“Argh! You’re blinding me!” Imani threw her forearm up to protect her eyes. “Be careful where you angle that thing.”
Liv laughed, and I grinned as we walked home after enjoying brunch at Costa. “Ha ha. Very funny.” I splayed my hand and admired my dazzling engagement ring. “Anyway, I can hardly be proficient with managing it—I’ve only had it a week. Surely wearing bling like this should come with a grace period?” I see-sawed my hand side to side. Such pretty twinkles. Who knew light refraction could be so enthralling. “It could probably do some damage if I punched someone in the face.”
Liv nodded. “It could definitely take out an eye.”
Imani had removed her arm from her face, but she jokingly side-eyed the ring, pretending to fear its brilliance. “Shiny and practical—my favourite combination.”
“When are you setting a date?” Liv asked.
“I have no idea. We’re going to talk about it after we sort out the DD thing.” DD stood for Dana’s Dad. Rather than anyone knowing what we were talking about, we’d given him that nickname.
“Wow, love. That could take a while. We still have interviews to get through.” Imani was talking about the captives we’d found in the basement of DD’s factory. There was so much to record that they’d had to have days with just one victim to ask what they needed. It was definitely a huge mess. At least we’d gotten this far. It had been the biggest break through so far to finding out what happened to my parents. But I didn’t want to bring that up here, and I was pretty sure neither did my friends.
I shrugged. “Whatever. It’s fine. The fact that he loves me and asked is enough. It’s not like I’m in a hurry to have kids or anything.”
“Why not?” Liv asked. “You’d make such gorgeous babies.”
I chuckled. “That’s not a good reason to have kids, Liv. Ask me when I’ve travelled the whole of Europe and run out of things to do. I haven’t got time to have kids right now… or for the next few years.”
“Party pooper. I can’t believe you’re going to wait so long. I thought it would be cool if we had them at the same time. It would be amazing if our kids could grow up together.”
My eyes widened. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”
She snorted. “No! But, you know, I’m hoping it will happen in the next two or three years.” She lowered her voice. “We’ve been talking about it.”
“What about marriage?” Not that it mattered, but it was the natural thing to ask.
She shrugged. “I’m not that fussed, to be honest. After going through that whole engagement thing and the aftermath, it’s kind of lost its appeal. I mean, if B asked, I’d say yes, of course, but it’s not a priority. We’ve been living together for a while now, and it’s the best thing in the world. I don’t want anything to change—it’s perfect just the way it is.”
Imani raised one eyebrow. “And you think nothing will change when you have kids?
Is that what you’re telling us?” Liv opened her mouth to answer, but Imani’s phone rang, cutting her off. “Sorry, love.” She slid it out of her pocket. “Hello, Agent Jawara speaking.” She listened for a minute. “Yes, of course. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Bye.” She looked at me. “That was your brother. He’s called us in.”
“Me too?”
“Yes.” Her tone held enough gravity that Liv and I both knew what she meant—I was wanted for my talent. While it paid well, I was tired of being in the thick of crime scenes. There were some things I just didn’t want to see.
I sighed. “Okay. What is it?”
We’d reached Angelica’s. Imani kept her own counsel until we went inside. As we stood in the hallway outside the living room, she made a bubble of silence. “It’s a murder scene—two of the slaves we haven’t interviewed yet.”
Liv sucked in a breath. “How did that happen? Aren’t they living in PIB housing under agent protection?”
“Yes.”
Yikes. That was scary and bad news. “Do you think they had information that could do lots of damage or is it a warning to the other slaves?”
She pressed her lips together for a moment. “Either or, neither nor. Who knows? The point is, we need to get to the bottom of it. Anyway, love, put your uniform on and grab your camera. We’ll travel to headquarters and go with Will from there. It’s safer.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Now we were closing in on RP, they were bound to become even bolder than they had been, and I’d almost been killed a few times. And, yes, we’d just been for a walk, but we’d had our return to senders on, plus Imani was with me, and James had organised for two other agents to tail us. If I’d thought things were serious before, I’d really had no idea.
Liv looked at Imani. “Do you think there are still rogue agents helping RP?”
Imani’s grim expression said it all. “We all need to be extra careful. Keep your ears and eyes open, Liv. At the end of the day, when you go home, make a list of all the research Chad’s assistant asks you to do. Maybe have lunch with her whenever you can, have a chat, if you know what I mean.”
“Okay. Will do.”
“Oh, and get B to protect your thoughts with a spell each morning. We’re at the pointy end of things. Their guys or gals on the inside will take more risks now we’re closing in on them.”
“Okay, Imani.”
While they talked, I magicked my uniform on, as well as a black coat—whilst it had been sunny, it was still only fifteen degrees. And for my final trick, I conjured my camera from my bedside table. “Ready.” I looked at Liv. “You coming with?”
“Yeah, might as well. I’ll grab a lift home with B later. There’s some paperwork I have to finish for James anyway.”
I made my doorway, and Imani made hers. I ushered Liv through mine. As I reluctantly stepped through after her, I shuddered. Murder scenes were my least-favourite place to be, and we had no idea what we were going to find. Would it be bloody, gory, stinky? Please don’t be horrible. My stomach would be in knots until we arrived. Just breathe, Lily. Just breathe.
If only I had better advice to calm myself… because I was going to need it.
