Case: 1: A Dystopian Mystery (Annalise Storm Chronicles Book 2)

by May Freighter

  “Hey,” she said with a smile.

  He paused what he was doing to look at her. “Once I’m done, I will be leaving.”

  She rolled her eyes. He was stubborn beyond reason. “I can’t let you leave in the state you’re in.”

  “Annalise, your father’s reputation may be affected because of this. I cannot allow for that to happen.” He finished bandaging his waist and carefully climbed off the bed.

  As he swayed on his feet, she slipped her free arm around his torso to steady him. “You’re not ready to leave here.”

  A pained chuckle escaped him. He pulled her against him, stifling a groan that followed when she accidentally brushed his side with her hand. “You are hot one minute and the next you are cold. What is it you want from me? Am I someone you pity because of a small graze? Am I simply your partner you are duty-bound to help?” His fingers worked their way into her hair, keeping her head close. He studied her with great intensity that scorched her soul. “Or are you willing to allow me to get closer to your heart?”

  She fought her way out of his arms. It wasn’t hard as he was weakened. “You’re delusional from the fever…”

  “How many times do I have to tell you that I want you to be mine?” he retorted.

  Her heart jolted in surprise, and she unconsciously backed away a step. He had never raised his voice at anyone. As a matter of fact, this was the first time seeing this side of him that he must have been suppressing all along. Perhaps, he was human like the rest of them, and not an epitome of an unreachable Greek god she had painted in her mind.

  He ran his hand through his hair as the embers in his blue eyes receded. “I didn’t mean to scare you—”

  “I’m not scared of you, Devlin,” she said, meaning every word. “I want you to get better. Yes, at the moment, it’s because you are my partner. But even if you were a stranger who was in need of help, I would offer a hand.”

  Whatever he was thinking, she couldn’t guess. His expression remained as unreadable as text in the dark. Sighing deeply, he sat on the edge of the bed and motioned to the bag she was clutching on one hand. “What’s in that?”

  “Oh, right.” She handed over the package. “It’s healing gel—fresh from the hospital. It should help you heal faster.”

  “Did you use your Citizen ID to claim this?”

  She didn’t know why it mattered if she did that or not. “Well, yes. I paid a visit to my doctor who took care of me after I escaped Falcon.”

  He shook his head in disapproval. “For my sake, you will make others raise questions. What if your father hears of this? What will you tell him? He is in need of rest, and hearing that his daughter is unwell will only make him worse.”

  “You’re joking, right? Have you met… Okay, I know you have met my father, but he doesn’t give a damn about me or if I’m bleeding to death.”

  “You’re mistaken. He cares a great deal,” Devlin replied, meeting her stare head-on. From what she could tell, he was speaking without a single shred of doubt. “Is that why you are willing to run away to Silver, you believe your parents don’t love you? Or is there another reason?”

  She folded her arms over her chest. Was he implying she was moving to Silver because Mavel wouldn’t be able to get back to her Tower again? She had to revoke his access codes after he left her. Not doing that would make others think she was waiting for him to return—which she was—yet, she couldn’t allow Falcon to cling to that possibility.

  “It’s because I want to have a lesser distance to travel to work,” she replied.

  He smirked. “You’re a terrible liar, Annalise.”

  “And you’re sick. Undo those bandages, so we can put some healing gel on.” She slapped her hands to her hips. “I don’t have time for this interrogation about my life.”

  He said nothing and obeyed.

  11

  Hot And Cold

  Spending her day nursing Devlin gave her an oddly tight feeling in her chest. After their brief argument, he complied with her every demand and said little. She was beginning to wonder if she had hurt his feelings at some point.

  She peered over her shoulder, finding him resting on her sofa while he was reading something on her digital tablet. He refused to stay in bed any longer. Apparently, it only made him feel worse. So, they agreed on the sofa.

  “What’re you reading?” she asked, coming over with two mugs of steaming coffee. She handed one to him and sat on the sofa opposite him.

  “The details of our case. We have to pay a visit to Mr Sage tomorrow with the warrant. Hopefully, he will be more forthcoming this time.”

  She sipped her drink and cringed. Not enough sugar again. “You think he won’t?”

  “Men like him seek to keep their reputation intact at any cost. He wouldn’t dare risk being brought to the DPD by force. Imagine what the parents of those children would think?” A devilish smile formed on his lips. “I would love to see him paraded around for his wrongdoings.”

  “It sounds like you already know what’s going on.”

  His smile vanished, and he set the tablet aside. “I have a theory.”

  “Are you willing to share?”

  He swallowed a mouthful of his drink, dragging the silence between them. She was almost bursting out of her skin to find out if he would tell her what he had come up with. Because, during the time she had spent in the shower that afternoon, she could only think of Sage and Roland as two greedy shmucks who wanted to make some illegal money under the counter. Yet, why would Sage risk ruining the reputation of his school for some drugs? He was never short on credits. There was no need for more money to be dumped into his bank account.

  Devlin lowered his cup onto the coffee table while holding on to his side. He did well in covering up his discomfort and pain. The more time she spent studying him, the more unshakable her theory became that he had practised not showing any emotions or feelings outside of the ones he wanted to display. That was something he and her father had in common—both men refused to show what was in their hearts.

