Page 46 of Veiled Justice
‘You weren’t tempted to call Sam?’ he asked teasingly. ‘Show him what he was missing?’
My stomach knotted. Sam’s desire for me had never been the issue between us. ‘Nah,’ I said lightly. ‘I’m letting that shit go.’ Trying to, anyway.
As Ed took over the scene, I briefed Channing on the events of the party. ‘Jude Jingo is here?’ he asked, frowning.
‘Yeah. He wasn’t at Quintos’s though and nor was this victim. Still, the circumstances and the scenes are too similar not to be linked.’
‘Jingo could have done this one and ordered the death at Quintos’s,’ Channing suggested.
I looked approvingly at my new partner; he was thinking like a detective. ‘He could have, but why? What’s the motive? He owns the local dryads, so killing one of them serves no purpose.’
Channing shrugged. That was where I fell down, too. I knew full well that Jingo hadn’t been the dryad who had stabbed Alice because it hadn’t been his face in Alice’s head, but that didn’t mean he hadn’torderedboth deaths. Iwantedit to be Jingo so I could finally lock him away but I had no motive. Just because he was a known mobster didn’t mean he was responsible for every death in the area. But man, I wanted it to be him.
I needed to find out who had killed Alice and that would be tricky without outing myself as a sub-wizard who could spy into people’s heads. Even so, I would out myself if it was the only way to clear Rupert’s name. For him, I would give up my career and the life I loved – but in doing so I’d put Mum in the firing line. Sheand Dad had chosen not to register me as a subterfuge wizard – one who could manipulate minds and memories as easily as others breathed.
I could still remember the day my skills had manifested, the day they’d decidednotto register me.
My dad’s expression was solemn as he sat next to me on the swings. ‘Ace, I won't lie. You're going to have the devil on your shoulder for much of your life. Temptation will be your companion, temptation to give in and use your gifts. Temptation to wipe away a mistake you made, to get someone to give you something you desperately desire, to make someone look the other way – or worse, make someone see you the way you want them to. You need to know now what kind of person you'll be in this life.
‘Your mum and I, we've bet on you, kid. We haven't registered you as a sub-wizard. We don't want that life for you – shackled to the Connection, treated with suspicion your whole life. You deserve happiness, not to be someone's pawn. But make no mistake, if you screw this up, it’s my neck and your mum’s on the line. We’ve lied for you, Ace. We’ve registered you as an ordinary level-five wizard. If you reveal what you truly are, this whole family will go down with you.’
I swallowed hard and his eyes softened.‘I don't mean to scare you, I hate that I have to say this, but you need to truly understand what’s at stake. You're not an ordinary eleven-year-old, Stacy, and now you never will be. Your moral compass has to be set straight and never waver.’
‘But Dad ... what if Icouldset Jimmy O’Hara straight? What if I made it that he wasn't a bully and set him on a better path?’
Dad sighed. ‘Hon, Jimmy's story isn't yours to write. It's that simple. Each of us is made by the sum of our experiences and you don't have the right to take that away. We all get free will to make our own choices. Whether those choices are good or bad ones, they are our own – even Jimmy’s. Do you understand?’
I nodded slowly. I did understand, but that didn't mean it wouldn't rankle just about every day of my life. I knew better than Jimmy but Dad was right. My struggle had already started.
I was determined not to let him down, not now, not ever. My parents had put their faith in me and all I had to do was not use my powers. It would be easy.
I sighed: I’d been so young and naïve. This wasn’t the first time I’d used them – of course it wasn’t. Even so, I found it hard to regret my actions. Now I needed to know who the killer was so I could prove itwasn’tRupert and I had a head start.
I just needed to tread very, very carefully.
Chapter 25
Squiggins was obnoxiously drunk; sprawled in a wooden chair, he had his feet on the table like he didn’t have a care in the world. Katz was tipsy and riding high; he looked like the dragon who’d found the gold. Montague was pale and fidgety – and Quintos was sitting amongst the lads like an indulgent king.
‘Hello, boys,’ I said casually.
‘Anyone else got a sense of déjà vu?’ Squiggins joked.
‘No fireworks tonight,’ I said briskly. ‘Did any of you go outside?’
‘Briefly,’ Quintos admitted.
‘Why?’ I asked.
He shrugged. ‘To share a cigar.’
‘What time was this?’
His eyebrows rose. ‘I haven’t been keeping an eye on a timepiece. This is a social occasion.’
‘Roughly,’ I pressed.
‘An hour ago, perhaps.’ Quintos shrugged again.
