Page 40 of The Omega Trials: Part Three

Three middle-aged white men enter, weighing my brothers and me at the other end of the long table, up and down.

I address each one of them. “Counselor. Chief Hartwell. Mr. Mayor.”

The district attorney and Cape Aurelia mayor take a seat immediately, but the police chief remains standing with a hardened scowl.

“I know you’re all very busy men. Please, have a seat and this won’t be long,” I say firmly but diplomatically.

The chief clasps his hands together and narrows his eyes. “I don’t take kindly to being threatened, young man.”

It’s a challenge to keep my tone even. “I simply asked you to sit, sir. Once you hear what we have to say, I think you’ll agree there will be no need for threats. In fact, we are doing you all an invaluable favor.”

He huffs, incredulous, but finally sits his wrinkly ass down.

My brothers and I follow suit. “Let’s begin.”

After we finish detailing our plan, the chief and mayor both seem significantly more at ease, almost like they’ve won the lottery. In a way, I guess they have.

But the district attorney remains suspicious. “And that’s all you want from us?”

“That is what we want most immediately,” Bishop responds.

The attorney scoffs. “I knew there was more.”

“Our last request is simple, but we understand it might take more time,” I explain. “We know it was the Echelon that pushed for the ban on unsuppressed nobles. It is an unnecessary law that they use as just another means of control. We want it gone.”

“The people won’t go for it.” The mayor shakes his head.

“Then don’t tell them. Take it off the books quietly. It will make no difference to the public,” I argue.

Ecker adds, “You know as well as we do that the law has only been enforced once in the last ten years.”

The mayor considers this before agreeing. “We’ll make arrangements.”

“Good. Now—” I stand and slide three thumb drives across the table. “As a gesture of good faith, here are the original copies of everything that was sent with your invitation to this meeting.”

The men each quickly grab the one with their initials on it, like they are snatching up a pair of underwear they dropped.

“We don’t have to tell you that there’s more where that came from. But if everything goes as planned, it will all be turned over to you,” I promise.

The chief’s earlier cynicism returns. “And if it doesn’t?”

Ecker chuckles darkly. “Then instead of being given to you for safekeeping, it will be sent to every major news outlet in the city.”

Bishop smiles and adds, charmingly polite, “But I’m sure we won’t have to worry about that, right?”

“Oh, and one more thing,” I say as they leave. “When it comes to Baron Cyan, he’s ours.”

“Do whatever you want with him.” The chief waves his hand. “Saves us the trouble.”

Chapter 23

Proud

Sinclair

“Oo, I love it!”Merigold claps her hands, and I give a little spin in my dress for the ball. “It’s sexy and villainous, yet elegant. Don’t you think?” she asks Penelope, who is pinning the hem.

She giggles quietly, barely audible. “You stole the words out of my mouth, miss.”

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