Regna Born by Erick Holmberg

Author:Erick Holmberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: urban fantasy, paranormal, literature/general fiction, M/M, LGBTQ+, slow burn, murder mystery, magic, super powers, super humans, psychic abilities, culture war, action adventure, pets
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2024-07-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

ADEPT POPULATION

Our best estimates are that adepts are one-tenth of one percent of the population. How exactly that breaks down into the five adept ranks is unknown.

—National Intelligence Strategy White Paper: Top Secret (TS): Release of this document will cause severe damage to the security of the United States—Adept Assets

ANGLED STRUTS AND random crystal chandeliers fill the lobby of Jeebom Pharmaceuticals. Where the lobby of Covian gives off a feeling of “trendy youth,” Jeebom is “we’ve been here forever, and we’re rich.”

“Officer Herrera and Detective Rizzo to see Barbara Bates,” Rizzo says to the security guard in the mausoleum that doubles as a lobby. “Open the gate.” Rizzo nods to the sliding glass doors that bar her way and flashes her badge.

A middle-aged employee in an ill-fitting suit glides past them. He withdraws his card key, walks through the sliding glass doors, and heads for the elevator without looking back.

“You’re the police?” the security guard asks. She’s a young African American woman with her hair in a tight bun. “I’ll let her know you’re here.”

“I prefer you wouldn’t,” Rizzo says in a clipped tone. “It’s a surprise. After you open the gate, ensure the elevator goes up to the executive floor.”

The gates resemble subway turnstiles, but only the ones at the upper-income stops.

Herrera smiles at the security guard, and she meekly smiles back. “Now,” he says, gesturing toward the gates and displaying his badge.

She pushes a button, and the sliding glass doors open.

“Thank you,” Rizzo says. And they proceed into the elevator bank.

“How did it go with Kelly?” Herrera asks.

“He’s holding back. How did it go checking out Peter Brandon’s alibi?”

“Something is off about him. His car was charged three times. You don’t need that many charges to drive the distances he claims.”

“Don’t let that go. He’s hiding something, just like Kelly.”

Looking up at the numbers flashing in the display, Herrera sees they’re about to arrive at the executive floor. “I hope Barbara Bates is here?”

“Oh, padawan,” Rizzo replies with a smile. “I put her under surveillance this morning. You don’t want to walk into someone’s office with all the authority of the Boston Police Department only to find that they’re in the Bahamas bribing midlevel government bureaucrats with expensive meals and golf outings.”

“Don’t you hate that?” Herrera says. “Do you know how to get to her office?”

Rizzo glares at Herrera and then looks awkwardly straight ahead into the elevator’s mirrored glass. “Of course.”

The elevator opens into a bright lobby with a large painting, rich in blues and reds, taking up the whole wall, the effect like being in a museum. An impact that someone paid an interior designer a great deal of money to impart. Rizzo strides past it while flashing her badge to the receptionist, who is there only to arrange for town cars and catered lunches. She gets up to follow, but Rizzo turns to face her, badge still displayed.

“Police business. Sit down.” She turns and continues with Herrera one pace behind. Soon, the senior staff’s big, airy courtroom-like offices come into view.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.