Chapter Four

Bursting the Bubble

SARAH MICHELLE

She was fuming as she exited the interrogation room. Sarah Michelle was about to direct all her misplaced anger at the young officer who had pulled her out, but found a better target instead: her boss.

Riley King, Salem MPD Chief Inquisitor, was out in the corridor, leaning against one of the dull gray walls, his shoulder pressed against a bulletin board. Even under the unflattering neon lights, Riley had an imposing presence, but the signature scowl that had marked his face ever since Sarah Michelle had joined the magical police force at 22 had softened lately. After getting married, he was more relaxed—dare she say constantly happy… annoyingly cheerful.

But that wasn’t her concern now. She was more preoccupied with what his presence in this drab hall at three A.M. meant. That he had been dragged here at this hour was significant enough and only added to her irritation.

She approached him. “Chief, what a pleasure to see you here,” she greeted him. “Shouldn’t you be at home spooning your wife?”

“Ah.” Riley turned to her. “Just the witch I was looking for.”

She squared her feet, ready to receive bad news. “What are you doing here, boss?”

“I’ve been called in for an emergency hearing.”

“So, it’s true.” When the junior officer had told her to bring Black to the courtroom, she almost hadn’t believed him.

“It appears so.”

“Let me guess, the Preston case.”

Riley nodded, his expression grim. “The one and only.”

Sarah Michelle scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “Of course. How did they even know we had a member of the Black coven in custody? The suspect didn’t make any calls.”

“If on record, the family lawyer has to be notified whenever a warrant is issued. Their attorney must’ve gotten a ping.”

“I know that. But was he lying awake just in case?”

Riley shrugged. “Maybe they have people round the clock for these kinds of things.”

“Of course, and which judge did the illustrious Black family manage to drag out of bed?”

“Judge Irving,” Chief King replied, his tone even.

“Irving? That prick?” Sarah Michelle’s eyes widened. “Hex, they really pulled out all the stops, didn’t they?”

Riley pushed off the wall, straightening his civilian jacket. “It’s the Black family, Callidora. You should have expected nothing less.”

Sarah Michelle let out a humorless laugh. “Right, how could I forget? The rules don’t apply to them.”

“Look, I know you’re not thrilled about this,” Riley said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “And the Blacks and the Callidoras have a history. If you want off the case—”

“No way.” She shrugged off his hand.

“Then you have to play by their rules for now. Let’s just get through this hearing and see where it lands us.”

“Fine,” Sarah Michelle grumbled. “But I don’t have to like it.”

As they made their way toward the courtroom, she gestured to the junior officer to bring the suspect along, doing her best to ignore Lorcan’s presence behind her as they switched buildings.

***

Sarah Michelle strode into the dimly lit courtroom, the glow of enchanted candles flickering shadows across the scarce furniture. Beside her, Riley’s dark eyes gleamed with weariness as they approached the right-hand desk—for the prosecution. On the opposite side, the junior officer led Lorcan Black to his place, the suspect’s broad shoulders taut with tension.

An elderly otter in glasses scurried in after them, leaving a damp trail of salty water in his wake. Sarah Michelle raised both eyebrows at Riley, who shrugged, clearly as perplexed as she was.

Suddenly, a disembodied voice boomed, “All rise for His Honor Judge Irving!”

The judge emerged, his weathered face pinched with fatigue as he settled onto the bench. “What is the matter, then?” he demanded, his gaze landing on the sludgy mustelid now flanking Lorcan. “Osric, you dragged me here at this unwizardly hour. Explain what’s going on.”

Sarah Michelle suppressed a snort. So, the otter must be the infamous Black family lawyer—one of their familiars, for sure.

She watched as the mustelid squished self-importantly to the center of the room.

“Your Honor,” Osric began, his whiskers quivering, “I request that my client, Mr. Black, be released at once.”

The judge pulled on spectacles and reviewed the case files on his bench. “Mr. Black is not listed as being in custody.” He cleared his throat and stared expectantly at the prosecution side.

Sarah Michelle met Lorcan’s attentive eyes briefly before addressing the judge. “Mr. Black is a person of interest in an ongoing investigation. He has not been arrested and is here of his own free will to answer questions.”

A scoff escaped Lorcan’s lips. “I wasn’t aware my participation was voluntary,” he muttered through gritted teeth, his jaw clenched.

Judge Irving’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “What was that, Mr. Black?”

Lorcan flashed a disarming smile. “Nothing, Your Honor.”

The judge’s piercing gaze shifted to Sarah Michelle. “Detective Callidora, is Mr. Black a suspect? Do you intend to make an arrest, and if so, on what evidence?”

