Page 9 of Capitol Matters

Her slick black hair and smoky eyeshadow contrasted against pale skin. Her necktie, shoes, and lips all glistened in crimson. Even if she hadn’t placed herself directly in front of me, I would have had a hard time looking away.

She crowded in as bold as a barfly. “My, my, you’re easy on the eyes, aren’t you?” she asked in a voice that was just the right kind of husky.

I dipped back, considering how Capitol Fitch would respond before replying, “You’re not so bad yourself.”

A sour smile puckered her mouth. “Pity I’m not into blonds,” she said, then sneered. “Or cop killers.”

“Oh.” I coughed.

Witty comebacks stalled in my brain until she tagged on, “Burn in hell, you murderous bastard.”

She returned to the group, leaving me as an open target. They all had more to say, and I was willing to let them have at it. Better they got it off their chests now so we could all move on to more pressing and relevant matters.

Holland broke away from the others to close the gap to me. “Fitch,” she began, waving a hand toward them, “this is my team.”

I expected some measure of pride but, instead, she looked pained, which was explained when she added in a softer voice, “Who told me they wouldn’t be in today.”

Taking a deep breath, she introduced the other investigators.

The snide sex kitten was Vesper Ashcroft, made possibly more appealing by her mean girl act. The curly-haired man, Felix Wilde, had stopped moving long enough for me to identify the object he held as one of those cheesy Magic 8 Balls. Last was tawny-skinned Tobin Moreno. Despite Holland’s position of leadership, he had the stance and swagger of a man ready to fill that role at a moment’s notice. I knew the type.

“We wanted to meet the new guy.” Tobin nodded toward me. “See if the rumors were true since you’ve been keeping so tight-lipped.”

Holland started to reply, but a murmur from the back of the group cut her off.

“Will we be working with him?” Felix asked.

“You’re not expected to, no.” Holland shifted to stand directly in the line of fire. “Fitch is merely a consultant. He’ll be working with me on the Bloody Hex case.”

Merely? My mouth twisted into a frown.

“If we’re tackling the Bloody Hex, I want a piece of it,” Vesper said. “I’m not letting some washed up criminal steal my thunder.”

“Washed up?” I repeated. “Hold on a minute—”“You think you can trust him?” Tobin snorted. “He still has the tattoo on his hand, for God’s sake. Doesn’t look like a changed man to me.”

I glanced down at the Bloody Hex mark—a skull overgrown by thorny vines—inked on the back of my left hand. Did they expect me to cover it? Have it removed? Grimm would take issue with that.

“People like him don’t change,” Vesper said.

I found myself speechless for a second time. Good intentions warred with my lesser nature, battling for control of my brain. I’d planned to let them air their grievances, but what I’d expected to be a tough pill to swallow felt like it might choke me.

“Also, Holl, I notice you forgot something.” Stepping away from the group, Tobin tugged open the drawer of a nearby desk. He pulled out a large ring ofmetal and corresponding remote.

I recoiled at the sight and sound as the items clunked onto the desktop. Heat bubbled up from my gut, scorching my cheeks.

“You better collar that animal before he hurts somebody.” Tobin nodded at me.

I couldn’t see Holland’s face, but her voice came out strained. “Tobin, I’m certain there’s something else you could be doing.”

He shrugged then closed the drawer with a rattling clang. “Watch your back, is all I’m saying. Or else he might make you put a knife in it.”

The other two took Holland’s suggestion to leave, but Tobin was the last to retreat. I waited for his first departing step to send out a loop of thought, snagging the collar from where he’d left it and opening it midair. It flew forward, encircling the investigator’s neck and snapping shut.

Tobin grabbed the collar immediately, sputtering a curse as he spun to see the remote shoot back, called to my open hand. I set the control to stun, then pressed the button.

Electricity crackled, and Tobin crumpled into convulsions on the floor.

Vesper and Felix returned in a rush, flocking to their fallen comrade.

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