Page 88 of Fortune's Ashes
From a few metres away, Devereau Webb caught my eye. ‘You are positively glowing, Detective Constable Bellamy,’ he said.
‘You look rather glowing yourself,’ I replied.
He smirked. ‘Trust me, there’s nothing quite like married life.’
We exchanged a look of mutual satisfaction, then his expression turned serious. ‘I’m sorry that my friends couldn’t come up with anything for that car tracker we found. It’s too easy to buy that sort of thing on the internet these days.’
‘It’s okay. We don’t need it. There was more than enough evidence without it. I really appreciate that you tried.’
‘Of course. Us supes have to stick together.’ He raised his head for a moment before returning his attention to me. ‘I think there’s somebody hovering outside who wants to talk to you,’ he said.
I frowned. Everyone I knew was already there. I turned towards the open door but I couldn’t see who he was talking about. ‘Supe?’ I asked.
He shook his head. ‘Human.’
The furrow in my brow deepened. ‘I’ll be back in a moment,’ I murmured to Lukas. He gave me a quick kiss, then I went out to see who it was.
Alistair Stubman looked as nervous and angry as ever. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets and his shoulders were hunched. When he saw me approaching, he scowled with even greater ferocity. Maybe that was simply his way of protecting himself.
‘You can come inside,’ I said. ‘I sent you an invitation.’
Stubman’s lip curled. ‘I’m not coming to a fucking supe wedding.’ And yet he was here, right outside that very wedding. Despite his angry façade, there was still hope for him.
‘I only came to give you this.’ He thrust a crumpled envelope in my direction.
‘Is that a card, Alistair?’
‘Thought I’d say congratulations,’ he mumbled. ‘I suppose you’re alright. Even though you’re a supe. Even though you’re a copper.’ He scowled again. ‘I’m not saying we’re mates or anything, though. And you’d better keep that fanged husband of yours away from me.’
‘You don’t have to be frightened of Lukas,’ I said.
‘I’m not frightened!’ he glowered. ‘But I’m getting my old job back at the hotel next to your place once all the building work is done and I’ll be working days from now on, so I can start evening classes. I don’t want to be bothered by him. Or you. Or anyone else, for that matter.’
I met his eyes. ‘Are you sure that you don’t want to come in?’ I asked.
Stubman was already backing away. ‘Fucking sure.’
Baby steps. I smiled, all the same. ‘Thanks for the card.’
‘You’re welcome.’ His mouth twisted into a half snarl, but I couldn’t quite tell if it was directed at me or at himself. He spun around and stomped away, nearly colliding with a cyclist who had to swerve to avoid him at the last moment.
The cyclist came to a halt while Stubman continued on his way. ‘Hi detective!’ He waved at me enthusiastically. ‘You look fab!’
I peered more closely and recognised the teenage goblin. He knocked on his helmet and grinned. ‘I’m still wearing it!’ he yelled.
‘Good!’
‘Thanks for making me put it on. A cat ran out in front of me a couple of weeks ago and if I’d not had the helmet on, I could have ended up with stitches or a fractured skull – or maybe something worse.’
Something far worse. ‘Safety first,’ I told him.
He saluted and cycled away. ‘Congratulations,’ he called out over his shoulder. I smiled, watching him go.
‘D’Artagnan.’
I turned to Lukas, my breath catching in my throat at the sight of the sunlight glinting off his black hair and the warmth in his gaze.
‘They’re about to seat us for the wedding supper. We should go in.’ He held out his hand.
