Page 74 of Black Bird

Rhaena followed behind the traffic, taking a left at the next street. “So, you didn’t tell him this last night, I assume?”

“No, we got in a little … argument this morning.” Sarah sighed, sipping from her coffee.

“Already?” Rhaena huffed a laugh. “About what?”

“I may have … taken matters into my own hands this morning … literally. And then in my mouth.” Sarah turned her face toward the window and Rhaena laughed loudly.

“And it pissed him off?”

“No … he let me do it. He seemed really desperate, Rhaena.” She slowly turned her face back toward her, her expression almost sad. “I think someone’s really hurt him to cause him to be like this. And he wouldn’t tell me why he’d let me go that far, but still not any further. So, he rejected me again and got off the couch. I said I wanted to go home, and he told me about Brent. That’s when all the other shit came about.”

“I’m so sorry. I should never have told you to do that.” Rhaena sighed.

“I wanted to. I think he wants it too. He said as much last night.”

Rhaena tightened her grip on the steering wheel. “He does, Sarah.” She felt Sarah’s eyes on her as she kept her focus on the traffic. “Athan’s not … he’s been through a lot, too. It wasn’t my place to butt in, and it’s not my place to tell his story. But I will say this … in all the years I’ve known him, he’s never so much as faced me while … you know. Let alone, the other activity you mentioned. It was always, hands to myself and enjoy it while it lasts. And we’ve never slept beside each other. Not ever.” She hoped maybe it offered her a little comfort, at least.

“Is he sick?” she asked.

Rhaena’s face scrunched and she glanced over. “Sick? No … why?”

“I fed Poe this morning. He’s out of meat. I didn’t know what else Athan fed him, so I looked around the fridge. Did you know about the blood bags in the drawer?”

Rhaena felt the color drain from her face. “Yeah, I did.” She scrambled to come up with a good explanation and finding nothing. Her stomach churned.

“Why would he have something like that? And from EverLife?”

Rhaena swallowed, and hoped Sarah wasn’t paying too much attention to how nervous she was getting. “Umm … EverLife was broken into weeks ago. Athan and I are on that case. We’re still trying to deal with your boss on that front. Those bags … they’re—think of them as evidence.”

“Do you not keep evidence at the precinct? Why would he have them?”

Fuck …

“You remember how I told you, when you were at the hospital … that we get the cases that no one wants?” She saw Sarah nod in the corner of her eye. “Sometimes we work on parts of those cases out in the open … like the web. Other parts, we don’t. He never said why, but it’s obvious he wants that blood away from curious hands. Any hands that are trying to reach into the pot and pull some big stunt that’ll wreck our case.” A horrible example of a lie. But she was trying.

“So, you don’t know what it’s for?”

“I’m assuming it has something to do with whatever Athan and Nick Specter are working on. Your boss might seem like a good person, and I’m not saying he isn’t … but he’s a slippery little shit. I’ve questioned him already, myself.”

“Is it part of my case?” she asked warily.

“We’re still trying to figure that out. We think not, but if certain pieces fit … it could explain some things.”

“So, I shouldn’t ask him about it?” Sarah asked softly, thumbing the rim of her cup.

“You should feel comfortable asking him anything. That’s what we’re here for. Just … remember that you might get answers to these questions that you’re not prepared to deal with just yet.” Rhaena glanced toward her, and Sarah seemed to understand, nodding slowly and looking back down at the cup.

“Fair enough.” She sighed.

“As far as the other problem … just give him time. You know he’s not the most social person. You’ve got farther than anyone else, and that’s saying something.”

“You’re right,” Sarah agreed.

They pulled up to the 12th and Athan’s motorcycle was already parked out front. Both of them leapt from the truck and rushed inside. As the elevator doors opened, Sarah rushed past Rhaena to where Wren wassitting with a mug of coffee at Athan’s desk, pale … green really, and her face slackened in utter shock. Athan moved aside when Sarah hit her knees in front of Wren’s chair, pulling her into a tight hug. He glanced up as Rhaena rounded the desk and their eyes met briefly.

“Who was it?” Rhaena asked softly, as the girls tearfully reunited.

“She managed to get a few pictures before the crash. I haven’t seen the body, but I know who he is.” Athan handed her printed copies from Wren’s phone. She squinted and moved the photos closer but didn’t recognize the man. “That’s the guy whose arm I nearly broke at the Halloween party when I picked Sarah and Wren up from the bar,” he clarified.

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