Page 49 of Ghosted in Arkadia
Bill Roman might own half the city, but he is only thirty-eight. Most of what he has, he got from his father. If the mad scientist is talking about crimes Daddy Roman committed, that wouldn’t necessarily help.
“Shit.” I sigh.
“Still worth a thought if we come across a lab location.” Killian says, though it doesn’t make me feel any better. “Can I ask what the obsession is with taking down Bill Roman?”
I sigh. “After the year I’ve had. I mean, with Cathy and…” I take a large sip of my coffee. It’s still too hot to be drinking in large gulps. “I’d like to feel like I’ve really made a difference. Ya know?”
“Alright then. Have you ever considered sending a few officers undercover to one of the regular mated events Roman attends?” Killian suggests.
“Most officers are mateless. They stick out immediately.”
“Have you ever had a fake couple go? Pretend to be mated?”
“A while ago, someone tried. Might have been before I joined the force, though.” I shrug. Cathy had told me about it.
“Why don’t we try?”
I whip my head in Killian’s direction, needing him to say what I think he said, again. “What?”
“Why don’t we try going to the mated district for one of these social events? Pretend to be a couple while eavesdropping on Roman. See if we can get anything on him that might point us in the right direction.” Killian smiles, cocking his head as he waits for my reply.
“We can’t pass as a mated couple.” I laugh. “I don’t have the first clue on how to act like a mated person.”
“No. But I could teach you,” Killian says, looking far too serious. “I know what it’s like. I went places with Katherine. All you need is a little practice, while we figure out when the next event is.”
The idea of going to the mated district, let alone one of their events, makes my stomach churn uneasily. They would be able to smell it on me; that I wasn’t one of them.
“You wanted to know what it’s like to be mated yesterday,” Killian adds. “Let me give you a peek.”
“Without the addiction and withdrawal, right?” I raise a single brow, my nerves settling as I recognize myself better. I’m notmateless anymore. Not technically. I’m entitled to experience these places. “Alright, I’m game.”
The next event is just over a month away and takes place inside one of the most expensive restaurants in the city. Killian takes the lead, working with the techies to get us fake IDs as a mated couple. Apparently, there isn’t a guest list, or even a need for reservations. The menu prices serve as enough of a deterrent. A single steak costs as much as I make in a single month. For mated couples, only the richest and most influential would bother showing up.
Killian and I will go under the guise of our anniversary dinner, which just so happens to coincide with Roman’s social event. And apparently, my name is Jessica for the evening.
“I’m going to fuck it up.” I shake my head, looking down at the menu that Killian printed off for me. We sit at my work desk, across from each other, almost like we are having dinner. “I can’t even pronounce most of this.”
Killian laughs before snatching the menu from me. “It’s our first time at a restaurant this fancy. It’s our ten-year anniversary and we’ve just gotten the doctor’s approval for our first child. That’s a big deal for mated couples.”
“You have to get a doctor’s permission to have a baby?”
“Sort of.” Killian places the menu on the table. “Once a couple is mated, they regularly go see a doctor. They do tests. Ask about employment. And then, eventually, ask about children. If the couple wants to conceive, they are both put on prenatal medications and start a strict diet.”
I give him an incredulous look.
“It’s to make sure every child is born healthy and free of disease. That baby is someone else’s soulmate. Someone else’s reason for existence.”
I nod my head but mentally feel grateful I haven’t had to get poked and prodded repeatedly by doctors. The only time the mateless are seen is during medical emergencies. Another thought comes crashing in: if Ghost and I were to have sex, we could conceive. My throat dries at the realization, and I take a large swig from the glass of water Killian provided for our practice dinner session.
“You alright, princess?”
I clear my throat, hoping the thoughts of children clear along with it. “Just a lot to remember.”
“I doubt you’ll have to talk to anyone. Other than the server. We’ll go in, have a nice dinner, and see what we can overhear. If anyone comes over, I can do the talking. Plenty of mated women are quiet.”
“Oh, so now I have to remember to play submissive for the whole night. Now I’m positive I’m going to fuck this up.”
Killian chuckles. He has far more faith in me than I do.
