Page 8 of Brother's Keeper

Coming to a stop across from them, Holland swung an arm toward the trio. “I think we all deserve a fresh start, so I would like to reintroduce you to my team. Names and abilities this time, since I think we can all agree that, in our society, powers are synonymous with identity.”

It certainly went that way in the Bloody Hex. We were the sum of our parts, and our value correlated directly to what we could do. Why should the Capitol be any different? From what I’d seen so far, they were two sides of the same coin.

“Tobin is squad captain.” Holland gestured to the olive-skinned man regarding me with a sneer. “He is able to manipulate time. Stop or slow it.”

That must have been how they got away from me in the parking garage, leaving me in their dust after destroying my car.

“Vesper is a copycat.” Holland motioned next to the vampy vixen whose wet, red lips would look great around my cock. “She can duplicate any form of magic for her own use.” Last, Holland nodded at the afroed man passing the Magic 8 Ball from hand to hand. “And Felix is very lucky.”

I waited for further explanation and, when none came, I frowned.

“That’s it?” I asked. “Just lucky? How does that work?”

Felix winked. “You should know. Not everyone gets a second chance at a first impression.”

Despite Felix’s words and accompanying smile, Vesper and Tobin looked less than enthused.

Holland drew a breath and tucked her clipboard under one arm. “Everyone, this is Fitch—”

“Puppeteer playboy,” Vesper supplied, twirling a lock of ebony hair around her finger.

“The murderer formerly known as Marionette.” Tobin’s dark brows knit together.

“And resident expert on the Bloody Hex.” I spread my arms, owning their claims with a smile and a nod. Too bold, perhaps, considering the heat this investigation would bring my way. But playing along as nice guy Capitol Fitch had gotten me nowhere, and I was ready to try a new approach.

I glanced at Felix, who had remained quiet. “Did you have one to add, buddy?”

He balked. “You know they’re making fun of you, right?”

Chuckling, I tossed my emptied energy drink into a nearby trashcan. “There’s no such thing as bad press.”

Without a look or word to any of us, Holland moved to a stack of manila folders piled on the desk. “This is what we have so far on the missing persons.” She gave it a pat that left me squinting. “I want you four to comb through the evidence and let me know what you come up with.”

Seven files meant one for each victim. None were too bulky, which had me sighing relief. But curiosity nagged. I needed to know what they had on me. AsHolland already mentioned, I was notorious and notoriously indiscreet. Doubtless, there was something damning in those pages, so I needed to gain access to them privately before the investigators started connecting lines and drawing conclusions.

“Fitch.” Holland’s summons gave me a start. “I need you to look for Bloody Hex calling cards and make note of locations in proximity to known gang hangouts. You and I will be visiting places of interest as soon as possible.”

I tuned out again while she tasked the other three, busily scheming how I could make a whole pile of paperwork disappear.

Finally, Holland finished doling out assignments and looked across our small gathering to announce, “We can debrief after lunch. I’m eager to see what you all come up with.”

Then, she left.

The bullpen bustled around us. Desk drawers rattled open and shut, papers swished, keyboards clacked, and phones rang.

Rather than move toward the folders, we all stood—and sat—in place.

Tobin, not as dumb as he looked, led the charge. “All right, expert,” he began to me. “Impress us. The Bloody Hex wanted the vote to fail. They have always been openly opposed to human admission to the city. All seven of the missing people shared that view. Why would your gang harm, abduct, or murder people who would further their agenda?”

“Notmy gang,” I corrected—the only argument I’dbe giving today— “and I don’t think they would. The Hex makes their meat and potatoes out of investigators.” I cast a meaningful look at the trio. “It’s their mission from God or some shit. They really hate you guys.”

“I suppose that makes you the angel of death?” Felix mused.

Turning toward him, I started a slow clap. “Aww, look at that. You got one in, after all.”

“Can we focus, please?” Tobin’s voice pressed the boundary of a shout. He aimed his ire at me. “And you can sit the hell down if you aren’t going to be useful. I’m team captain, and I can and will bench you.”

Sports analogies notwithstanding, I never appreciated someone trying to pull rank. Especially when I was here at the behest of his boss, and his boss’s boss, who was also my boss… I shook my head. This whole Capitol gig was becoming quite the tangled web.

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