He nodded. “We were nice to the humans when they first started working here. But they weren’t nice back.”
“I’m sorry they weren’t nice to you. Don’t judge us all based on those assholes. Thanks for talking to me. If I have any questions later, can I talk to you guys again?”
They all nodded, and I got to my feet. I stalked back into Mariam’s office, throwing open her door.
She jerked her head up and I scowled at her. “Cleaners, Mariam?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Human cleaners. Why would you need cleaners in a fae building anyway?”
“This facility— and my position— was designed to be a bridge between the fae and every other race in this world.”
I was sure that somewhere, that logic worked for the fae. Personally, I had no fucking idea how. They’d invited humans in here. Humans who would get an up-close look at the wealth and power the light fae held after coming through those portals. How exactly would that help create a relationship of respect?
“So you thought hiring human cleaners would… what? Make you more approachable?”
Mariam flushed. “I didn’t make that decision.”
“Okay. This time I need a list ofeveryonewho had access to this office. Including the humans.”
She picked up the phone, murmured a few words to someone and hung up.
“Adelina will have it for you.”
“Thank you.”
I turned, walked out, took the list from Adelina’s outstretched hand, and scanned it.
The fae had hired Crystal Clear Cleaning. I Googled the company as I stepped into the escalator and headed back down to the lobby. How like the fae to completely forget that they had a team of humans accessing their buildings.
I got back into my car and headed to Samael’s tower.
Zip and Cil were snuggled up next to Evie on the sofa when I arrived. Evie was reading them a story and she glanced up at me, but I waved my hand, indicating that she should keep going.
“And they lived happily ever after,” she said a few minutes later. The kids looked up.
“How’s our dad?” Zip demanded.
I stepped further into the room. “He’s doing okay. He hasn’t woken up yet, though. I need to ask you guys a few questions.”
They nodded and I sat next to Zip on the couch. “Okay you guys, I need you to think back to everything that you and your dad did over the past week. Let’s start with the weekend. What do you do?”
They blinked at me and Evie jumped in. “You guys go to a lesser fae school, right?”
“Yes. I’m in theadvancedmath class,” Cil said. “Zip’s in the math class forbabies.”
Zip’s mouth twisted and I leaned close. “I wasn’t any good at math either.”
He looked up at me. “You weren’t?”
“Nah. I liked to read.”
He grinned. “I like to read too.”
“Awesome. Okay so when you finished school on Friday, what did you do next?”
“Dad took us to the park. And then he had to work, so we went to Merrill’s.”
