Page 103 of Fight
"I'll start looking into this Brandon Stone, but without bringing you in to identify the picture I don't know how much we can do.Without a victim, the department's hands are tied.I mean we've got the humans.They'll be charged with murder since any death occurring during the commission of a felony is automatically murder for everyone involved, it doesn't matter who dies.They've already admitted to the attempted kidnapping, so they won't be going anywhere soon."
"I have someone looking for Brandon."I said."I don't know what we're going to do exactly, but I'm pretty sure we'll find him.Eventually."
"Our Anikitos isn't happy about this.I'm sure he'll hire someone if he has to."Devon added.
The detective nodded."I wanted to let you know what we knew and what we could do about it.I'm sorry it's not more."
"No, you've helped a lot.Now we know for sure that Brandon's behind it."
The detective nodded and wandered away, seeming to be lost in thought.
I stood for a moment, watching the people around us.Detective Bolser had gone back to Ridges and seemed to be filling him in, while Bennett stood nearby seeming oblivious to whatever was being said as he watched everyone and everything for any threat to his Anikitos.Alexis and Morgan were still deep in conversation, Caden hovering nearby, his attention seemed to alternate between the conversation and protecting our Harmonia.
I took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh.
"On the bright side, it worked."Devon said, still standing next to me."Reese can shift now."
I nodded, distracted.My mind was still spinning from the knowledge that it was Brandon behind my abduction, I couldn't even claim reasonable doubt anymore.
Alexis turned away from Morgan and headed in my direction.I shook my head hard and pulled myself together in order to find out what she and Morgan had determined.
"Hey."She smiled as she approached."I think we might have figured it out."
"So what is going on?"I asked.
"I need to ask some questions before I know for sure."
"All right."
She turned to Devon, still standing beside me."Have you ever had any training in shielding?"
"No, there's never been a need."Devon shook his head.
"Do you feel anything when someone's pulling energy from you?"
"Not that I know of, I noticed it when Nickie was hurt and I spent so much time in contact with her.I felt kind of drained, but I figured it was normal."
"Did you notice when I pulled off you a little bit ago?"
He shook his head again."No, not at all."
"What talents have you noticed since your first shift?"
"Only that now I sense when people are lying.I don't know how, it's just a feeling, but it hasn't been wrong yet."
Alexis nodded."I'd like to have you try something, if you don't mind."
"Sure.As long as it's not something crazy, I don't mind."
Alexis turned around and raised her voice slightly so that everyone in the clearing could hear her."Is there anyone here not shielding in some way?"
Detective Bolser spoke up."I'm not, why?"
"Will you come over here for a second, I'd like to try something.Morgan, will you come too?"She turned back to Devon and me.She held a hand out to one side."Caden, can I borrow your knife?"
Without a word he dug into his pocket, pulled out a small folding knife and dropped it into her waiting hand.
"Devon, can I have your hand for a moment?"Devon lifted one eyebrow, unsure of what she was going to do but slowly extended his hand to her anyway."Morgan, will you watch?"Alexis asked the other healer.
