Sinister Legacy (Claire Legacy FBI Mystery Series Book 2) by Mary Stone & Alex Gates

Author:Mary Stone & Alex Gates [Stone, Mary & Gates, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mary Stone Publishing
Published: 2025-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

26

Claire watched a blend of reporters and cameras, each shooting another blinding-white arrow right at the center of her bruised face. Ignoring it as much as possible, she studied the curious citizens positioned behind the media as they buzzed with anticipation, waiting for the press conference to begin. A shadow stretched over the throng, however, darkened by three murders, rising public fear, and a city antsy for answers.

She raised a hand to her forehead, creating a makeshift visor against the setting sun. The direct beams of the falling star washed against her face.

She willed her expression flat to hide the lingering pain from the crowd and the cameras.

Claire looked at Nina. The blood had drained from her partner’s face, and she held her hands in tight fists, knuckles smeared white from the tension. Her jaw worked as if attempting to grind through steel.

“You seem pretty calm,” Claire joked and touched Nina’s rigid shoulder. “If you want, we can switch this up. You can speak.”

“I’m going to throw up,” Nina hissed from the side of her mouth. “Right on you if you don’t remove that hand from my shoulder. I hate public speaking even more than blind dates.”

Claire gave Nina’s shoulder a squeeze, a gesture she hoped came across as reassuring, before returning her attention to the crowd. She scanned faces before her gaze settled on a specific group in the back.

They held signs with bold messages.

Justice for the People!

End the Greed!

Corruption Must Fall!

Claire nudged Nina with her elbow. “You see that one?”

Nina nodded. “‘Purify the City.’”

“They already have sympathizers.”

“This shift in public sentiment means that not everyone here fears the killers.”

“They see them as justice delivered.” Claire wasn’t surprised. Revolutions had always started this way—an idea people could get behind, no matter how bloody the delivery. That was what unsettled her. Not just the murders, but the applause that followed.

“They’re celebrating the murders. Praising the murderers.”

Her gut twisted. She didn’t celebrate with them, but she understood. She recognized the raw fury etched on their faces, the same kind of anger that had once lived in her—rage at corruption, greed, and the powerful trampling the powerless. But rage didn’t excuse carnage. There were better ways to fight, and she’d stake her life on proving it.

Claire glanced at Nina. “Do you have your vest on?”

“Fuuuck.”

Claire couldn’t do anything but nod in agreement with Nina’s adept wisdom. Public approval of the homicides added a dangerous layer of complexity to the investigation. And danger in and of itself.

The murmuring grew into a volcanic voice that spat effluvium and tephra. The crowd shouted insults and questions as SSA Gavin Iverson approached the podium.

He was the embodiment of a leader. His broad, muscular frame boasted strength, and his calm, flat demeanor deflected the uproarious crowd.

For a moment, he said nothing. Gavin merely studied the single sheet of notes he had aggregated until the crowd quieted. When they didn’t, his steady gaze rose to address the people. He tapped the mic, but they continued their boisterousness.

A water bottle landed on the stage, clattering emptily but not hitting any of the authorities.

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