Page 66 of The Mech Who Loved Me
Kincaid gave her that particularly evil smile. "I was pulling my punches too. But agreed. Wouldn't want to corrupt innocent ears." This, with a glance at Ava. "And the perfume you smell is probably mycousin's."
Ava shoved one of her handwritten information pamphletsathim.
If she heard the word “innocent”onemoretime....
And now she took a delicate sniff; there was definitely perfume lingering on his skin.Orla's?
He wouldn't lie. He never had. It was one of the things she liked so much about him, but logic was failing her today. There was a visceral surge of pure fury lighting through her veins. She wanted to yell at him again, and there was no damned reason for it beyond.... Ava blinked. Was shejealous?
The duke finally arrived, handing his top hat and coat to Herbert. "I trust this is important," Malloryn said, and suddenly Ava felt a littleoverwhelmed.
What if it wasn't? What if she was only conjuring a case, putting a theory to a handful of innocuousclues....
"It's important," Kincaid said, clasping his hands behind his head and exhaling. "But I think Ava should be the one to do the honors. It was herdiscovery."
Carefully, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Few people championed her, and despite their argument last night, she shot him an undecided look, and then cleared her throat. "If you'll examine the information I wrote for all of you," she said, and then continued to fill them in on everything she and Kincaid hadfound.
When she'd finished, you could have heard a pin drop in the room. Ava cleared her throat, trying to read Malloryn'sreaction.
"This is what killed Zero?" Gemma whispered,lookingill.
The duke finally lowered his pamphlet and met Ava's eyes. "You're right. This is important." Then he was on his feet, taking over the room. "Who else knowsofthis?"
"Dr. Gibson," she replied. "From the Nighthawks. He was the one who performed the initial autopsy. He knows it's some sort of serum or elixir that was injected into Mr. Thomas, but that's all. Garrett is aware something is killing blue bloods, and I'm sure a few other Nighthawks suspect there's a problem. They're notstupid."
The duke shot Kincaid a hard look, and he shook his headsharply.
He hadn't mentionedit.Yet.
"Then we keep it that way." Malloryn included them all in a heated look. "If what Ava says is true, then this information has dire repercussions for the entire country. This could mean civil war, or at worst, abloodbath."
"And who's behind the murders of Mr. Thomas and the others?" Gemma asked. "Someone clearly murdered the major, but who? Are the two cases connected? Are they aware we're onto them? Were they watching the major? Or were they following Ava and Kincaid? Was it simplycoincidence?"
"Surely it's not Ulbricht," the baroness protested. "He wouldn't be so stupid as to dabble in a poison that could kill blue bloods! If the humanists get their hands on this, they'll murder the Echelon. Ulbricht lives and breathes theEchelon!"
"We have peace now," Gemma interrupted. "The humanists wouldn't dareusethis—"
"They would," Kincaid said sharply, and all voices died off. "They wouldn't hesitate. You only have to look at the recent riots to know there's still malcontent among the general population. They wanted the draining factories gone, and the blood tax abolished, and they're not happy both issuesremain."
"Without the blood taxes, the streets would be awash in blood," Mallorynretorted.
Kincaid held his hands up. "Iknow that. Doesn't mean I like it, but I know that. Others... are not as inclined to belogical."
Ava cleared her throat again. "We can argue as much as we like about the potential repercussions, but I think we need a plan of attack. Clearly, someone knows what this caterpillar mushroom does, and they're using it to murder blue blood members of the population. Considering Zero was potentially murdered using this same substance, we can include thedhampiron our lists ofsuspects."
"Kincaid and Ava, I think it wise if you both return to the major's store and search it thoroughly. Major Winthrop might have contacts among the black market trade of rare herbs. We need to track down everyone who is remotely connected to bringing this substance into the country, and lock them down until we know how many people are aware of what this product does. Contact the Nighthawks and have them assist you in closing down the scene—tell the locals it's a murder investigation if you must, but nothing else. Charlie, you can go with them,"Mallorynsaid.
He was taking control of her investigation. Ava bit her lip, but nodded. At least she was stillincluded.
"Gemma, I want you to make a move on the information I gave you yesterday," Malloryn instructed obliquely. "We've got a lead on Ulbricht, and I want himfound."
"You have a lead?" Avablurted.
Gemma gathered herself, looking pale. "One of Malloryn's other spies got his hands on one of the Sons of Gilead. We need to question him, but he might know Ulbricht's whereabouts, or at least he'll know how to get in touch with his SOGcontact."
"Report to the baroness. She can contact me if necessary." Malloryn turned to fetch his hat and coat from Herbert. "I need to call an emergency meeting with the Council of Dukes and thequeen."
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