  “I will share with you once you answer a few of my questions,” he replied.

  She tilted her head to one side, taking in his relaxed demeanour. “Shoot, but it doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”

  He nodded and crossed his legs. “Tell me, did you sleep with your beast?”

  Annalise nearly choked on her coffee. With tears burning her eyes, she put the cup on the table and swatted at her chest until the burning pain slowly went away. Her coughing made her throat hurt, and she glared at him.

  “What kind of question is that?” she demanded, rising with her hands balled at her sides.

  “It’s a simple question, Annalise. By your defensiveness, I can tell I have hit the nail on the head.”

  She struggled to maintain her composure as her legs turned to jelly. He wouldn’t tell anyone, would he?

  “Don’t look so frightened,” he continued, waving for her to resume her seat, which she did. “I have suspected that much from the way you defend the modded.”

  “Because I defend the modded, your conclusion is that I sleep with them?”

  His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “No. It is because that’s the sole explanation for your desire to avoid our engagement.”

  “That’s not—”

  Devlin cut her protest short. “I can read you with ease, Annalise.” He slipped off the sofa and made his way towards her. He bent down, his expression darkening.

  She was no longer comfortable with being in his vicinity, not when he was moody instead of beaming with the usual carefree playfulness.

  He captured her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Ask yourself one question.” His hot breath brushed her cheek. “How much are you willing to lose for a single modded man?”

  What she saw in his eyes, terrified her. Gone was the man who displayed affection for her left and right. The man who was with her in her living room was bordering on animosity.

  “Devlin, let go…”
<
br />   “I will warn you this once since I care for you,” he said, ignoring her request. “Choose your partner carefully. Your family is watched by many eyes, and if you take one step out into the grey area, as you are doing now, they will suffer for your actions.”

  He released her and straightened up. Without as much as a goodbye, he gathered his things and left her apartment. She didn’t bother stopping him. The shock from his words bound her to the seat she was glad to be sitting on. She hadn’t considered what would happen to her family once someone discovered she was sleeping with a modded man. Such news wouldn’t fade away with angry complaints from their neighbours or looks of revulsion. Her father, as leader of the Anti-Modded Party, would be put through hell and back, straining his health further. Her mother would not be able to survive the ordeal emotionally. Regina Storm put on a good show of indifference, but Annalise knew that she would crack under the enormous pressure from the press, political blowback, and isolation from society. Her mother craved acceptance. Taking that away from Regina would destroy what was left of their relationship as a family. And, the worst part was that everyone’s pain would be Annalise’s fault.

  She tucked her knees close to her chest and stared at her coffee mug with watering eyes. In Divinity, she was one person, yet everyone expected her to do the right thing by sacrificing what she desired most.

  A sigh fled her lips. Suddenly, those pesky political gatherings don’t seem too bad.

  She didn’t get much sleep that night, either. Her mind was determined to torment her with the possible outcomes of her decision to stay true to Mavel and wait for him. It was why the first thing she did the next morning was to drag her ass to the coffee maker where she waited for it to bless her with a shot of caffeine.

  After having breakfast, she headed to the car park. She wasn’t keen on contacting Devlin, but it couldn’t be avoided. If they were going to Montgomery Institute together, she had to call him. Once she got in the car and voiced her destination, she did just that.

  He answered with a harsh bark, “What is it?”

  His sternness made her pause. Is he mad at me? What right does he have to be? It wasn’t like they were engaged or dating. She pursed her lips to restrain a sharp comeback.

  The second time, his voice came out softer. “Detective Storm, why are you calling me?”

  “Why are you using formal speech with me all of a sudden?”

  “I believe it was you who made it perfectly clear where I stand yesterday. I don’t fight losing battles, Detective. I’ve decided to keep your secret and only pursue a working relationship with you.”

  The distance in his tone wedged a knife deeper into her gut. Maybe this is for the best. He would stop pestering and touching her, at least. Her inner voice was cheering on this change while her chest, for some reason, was growing tighter. “I called you because of work. You wanted to go to the institute, and I want to accompany you. How are you feeling, by the way?”

  “Fine. I will meet with you in front of the school around nine. As for my health, it is none of your concern.”

  He ended the call, and she was left with her mouth hanging open. The audacity! He was acting like a child who didn’t get the toy he wanted. She crossed her arms and glared out the window at the beautiful view of Divinity’s Golden District bathed in the morning rays of sunshine that was peering over the horizon. He had no right to pry or complain about whom she had feelings for. There was nothing between her and Devlin. Nothing!

  Even when they met in person, it didn’t get any better. He kept giving her the cold shoulder, and she pretended like it had no effect on her whatsoever. She marched behind him to the Montgomery Institute, noting that his body was tense. He couldn’t have recovered from the wound he suffered. At best, it would have closed up with the healing gel, but there was no way he was back to normal. He had to be in a lot of pain. The dumb idiot.

  He was preparing to open the door for her, and she burst past him, keeping it open long enough for him to pass and glare her way. She stuck out her tongue. Excess movement on his part would cause his wound to reopen. He would become a liability if that happened. Yes, that’s exactly why I have to do this.

