Vowed (25 page)

I nod, feeling numb. With a last fake smile at them I leave the room, grabbing my jacket. I pull it on, followed by my fingerless gloves, then slam the front door shut behind me – hard
enough for the windows to rattle.

A startled crow caws at me and takes off as I stomp past where it sat chilling out on a fence post. I narrow my eyes against the light and watch it fly away, winging south, towards the City. The
street isn’t busy, with the majority of office workers already on their way to work by Tube or bus. I wonder what day it is, then check my phone. Tomorrow our tutor, Lan, will be coming
around for a few hours of hard grafting and I’ve not even finished the homework she set me the week before. I can’t remember anything about the treaties signed between the Seelie and
Unseelie Courts during the Frontier’s War of the Roses.

I sigh, unable to feel remotely interested in history, treaties or anything. Instead I’m just feeling wiped out, miserable and annoyed at Uncle Andrew for handing the Garretts the Glow
case. I mull this over, pulling my collar up and shoving my hands into my pockets, because guess who stormed out without her scarf? I feel awful for the little girl, Emma, who’s died. Her
poor family must feel utterly devastated after what they’ve been through. She’s been in a coma for a month and her older sister was a wreck when they realized the Glow had come from the
leftover ampoules in her purse.

I keep on walking until I no longer see bright spots in front of my eyes, my anger and mixed-up feelings of betrayal dissipating in the cold air. Then I’m ready to pull out my phone and
call Uncle Andrew. And I really don’t care that it’s the middle of the night in New York.

The phone rings twice before he answers.

‘What’s wrong?’ he asks without preamble. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m not sure. Do you think I’m incapable of looking after myself?’

There’s a moment of shocked silence before he sighs. ‘You’ve spoken to Aiden, I take it?’

‘Yes.’

‘And he’s told you . . . ?’

‘That the Garretts have now taken control of the Glow thing. I thought you were going to pass it on to someone else in the family.’

‘I considered it. I asked a friend of mine from my army days to look into it . . . but, well, I think the Garretts are uniquely placed to take the Glow case for us.’

‘Why?’ I sigh. ‘No, I mean, really, explain it to me. Why was it given to them to look into?’

‘Werewolves can’t get drunk easily and they can’t get high, their metabolism is too fast and they have natural immunity to a variety of poisons that can be fatal to both humans
and Fae. That was one of the reasons I approached the pack. The other reason is that Aiden already has ties to one of the largest crime families operating in the UK today.’

I frown. ‘You mean
Leo
?’

There’s another pause on the transatlantic line and for a second I worry that we’ve been cut off, but then he speaks again. ‘Yes, Leo – whose dad is not the quiet
businessman who owns a few nightclubs around town like he’d have you believe.’

I exhale raggedly before grudgingly admitting, ‘Okay, well. That makes sense, I suppose. But Aiden’s still being an idiot and trying to manage me.’

There’s a smothered snort. ‘Kit, you came into the family as this perfect package of independence and strong will. I know you’re not impressed with me or with Aiden but
I’ve asked the young wolf to keep an eye on you because I don’t trust the Spook. You, I trust completely.’

‘I’m not sure that Aiden got that message.’

He belly laughs his Uncle Andrew laugh of amusement and it makes me smile, even if anger is still plucking at me like an insistent plucking thing. ‘Aiden likes hearing subtext.’

‘Can you tell him to back off? He’s gone all protective wolf on me and I really don’t like it. If we fall out it’s going to be ugly and it won’t sit well with the
Garretts. I don’t want to be the cause if the two families get fighting. I’m doing fine working with Dante.’

‘Let me see what I can do. You must know that Aiden cares about you, deeply. That boy doesn’t give his loyalty easily.’ He sighs and I hear the puff of an exhale.
‘He’s made you part of his pack, Kit, so bear that in mind.’

‘But I’m not part of his pack, Uncle Andrew. I’m his friend – there’s a huge difference. Vast!’ I’m relieved he can’t see me gesturing wildly as I
stand on the corner but then there are CCTV cameras everywhere and maybe he can see me after all.

‘Why is it so difficult for you to accept that people care about you, Kit?’

The question takes me off-guard and I stare at a mum attempting to wedge her squirming toddler into a buggy as I try to come up with an answer.

