Maybe it was her complete lack of emotion, but now that I’d told her the hardest part, the rest came a little easier. Donovan’s hand in mine helped, too, and I kept my grip on it as I explained how the dead had come to me since I was a child. She had my background information thanks to Andre’s case, so I didn’t go into detail about my time in the psych hospital. I also avoided telling her about any of the other ghosts who’d come to me in my life that she didn’t know about. Just because I was telling her the truth didn’t mean I had to tell her literally everything.
Only twice did any sort of emotion break through her mask, the first when I told her a friend had suggested my power lay in finding lost things, not just speaking to the dead. I didn’t give any names, not wanting to incriminate Ori, but I thought I saw a hint of something in her eyes when I mentioned it. Recognition, maybe? Curiosity? It was there and gone before I could fully name it. She didn’t even blink when I told her Donovan and I were the ones who’d found Jaime Smalls.
The second time came when I told her about the chimera in the woods. That got more of a reaction than anything else I’d said so far. Both brows went up and she leaned forward, only a bit, but noticeable. She glanced at Donovan when I admitted it had hurt him, again leaving out Lelo and Ori’s names. I also skirted around Landon and his family, making it seem like they’d already been headed home when we were attacked and the gunshots alone had been enough to scare it off. I was here to tellmytruth, after all, not to spill everyone’s secrets.
Silence fell around us once I finished. Cornell stared into the middle distance, contemplating everything I’d told her. She surely saw the holes in the story, where I’d left out the mention of others with abilities, and I could only hope she wouldn’t prod at them. Hell, my only hope at this point was that she believed me and didn’t fire Donovan and have me locked up as a lunatic.
“What is your plan going forward?” she finally asked and again, that was not the reaction I’d been expecting.
“I’m sorry?”
Cornell tsked, all business now that she’d come to whatever decision she’d come to. “Your plans. Should I be expecting more anonymous phone calls whenever someone dies?”
“No? I mean, no.” I shook my head. “I was thinking, if it happens again, Donovan could help me and he could maybe call you and tell you directly? I don’t exactly want the whole town to know. And if there’s ever anything that happens here I could help with, you could call me or Donovan could tell me? Like with Landon. I’m still learning how it all works, but I want to help.”
“Using information obtained from a psychic won’t fly in a courtroom. It may make solving the case easier, but the paperwork will be a nightmare.”
“Does that mean you believe me, then?” She sounded like she did, but I needed to know. Some part of me, the part that felt suspiciously like a traumatized little boy, needed the reassurance that someone who didn’t love me believed me. I shouldn’t need that validation, but I desperately did.
“I’m a practical woman, Mr. Copeland. I’ve also lived in Lowery’s Crossing my entire life, as did my mother and her mother. There have always been rumors and whispers that there was more to this town than met the eye. Your story simply proves a lot of theories I’ve always held. This doesn’t grant you any special privileges, though. If you insist on helping, it will be done correctly.” Her attention shifted to Donovan, leaving me floundering in shock. “Detective Parker.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Donovan stood up straighter. He looked calm and unruffled, but his grip on my hand tightened, betraying his nerves.
“I’m not going to say I’m pleased with how things have been handled thus far. While I’m aware that you likely just wanted to keep Alex safe, you broke more law enforcement procedures than I can count in the process. Under most circumstances, you’d be placed on administrative leave at best, but more than likely, a competent chief would fire you.”
My heart dropped into my stomach and beside me, Donovan went very still, his worst fear becoming reality.
“Chief Cornell, please. He was only trying to help me. You know he’s a good detective,” I protested, trying not to shrink in on myself when she turned that penetrating gaze on me.
“While your support is noted, it is not needed. I am a competent chief, but as I said before, I’m also practical. Given the oddities of this town, I would be a fool not to see the possibilities of having an officer who has knowledge and connections to the more arcane side of our community.”
“May I ask what you’re suggesting?” An edge of cautious hope lightened Donovan, chasing away some of the darkness that had lingered over him for days now.
“You will continue to perform your duties as a detective with the LCPD. However, I will be placing you in charge of any incidents that come through here that areunusual. This will be an unofficial duty, of course, strictly off the record.”
“I accept.” Donovan didn’t hesitate, though I got the feeling this hadn’t exactly been a request from the chief, but an order.
“And Mr. Copeland, I’ll have to insist on at least one thing. If you are going to help, I expect to be notified ofallincidents, not just the ones you want to share.”
Unlike Donovan, I did hesitate for a moment. Ori had trusted me with the secrets of the paranormal half of Lowery’s Crossing. Could I walk this line between the two? How could I truly help if I insisted on remaining apart from them? On the other hand, how could I keep pretending I was just a regular, normal person if I delved deeper into not only that community, but also the limits of my ability? Did I even want to pretend anymore? Could I handle the consequences of letting go of a lifetime of lies and hiding?
“Mr. Copeland?” Cornell prompted when I didn’t respond.
“I can notify you of as many incidents as I can,” I finally said. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but I pressed on. “There are some people who don’t want to reveal themselves, most out of fear. I made a promise to keep them safe, just like you made a promise to the town. I can give you my word that I’ll report the incidents I can to you, but I can’t promise that I can give you every single detail. It’s not my place to out them to the world.”
I couldn’t back down on this and I forced myself to maintain eye contact even as my grip on Donovan’s hand threatened to crack his knuckles. Ori was already going to be pissed off at me for just this much, even more than they already were right now. If I bent anymore, I knew I’d lose their friendship for good.
“I don’t like it,” Cornell said, and it was all I could do not to flinch. “I can respect it, though. I suggest a compromise. I will agree to you not sharing personal details, so long as it doesn’t present a danger to the rest of the town. Creatures such as this chimera you mentioned pose an active threat and I need to know how to keep people safe. Anyone, human or otherwise, who hurts others or is dangerous enough to do so, loses their right to privacy and anonymity. Do you agree?”
The line I walked narrowed to a razor’s edge, but her words left me just enough space to keep my balance. “I agree.”
“Then I believe we’re done here.”
“One more thing,” Donovan cut in hurriedly as she started to rise.
“What else, Parker?”
“My partner, Will…”
