Page 61 of Swift Wings Shadowed Heart
All right, that’s convenient, I suppose. What about my privacy?
—I can only see what you allow me to see.
—Can you see what I can’t see?
—I’m not sure what you mean.
I guess that’s anothen.
“Doyouhave any idea what the Chief Inspector may want?” Vaylen asks.
“Not in the least,” I lie.
I suspect the file told Cragmere that Cindergrasp was my Neutro, and my mother died during the procedure. The Chief Inspector now knows I had a motive.
—Can they prove anything?Zephyros asks.
I shake my head, unsure. Vaylen regards me through narrowed eyes. I stare at the floor.Damn!I need to learn not to react when Zephyros speaks inside my head.
“I want to be in the room when he interviews you,” Vaylen says.
“What? Why?”
“As I explained before, I like to be aware of all issues pertaining to my Clutch.”
My thoughts race as I try to come up with an excuse why he can’t be there.
“They… didn’t find your file,” Vaylen says carefully. “It was missing.”
My gaze snaps to meet his. So the message did contain details. All the tension leaves me. They don’t know who performed my Cleansing, and I’ve already told them I don’t remember the name of my Neutro. Except—the tension returns with full force—what if they ask my father?
I swallow and do my best to react the way an innocent person would. “Why was my file missing?”
“A clerical error, most likely.”
“But what does the Chief Inspector want with me? I don’t understand.”
“I suppose he wants to rule you out as a suspect.” He shrugs.
“I… didn’t kill Neutro Cindergrasp. I didn’t even know who he was.”
“Is there anyone else who might know who your Neutro was?” He adds, “Your parents, perhaps?”
I shake my head. “My mother took me to my Cleansing. I remember that much. My father didn’t come. He’s a law clerk and was busy with work, so I have no idea if he knows who did my procedure.”
“What about your mother?”
“She…” I swallow again. “She’s dead.”
“I’m… sorry.”
I shrug as if it doesn’t matter, but it matters. It has always mattered.
Vaylen speaks with care, navigating through the pain he must see on my face. “Any… siblings.”
There’s a hairline crack on the stone floor. I stare at it and slowly shake my head, bracing myself against the awful pain unfurling in my chest.
“Forgive me,” Vaylen says in a hurry. “If you want me to be present when Cragmere questions you, I’d be glad to. If you don’t, I respect that.”