‘I’d rather just . . . you know, not get involved with people too much, Uncle Andrew. It doesn’t work out well for me or them.’

‘Oh, Kit, you can’t cut yourself off from friends and family. It’s no way to live your life.’

I sigh and look over my shoulder. Dante’s making his way towards me, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets and he’s carrying my scarf. He looks cold and miserable and I almost
feel sorry for him. But not quite.

‘I have to go now, Uncle Andrew. Please talk to Aiden and tell him to give me some space. I’m trying to work a case. I’ll respect the fact that he’ll be working with
Shaun to solve the Glow crimes.’

I hang up and walk towards Dante, blocking his path. Instead of handing me my scarf he drapes it around my neck. His smile is a little rueful and apologetic.

‘I screwed up, didn’t I?’ His voice is as miserable as he looks.

‘You did. Why didn’t you just come and collect me like you said you would?’

He sighs and hunches his shoulders. ‘I don’t know, I thought it would be a good idea to treat you to a homemade breakfast for a change.’

‘You knew my family would freak out.’ Subtext:
you knew I’d freak out.

‘I didn’t even think about that. I’m sorry.’

Briefly he looks really young and genuinely sorry, but I resolve not to go all mushy because he’s giving me piteously cute puppy eyes. I square my shoulders and start back along the
street.

‘I need my bag. We’ve got a lot of work to catch up on.’

‘Aiden—’ He stops when I hold my hand up to stop him from talking.

‘No. Nothing about Aiden. If you guys want to hang out, that’s fine by me, but just don’t include me in your burgeoning bromance. I’m not interested.’

Dante blinks at me and I wonder why he would look that alarmed by what I’d just said, but then he shakes his head.

‘I was going to say that Aiden said to tell you he’s sorry. His dad called just after you left. Apparently he needs him to run errands. Don’t any of you go to school, at
all?’

I scowl up at him. ‘This again? Why are you so obsessed about school? Do you think me knowing how to put together a business plan will help me fight monsters? The stuff I’m training
in with my tutor is what’s going to keep me alive.’

‘Have you ever been to normal school? Like an average kid?’

‘I’ve been to schools, but not like an average kid. I travelled around Europe with my nan and we stayed all over. We spent a summer in China and wintered in Japan.’

Dante whistles softly and shakes his head. ‘That explains a lot.’

I stop walking and narrow my eyes at him. ‘What. Does. That. Even. Mean.’

‘Just that you’re obviously not the girl your family thinks you are. That I thought you were.’ He takes a deep breath. ‘I look at you, Kit, and I see an attractive girl
getting into fights with drug dealers and who beats up monsters. I’m in awe. Your family sees you as the girl they took in when your nan died. Even though Kyle is younger than you, you are
the baby, the one to watch at all times because you’re the newcomer. They will always worry about you.’ He watches me carefully to see how I’m reacting. ‘They forget who
your grandmother was. That she raised a girl who is very pragmatic, a bit volatile, a bit impatient, a young woman who knows her mind and who is quite capable of taking care of herself.’

Well now, what do you say to that? I turn around and start walking again. Dante falls in beside me.

‘I’m being a diva, aren’t I?’

‘Just a tiny bit, but I can understand why. All the attention they focus on you would drive me crazy. Especially Aiden. He’s very intense.’

I wonder at the catch in his voice but he shivers unexpectedly and pulls his collar up as we stride along.

‘Aiden’s complicated. Yes, he is intense and he forgets that not everyone feels things as keenly as he does. It took me a while to get used to it, but sometimes, like today,
he’s just a real idiot. Apparently it’s a wolf thing. Once he focuses on something he just doesn’t let up.’

‘And you’re sure he’s not in love with you?’

I laugh and shake my head as I open our gate. ‘No. Definitely not. I’m not Aiden’s type. You are, though.’ It’s a throwaway comment that makes Dante squeak in
protest whilst I reach for my keys. Before I can unlock the front door, though, Kyle pulls it open and I stumble into him. His hair’s mussed and he looks paler than when I left half an hour
ago.

‘It’s on the news. A little girl’s been taken from the estate in Brixton. It happened last night.’ He hands me printouts of the online newspaper reports and I follow him
back into the house.

I skim-read the articles and pass them on to Dante.

