Page 99 of Midnightsong
“We can go to my room,” Angie offered, leading them up the stairs. The two followed, slippers scuffling along the floor.
Her room was down the hall from Mia’s and the kids’, and she sat on her bed beside Lulu while they took the two chairs flanking the small desk and rearranged them so they were sitting across from her.
“Governor Taylor told us what you were doing with your mer advocacy and looking for the Mer-Queen’s killers,” Beau said. “She’s had her hands full dealing with the aftermath of the mer attack, so she sent us to talk to you.”
Angie’s cheeks flushed, but she said nothing. That explained why the governor hadn’t answered her, and she imagined it was the same reason Governor Vester hadn’t answered either.
“We’ll have the proper authorities take over the investigation from here. You’re a civilian and aren’t licensed to conduct this,” the mayor continued.
“I’m only doing what’s right. The mer won’t rest until they find her killers. Look at what they did to the docks. And in Puget Sound.” She grimaced at the memory of Saeryn and Cassia’s devastating attacks on the docks, and at her school.
“We know you’re trying to do the right thing, but again, we kindly ask that you step back.” Emily’s tone was firm and, to Angie, not at all kind.
“We’ll be sending investigators to talk to you. Please cooperate with them,” Beau chimed in.
“Investigators? To ask me what? From where?”
“They’ll be from MDRT and they have some questions for you. We had to get the military involved, because unlike two years ago, this is getting too big for them to ignore,” Emily chimed in. She looked to the ground.
MDRT? Military? “My professor told me the government knew about the mer the whole time,” Angie started, taking in a shaky breath. “Did you know? Is that why they didn’t help us?”
Emily and Beau stared at her, their expressions unreadable.
“How did your professor know?” Beau’s voice cracked, and Emily’s grip visibly tightened around his hand.
“He works for SMOSA and said they’ve been researching and conducting experiments on them.” The memory of what Dr. Williams told her slowed Angie’s heartbeat to a crawl.
“I see. That might explain why they didn’t help us,” Emily said, words hardly above a whisper. “Awful they would come all the way here only to leave us to our own devices.” She cleared her throat.
“But that was then, and we need to focus on now. Angie, when MDRT comes, keep in mind how many people have died because of the mer. Including Luke.” Beau’s expression hardened, but she caught the quiver underlying his words. “Let them do their job and help your fellow Alaskans and Washingtonians, okay? Before things get worse.”
Angie looked at her lap. It sounded like she had two choices for an answer: yes, or yes. “I–I guess.”
Emily and Beau stood in tandem with Angie, and she shook their hands, her grip loose and defeated.
When they left, she stayed perched on her bed, resting her hand over Lulu’s soft, fuzzy back. She couldn’t imagine what it was like for them to have lost their son.
If only Luke was still alive and people didn’t believe the mer were the villains.
She went downstairs where Mia walked through the door and hugged Angie in greeting, and they walked to the living room together.
“Hey, just dropped the kids off at Nick’s parents. You alright? How’s Bàba?” she asked, and Angie filled her in on her meeting with Beau and Emily.
“So, they’re probably going to send agents around at some point to interview me,” she muttered.
Mia nodded, sympathy flashing in her dark eyes. “Just tell them what they need to know and get them out of your hair.”
Angie nodded and followed Mia to the kitchen where they scooped out three bowls of salted duck egg, pickled vegetables, and pork congee, and doled them out onto the living room table.
“Ah, thank you for the xifàn.” Bàba groaned as he leaned forward, setting his injured leg back on the floor. His pain medication was in a little plastic cup beside the bowl.
“Bù kè qi,” Mia replied.
“Bàba, what’s MDRT?” Angie asked as soon as they sat down. “I keep seeing them around but never heard of them.”
“Merfolk Defense and Response Team,” Bàba replied, raising a spoonful of congee to his lips. “They were established two years ago as a precautionary measure if the mer ever decided to become hostile again. I found out through some of my Navy Vet friends; they’ve been working under the radar for a long time.”
“That explains a lot.” Angie swallowed the salty congee and went for another scoop. “Beau and Emily said there were agents coming from there to talk to me about the mer. They also want me to stop my investigation into Serapha’s murder.”
