Page 89 of Mortal Blood
“Well, how pleasant. But not at all relevant to the case. Do either of you happen to have any actual evidence?” he enquired politely.
“Suspicion doesn’t need evidence,” Brennan said.
“No, but it does require reasonable grounds, which you have not yet demonstrated. Further, I note that the Iron Shadow pack, in whose custody the absconded suspect was being remanded, was the subject of a territorial conflict last night, during which time my client was attending a moon hunt reserved for the academy’s most exemplary students, as witnessed by the academy’s alpha.”
Wow, this guy had really done his research. He continued, not giving the councilora chance to speak.
“Are you suggesting that my client was somehow able to influence the actions of someone several hundred miles away, whilst partaking in a moon hunt, in a form that is incapable of actual speech? Because I think we can all agree it’s far more likely that the pack responsible for the attack are also responsible for your suspect absconding. Perhaps you might like to stop wasting my very expensive time, and question the members ofthatpack, instead?”
“Her father is a vampire,” Brennan said coldly.
“Yes, so I surmised from the fact she is a dhampir and her mother is a human. Have you taken a recent interest in genealogy, or is there in fact some point to this line ofquestioning?”
Damn, this guy was good. Smarmy as fuck, but I kinda liked that, seeing as how he was on my side, and he was really pissing Brennan off. The enforcer opened his mouth, but Verena shot him a look and he closed it again without speaking.
“Ms. Ellis,” she said, addressing me directly for the first time since Blackwell had arrived. “Cali. We want to help you. But for us to do that, we need you to be honest with us.”
“I hope you’re not implying my client has been in any way dishonest with you, Councilor.”
Verena shot him a frustrated look before composing herself and forcing a smile.
“Of course not. But Cali, seeing as we’re now no longer able to get the information we need from your mother, it is imperative that you tell usanythingyou might know about your father, or his whereabouts. Anything at all.”
For a moment, I wondered if I should tell them. Gods knew it would be nice to have one less headache to deal with right now. But they’d just been made to look like absolute amateurs by a guy wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. I couldn’t help but feel Ezekiel would make mincemeat of them.
“That wasn’t a question, Councilor,” Blackwell observed mildly.
“Cali, have you seen your father?”
“No need to answer that, Ms. Ellis,” Blackwell said cheerfully. “Councilor, seeing as you established yourself last year that my client had no knowledge of her father, and we’ve established here between us that she has not left the academy since then, I think it’s clearly that she has had neither the means northe opportunity to meet with any fugitives from justice. Unless you’re suggesting that perhaps Domina Astor is in the habit of hiring criminals?”
“No.” Was it just me, or did Verena sound just a little bit sullen?
“Excellent. Then unless you have any further allegations to bring, I would suggest you release my client. Immediately.”
Verena pressed her lips together but closed her file. “You’re free to go,” she said with an air of defeat. “The guard will sign you out and return your belongings.”
“I’ll be watching you, Ellis,” Brennan ground out as I scrambled to my feet.
“I sincerely hope not, Brennan,” Blackwell said, rising from his seat, “seeing as doing so would be highly illegal. I’d hate for such a promising legal career to be snuffed out so prematurely.”
He turned to me with a polite, professional smile. “This way, if you please, Ms. Ellis. I’ll oversee the enforcers signing you out and returning you to the academy.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Cali. You’re back. Cole told me you got arrested, and they were trying to fit you up, and—” Ling paused to draw breath. “Damn, girl, it’s good to see you.”
“Right back at you,” I said.
“Tell me everything.” Her eyes narrowed. “And why are you favoring your right side?”
I shook my head. “No time for that. We need to find Jax.”
She pressed her hand to my forehead. “Are you sick? Wait, maybe you’re not the real Cali. Tell me something only Cali would know.”
“Ha ha, very funny.” I rolled my eyes. “I said need, not want.”
“Ah, now there’s the Cali I know and love.”