‘Why haven’t Diane or Chem called us?’ Dante edges past me to sit on one of the couches in the living room so he can read the articles. He looks through them quickly and drops
them on the coffee table. ‘This is unbelievable. I can’t believe it’s happened again.’

I pull my phone out and find Diane’s number. ‘I’m phoning Diane, I’ve got to see what’s going on.’

The phone rings once before Diane answers. ‘I just found out myself,’ she says without even bothering to say hello. ‘I’m on my way to school. Chem’s over there
trying to find out more.’

‘Why didn’t he call me?’

‘His mum confiscated his phone when he stayed out late the other night.’

I sigh, thankful that the only person whining about my nocturnal behaviour is my cousin.

‘We’re on our way. Does it look bad?’

‘Yeah, there are cops everywhere and I’m going to be late for school because they’re questioning everyone.’

I wish her luck and hang up. Kyle reappears next to me and hands me my messenger bag and the small compact camera.

‘Get photos this time,’ he tells me. ‘Of everything. The whole flat if you can, including the little girl’s bedroom.’

I nod and drop the camera into my bag. ‘Anything else?’

‘Be careful. And talk to Aiden.’

I roll my eyes and give him a quick hug before dragging Dante out the door to his car.

During the rush-hour drive to Brixton, I update Dante on my research at Aunt Letty’s and promise to show him my notes. The villains of our piece don’t seem clear at
all, not until we can get a decent lead, and I feel panic thrumming through me at the thought of another little child taken from the estate.

We park a couple of blocks away and watch the army of police and onlookers mill about.

‘How do we get in?’ I ask Dante.

‘I’m a Spook, remember? My ID should get us in.’

‘Wow. Not just a snappy dresser then?’

‘Funny. For a youngling. Get out of my car before I lock you in.’

Outside, the air is blade sharp and clear and my breath plumes. I tie my scarf tighter and dip my fingers into my jacket pockets.

‘Are you carrying weapons?’ he asks me, as we make our way across the badly kept lawn to where a young police officer is keeping the nosy public at bay.

‘Of course.’

I think he sighs but we’re in front of the cop by then; he’s spotted us picking our way between the crowd of onlookers and Dante can’t ask me what I’m carrying.

‘Can I help you folks?’ He’s got his name sewn on his breast pocket. PC Osborne looks maybe a week older than Dante but there’s an authority his uniform lends him that
Dante’s casual attire doesn’t quite pull off.

‘I’m with the SDI,’ Dante says and shows him the ID from his wallet. ‘Dante Alexander. My partner, Kit Blackhart. Can you tell us what happened here?’

Osborne looks from Dante to me, then back to Dante, clearly not sure how to handle this. I can see him mentally going through the alphabet of organizations that work with the police in his head.
Eventually, after a few seconds, he realizes who Dante represents and he draws himself up to his full height.

‘You guys hunt ghosts, right?’ he says and instead of any kind of derision there is definite interest in his voice. ‘Do you think there’s some kind of woo-woo going on
here?’

I bite my lips so as not to laugh but it’s difficult because he asks the question without guile, complete with big eyes. I like the guy – I can’t help myself.

‘What’s going on here then, constable?’ a female voice asks and we all turn to watch a woman walk towards us. She’s dressed in a pair of khaki jeans, hiking boots and a
warm-looking peajacket. She looks the business and I can’t help but admire her outfit. My kind of lady, dressing sensibly. The boots look as if they can kick up a storm.

‘Detective, these two are from the Gho—, I mean, from the SDI. Dante Alexander and Kit Blackhart.’

The detective narrows her dark gaze at us, taking in Dante before swinging back to me. ‘Blackhart? Do you know someone called Jamie Blackhart?’

Alarm rushes through me but I nod my head. ‘He’s my uncle,’ I reply, putting on my most winning smile. ‘He’s not in trouble, is he?’

‘No. But when you speak to him again, tell him to collect the motorcycle jacket that he left at my office, along with some of his files.’ She holds out an elegant hand with long
tapering fingers and neatly trimmed nails. ‘I’m Detective Shen.’ She shakes both our hands. ‘Now, what are a Blackhart and an agent from the SDI doing at what appears to be
an utterly normal crime scene?’

‘We are investigating other children who’ve disappeared from this estate,’ Dante says, edging us away from PC Osborne and his eager expression. ‘We heard another little
girl’s been taken and so we came straight over.’