Page 34 of Veiled Justice
Battery and assault, including GBH with intent.GBH stood for grievous bodily harm and was a more serious offence than ABH – actual bodily harm.
Channing’s text went on,Use of offensive weapons, stalking and harassment, arson.
I grimaced. Einar sounded like a keeper. What sweet young Helga was doing dating a man like that, I didn’t know, but I could see why Krieg hadn’t been thrilled about it. I could also understandwhy Helga might have used Aron to hide the budding relationship from her parents. We definitely needed to speak to Einar but Krieg had already confirmed he was out of town on a contract, so we’d have to wait.
Krieg and I stayed silent as the car left Volderiss’s underground car park and the silence dragged on as we drove. I didn’t want to break it because I knew the conversation that followed wouldn’t be pleasant. When we weren’t too far from Chester, I shattered the quiet with a necessary but invasive question. ‘Can you confirm if Squiggins, Katz or Montague hired another ogre that night?’
He grimaced. ‘I’ve already checked the contract book. Helga’s contract wasn’t in it. If there was a second ogre, there’s no guarantee their contract will be in there either.’
‘What about Einar?’ I asked.
‘His contract is logged. He’s in Southampton until it expires on Sunday morning.’
I grunted. Southampton was as far from here as you could get, but at least he would be back tomorrow afternoon or evening for questioning. ‘Okay, so Helga’s contract isn’t on the books, but you said that she wasn’t allowed to take contracts of that type yet. Presumably that’s why she didn’t log it.’
‘It’s not as simple as that. The moment an ogre enters into a written or verbal contract –anycontract – it appears in the register. It’s part of our magic.’
‘So “off the books” contracts like Helga’s—’
‘—areincredibly rare,’ he finished for me. ‘And they involve blood magic to circumvent the register. Very few ogres know how to do it.’
‘And you?’ I asked curiously, studying him.
His jaw tightened. ‘What are you asking?’
I wasn’t asking if he’d killed Helga; I’d seen him cradle her body and the flash of raw grief he couldn’t contain, and I knew he hadn’t harmed her. I kept my tone even, ‘I’m asking if you know how to keep contracts out of the book.’
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. ‘Obviously.’
‘Who else knows?’
‘Very few,’ he repeated evasively.
‘Krieg, someone evidently told Helga how to do it.’ I waited a beat. ‘Her parents?’
‘No.’ He shook his head firmly. ‘Neither of them has ever done work off the books.’
‘Then who has?’
‘Only my most trusted,’ he said tightly.
‘Einar?’ I asked.
‘No – I don’t trust him as far as I could throw him.’ He paused. ‘I’ll ask some questions. I’ll drop you home. Get some sleep and I’ll pick you up at eight.’
‘Eight?’ I asked, mystified.
‘For the Carnforth party. We can pin Quintos down there and question him about what he saw in a relaxed environment rather than bringing him in. Hopefully he won’t be on his guard.’
‘Good idea.’ And it was – but what the hell was I going to wear? If the whole point was to blend in under the radar, I couldn’t exactly rock up in my Connection uniform.
Worryingly, I think Krieg read my expression. ‘I’ll send you a dress.’
I glared. ‘I have my own dresses!’
The faintest smile touched his lips. ‘I’m sure,’ he said mildly. ‘But Louisa Carnforth has already told us that our presence will not be welcomed by the host, her father. We can’t afford to get thrown out until we’ve spoken to Quintos, so everything must be just so.’ He slid me a look. ‘Besides, it will give me pleasure to think of you dressed in something I bought you.’
I looked at him in exasperation. ‘What is that?’
