Richie’s eyes bulged. He choked out a gurgle.
“Please let him go,” I whispered. My whole body felt numb. Was this real? Because ifthiswas real…
Donovan’s fingers twitched and relaxed just a fraction. Color surged back into Richie’s cheeks as he choked for air.
Slowly, Donovan turned to face me. The fury in his eyes had died down, just a fraction, but it still simmered just beneath the surface. “I will not kill him, Chosen. Not today, anyway.”
Richie let out a moan of terror. I caught an unpleasant whiff of what smelled like the subway after dark, and I realized that he’d peed his pants.
Donovan frowned, looking at the dark stain spreading on Richie’s crotch. “Allow me a moment to speak with this disgusting wretch in private, Chosen,” he said quietly. “Cress is waiting for you in your employer’s office now. Go and join her.”
My whole world was collapsing around me. No… my whole world was exploding.
“Please,” Donovan added, his voice dropping a whole octave lower, vibrating through me, shaking me to the core. “Go.”
I mouthed like a goldfish, nodded, then walked stiffly out of the room, then carefully shut the door behind me.
What the fuck? What the actualfuck?
Numb, almost robot-like, I walked down the corridor and around the corner, heading towards the light in Yvette’s office. She was there, at her desk, brow furrowed, nodding seriously at a large police officer sitting in the chair in front of her.
Without thinking, I walked straight in.
“Susan! Oh, thank goodness, Susan!” Yvette leapt to her feet and rushed around her desk towards me, her sharp silver bob swinging with her swift, bird-like movements. Yvette was ten years older than me, thin, wiry, and very quick-witted. “I’ve been so worried.” She stopped just in front of me, her dark brows pinched together in concern. “When you didn’t come back from lunch, I knew something terrible had happened.” She tilted her head. “Are you okay?”
I opened my mouth. “I— I?—”
“It’s okay,” she said, taking my hand gently. “You must be very rattled. The officer here filled me in on what happened.”
I glanced at the police officer and blinked. My vision had gone funny. He was a little blurry. And… glowing. A green glow, like an aura, blazed around his body.
“Okay,” I managed.
“You're an extraordinarily brave woman, Susan,” Yvette went on, her voice soft. “I don’t know what I’d do if I walked into an active hostage situation. The police officer said you distracted the villain, saved the jewels, pulled the fire alarm, and got everyone out safely.”
She was waiting for a response.
“Uh. Yes, that’s right,” I said.
“You’re so brave. Oh, and my dear,” she sighed. “You’re still soaking wet!”
Thiswasreal. This was all real. I had to say something.Say something, Susan!I licked my lips. “I’m sorry, Yvette. My… uh… my phone. It died. I couldn’t call you.”
She reached out and squeezed my hand. “Of course it did. The officer said that the sprinkler system flooded everything.”
The officer stood up. I glanced at him again, but the strange green blaze hurt my eyes. “She was very brave, but quite foolish,” the officer barked. “She insisted on coming back to work as soon as we could clear the scene.”
Yvette glanced at the officer sharply. “Susan is not foolish, officer; she is merely dedicated to her work.” She turned back to me and smiled. “It’s an admirable trait. I would have come back to work, too.”
“Indeed,” the officer rasped. The green glow shifted, and I caught a glimpse of Cress’s slim form in the middle of a rounder cop’s body. “If only she could devote her time to a more worthy cause.”
My boss glared at the officer again. “Susan is to be commended for her bravery, and for her commitment in coming back to work.”
The officer eyeballed Yvette, his face a stony mask. “If you say so.”
Yvette turned back to me. “My dear, I’m just glad you’re okay. Go home, rest up.” She tilted her head. “Will you need a few days off work?”
I swallowed and gathered myself up. Thiswasreal. “Oh… no, Yvette. Thank you so much.” I managed a smile. “I’ll be back in the morning, bright and early. I promise.”
