Page 17 of Reflections of Peonies
I had to have more control than this.
“—there’s enough information in there to start,” I answered. “Living conditions, some general information about the abuse, school reports, and even an address. However, they could not find any information about how Bianca came to be there, her medical history, or her prior life.”
Damen touched his head as his shoulders slumped. “Theyshould have taken her to a specialist. She should have had a lot more help. Besides, I don’t know how the Griers were able to adopt her.”
“If they didn’t, then there’d be no way to hide it from the Council,” I pointed out. “They would have found out who she was.”
Damen froze before sucking in a breath. “I didn’t even consider that,” he said, dropping the folder closed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “So much should have gone differently.”
“We need to be careful,” I warned. “She’s not able to face them yet. She’s still…”
My attention returned to the recordings, and disgust rolled through me. My skin itched with the need to shift, to destroy, once more. I thought I’d been prepared, but reading ink on paper might be a very different experience than seeing something visually.
I snarled. It might make it that much more real.
Damen’s head jerked up, and he frowned at me. “Titus, you can’t. We have work to do.”
“I know that!” I snapped. Why was I struggling so much to keep control? “Let’s just get it over with—putting it off won’t change anything.”
Nothing would.
“Can you handle it?” Damen’s cautious gaze bore into me.
I could work through my anger—every detail became clearer, and my instincts were sharper this way. “I’ll be fine.” I set up my computer, forcing myself to touch one of the small drives.
Damen sucked in his breath, and I inserted the drive and swiveled the screen to where we both could see. A moment later, the video flickered to life, displaying the familiar sight of an interview room.
Sitting at the table was Abigail. She was younger there, andnot quite as unhinged. Yet, as the interview continued, there was little to be discovered that hadn’t already been outlined in the paperwork I’d already memorized.
Damen was rubbing his forehead by the end, and I frowned at the screen. If the second drive’s files were as useless as this one, I wouldn’t be happy.
I switched them out, hoping that we’d get anything useful. Otherwise, I wasn’t sure where to start. We didn’t even know what kind of people ran this organization. Humans, necromancers, onmyoji, shifters, witches, or fae—all had criminal enterprises and worked differently.
I couldn’t imagine that the fae would be behind this. Not with Bianca’s involvement.
The video began, and this time, it was Trinity on screen.
Her hands were folded before her as she looked disapprovingly at the interviewer. The camera angled toward the back of his head. It was only possible to see that he was medium build and had black hair.
Yet the way he held himself seemed familiar. But I couldn’t place him, which was odd because my recollection of people was usually perfect.
Before I had a chance to think about it, the interview began.
“Can you state your name for the record?” he asked, his voice a flat monotone. And again, something about the man triggered memories I couldn’t grasp.
“Dr. Trinity Reed,” she said, still frowning at the man. “And as I’ve already told you, I have an obligation to my patients. You will not talk to her. It is against her best interests.”
“I don’t need a full interview,” the man countered. “I just want a few minutes—”
“No,” Trinity cut him off. If she could have shot flames from her eyes, the interviewer would have been a scorched spot on thefloor. “You’ve ruined any chance you had when you left that idiot alone with her! She barely even talks to me now.”
“I will escalate if you keep obstructing this investigation,” he warned.
Trinity blinked, her anger momentarily giving way to surprise. “What exactly are you saying?”
“I do have the legal authority to speak with her,” he stated firmly. “I’m prepared to take you to court over this. I’ll involve the Council if I have to.”
“There’s no need for that,” she said, cutting him off again, though her tone had shifted. “Just tell me, what do you think she knows?”