Sarah Michelle suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, her annoyance threatening to boil over. She had been so close to cracking Lorcan during questioning, and now this circus act had derailed everything. Taking a steadying breath, she prepared to present her case, acutely aware of Lorcan’s magnetic presence across the room. “Your Honor, I was attempting to make that determination before being pulled out of interrogation for this hearing.”

She stepped forward, her sleek bob swaying with the motion. “The victim was Mr. Black’s business partner, killed with a weapon belonging to the suspect in an office building with no signs of infraction to which Mr. Black had a key. The security cameras were disabled by someone in possession of the codes. Moreover, Mr. Black’s prints were found on the dagger, and he has no alibi for the time of the murder.”

Osric chittered loudly. In response, an officer brought forth the blade in question, encased in a protective enchantment. The otter addressed the court, his tone dripping with self-satisfaction. “The dagger, a precious magical artifact, has already been released from the examiner.”

Sarah Michelle blinked rapidly in disbelief. Typically, a murder weapon would be held for months, but of course, the Blacks had repossessed it in mere hours. Those over-privileged sludge devil spawns.

“My client has admitted ownership of the dagger, so, naturally, his fingerprints would be present,” the mustelid continued, his webbed feet slapping against the floor. “However, another set of prints was discovered, partially wiped away. Your Honor, it’s clear that the actual murderer attempted to cover their tracks before fleeing the scene, probably disturbed by whoever found the body.”

Judge Irving leaned forward, his interest piqued. “Since your client isn’t being held in custody, what is it you want from me?”

The otter puffed out his chest. “I merely request that Mr. Black be allowed to return home. If Detective Callidora has further questions, an appointment can be arranged for my client to be interrogated with his lawyer present.”

Sarah Michelle’s gaze locked with Lorcan’s. A silent battle of wills transpired between them. Until the judge’s question pulled her away.

“Detective Callidora, do you foresee further need to interrogate Mr. Black?”

“Yes, Your Honor, as I said, we were interrupted—”

Lorcan’s voice cracked like a whip through the courtroom. “Enough.” In a display of raw magical power that made Sarah Michelle’s breath catch, he extended an arm toward his dagger, fingers splayed wide. The knife encased in the protective enchantment quivered until the spell keeping it under locks shattered into glittering motes as the hilt flew into Lorcan’s grasp.

Before Sarah Michelle could blink, Lorcan vaulted over his chair in a blur of motion. His hand clamped around her forearm like a vise, yanking her toward him. For a heart-stopping moment, she thought he was about to stab her with the dagger.

But at the last second, Lorcan flipped the blade and slapped the hilt into her palm, trapping her hand beneath his. The cool metal singed her flesh in contrast to the heat rising up her neck. Gargoyles, why did he have to be so ruggedly handsome up close?

Chaos erupted in the courtroom, but Lorcan thrust out his other arm. An iridescent bubble sprang into existence, encasing them within an impenetrable magical shield. Sarah Michelle saw her boss hurl spell after spell at the barrier to no effect, the chief’s face contorting with fury the more he tried.

“What in the hex are you doing?” she hissed. Being trapped in a bubble with Lorcan, acutely aware of his warm hand still gripping hers, was doing funny things to her insides.

Lorcan’s blistering eyes found hers, glinting with mischief and something darker that made her toes curl in her sensible regulation boots. “I’m tired of being accused of a murder I didn’t commit. I just want to get the hex out of here and drink a hexing glass of water.” His deep voice resonated through her. “I, Lorcan Black, did not kill Elijah Preston nor are in any way involved with his murder.”

They both stared at the dagger. Nothing happened. No glowing, no magical signs of any kind. Sarah Michelle arched an eyebrow. “Am I supposed to be impressed?”

“The hilt didn’t heat up. That proves I’m telling the truth,” Lorcan said slowly as if speaking to a particularly thick-skulled troll.

“All you’ve proven is that this thing doesn’t do squat,” Sarah Michelle retorted. Her quip was sharp. Although standing this close, breathing the same air heavy with the scent of his masculinity, still clearly discernible even under the dainty rose-buds perfuming she’d given him earlier, was making it rather difficult to think.

Lorcan’s jaw worked, his gaze drilling into her with an intensity that stole the oxygen from her lungs. Magnetizing. Smoldering. And so very, very close…

A wicked glint sparked in Lorcan’s eyes. “My name is Binky Bananahammock,” he declared, “and I find you wildly unattractive.”

Heat seared through Sarah Michelle’s palm without warning, and her hand started to burn, and burn, and burn…

Dive into a world of magic, mystery, and unexpected romance! Join Lorcan and Sarah Michelle as they unravel secrets, trade barbs, and follow a trail of clues that brings them closer to danger—and each other.