Page 11 of Carver’s Crusade

Raven shifts in the bed, pushing herself up a little straighter. I watch her closely. There’s a slight wince she tries to hide, but it doesn’t get past me.

“How are we feeling?” Tally asks, stepping closer to the bed, already reaching for the chart.

“I’m fine,” Raven says quickly. Too quickly. “My throat is just a little sore.”

My jaw tightens, but I keep my mouth shut.

Tally’s gaze flicks to Raven’s neck, then back to her face. She doesn’t call her out, but I can tell she doesn’t fully buy it either.

“That’s to be expected,” she says, her tone calm, clinical. “You’ve got bruising developing. You’ll want to keep ice on it—twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off—as much as you can tolerate. It’ll help reduce swelling.”

Raven nods like a good patient.

“And stick to soft foods for a few days,” Tally continues. “Nothing that’ll irritate your throat further. Soups, yogurt, things like that.”

“I can do that.”

Tally makes a note on the chart, then steps back slightly.

That’s when Shield moves in.

Everything about him shifts—subtle, but I know the signs. He’s not here as a brother. He’s here to work.

“Ms. Mueller, we didn’t have a chance to meet yesterday. I’m Detective Kade Black,” he says, voice even, measured. “I need to ask you a few questions about what happened.”

Raven’s shoulders stiffen just a fraction. If I wasn’t watching her like I am, I might miss it.

“Okay,” she says.

He studies her for a second, like he’s deciding how hard to push.

“Do you remember anything about the incident? Anyone you might have encountered in the parking lot?”

Raven shakes her head. “No. One minute I was walking, and then…” She trails off, brows pulling together like she’s trying to force something to come back. “Nothing.”

I don’t believe her.

But damn if she doesn’t make it sound convincing.

Shield doesn’t react right away. He just watches her, eyes sharp, weighing every word.

“We searched the parking lot,” he says finally. “We didn’t find much, but we did find this.”

He pulls out a broken taser inside an evidence bag, holding it up where she can see it.

My attention snaps to her.

Raven’s gaze follows, and for just a split second, something flickers in her eyes. It’s gone so fast I almost think I imagined it.

“Do you recognize it?” Shield asks.

She shakes her head immediately. “No. I’ve never seen that before.”

Silence stretches.

Then Tally cuts in, her tone firm. “There were no signs that she was tased,” she says, crossing her arms lightly. “No burns or muscle trauma.”

Shield glances at her, then back at Raven.