Smoke and Mirrors: Carnival of Mysteries by Elizabeth Silver

Author:Elizabeth Silver [Silver, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-19T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Justus

From the moment the three of us meet up outside of the apothecary, I know something is off. But I ignore that voice, telling myself it’s just anxiety about leaving Xander alone and in the open. He’ll be fine, I reason, since it’s not like the Seekers can know we’d be right here, right now.

Then the chemist bolts almost as soon as we identify ourselves, and Armstrong says we should split up. Which means I wind up more than two blocks away when the explosion hits. I’ve lost sight of the suspect, too, and the worry from before threatens to turn to full-blown panic. The whole thing seems far too convenient.

I turn back. The brand-new and actively burning crime scene is definitely the bigger priority.

It’s plain bad luck that the most direct route back puts me on a literal collision course with the same suspect I just gave up on catching. Or, to be more specific, with the piece of 2x4 he swings at my stomach. We grapple, but his only advantage was surprise, and I manage to get him in cuffs even as I struggle to catch my breath.

Unfortunately, having a suspect in custody means I have to take him with me back to the scene, which is a total madhouse. Fire and police are everywhere, and it takes way too long to find an officer with a vehicle I can stash my guy in.

It has not escaped my notice that I haven’t seen either Armstrong or Sewell yet. Fuck.

As soon as the suspect is secure and being watched by the first magus police officer I can find, I start making calls. Armstrong first, since he’s the senior agent, although I really want to call Xander and make sure he’s safe at the coffee shop.

No answer.

And even though I should be calling Sewell next, I listen to my gut and try Xander. It goes straight to his generic voicemail, which does not help calm me in the slightest. Double fuck.

Okay, Farhill. One problem at a time.

When I call Sewell and Xander answers, I’m light-headed with relief for a moment. It only takes a few seconds of Xander’s terrified babble for me to figure out his location, and I haul ass out of there. I know he’s safe, at least he is for now, but I still can’t relax until I’ve got him in my arms in a very not professional embrace.

Considering it appears that one of my coworkers has arrested the other, however, I’m going to guess that there’s going to be a little leeway with the rules for on-the-clock behavior today.

Once I’ve got a few details about what happened, not that any of it makes a bit of sense, I call it in to August. Pretty sure I’ve never heard her swear that much before, but I know how she feels.

“Stay put, Agent,” she orders me, and I can do that. Especially since I haven’t let go of Xander yet.

While we wait, Sewell secures Armstrong to a nearby bike rack, then sidles up to me and Xander.

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