Page 42 of The Hive Queen

Pen notices, too, and turns to the guard. “We’d like the camera turned off.”

“I’m sure you would, but we have policies to uphold here, so unless you’re a lawyer...” He trails off when Pen reaches into her wallet again and pulls out another card.

He takes it from her. “I’ll need to verify this.”

“Sure thing.” She pulls out one of the chairs and sits. “Turn off the camera before you bring Ms. Domingues in.”

“I don’t get paid enough for this bullshit.” He stomps out of the room and shuts the door.

Brows raised, I settle next to Pen. “You have a law degree?”

“I am a many-faceted woman, Sharpe.” She grins at me. “It helps in our business to know our rights.”

I stare at her in amazement. “Flint and Marc, too?”

“Well, Flint.” Her gaze drops to the table. “Darius knew more about law than all of us, so Marc never felt the need.”

I press my leg against hers beneath the table. “Me?”

She shakes her head. “You were better than Darius.”

“That would come in handy now.” The light on the camera turns off. “Looks like your credentials passed muster.”

Pen’s lips part, but the door opening cuts her off, and we turn our attention to our guest.

The gray prison uniform does nothing to disguise Josephine Domingues’s beauty, though the sallow cast of her skin and the dark circles under her eyes speak to her current hardship. She wears her long, dark-brown hair pulled back in a greasy ponytail, and her shoulders slump with an air of defeat.

The large brown eyes that sweep over us hold desperation as she shuffles into the room and takes the seat on the other side of the table. “You’re the Cleaners? You’re taking my case? I have money in savings. I can pay.”

Based on her address, I doubt she can afford what Pen and her people charge for their services. Josephine rented her apartment with her deceased boyfriend, and her car was over a decade old.

But money isn’t always a factor when the Cleaners take on a case. It was her humanity that stopped them from responding until now.

Pen holds up a hand and waits until the guard leaves the room, then focuses on Josephine. “My name is Ms. Cay, owner of the Cleaners.”

Excitement pulls Josephine up straight. “You finally came for me?”

Pen’s face stays neutral. “Before we get into your case, I want to introduce you to Captain Sharpe. He’s looking into your case.”

Josephine jerks back in her chair, putting distance between us. “I said no cops. He’s not supposed to be here.”

“He’s exactly the person who should be here,” Pen corrects. “Captain Sharpe runs the Joint Task Force of Paranormal Investigations. His office should have been the first call you made. His job is to stop monsters from hurting people like you.”

Uncertainty fills her eyes. “You mean humans, right?”

Pen nods.

“My mom could see things. Ghosts. She still talked to my dad after he passed away.” Josephine’s shoulders hunch in self-defense. “I know I don’t register as Other, but it runs in my family.”

I straighten to attention. “Did it run in Carlitos’s family, too?”

“There are rumors that hisabuelawas abruja.” Her full lips press together in annoyance. “His family didn’t talk about it much to me. They didn’t like me and Carlitos being together. But we were real. He never would have cheated on me. That...thingdid something to him.”

“You told the arresting officer it was a monster.” Pen leans her elbows on the table. “Tell us what you meant by that. Walk us back through the night Carlitos died.”

monstrous lady

- Pen -

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