Marked by Alex Hughes Page B

still, confused me still—but I couldn’t figure out how to say it quickly. “Either way it’s do what they say or bad things happen.”
    â€œYou need help getting out of town, kid?” Swartz finally asked, serious.
    I laughed, long and hard. “Ah, no, thanks, though. The Guild are controlling bastards as usual, and I don’t know what’s going on with Kara. But madness is no joke, and neither is suicide, if that’s what this is. Meyers was good to me, and he deserves somebody who will find out the truth.” I sat back, blinking, realizing all of that was true. I’d made up my mind, even if I hadn’t realized it yet.
    Swartz’s voice softened. “Good for you. Good for you, kid.”
    I smiled then, a real smile. “Listen, about the service project this weekend . . .”
    â€œI’ll give you a pass if you’re working,” Swartz said. “But we’re having a meet-up. I don’t care what you have to do to make it happen.”
    â€œI understand,” I said, still smiling. We said our good-byes, and I sat back.
    I still wanted a cigarette. I was still exhausted within an inch of my life. But for the first time, I thought maybe I could do this. The weekend was coming up, two whole days for investigation at the Guild. Two whole days, and maybe I could do some good.
    Maybe I could end up not dead and not imprisoned. That would be fun.
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    When I showed up at Cherabino’s cubicle, Michael had donuts. Real donuts, fresh-baked today, with gooey fillings and sticky yogurt frosting flavored with heavy spices I couldn’t put names to. He waved me over to the box and I helped myself to three. And copious amounts of coffee. I’d already gotten a cup from the break room of the burned stuff, and had myself a cigarette.
    â€œEverything okay from yesterday?” Michael asked.
    Mouth full, I shrugged.
Don’t really want to talk about it, thanks.
    His eyes widened and he was suddenly on his feet.
    Crap, amateur mistake. I must be way more tired than I’d thought. Cherabino would have kicked my ass back when I was new to this. Some cops still would.
    Michael stood there, holding back his hostility.
    Cherabino stood too, and patted his shoulder. “Takes you by surprise the first time, I know. Boy Wonder does back off if you tell him to.”
    â€œOkay . . .” He was taking her advice, and calming, without only the occasional look in my direction.
    Cherabino shrugged. “Don’t ask about the nickname. It’s a long story.”
    Forcing myself to calm, I finished chewing the amazingness that was my new favorite donut and swallowed. Took another gulp of coffee. “I didn’t mean to cross a line,” I sighed. “I’ll try not to do it again, but with the way my week has been going, I’m not making any promises. I’ve just been around telepaths a lot in the last twenty-four hours, over with Kara. It plays with your sense of personal space.”
    Michael was frowning, but he didn’t say anything else, and it seemed hypocritical to read him at this point.
    â€œThese are really good donuts,” I offered, to change the subject, then for good measure added, “Do we have any new information on the Wright case? Since I was down there for the murder scene, I want to help if I can.” That’s what I was getting paid for, right?
    Cherabino gestured to an uncomfortable metal chair at the back of the cubicle. “We’re about to leave for the Cardinal Laboratories. We could use your skills there, actually. I want to interview most of the staff, and I need to be back by two for the task force meeting.” She had a sudden thought I could actually see crystallize.
    I stopped walking with the chair halfway to the front of the cubicle next to the two more comfortable ones. “What?” I asked her.
    â€œClark was