Page 12 of Sapphire Flame
He’d pulled up. Four other patrol vehicles were already there. A woman, with long red hair stood in the middle of the street. She must have been Talya. She’d covered her mouth with her hand and tears had streamed down her face as she stared down at the body of her husband. He’d been shot at least a dozen times.
Talya had lifted her gaze to him. Now he knew why he’d blocked it. Her story had chilled his blood because she’d spoken straight to him. “My sister was killed last week in the Graveyard. Before that, she’d been shot up with sapphire flame and used in a secret gambling club here in Savage, for her futurist gifts. The place was called The Sapphire Club.” Grant had never heard of it before. Afterward, he’d been unable to locate anything resembling an establishment by that name. Talya had continued, “They’d used my sister to predict winners and losers then she’d been killed for knowing too much. My husband was looking into her death. When will this end? What’s wrong with you people?”
She’d run her accusing glare, rightly so, around every club owner and officer there and every gawking human who’d come to enjoy the violence of Five Bridges. There would be no investigation of her husband’s murder. He was fae and a citizen of their under-policed and under-prosecuted world. That’s why Five Bridges had its own Border Patrol. They were a cut-off ghetto nation not subject to U.S. laws and justice.
He understood why the U.S. had made the decision to force their kind, the fivealterspecies, to live separately from the States. Any human who entered Five Bridges forfeited justice as well. There was no guaranteed safety in their set-apart world.
“I remember the night now, Talya. It was a terrible situation. Had your sister been in this gambling club by choice?”
“Yes. She was being paid a portion of the profits. They paid her all right. They took her life. Later, the night you were there, the owners said my husband had gambling debts and that’s why he’d been killed. But he wasn’t a gambler. I think it was because he’d asked too many questions about my sister’s death.”
Grant processed what she’d told him. But this had happened months ago. “I recall looking for The Sapphire Club, but I couldn’t find it. You’re sure your sister gave you the right name?”
Talya released a heavy sigh. “I know she did because she took sapphire flame to heighten her futurism. I begged her to quit, but she wanted the money.”
“I’m sorry, Talya.”
Her features took on a familiar, weary look and not just because she was recovering from a near-death mauling. This was life in Five Bridges.
“All that to say,” she continued, “I haven’t exactly found peace in Revel. But I do remember you. I remember you were kind to me that night. Several of the officers were. But no one could help me.”
Grant wanted to ask about the attack that had landed her in the Graveyard, but Natalie suddenly caught his hand and squeezed. Her voice entered his mind.She needs to rest. See how pale she is?
You’re right.Aloud, he said, “I’m sorry we had to meet again under such extreme circumstance, but I’m glad you made it.”
Her smile was twisted. “I’m glad you did as well.” Her gaze slid from Grant to Natalie then back. “Thanks so much, both of you.”
Natalie leaned forward. She still had hold of his hand probably to keep him in check. He was amused by it and decided not to let go. “Get some sleep. When you’re feeling better, let’s get coffee.”
“I’d love that.”
Natalie finally drew her hand from his. Since he was closest to the curtain opening, he led the way out. When he reached a private distance a couple dozen feet away, he turned to her, but spoke quietly. “I want to thank you again for all that you did, start to finish. I appreciate it.”
Her smile was crooked. “You can thank your wife and my Glock. You did the rest.”
He chuckled. “I admire your cool head.” He swept an arm in the direction of the med-bay, “And for checking into the future to figure out how to bring Talya back.”
She blew the air from her cheeks and rubbed her back. He wondered if she’d gotten hurt out at the Graveyard. “Least I could do. I thought for sure we’d lost her.”
“Same here.” He glanced toward the entrance doors. Dawn was coming. He needed to get back to Savage. “Are you headed home?”
“I am.”
“Feel free to say no, but would you mind if I accompanied you home? I’d feel better knowing you were secure after the night we’ve had.”
She put a had to her cheek and shook her head. “You know, I’d like that. Most of the time, I can tolerate our world, but tonight, yeah, it’s been rough.”
With another sweep of his arm he gestured toward the front doors. She put her feet in motion immediately. “Dawn’s getting close.”
“I’m feeling it, too.”
Once outside, she added, “We’d better get a move on.” She didn’t say anything more. Instead, she launched into the air, a solid shot that took her forty feet up with barely a show of effort. He caught up with her swiftly.
He flew beside her to her canal-side home and descended into her backyard. He had a quick impression of a structured, almost Mediterranean garden. He hovered in the air a couple of yards above a gravel path as he watched her enter by the back slider.
As she crossed the threshold, she turned toward him and for a moment she looked as though she wanted to say something. Instead, she waved, then closed the door.
He had the oddest sensation she’d just shut him out. But he supposed that wasn’t a bad thing. The woman, as beautiful as she was, with all that flowing, curly hair, was fae.
