Page 33 of Bind Me

The door opens, and a curvy woman walks in. She’s wearing a crisp burgundy dress with buttons running down the front, her hair is pulled off her face in a ponytail, and her expression is serious. She takes a seat across the table from me, folding her hands on the table.

“Do you know why you’re here?” she asks, her thin eyebrows arching on her round face.

“Not a clue,” I answer, leaning back in my chair. “What’s going on?”

“Where were you last Wednesday morning, before midday?” she asks, jumping right into it.

I think back to almost a week ago, barely remembering what I had for dinner last night. Then it hits me—it was the day I went on my first mission in Norway, when I went into the fjord. The beginning of all my troubles.

“I was on a work mission, investigating a location by the fjords. Did something happen?” Part of me wonders if this is all related to my time in the fjord and Asbesta.

“Do you have anyone who can corroborate your whereabouts?” the officer asks. “We spoke with your boss, and she said you were in the office after midday, but before that, she hadn’t heard from you.”

“You spoke with my boss?” I stammer, feeling a bit of panic rising that I’ll get fired for drawing the authorities to my workplace, for appearing like I’m causing trouble.

The woman in front of me just stares with huge brown eyes, her expression stern.

“Okay, look, you’re asking questions that don’t make sense,” I mutter.

She leans forward, lips tight. “I’m going to be straight with you, Sasha. We know you’re a bounty hunter, a mermaid, but you could be in a lot of trouble. Last Wednesday, a ship close to shore washed into the docks with seven crew members butchered.”

“And?” I blink at her, confused. “What’s that got to do with me?”

The woman releases a heavy breath. “Two sailors on the boat place you at the scene as the mermaid who attacked the men and pulled their throats out.”

I laugh almost hysterically. “You’ve got to be joking.”

“The thing is, no one can place you for several hours from the morning until lunch, and that’s enough time to reach a boat that was attacked not far from shore.”

“Wait, why would I even do that?” My gut is churning with a sick feeling.

“That’s what I’m here to discover.” She tilts her head, studying me.

“Well, I didn’t do it,” I state, feeling like I’m in a crazy town.

“Two crew members who survived both swear they saw you in town the other day and reported you as their attacker.”

“I don’t understand.” I shift in my seat, stunned and confused. “This has to be a mistake. I was doing my job, investigating a case by the fjord, and I sure as hell wasn’t out at sea. I mean, I went for a swim in the fjord, and if that’s a crime, I’ll accept my punishment. But I didn’t attack any ship or its crew.”

My knees are bouncing under the table as perspiration rolls down my back. I shouldn’t be nervous when I’m innocent, yet she’s staring at me like I’m under a microscope.

The woman’s gaze doesn’t soften. “I need you to come with me, because right now, you’re a prime suspect.”

“There has to be some mistake. I would never?—”

“We’ll get to the bottom of it,” she says, cutting me off. “For now, please come with me.”

“Fine.” I swallow hard, my pulse speeding. “But I’m telling you, this is all a huge misunderstanding.”

The officer takes me into a stark, cold room where three other guards stand watch. Two men are seated across the room, and they look rough, dressed casually. One has tattoos snaking up his arms, and the other has a scar running down his cheek. Their eyes lock on to me with a mix of fear and hatred, glaring my way as though I’m some kind of monster.

“That’s her!” one of them yells, his face turning pale as he points a trembling finger at me. He reels back, hitting the wall behind him, his eyes wide with terror.

I feel a rush of confusion and fear. “I didn’t attack any damn ship!” My words shake, but I try to keep my composure.

The second guy’s hands are shaking, too. “It’s definitely her. I’ll never forget that face.”

Before I can react, one of the guards steps forward and wrenches my hands behind my back before slapping cuffs on my wrists. “You’re under arrest, Sasha Snow.” It happens so fast I barely have time to register it. The metal bites into my skin, the cold sting sending a shock wave of panic through my body.

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