Page 62 of Black Bird

“Last night … there was—there was a body.” He paused and they both looked at him with their mugs held in front of them, staring at him intently. He sighed, and pulled his cigarettes out, both girls reaching a hand out for one.

“We got that part. Who was it?” Wren laughed.

Athan waited until everybody was lit and the kitchen was hazing with smoke before he continued … and looked Sarah dead in the eyes. She stiffened. “They wanted it to look like you.” He felt his chest tighten at the horror in her face.

“Wait … what?” Wren sat her coffee down. “The victim?”

“Yes,” Athan said, simply. He couldn’t take his eyes off Sarah. “Sarah, she was dressed just like you. Long black hair … we basically found her the exact way you were found in the alley. When I got there, she wasn’t recognizable. They’d slashed her face beyond recognition, and I would have been convinced it was you if not for your tattoos.” Sarah paled.

“They?” She muttered hoarsely.

“We think it might be more than one person.”

“You think Brent’s father is one of those people?” Wren asked tightly. “Northwood told Sarah she thinks he’s been following me around, too.”

“Well, that was another reason I brought you both here. We don’t know if he’s involved. But if he is, he’s well-guarded and it’s gonna take a lot to prove. To put it bluntly, we feel your safety could be a concern. He’s a powerful man. And Sarah, the fact that you were with his son …”

“I understand. But …” She looked up at him sadly. “Isn’t it possible that someone could just have the same taste in clothes and was in the wrong place at the wrong time?” She was fishing for any reason to feel safe. It made him want to rage.

“It’s possible, yeah … but not likely. They wrote a message on the wall in her blood.”

Wren and Sarah exchanged sidelong glances. “Which said?” Wren asked.

“Trick-or-treat.” Athan lowered his eyes back to the floor.

“Fuck …” Sarah whispered, pinching between her eyes. “They’re always gonna be after me. This is never gonna fucking end!” She shook, and buried her face in her palms, her cigarette extended between her middle and forefinger. Wren knelt in front of her, trying to take her hands, or give her comfort. Sarah wasn’t having it. Her back bobbed up and down in a silent cry, and she sniffled as she bent over her legs. He couldn’t stand it.

“I want you to stay here,” Athan offered. Both girls looked up at him. “Either with me, or with Rhaena until we know it’s safe.”

“Both of us?” Wren asked. “I’ve got a cat at home. I’m pretty sure you’re not gonna want me to bring him here.” Rhaena wouldn’t have that in her house either. Cats and dogs … no.

“If you don’t feel comfortable staying, then I need to assign uniforms to watch you. That means home, work …extracurricular activities,” Athan emphasized.

“I’ll stay.” Sarah sniffled. He nodded at her. “What about work?”

“If you wanna go, I’ll make sure you’re protected there, too. Even if I have to do it myself.”

“I’d like to go home. I also have a concealed carry permit, if that helps.” Wren shrugged. “Do whatever you need to do.” Surprising, but he nodded at that, too.

“So, when you said you were having Brent come to the precinct for questioning, what exactly do you think his part is in all this?” Sarah asked warily.

“That’s what I’d like to find out. I’d like to think nothing, but my instincts tell me otherwise. Rhaena agrees on that front, too.”

“That’s what she told me as well. Mostly because that’s what I toldher.”

“I know,” Athan soothed.

“Will he be arrested?” she asked.

“That depends on what we figure out. But he’s a decent lawyer. He’ll have a plan, I’m pretty sure. In the meantime, any time you’re not in one of these apartments, or at the precinct, I need you both to be acutely aware of everything going on around you. Don’t go anywhere alone. If it seems suspicious, it’s probably because it is … call it in. We all need to be on the same page here. Understand?”

They both nodded.

“Do I need someone to follow me home?” Wren asked, sitting back into her chair.

“I’ll call Jenkins and have him send somebody. I don’t want you leaving until they’re here. Agreed?”

“Yeah.” She nodded.

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