His desk is as neat as the rest of the place. No papers or random files. Just a quill with a bottle of ink on the corner. And a bust of some fae hero from the past. So, I start going through the drawers.
I’m very surprised none of them are locked. It could only mean one thing—he’s not keeping anything important in his desk. My shoulders slump, but I don’t give up.
Not until I’ve searched every single drawer. And find nothing.
“Fuck,” I mutter, resisting the urge to slam the last drawer shut.
As I try to organize the files the way they’ve been before moving in, I accidentally scrape the bottom of a drawer with my knuckles. The sound it makes is hollow…
I pause.
Quietly, I rap my knuckles against it. Just to be sure, I open another drawer, move the stuff away, and knock on the bottom of that one, too. It sounds nothing like the first one.
Ah, now it makes sense why Daegel needs no locks. There’s a secret compartment.
Kneeling next to the desk, I remove the files from that drawer, and then inspect the bottom to try and find a way to open it. Just when I’m about to give up, I push on one of the corners and something clicks. The fake bottom opens to reveal a secret compartment with a small leather notebook inside.
Immediately, I flip through the pages. It’s some sort of a log?
Frowning, I read Daegel’s writing. It’s nothing but some names, locations, times, and descriptions. I recognize some of the family names of Ezkai soldiers I’ve served with in the Order.
I have no clue what any of this means, but maybe Vera will. If Daegel keeps this hidden, it must carry some value.
Without hesitation, I shove the notebook under my jacket and secure it neatly in the waist of my pants. Then, I replace the fake bottom of the drawer and put all the files back the way they were.
I’m so relieved when I get back on my feet and rush to the door. Slowly, I open it to see if anyone’s around. But the house is empty, still sleeping.
Before I head upstairs, I need a cover. What if Daegel’s awake and wants to know where I went? I whirl on my heel and stride towards the kitchen.
I’m going to make myself a cup of coffee. Even make him one. Coffee in bed in the morning. He won’t question that, and it’ll excuse the time I was gone from bed looking for evidence.
From the cupboard, I grab two clay mugs and the copper pot to make coffee. I’m searching the cupboards for the coffee beans when I hear steps in the corridor. A couple pairs of steps.
A moment later, two voices reach my ears, too. Neither of them are Daegel’s voice.Shit.
Before I can think of a smarter plan, I round the corner and hide in the walk-in pantry, just to the side of the kitchen. I press my back to the shelves behind me and stand there quiet as amouse. In front of me on the shelves is a muslin bag full of coffee beans.
I still hold two mugs and the coffee maker in hand. I may have forgotten my blades, but at least I can beat them to death if I must with a copper coffee maker…
The kitchen door creaks when it opens.
“He’s a pretty mess,” a man’s voice says. “You should have seen what Gal managed to do to him overnight. I’m surprised the shithead hasn’t broken yet.”
“Gal will break him. Sooner or later,” another voice, a female one, replies. “That’s why she’s paid so well.”
Who the fuck are they talking about?
“It’s a shame Daegel keeps her for himself,” the man says. The door to the cupboard slams shut. “She would have been so useful on the last mission we went to with the late Ezkai General.”
The woman snorts. “Yeah, I don’t think Kitajo Hiromasa wanted anymore Caligos in his ranks than he already had.”
“True,” the man says. “I’m starving. When is Philip coming to take over?”
“In about an hour. He’s got to find a way to cover up for us because the Taaslord’s been ordered to catch this motherfucker in the basement. Daegel doesn’t want Noire breathing down his neck while he deals with him himself.”
Oh, no.
Oh, no, no, no.
