Page 18 of Heartless Enemy

Well, it didn’t matter that he admitted that he shouldn’t have slapped me.

Because he had just signed his death warrant.

“Make sure that the report is on Chief Anderson’s desk,” Wright ordered. “And then go home, Sterling.”

I just looked back at him in silence.

For a moment, it seemed as if he was going to say something else. But in the end, he just turned around and walked out.

I did locate the report and bring it up to Chief’s desk. But I didn’t go home afterwards. Instead, I waited outside the building.

And then followed Captain Wright home.

He lived in a fancy two-story building with a view overlooking the River of Souls. Orange light from the setting sun reflected against the water, making it look like the river was burning. I took in the beautiful scenery while waiting around the corner for Wright to unlock his door and move inside.

Cool fall winds whirled down the immaculate street and created a faint howling sound between the white stone buildings. I flipped up the collar of my white leather uniform and rubbed my hands together.

The sound of a door being opened and closed came from down the street. I peeked around the edge just in time to see Captain Wright disappear into his house.

Anticipation rippled through me.

After checking that the road was empty, I slunk back the way we had come and instead approached the house from the street behind it. Only wilted flowers watched me as I climbed over the short wall and into the tiny garden at the back of Wright’s property.

Leaves crunched underneath my boots as I snuck up to the nearest window. Pressing myself against the white stone wall, I peered inside.

Captain Wright’s obsession with order was as evident in his own home as it was in his office. The living room inside was neat almost to the point of being uncomfortable. Each item had its place and not one thread on the blue rug was misaligned.

I shook my head at the absurdity of it while I watched Wright walk towards the staircase and then continue upstairs.

Brushing my hands together, I summoned a small flame and held it against the hinges on the window. The metal turned red as it began to heat up. If Levi had been here, he could have just unlocked the front door for me. But I hadn’t actually planned to kill Wright today, so I had to improvise.

Once I had melted the hinges, I carefully edged the window open. It let out a small creak. I paused, waiting to see if Wright’s footsteps would start pounding down the steps.

They didn’t.

After leaning the now ruined window against the other side, I braced my palms on the windowsill and then climbed up onto it. Then I paused again, listening for sounds. Only the faint thud of something like a drawer came from upstairs.

I dropped down on the spotless floorboards inside the living room.

While taking great care not to make any noise, I snuck across the room and then into the kitchen. After swiping a kitchen knife, I approached the staircase. Not a speck of dust was visible on the pale wood. A vicious grin slid across my lips when I thought about what this house was going to look like when I was done with it.

Moving quietly, I made my way up the stairs and onto the landing. Firelight came from the open door of a bedroom a few steps away. I closed the distance to it and glanced inside.

Captain Wright was standing in front of a spacious closet. He had removed his white leather uniform, which hung neatly on the left side of the open closet, and was instead wearing a simple white shirt and a pair of loose grey pants.

Seeing him in something that casual was so jarring that I just blinked at him for a second. Apparently, even the uptight Captain Wright relaxed when he was in his own home.

I spun the kitchen knife in my hand before sliding it into my belt. It fit awkwardly, but I didn’t want to use my own blades for this.

Wright brushed his hands down his clothes and then began closing the door to the closet.

I touched my hands together and summoned a lightning bolt.

He started slightly at the unexpected sizzling sound, and began to turn around. But it was already too late.

A white bolt of lightning shot through the air and slammed into him. His body jerked as his muscles spasmed and he crashed down on the floor.

With a smile on my face, I sauntered into the room and then stopped right next to him. His limbs were twitching from the lightning, and pain clouded his eyes.

---