Page 6 of A Match Made in Coven
Chapter Four
Bursting the Bubble
SARAH MICHELLE
She was fuming as she exited the interrogation room. Sarah Michelle was about to direct all her misplaced anger at the young officer who had pulled her out, but found a better target: her boss.
Riley King, Salem MPD Chief Inquisitor, was out in the corridor, leaning against one of the dull gray walls, his shoulder pressed against a bulletin board. Even under the unflattering neon lights, Riley’s sharp features held an undeniable, if not severe, allure. But the signature scowl that had marked his face ever since Sarah Michelle had joined the magical police force at twenty-two had softened lately. After getting married, he was more relaxed—dare she say constantly happy… annoyingly cheerful.
But that wasn’t her concern now. She was more preoccupied with what his presence in this drab hall at three a.m. meant. That he had been dragged here at this hour was significant enough and only added to her irritation.
She approached him. “Chief, what a pleasure to see you,” she greeted him. “Shouldn’t you be at home spooning your wife?”
“Ah.” Riley turned to her. “Just the witch I was looking for.”
She squared her feet, ready to receive bad news. “What are you doing here, boss?”
“I’ve been called in for an emergency hearing.”
“So, it’s true.” When the junior officer had told her to bring Black to the courtroom, she almost hadn’t believed him.
“It appears so.”
“Let me guess, the Preston case.”
Riley nodded, his expression grim. “The one and only.”
Sarah Michelle scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “Of course. How did they even know we had a member of the Black coven in custody? The suspect didn’t make any calls.”
“If the department has a family lawyer on record, they have to be notified whenever a warrant is issued for their clients. Their attorney must’ve gotten a ping.”
“I know that. But was he lying awake in the middle of the night just in case?”
Riley shrugged. “Maybe they have people round the clock for these kinds of things.”
“Of course, and which judge did the illustrious Black coven drag out of bed?”
“Judge Irving,” Chief King replied, his tone even.
“Irving? That prick? Hex, they pulled out all the stops, didn’t they?”
Riley pushed off the wall, straightening his civilian jacket. “It’s the Blacks. You should have expected nothing less.”
Sarah Michelle let out a humorless laugh. “Right, how could I forget? The rules don’t apply to them.”
“Look, I know you’re not thrilled about this.” Riley placed a hand on her shoulder. “And the Blacks and the Callidoras have a history. If you want off the case—”
“No way.” She shrugged off his hand.
“Then you have to play by their rules. Let’s just get through this hearing and see where it lands us.”
“Fine,” Sarah Michelle grumbled. “But I don’t have to like it.”
As they made their way toward the courtroom, she gestured to the junior officer to bring the suspect along, doing her best to ignore Lorcan’s presence behind her as they switched buildings.
***
Sarah Michelle strode into the dimly lit courtroom, enchanted candles flickering their shadows across the scarce furniture. Beside her, Riley’s dark eyes gleamed with weariness as they approached the right-hand desk—for the prosecution. On the opposite side, the junior officer led Lorcan Black to his place, the suspect’s broad shoulders taut with tension.
