky eyes that gleamed with amusement as he lounged in his seat. He was trying too hard to be cool.

“I asked for a caramel latte with oat milk twenty minutes ago,” he said. “And you don’t look like you’ve got my delivery.”

“Strong, black, and bitter is the best you’ll get around here,” Zandra said.

Finn made the introductions as he settled into a seat next to Zandra. I hopped up onto the table to get a better view of Tariq.

“So, you’re the guy in charge of this mess, are you?” Tariq asked Finn.

“That’s right. You have information about the attempt on Cythera’s life?” Finn replied.

Tariq inspected his fingernails. “Maybe I do.”

“Isn’t that why you’re here?” I asked.

“I’m not here because I respect Cythera or care if she lives or dies. She ruined my life. She took away years of my freedom because we have different value systems. That’s wrong.”

“Weren’t you a career criminal?” I asked. “You enjoyed robbing banks.”

“Or you could look at it another way. I liberated wealthy people’s assets and distributed them more evenly.”

“You’re telling us you’re like Robin Hood?” Zandra said.

“Better than him, sugar. I wasn’t a wealthy guy until I began this career path. I wasn’t getting help, so I helped myself and a few friends along the way.”

“Not everyone who had assets in those banks would have considered themselves wealthy,” I said. “You had no idea who you were stealing from.”

He shrugged. “It all evens out. And no one got hurt. I’m not a violent guy. My record will confirm that.”

Finn nodded. “You didn’t attack anyone even when you got caught.”

“What would have been the point? I’d have only gotten a harsher sentence.

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