“Are you sure he completed the assignment?”
“Of course.The man and woman were not a big deal, of course, but executing a child troubled him.That job ruined him.He quit.”
“Quit?After how many years on the force?”
“He was a Ward.”
An orphan pledged to the Guard.They usually served their whole life.“You’re sure he killed her?”
“Yes.”
Purcell reached into his mind, just a little.Not enough for the man to notice.He seemed to be telling the truth.He was also angry over losing his Vega.The Guard tapped Crescent orphanages for their most promising Wards, mentoring them and luring them into service.Perhaps this man was the Vega’s mentor.“What was his name?I want to talk to him.”
“We never give out the names of our employees.”The captain’s mouth tightened with a hint of smugness.“I’m sure you understand, Mr.Smith.”
Purcell reached again, probing for the name now.Sin.Similar to the name he’d overheard in the conversation between Brom and Moncrief.He knew of a Cyntag, an old Dragon with a fearsome reputation who had served in the Guard many years ago.“Is his name Cyntag?”
People usually gave away their answer when you took them by surprise.The captain shuttered his expression but not fast enough.“As I said?—”
Purcell raised his hand.“I understand.I had reason to suspect that perhaps he hadn’t done his job.But you assure me he did, so I shall consider the matter closed.”
His hand was on the doorknob when the captain’s voice stopped him.“Why was it necessary to kill a child?”
“If we were trying to make it look like an accident, she would have been a witness to the fact that it wasn’t.Can you imagine her story to the authorities, about a Dragon killing her parents?”He scoffed.
The captain gave a quick nod of understanding.“But why would it matter now?If she was alive, what could she do?”
“Loose ends, that’s all.”
Whatcouldshe do, a girl who had no powers?She could ruin everything according to Brom’s vision.Brom had referred to a granddaughter named Ruby who was destined to save thousands of Crescents.He would not leave this task to someone else, qualified or not.
His phone rang when he stepped out to the parking lot.His son, who was monitoring the scry orb he’d planted at Moncrief’s property.“Yes?”
“The woman who showed up at Moncrief’s house last night returned, and you won’t believe this—sheisa Crescent.A Dragon.So she’s probably Justin’s daughter after all.I suspect Moncrief used a masking spell, which is why we couldn’t tell yesterday.”
Purcell stroked his trimmed beard.“You are, as always, late with your revelations.I’m sure she’s Ruby.You are continuing to monitor the scry orb?”
Darren’s silence spoke the anger that the boy didn’t have the guts to express.Finally he said, “Of course.She’s driving to an area populated with Dragons.Wait.She’s pausing in front of a martial arts studio, staring at it like she wants to incinerate the place.The sign says Dragon Arts.”
“Keep watching.”Purcell disconnected, then made a call that garnered the name of the proprietor.No surprise that it was Cyntag Valeron.
3
Ruby sat in her truck across the street from Dragon Arts.She’d changed clothes and done a quick clean-up at home.Even taking that bit of time had stretched her tight.She’d wanted to drive right over and tear out Cyntag’s throat.
Those kind of thoughts usually disturbed her, hinting at a primitive violence that reared its head when someone wronged or threatened her.It throbbed inside her, curling her fingers into fists.And honestly, it scared her sometimes, the viciousness of her thoughts.
Get it under control.This is one bad dude.All I’m doing right now is finding out how bad.
The logical part of her brain added,A bad dude who possibly has control of bizarre and deadly weapons while you have a gun.Hullo?
But what else can I do, let him just get away with killing Mon and never know why?No way in hell.
Without that envelope, she had nothing but Cyntag’s name and the schizophrenic thoughts bouncing around in her head.
According to their website, he was teaching a class starting in—she glanced at the clock—one minute.While he was otherwise occupied, she’d snoop and be long gone before his class was over.She had no idea how much Cyntag knew about her.Because she usually wore her hair in a braid, she left it loose and frizzy.Not a big disguise but, at a glance, different enough.She had no intention of him seeing her, but best to be prepared.Which included her gun, the metal clip of the holster cool against the small of her back.She’d found it useful when she started going off-site to look at people’s stuff.In a city like Miami, no way was she walking into someone’s garage alone and unarmed.
Warm air washed over her neck, and, in the corner of her eye, something shimmered next to her.She jerked to the side but saw nothing.Still, all her hairs sprung to attention.It had felt like a breath.She shivered.
