Page 158 of Black Bird

“On the contrary. He’s telling the truth, honey … but I don’t need to get what you seek legally, if I’m part of the team that got those answers in the first place.” Athan felt the blood drain from his face as Sarah slowly lowered herself back into the chair.

Athan …

“What is she talking about, Kane?” Rhaena asked, wide-eyed. All it took was the look Sarah gave through that window, and the call of his name through their bond and he bolted from the room, jerking the door open and stepping inside.

“You’re done, Foster.” It was a struggle to keep his eyes from darkening with the rage that he was starting to feel. Nearly impossible to keep his canines from showing as he sensed how hard Sarah’s heart was pounding. Brent stepped aside and Athan placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Lie to me, detective. Tell me you don’t know exactly what the Black Bird Tavern really is.” Foster’s palms slapped against the table. “Go ahead. I’m dying to hear you explain it. Tell me how her body was found right outside that place, why there’s two more bodies that look exactly like her, and why one of them left a calling card foryou. Lie to me!” Sarah started to get up, leaning on him while he ignored Foster and tried to lead her out the door. She didn’t back down. “Lie to me and say that it’s just a coincidence that a kid went missing that looks just like you, and his last known location was at the same bar! I know more than you think I do. One of you can help me, or I can out both you,andyour partner! What’s it gonna be, detective?”

Athan slowly turned on his heel, glancing at the window where he could practically hear Rhaena cursing on the other side in panic. He sneered at Foster, who didn’t so much as blink. Sarah gripped his arm. “Say another word, Agent Foster … and you’ll have to charge me. Because if you threaten either of them again …I’ll rip your fucking jaw off.”

“Give me what I want, and I won’t charge you for that alone. I’m not the bad guy here, Sarah. You show me yours; I’ll show you mine. It’s a win-win for you anyway. You’ll get what you’ve always wanted … and we put the real bad guys behind bars.”

“Just a minute ago, you were trying to claimshewas the bad guy,” Brent fired, nodding towards Sarah.

“There’s a common denominator in every case,” Foster replied, turning her attention back to Sarah. “In this case … you’re not just the common denominator. You’re thekey.”

“Prove it, then. If you’re not lying about what you think you know … then give me a reason to believe you.” Sarah tightened her grip on his arm and Athan rested a hand over hers.

Foster smirked, straightening herself. “Linden’s Coffeehouse. When you were in Seattle, after your mother died, you went there almost every morning. You always wore the same brown sweater. Always ordered a red-eye, with room for cream and sugar, but you never put any in it. I always found it strange. At night, you curled up on the same spot on the couch with a blanket that’s seen better days. You brought it with you, I found out … I saw it in your apartment the day that we tossed it. Your high school boyfriend tried to get you to stay when you finally decided to leave Seattle and come here, and that argument got so uncomfortable that you bloodied that poor kid’s nose. Should I continue?”

Sarah slacked and her eyes widened in realization. “It was you …”

Foster nodded. “Me, and a couple of others. Until you left and we decided to wait and see what you’d do. We hoped that you’d let it go, take a new job … shut your trap, and be happy with what we gave you of your mother’s ashes. I even went so far as to give you what I could of her records. I had to go out of my way just to get you a death certificate for her that wouldn’t disclose what actually happened.”

“I never received that.”

“Nope. It got me in trouble and was sealed with the rest of her shit. I’ve been on your side for a long time, Sarah St. James. Now you’ve meddled in more shit and got yourself hurt. What a surprise to find out I had to come all the way to Boston, just to cover your ass again.”

“Sarah …” Athan said softly, caressing her back. Brent was frozen in shock.

“If I talk to you, the cameras will be shut off,” Sarah started.

“Sarah—” Brent warned.

“I’ll have the sound shut off on both ends. Cameras off. You have my word,” Foster promised.

Sarah turned toward him, a wary look in her eyes. She was gonna do it whether he wanted her to or not. Sacrificing herself for their sakes—as if he fucking deserved it.

Please don’t. We can take care of ourselves. Don’t do this. I can help you figure out your mom’s case, Sarah.

She smiled softly and placed her palm against his chest.

I’ve got this, babe. Just trust me, alright?

It took every bit of his will, but he hesitantly nodded, pulling her into a tight hug and not giving ashitwho saw it. He glared at Foster, and then turned toward Brent. “Let’s go, Stratford.”

CHAPTER 28

THETHREADS OF FATE

Athan’s piercing glance through the mirror was enough proof to know that he had sensed her panic when Rhaena heard Foster threaten to expose what they were. How the hell she knew any of it, they didn’t truly know. But Jenkins braced a hand on her back, directing her attention to Captain Foley, whose mouth dropped open in betrayal. She felt like she’d be sick.

“Out you? About what?” he asked, turning to face her. “What did you do, Gloves?”

Rhaena’s palms began to sweat, and the color leached from her face as she tried to remain calm. “I haven’t done anything, sir. I’ve busted my ass on this case, and so has Kane.”

“I won’t argue that, Northwood. But that doesn’t mean that you’re telling me everything. What would give her a reason to think she has something on you?”

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