“Great.” Sterling walked into the bullpen, passing everyone by without a glance until we reached a door in the back. He knocked twice and entered without waiting for an answer.
A stern middle-aged woman sat behind a desk. Her gray hair was tied back in a tight bun, and she tore her half-moon spectacles off her face to look at Sterling. She spared me a glance, but her attention was reserved for him. “Thorndrop. What are you doing in my office?”
“Commander Decker, this is Mr. Cassian Fibbersnap from the Fibbersnap Inn. You took me off his case, but he came to the city with his cousin requesting help. Unfortunately, his cousin got away. I am requesting a search party to find her.”
“How did you let her get away?” Commander Decker asked.
“She ran when she realized we were headed to Sterling’s house,” I said, hoping to win her favor for Sterling.
Commander Decker pursed her lips, inspecting me slowly. “You’re the owner.”
“I am,” I said with a smile. “Nice to meet you, Commander Decker.”
“You’re the boy whose opinion was so important that Officer Thorndrop took himself off the case and received a demotion?” she asked.
“I’m not aboy.I am an adult. And I don’t understand why my requesting he close the case got him demoted,” I said.
Decker eyed Sterling. “Thorndrop, be honest. Are you involved with Mr. Fibbersnap? Is that why you closed the case? Because if you are, that’s grounds for termination. And so is lying to your commander, so choose your next words carefully.”
So either way he’d be terminated? Maybe he couldn’t lie, butIcould. “Excuse me?” I demanded, marching toward her desk.“Is this how you treat all citizens who come here requesting help? By accusing them of promiscuity? You should be ashamed of yourself. Who’s your superior? Maybe they’ll help me instead of making accusations against me when I just need assistance,” I said.
I was proud of the shocked expression on her face. “I—I’m sorry, Mr. Fibbersnap. It was out of line for me to assume.” She stood up and rounded her desk. “You’re looking for the girl who came here with you when you enquired about the writ?”
“That’s right,” Sterling said.
“I’ll send out a search team. In the meantime, try to find her yourself, Thorndrop. Grab some equipment and get to work,” Decker said, holding the door open.
“Are you reinstating my position as an investigator?” Sterling asked.
“Consider it a trial. If you do well, I’ll allow another review,” Decker said.
“Thank you, Commander,” Sterling said with a grin. I couldn’t imagine why he loved this job if this was the person he reported to. She was somean.
After Sterling grabbed a spare Force coat and a pair of shackles, we got to work. The shackles swinging from his belt spiked my nerves, knowing whose wrists they might soon find.
“She doesn’t know this city. I can’t imagine where she went unless she’s hiding,” I said.
“We only visited a few places when we were here. I brought her to my house and the Force headquarters, which we know she’s avoiding. We also went to Gertrude’s house and to your grandfather’s legalers. We should check there first,” Sterling said.
“Why would she go to the legalers?” I asked.
“For protection from the law.”
Sterling didn’t hold my hand as much now that he was wearing his officer uniform, but I knew this job was important to him. I didn’t want to jeopardize it.
When we stepped up to the legaler’s office, my heart lurched. The last time I had been here was right after I heard the news about my grandfather. I was struggling to believe he was gone while some expensive strangers told me I owned an inn.
“Are you ready?” Sterling asked, watching me closely.
I nodded.
We stepped inside, and I went numb at the sight of the woman arguing with the receptionist. Part of me had refused to believe it until the proof was in front of my eyes, and there she was. Jasmine was there, begging for a consultation with the legalers.
“Jasmine…” I said.
She whipped around fast, and the receptionist hurried out of sight the moment Jasmine disengaged. The uncanny way Jasmine’s expression turned from desperate to sweet made me nauseous. “Cassian! Sorry I ran off on you. I just had a quick question.”
“I have a quick question too. For you,” I said.
