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Riker clenched his jaw so tightly he thought his teeth might crack. "This is a mistake."
"That’s your opinion," Moreau said coolly. "But you’ll do your job. I trust you to handle this professionally, Riker. Or do I need to remind you who’s in charge here?"
Riker stared at her, his blood boiling, but he knew better than to push any further. Moreau wasn’t someone you crossed lightly, and if she wanted to bring Catalina into the case, there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.
Without another word, Riker turned on his heel and stalked out of the office, slamming the door behind him.
Riker needed answers. If he couldn’t stop Moreau from bringing Catalina into the case, maybe he could get a little leverage by pumping her sister for information. Geneva Duvall was smart—maybe too smart—and as the assistant medical examiner, she had access to things Riker didn’t. Things like information about her family’s involvement in the city’s supernatural underworld.
Nodding to himself, he left the precinct and headed for the coroner’s office, where Geneva was likely still working on the body from the crime scene. As he entered the lab, the smell of antiseptic and formaldehyde filled his nose, and the cold, sterile environment made his skin itch. He had never liked being in here. Too clean. Too quiet. But Geneva? She thrived in this place.
"Riker," Geneva said without looking up from the body she was examining. "I was wondering if and when you’d show up."
"Dr. Duvall," he said gruffly, wanting to keep this on a professional level.
Geneva looked up, arching her eyebrow at him. “Really? Don’t you think it’s about time you started calling me Geneva like every other detective on the force?”
“Fine. Geneva,” he corrected, stepping closer to the table where the body of the politician lay, still twisted and mangled. "What have you got for me?"
She sighed, pulling off her gloves and tossing them into a nearby bin. "This isn’t like anything I’ve seen before, Riker… does anyone call you by your first name? What is that, anyway?”
“No, and Zane.”
“Nice.” She looked at him, cocking her head back and forth. “Hmm… you really look more like a Riker than a Zane. But anyway. Whatever did this, used powerful magic. It’s... disturbing."
Riker glanced at the body again, his stomach twisting. "Disturbing how?"
"It’s not just the physical trauma," Geneva said, her brow furrowing. "There’s residual magic clinging to him. Dark magic. The kind that leaves scars on the soul."
Riker felt a chill run down his spine. "Can you trace it? Figure out where it came from?"
"I’m working on it," Geneva said, her voice tense. "But this kind of magic doesn’t leave a clear trail. It’s messy. Whoever did this, knew how to cover their tracks."
"Dammit," Riker muttered, running a hand through his hair. "This just keeps getting worse."
Geneva glanced at him; her eyes sharp. "What’s really going on here, Riker? This isn’t just about the case, is it?"
He hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Moreau’s bringing in your sister, Catalina, as a special consultant on the case."
Geneva raised an eyebrow. "And you don’t like that idea, do you?"
"I don’t trust her—no offense," Riker said bluntly. "She’s fae…”
“None taken, and I will remind you that I’m fae, as well, and you’re not exactly human…”
“Part of me is human.” Geneva rolled her eyes. “Shifters are different. But you’re an exception. I know you, and you work… well, not exactly for the force, but you work with us all the time. You know how I feel about fae and other supernaturals. Your sister included. I don’t even care for most shifters."
Geneva’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she leaned against the table, crossing her arms. "Catalina is...complicated. But she knows what she’s doing. If Moreau called her in, there’s a reason."
"Yeah, well, I don’t care how complicated she is," Riker said, his voice tight with frustration. "I just want to solve this case before it blows up in our faces."
Geneva studied him for a long moment before speaking again. "You know, Riker, not everything is black and white. Just because Catalina is fae doesn’t mean she’s your enemy."
Riker scoffed. "I’ll believe that when I see it."
Geneva sighed, shaking her head. "Just be careful, Riker. There’s a lot going on in this city that you don’t understand. And if you’re not careful, it’s going to swallow you whole."
Riker grunted, his mind already racing with everything he’d learned. He didn’t like the idea of Catalina getting involved, but Geneva was right about one thing—this case was bigger than he realized. And if he didn’t figure out what was going on soon, it could be too late for all of them.
