Free Malediction: An Old World Story by Melissa F. Olson

whispered. “If I don’t do these horrible things, they’ll force them on Corry or Eli, or some other innocent. It’s not too late for them.”
    Jesse blinked then, wanting to go to her, knowing he couldn’t.  
    Realizing what she’d just implied, Scarlett’s face hardened. “I’m sorry that Remus killed your sister before we could stop him. I’m sorry for your loss,” she said to Lex. “But if you’re waiting for me to apologize for what I did, it’s not gonna happen.”
    Lex stood, easing herself to her feet so the bargest wouldn’t be alarmed. “I’ll keep my end of the bargain,” she said stiffly. “I’ll be gone by sunset. If somebody can take care of my rental car, I’ll go straight to the airport from here.”
    Scarlett nodded. “I’ll get someone from Dashiell’s team to handle it.”
      Lex tilted her head in acknowledgment. She looked up at the sky for a moment, eyes squinting to take in the top of the palm trees that speckled the school’s landscaping. “And I hope I never come back,” she added, mostly to herself. And with that, she started toward the parking lot, already pulling out her phone.
    Jesse heard himself say, “I’ll give you a ride.” Lex paused, looking surprised, then nodded her thanks. She went and got her duffel bag out of Scarlett’s car and walked over to Jesse’s. He beeped the remote to unlock it so she could climb in. Before he followed, Jesse squatted in front of Scarlett. “You okay?” he asked, resting a hand on her shoulder.
    She nodded, her eyes cast down, lost in thought. He wondered if she was seeing bodies going into a furnace. He certainly was. Jesse started to pull back, but she reached up and squeezed his hand where it lay. “She’s not wrong, is she?” Scarlett asked conversationally.
    “No, she’s not,” he said. “But neither are you. And punishing yourself for what happened won’t solve anything.”
    Her bright green eyes lifted to him in surprise, then narrowed. “You’re one to talk. How’s the new job, Jesse?”
    He flinched. Stood up to leave. “See you around.”
    “Yeah?” Scarlett said, hope in her voice.
    Jesse paused, considered it. Shrugged. “Maybe. Yeah.”

    The drive to the airport was silent and heady, like a black cloud had squeezed into the car with them. Jesse pulled over at the Frontier terminal and put the car in park. “Are you all right?” he asked Lex.
    Her face was impassive. The soldier again. “I will be.” Without another word, she got out of the car, hoisted her duffel bag, and began walking toward the airport entrance. Jesse almost put the car back in drive, but he remembered himself just in time. “Lex, wait!” he yelled through the open window. She paused and turned back, a question on her face. He grabbed the bag from the glove compartment and followed her onto the sidewalk.
    “I have something for you,” he rushed to say. “Almost forgot.” He thrust the little evidence bag toward her, and Lex accepted it with a frown before turning it over and opening the seal. She reached in and pulled out a shiny silver Rolex. Lex turned it over in her hands, exposing an inscription on the back. Congratulations, college graduate! We love you–Mom and Dad.
    “This was Sam’s,” she murmured, then looked up at him. “How did you get this?”
    “She left it for us,” he said gently. “Remus drugged her so she wouldn’t fight back, but she still had the sense to take it off and drop it outside the shed, so we’d know she’d been there. Your sister was smart. If Remus had been a normal man the LAPD could’ve arrested, this evidence alone would have helped us convict him.”
    She nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. “But how did you get it?”
    “Called in an old favor. The case is very closed, so they’ll eventually return all the evidence to the proper owners. But they’re backlogged. I just thought … while you were in town …” he drifted off, feeling suddenly embarrassed. To his