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My answer came instantly. “I’m missing something that’s right under my nose.”
Azra snapped her fingers. “See? You do have a lead.”
“That’s a reach,” I drawled.
“Shut the fuck up and push a little. Why do you feel like it’s right in front of you?”
Organizing my thoughts took a few more seconds of silence. Why did I feel that way? This wasn’t a magical intuition thing. She was still quiet.
“I feel like I’ve found all the puzzle pieces,” I finally explained. “But one piece isn’t even on the board. There’s just a blank little space, almost like the manufacturer left it out on purpose. I gathered evidence, read through files, investigated on my own. All of that has allowed me to see nearly the whole picture. But that last little piece just doesn’t even exist. Why?”
Verbalizing this suspicion disturbed me more than anything. What was I missing? What wasn’t I seeing? I’d been too trusting, hadn’t I? Maybe I should have interrogated Sydni and Nathaniel more. Did they have more information I needed?
The women were both silent as they absorbed.
“Benjamin connected everyone,” I continued. “He’s at the center of this. He’s the reason why this happened, but it’s not like his life was private. He seemed to be friends with the whole damn school, but close with no one. No one except for Clave and maybe his father.”
My eyes widened. “I haven’t even considered investigating President Castile. My magic didn’t sense him, but he could be wearing some kind of a blocker like Razai does. And then there’s… gods… there are too many options.”
Azra’s nails curved slightly, sharpening to points. She stated, “You will find the answer. If I know anything about you, it’s that you’ll bite into this like a pit bull and let go only when your opponent gives. Whoever is hiding out there better be prepared. But they’ll never be ready enough. Not for what you’re about to bring them.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
After our talk, Ember walked out of the building with Azra. Risky might be my middle name, but protecting my family would always be top priority. No way was I putting Azra in any more danger by tying her to me in public like that.
After all, someone was still watching me. Weren’t they?
That left me in my office, thoughts on fire. Purpose filling me in a slow, steady trickle.
My sluggish power crept forward like a drugged cockroach, crawling around my head. “What the fuck do you want?” I grumbled at her. “If you’re going to make a fuss, then at least make yourself useful.”
She took that personally, since she snapped like a whip.
I jolted. “Ouch! Jeez, you don’t have to—”
A memory flashed. Eyes meeting mine through a dark window in an impossible world. The woman from the Underground, behind the man’s creepy little shop.
My intuition coiled around the memory, hungry.
I should have talked to her, not the creepy guy. I knew it.
My phone buzzed.
Razai: Going to an off-campus meeting today, Detective! I’ll be out for a few hours. See you soon and don’t get into too much trouble.
This was perfect timing, actually. For once, I wouldn’t have an eager archangel on my tail, irritating me—and making blood rush to my pussy. A jolt of desire made me sink teeth into my cheek.
Besides, I doubted he’d approve of what I was about to do.
I shut the blinds and closed the office door. Just to be safe, I rammed myself into the overstuffed closet and shut my eyes.
Uh… hey, Link? I have to get to the Underground so I can meet that woman. Please, please pick me up. Dear fucking gods, I need this to work. I probably look like an idiot right now.
A minute passed. And then another. The entire time, I concentrated on the train and the Underground. But nothing came. Just the cold, insistent draft from under the door and the stink of my own disappointment.
Fuck.
The moment I pushed the door open, cold washed over me in a wind.
