“We’re not revealing the alpha’s name until next of kin has been notified,” the commissioner said as Dash got close enough to listen in.
“Is it true there was also a raid on an underground alpha-attracted club near the location where this body was found?” one reporter asked.
Dash had noticed there’d been nothing mentioned about the raid on the news and thought it a bit odd—though from what the bartender had told him about their constant raids, the Guard would likely keep things under wraps. If not, someone would eventually ask, ‘Why haven’t you closed it by now?’
They’d have a lot of questions to answer and them being on the take might come to light.
Honestly, it should.
“I wasn’t made aware of any raid last night,” the commissioner replied.
An outright lie—or did the commissionernotknow? He found that hard to believe, but Dash supposed it was possible. The man had passed retirement age long ago, so who knew how involved he was with the day-to-day operations of every precinct.
“Multiple witness accounts say there was—with a heavy Guard presence all over the old industrial area,” another reporter asked.
“Where are you getting witnesses from?Wecurrently have no witnesses or statements,” the commissioner said. “If they were really there last night, tell them to come in to aid us in finding whoever did this.”
“Are you saying itwasfoul play?” another reporter asked.
“I am not,” the commissioner said. “The coroner hasn’t completed the autopsy yet. But if it was a criminal act instead of an act of the gods, we’d like anyone who sawanythingto come to their closest Guard station and file a report.”
“Can you guarantee those witnesses won’t be arrested?” the first reporter asked.
“Why would we arrest them?” the commissioner asked.
“Your hounds busted an underground alpha-attracted club. Any witnesses might be assumed to be part of that community. They’d fear for their freedomandsafety—and likely won't come forward in fear of being arrested.”
“We wouldn’t automatically assume they were a member of that community,” the commissioner said.
Dash rolled his eyes.
“Is there a reason that particular club has been raided eight times in the last six months alone?” the reporter asked, chasing the story. “Or the fact there’s been an alpha labeled as missing—and now murdered—after nearly every single one of these raids?”
A tingling awareness wandered up Dash’s spine. More were missing? Was there a connection—and if so, was Jaye part of a larger situation?
“I know nothing about that,” the commissioner replied.
“Maybe you need to investigate why your Guardsmen are targeting a community that does no harm to anyone. All they want to do is have the freedom to love one another. Why is that so wrong? They should have the same rights as anyone else.”
“Guardsmen don’t make the laws. We enforce them,” the commissioner said. “If you have a problem with the laws, seek out someone on the council.”
“You enforcethoselaws, but what about others? Like the one that says the Guard shouldn’t accept payoffs and kickbacks in return for a blind eye?”
“That’s all I have for today,” the commissioner said, ignoring the question.
“You now have blood on your hands, Commissioner,” the reporter yelled at the man’s back.
The commissioner kept on walking, feigning obliviousness. One of his lackeys urged the members of the press to move on. They slowly dispersed, chatting in small groups as they climbed down the marble steps.
Dash wandered through the crowd of exiting reporters, walking up a few steps, and found the one who’d mentioned the missing alphas. He was talking with another reporter as Dash approached.
“You’d better be careful oryou’rethe next alpha they’re going to target,” the other reporter murmured. “The more you yell, the more they might assume you’re one of them.”
“Let them,”the mouthy reporter spat. “At least I’d go out trying to make things better instead of sitting on my ass doing nothing becausemy daddyowns the paper.”
“Fuck off, soft boy,” the second reporter snapped. He suddenly noticed Dash near and almost appeared ashamed of using the slur. “I’ll catch you later, Meade.”
Meade turned and almost ran into Dash. “Sorry.”
