I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. “Cassian…”
“I know, I just really don’t think it was him,” Cassian said. “He’s only fifteen.”
I didn’t know what to do about Cassian. He was becoming more of an obstruction than a help. “You’re probably right, but I wouldn’t be a good investigator if I didn’t at least talk to him.”
“There’s no point, though. He’s not guilty,” Cassian said.
“So tell me, what do you want me to do? I’m here to investigate, but you don’t like that I’m investigating. What should I do?” I asked.
“Talk to Ezzila. I think it was her,” Cassian said.
“I have to wait for the writ, remember?”
“Fine, then. Let’s take a break. You don’t need to talk to anyone else.”
I sighed. He didn’t know that everyone we’d spoken to was still a suspect. I couldn’t just take Griffin, Willorunia, and Olive at their word. I needed solid evidence to make a compelling case against someone, and I had nothing. In fact, because of what Ezzila had said about Willorunia, I wasn’t sure I could even trust the diagnosis. I almost felt like Cassian was leading me astray, but he wouldn’t do that.
“Cassian, there is a high chance someone you know is to blame for this, and your insistence that everyone is innocent is hindering my progress,” I said.
Cassian crossed his arms. “I’m just trying to help, but I’m sorry for bothering you, Officer,” he said, and then he turned to walk away.
If I hadn’t liked Cassian so much, I would have thought he was up to something himself.
That was a problem.
Chapter Eight
CASSIAN
Sterling was distant for the rest of the day. He worked in the office while I waited at the counter for passing travelers to request their free rooms.
Nothing.
Something had definitely happened to the curse.
By the time I gave up and headed to bed, Sterling was still awake, sitting at the desk examining a letter.
I approached the desk, placing the key to room thirteen in front of him. “There were plenty of spare rooms tonight,” I said.
He frowned at me over the letter, and I saw the handwriting. It was the letter I had sent to the Force. He must have been desperate for a lead if he was reading that again. “Thank you,” he said.
I nodded, and he got back to reading the letter. What could the letter tell him that I couldn’t? I lingered at the end of the desk, watching him. “Hey, I’m sorry about earlier. I think you’re right. This investigation is harder on me than I realized.”
He looked up again with tired eyes, as though there were an invisible shield between us now. Our argument must have done more damage than I thought.
“This place means a lot to me,” I continued. “I don’t want to know who has so much disdain for me they’d want to pry the last piece of my grandfather away, but I’m coming to terms with it. I know that’s why you’re here, but solving this case means knowing who turned on me and then losing you to Ladiall, and I just can’t seem to accept that. I’m sorry for distracting you. I’ll let you handle the case on your own from now on,” I said.
He set the letter down on the table in front of him and sighed. “Cassian, I like you a lot, but it’s ruining my ability to be objective. I’m sorry this is hard for you, and I appreciate you taking a step back for me, but you have to promise me you’ll accept the answer when I finally solve it.”
I hesitated. It would be hard, but no matter what he told me, I had to accept it. “What if I can’t?” I asked.
He pursed his lips, sighing through his nose. “Then someone far meaner and much less attractive will replace me to come up with the same answer, and your favorite sexy investigator won’t be here when you need his shoulder to cry on.”
I looked away as a smile took hold. Sterling was smart, and he would figure it out. I wouldn’t like the answer, but that didn’t change the truth. “I promise I’ll accept your answer. I trust you.”
“Thank you,” Sterling said. He lifted the key from the desktop and examined it. “Thirteen? I heard that room is haunted.”
A laugh slipped from my reluctant smile. “Would you like a different room, sir?”
