A Stranger in Town by Kelley Armstrong

Author:Kelley Armstrong
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

NINETEEN

“Banishment?” My brows shoot up in mock horror. “You never told us you were banished, Edwin. Well, this is awkward.”

His look warns that I have lost ground here. I meet it with a level stare that tells him he already lost that ground when he decided to treat us like incompetent children. I have a feeling that’s the way he’s accustomed to treating law enforcement. Some lawyers are. Some people are.

Yes, we’re public servants, but that doesn’t mean you can insult and pester us to the point of interfering with the job your taxes pay us to do. Also? Edwin isn’t paying taxes. We aren’t his law enforcement team to kick around.

“Be careful on your way home, Edwin,” I say. “It’s windy today. I remember when I was a kid and a windstorm blew down a huge tree in our backyard. It fell partly into the neighbor’s yard. Dad hired a company to clean it up, but they were busy after the windstorm. The neighbor wouldn’t stop pestering, so my dad hired another company, at a higher price, and sent the neighbor a bill for the difference.”

Felicity frowns, wondering why I’m telling this story. Then she realizes and pulls back with a nod. Edwin gets it right away and only sniffs, “Did your parents take an ax to the tree before it fell?”

“No,” I say. “But it had been leaning precariously. They were trying to figure out a way to remove it safely. One could argue they waited too long, but when they discussed the matter with the neighbors, they offered no help. Just told us that, however we handled it, the tree better not fall on their side of the fence.”

“As charming as this analogy is, Casey, I don’t believe it actually fits our situation.”

“Mmm, no. I believe it does. You’ve never offered to help us deal with the hostiles, Edwin. They aren’t a new threat. We’ve been trying to figure this out, and you just sit there and warn us they’d better not attack your people. Which they never did before we ‘set them off’ by refusing to let them murder us, right?”

I lean forward. “Tell me that you’ve never lost people to the hostiles before.”

“I am here to help,” Edwin says through his teeth.

“Yes,” Émilie says. “I believe we’ve heard that one before. Shall we tell them why you were banished, Edwin?”

Dalton turns on her. “Are you sure, Émilie? Maybe you should wait. It’s not like we need this information. Not like the council wasn’t very aware that we were in communication with Edwin and didn’t bother to mention that he had been banished.”

Dalton walks to his desk. “You can both leave. Felicity? If your grandfather had something to tell us, you’re welcome to stay behind and speak for him. But Casey and I have work to do, figuring out what the fuck is happening in the forest, and what to do about it to keep our residents safe.” He meets Edwin’s gaze. “Our residents. They’re the ones who pay our wages.

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