  At the reception, the same old woman sat there with a plastered faux smile on her wrinkly face. “Detectives, how may I help you today?”

  “Is Mr Sage in yet?” Devlin asked in a charming tone, dripping with affection.

  The woman blushed and nodded. “He came in a few minutes ago when the classes started. Should I inform him of your arrival?”

  Devlin caught the secretary’s hand as she reached for her comms. “No need. He is expecting us.”

  Annalise struggled to keep her surprise from showing. He had lied to that woman without batting an eye.

  “Ah, then please go on ahead,” the secretary replied, rubbing the spot he touched.

  Devlin gave the woman another drop-dead-gorgeous smile he must have rehearsed a thousand times in front of a mirror and aimed for the glass double doors on their right.

  Once they were in the hallways, Annalise caught his elbow, pulling him to a stop. She scanned the surrounding area, making sure no one else was in their vicinity. “Why did you lie to her?”

  “A surprise attack is better for this. We must catch him off-guard before he has the time to formulate a story,” he said, going back to his frosty persona.

  “Can you stop it with the asshole act? It’s getting on my nerves.”

  “Why would my indifference to you displease you, Detective?”

  “You’re my partner! I need to know you’re fine. I…worry about you.”

  Devlin’s mocking chuckle was followed by him capturing her upper arm and pushing her against the wall. Her breath was almost knocked out of her when he loomed over her, his lips close enough to brush hers. But, he moved his head to speak his bitter words into her ear. “Do you want me to touch you, Detective?” His other hand ran up the length of her side, sending a wave of heat through her. His fingers dove under the material of her sweater, and she gasped when her skin started to tingle with electricity where he touched her. She couldn’t move, couldn’t protest. Her body refused to let his touch stop. She hated that, deep down, she was beginning to crave his hands on her.

  “You want me, Annalise. You know you do, yet you fight your desire out of pure stubbornness.” He withdrew, leaving her breathless. “But, I am not willing to play this game much longer. We are here to work, and that is what we shall do.” He lowered his voice, adding, “Out of respect for your father, I will keep it a secret that you have slept with your beast. If that was what had you so worried, you may rest easy.” Not looking back, he walked away.

  Annalise’ eyes stung with unshed tears. She felt humiliated. More than that, she wanted to tear Devlin’s head off his shoulders for acting so high and mighty. It wasn’t her fault she fell in love with someone society didn’t want her to be with. Heck, her heart didn’t give her much of a choice. Her life would have been much simpler if she was born modded, or Mavel was a pureblood.

  Closing her eyes, she counted to ten to soothe her budding annoyance. She couldn’t let them rule her, and she still had to put away Gale’s killer. This once, Devlin was right. They had a case to solve, and there was no room for personal feelings.

  12

  Blackmail

  Her old principal, Gregory Sage, looked livid to see Annalise and Devlin first thing in the morning. It brought a tiny smirk to her lips. There goes his poker face.

  Devlin typed something on his wrist comms, and a projection of a warrant from a judge, Diana Benson, appeared on the holo projection above. “We have permission to test and search the premises for any illegal substances, Mr Sage. I hope you are going to allow us to do our job without protest.”

  “This is outrageous!” Gregory roared, slamming his hands against his desk. “I will not allow you to destroy my school’s reputation by insinuating such atrocious things are present in my building.”

  Annalise jutted
her chin out with determination. “Are you telling us the residue of Red Dust on Gale’s body didn’t come from here? She was your servant, after all.”

  Sage paled at the mention of his unofficial servant’s name. He slowly sat back down, knotting his fingers together. “I thought this matter was resolved…”

  “Not until we put away the killer,” Annalise retorted.

  The principal raised his tired eyes. “Before you do the search, there is something I have to tell you.”

  “What is it?” Devlin asked, deactivating the holo-projection on his comms and folding his arms behind his back.

  “As you’ve found out, Gale was my servant off the books. After the death of my first servant, Dee, it took a long time for me to take in a new one. But, I needed help to keep an eye on things while I was away.” Gregory reclined in his seat, meeting the gazes of both detectives, one after the other. “That night, she called me and said she found something suspicious going on in the Science labs at night. From the security feeds, there was time missing—hours to be precise. She was on her way to give me a full report, but we never got to see each other. By the time I found her, Roland had already taken her life.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us any of this before?” Devlin asked.

  “I couldn’t. I had a…special relationship with my old servant,” Gregory spoke each word with care.

  Annalise’s eyes narrowed. “You were having an affair?”

  Sage cleared his throat as if something was stuck there. He took a sip from his glass of water on his desk. “Our relationship was never made public to anyone, and I would like to keep it that way.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Devlin pressed.

  “Because Judy Wilson, our Science teacher, found out and”—his face darkened— “threatened to expose me. She has pictures of us…kissing.”

  At least, she doesn’t have photos of you having sex. Annalise relaxed her shoulders. Maybe she and this man had more in common than she wanted to admit. Both of them would be harshly judged by society if they came out with the truth. “We won’t tell anyone about this indiscretion if you tell us exactly what is going on in your institute.”