Page 31 of In the Monster's Wake
A human had found the body.The news had spread like wildfire, and when Archibald and Braith had arrived at the crime scene, there’d already been several news vans parked and journalists filming.Archibald and Braith had stayed as far from them as they could, and the journalists were giving them a wide berth.Every human was afraid.They probably thought that Archibald and Braith had something to do with the murder, and maybe the police did, too.The cops hadn’t tried talking to them yet, but Archibald wouldn’t be surprised if they did.
He knocked his shoulder against Braith’s.“We should probably go before they decide to ask us if we were involved.”
“They’re going to arrest the first monster they can pin this on, aren’t they?”
“Probably, and I don’t want it to be either of us.It’s not like there’s anything we can do, anyway.”There would be no clues as to whether Kester was anywhere near the crime scene.Even if there was, Archibald and Braith couldn’t get to them.The police had to act as if they were taking this seriously because of the journalists and the attention they brought to what happened, and they would probably make a show out of it.It meant that Archibald wouldn’t have access to anything they found tonight.
He doubted any of it would help him, anyway.
He moved toward the car.What should his next step be?He couldn’t do anything else tonight unless he wanted to haunt the city looking for Kester, and that wasn’t a good idea.He needed to be prepared when he found the monster, and he wasn’t.He suspected he would never be prepared to fight Kester, but he could try.
He climbed into the passenger seat while Braith walked around the car.Something needed to be done, but what?The only thing he could think of doing was to keep talking to people until he found someone who knew where Kester was hiding.If he was lucky, Kester had chosen a place to call home and stayed there instead of moving around the city.
Why was Kester here, anyway?Why had he chosen this place?There had to be a reason for his presence in the city.Maybe Archibald should focus on finding out what that reason was.Of course, there was a chance that Kester was just passing through and enjoying his time here so much that he’d decided to stick around.
Archibald shuddered at the thought.He could only hope that Kester was looking for something specific because it meant that once he found it, he’d leave.Archibald wasn’t sure there was another way to solve this.He wasn’t sure he could take Kester on in a fight and win.He wanted to think so, but Kester wasn’t only a powerful monster.He was also ruthless and cruel and didn’t think anything of hurting people.He was the worst of the worst.
But Archibald would try.If it came to it, he’d fight Kester, and hopefully, he would win.He wasn’t about to let Kester hurt him.He had a good thing going on with his agency and Braith, and maybe Jasper, too.He had too much to live for to allow Kester to ruin all of it.
Braith tapped his fingertips on the steering will as he drove.“What now?”
“We need to keep up with what the police will find at the crime scene, just in case it could guide us to Kester.I’m going to continue talking to people.Someone has to have seen him around.Even if he isn’t staying in a specific place, someone has to know where he is.”
Braith sighed.“I’ll start making phone calls as soon as we’re back to the office.”
That was all they could do for the night.Tomorrow, Archibald would go out and talk to more people.There was no point in going out tonight, though, especially with the police on the hunt for Kester.Every smart monster would stay home for the rest of the night in case the police decided to pin Kester’s crimes on them.
Archibald would do the same.
* * * *
JASPER WAS FRUSTRATED.He’d known he shouldn’t say yes when his mother had suggested he look into this, and now, he was in too deep and didn’t have a way out.His father wouldn’t let it go, but even with Archie’s help, Jasper wasn’t sure he’d be able to find Kester and get rid of him.The monster was strong and didn’t feel the way humans did.He didn’t have hesitation or remorse when he killed.
That was a problem.
The fact that Leroy was being cagey and clearly hiding something didn’t help.It should be none of Jasper’s business, but he’d made it his business, and now, he wanted to know.He had a feeling heneededto know before something happened.
He’d left his apartment after Leroy had finally gone home, but all thoughts of visiting a club had gone out the window.He felt like his skin itched, and while sex with a stranger might help, he couldn’t help but think about Archie.He was pretty sure the monster wanted him, and he wanted the monster.Even if nothing happened tonight, they could talk about the case and maybe come up with a plan of what they could do next.
Jasper found himself in front of the office just as Archie and Braith stepped out.Braith had turned to lock the door, but Archie saw Jasper right away.His lips stretched in a wide smile that startled Jasper, but maybe he shouldn’t be surprised.He knew that Archie wanted in his pants.
“Did we have an appointment?”Archie asked smoothly.
Jasper rolled his eyes.“You know we didn’t.”
“Which is why I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”
Braith huffed and pushed past Archie.“On that note, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I thought we were getting dinner,” Archie argued.
“We were until your boyfriend got here.I’m sure you’ll have more fun with him than you would have with me.Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Archie pouted, which shouldn’t work on someone who looked like him, but it did.He was adorable and incredibly hot at the same time.“You never do anything, though.You’re boring.”
Braith didn’t turn.He waved at Archie over his shoulder and continued walking down the street until he turned the corner and disappeared, leaving Jasper alone with Archie.
“I can go if you have plans,” Jasper offered.
