“Most of the focus was on his connection to the Diabolical.” Hank gathered all his torn-up napkins and crushed them into a ball. “Let me make some calls. I’ll see what I can dig up. Be right back.”
He pecked Gina’s cheek, then stood and left the cafe. As he passed by our window, I saw him pull out his phone.
“He’s worried that he’s letting Kerry down by not being with him,” Gina told me, “but we need to be here if the Council decides to vote on whether or not to issue a lockdown.”
“If there is a lockdown, I know everyone would be sent an alert to retreat here or to an outpost, but what about teams that are actively engaged in the field?”
“It’s the old complaint of war office generals giving orders that boots-on-the-ground soldiers can’t follow. Some teams are embedded in delicate situations. Others have finally managed to infiltrate an enemy stronghold. Either way, to pull out now would be disastrous.”
“Well, could you ask the Council to consider exempting teams on active missions? That would take care of Kerry.”
“Ms. Chapman suggested that, too. There’s precedent for it, and it only makes sense to remain flexible.” She sighed. “Of course, in Kerry’s case, anyone who wanted to be a stickler could say his mission ended with the Hellhounds.”
“Like you said, boots-on-the-ground soldiers sometimes have to play things by ear.” I shrugged. “You’d think the elders at least would understand that.”
“People forget. They grow complacent, I suppose. And growing older doesn’t guarantee wisdom. Those who were foolish when they were younger sometimes remain foolish no matter how much they age.”
I laughed and she grinned.
“There was no gun.” Hank plunked himself down in his seat. “I guess I should say, nophysicalgun. No physical bullet, either.”
“But she shot herself— Oh!”
Horrified, I covered my mouth with both hands. I remembered the night Kerry had shown John how to manifest a gun out of power.
Surely not. Surely Reilly didn’t—
“Reilly Argaud manifested a gun and bullets out of power, didn’t he?” Gina turned to Hank. “He made her shoot herself while under enthrallment.”
“There is no evidence of any of that.” He braced his elbows on his knees and laced his fingers together.
“He should be charged with murder,” she muttered.
“Why wasn’t he?” I asked.
“As I said, there is zero evidence against him.” Hank shook his head. “Reilly had the Council’s sympathy when Aspen committed suicide because he said they were dating. He had Travis retrieve the enthrallment necklace before she went to the morgue, so there was no reason to suspect anything.”
“But he admitted it at his trial!” Gina argued.
“Probably to deflect us away from looking harder at what happened to her.” Hank unlocked his fingers and scrubbed his hands over his face.
“Can he still be charged and tried for her murder?” I shivered.
I should have brought John with me. This is disturbing.
“She could have gotten any warrior to make that gun for her. Granted, it wouldn’t have lasted long unless the warrior was a level nine or ten, but a few seconds is all you need to put a gun in your mouth and pull the trigger.”
I gasped.
“Hank, she’s a child,” Gina scolded him.
“It’s okay,” I mumbled. “I’ve seen some things.”
She reached across the table and wrapped her warm hand around my clenched fist.
“I’ll try to find out if Aspen was friends with any warriors. I doubt it, but, if so, I’ll talk to them next.” I made my hand relax and gave her a small smile.
“Why is this so important all of a sudden? Do you think it has something to do with Gemma’s kidnapping?”
