Page 58 of Lovesick Titan

Hephaestus? Had Mal called in a favor for Danny?

“Unfortunately, another photograph came in earlier today that places Cho in the same neighborhood.”

Danny’s attention shot up again.

“Probably how Ludgate was able to create such a convincing photograph of both of you, if you were in the same few blocks at some point. So far I’m the only one who’s seen this one,” Shan produced afresh manila envelope that he tossed to Danny as well, “but we’ll have to send uniforms back that direction to keep an eye out for him. Could be that Cho and Ludgate are working together—”

“Sir, wait,” Danny said the moment he opened the folder and saw a picture of Mal on the street near Janey’s bakery, complete with hat and shades to stay under the radar. “When did you say you received this photograph?”

“This morning. Why?”

“Afterauthentication on the first photo?”

“Yes. Why does that matter?”

The surge of hope that had filled Danny was quickly replaced with nerves. He passed the photograph back to Shan. Mal might have made sure the original photo came out looking fake, but Ludgate was the one who’d sent the new one—to trap them, to keep the danger looming even after Mal tried to save Danny.

If Danny allowed Shan to let him off the hook, the police would end up in Mal’s neighborhood again until they forced the truth out of the people there or caught Mal on the streets themselves.

“Sir,” Danny braced himself for the only way he saw out of this, “there’s more to the story than you know.”

“Grant…” Shan rubbed the bridge of his nose as if staying off a Danny-sized headache.

“Prometheus has been working with Zeus to help bring Ludgate down, not the other way around. I know he’s a fugitive, but you can’t go after him—”

“Can’t?” Shan stood from his desk, an exasperated surge that sent his chair rolling backward. “You’re finally off the hook with this mess, and now you’re telling me Ican’tarrest someone who belongs behind bars? After getting framed around Cho, you’d think you’d be done with him. Do you want to go to jail that badly?”

“Zeus has worked with Prometheus before—”

“Zeus doesn’t work for me! Letting him handle Elementals and even a few cases where normal criminals are upping the stakes, that’s a necessary evil. If Zeus wants to use people like Cho to take down worse villains like Ludgate, he can do as he likes. But I can’t turn a blind eye to a fugitive walking free. Zeus isn’t my employee, Grant. You are.”

“I know, sir, but there’s something else you need to know.”

Shan sighed in frustration as he leaned forward on his desk. “And what is that?”

Mal was going to be upset no matter how this ended, so he might as well be safe. Danny just hoped the rest of his friends and family understood.

Standing from his chair, he faced down Shan without flinching. “I’m Zeus.”

Chapter15

“I’m Zeus.”

Shan stared at Danny, unmoved.

“Iam,” he insisted, pressing a hand to his chest.

“Grant…” Shan dropped his eyes to his desk.

“I can prove it.”

“No, don’t—”

Danny lightning jumped to the other side of the desk off Shan’s right. The captain didn’t even flinch, just turned to Danny with a sag of his shoulders and prominent scowl. Maybe he was in shock.

“Want to arrest the vigilante, Captain?” Danny spread his arms. “I won’t run.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Shan barked, as intimidating as ever, despite just now learning that Danny was the Elemental who regularly saved Olympus City. “All of this, forCho? You’re going to throw away any remaining shred of plausible deniability I had for that crook?”

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