Free Vigil: Verity Fassbinder Book 1 by Angela Slatter Page B

my cash would have got her very far, but it was clear Sally wasn’t too fussy about how she earned an income.
     She might have had a stash elsewhere. ‘But—’
    ‘There’s nothing to go on, V. Let it go,’ he said softly. ‘You did good.’
    I was silent, and he took this for agreement, which was a sure sign that he hadn’t learned much from our time together. He
     went on, as if I would be easily distracted by a shiny new object to chase, ‘But that other matter I mentioned still needs
     attention. A missing person case, a private consultancy.’
    ‘No.’
    ‘What do you mean “no”? It’s a job.’
    ‘I mean “no” in the traditional sense of “No, fuck off”.’ I ran a hand through my hair, then noticed I still had blood under
     my nails. I wasn’t sure if it was hers or mine. I
badly
needed a shower. ‘I’m really sick of getting stabbed, bitten, beaten and threatened with umbrellas.
Umbrellas
, Bela: what the hell kind of life is that?’
    ‘You haven’t been shot,’ he offered.
    ‘Yet –
yet!
And how does that help?’ I scratched at the new cuts on my leg, which had started itching. ‘If you hadn’t got me involved,
     then
Lizzie
never would have been in danger.’
    ‘But you couldn’t have known that –
I
couldn’t have known that.’ He sniffed as if insulted.
    ‘Yeah, you could. You should have had an inkling. And so should I.’ I picked at a thread on my jeans. Maybe I was being unfair.
     I’d resolved to be nicer to my boss; I just hadn’t realised how much of a strain it would be. We sat quietly for a bit, eating
     stale Teddybear biscuits and staring into the darkness, which felt somehow safer.
    ‘You get things done, V,’ Bela said at last, softly. ‘You walk
between
. There’s no one quite like you, and for whatever reason – whether you annoy the crap out of people or charm them – you get
     to the truth of things. That’s why I need you.’ He hesitated, as if treading lightly so I didn’t tell him where to go again.
     ‘Donovan Baker has gone missing.’
    ‘And he is?’ But even as I said the words, I could guess: Anders Baker’s baby boy, propped up by Daddy’s cash and a tangible
     lack of anything resembling talent or drive. It was looking a lot like another chance to get lacerated.
    ‘The heir to a fortune, and he’s like you – half and half – but no powers to speak of.’
    ‘Thank you for making me sound like a pizza.’
    ‘He is moneyed and missing, and his father wants him back.’
    I didn’t say anything.
    ‘He’s someone’s kid, V, someone’s little boy.’ He looked at me. ‘There’s been no ransom demand, so he’s not been kidnapped.
     Aren’t there enough lost children?’
    That was a low blow and we both knew it.
    I cleared my throat. ‘I really don’t like you very much right now.’
    He turned his mouth in an ‘o’ of surprise, but any reply was lost beneath the sound of his mobile. He tilted his head as he
     answered, and I could hear the rumble of a familiar voice on the other end. I guessed a favour was going to be called in sooner
     rather than later and tossed the cold coffee dregs over the rail, then went to shower and find clothes that didn’t have tears
     in them.
    Bela had hung up by the time I returned and was staring out into the black that was thinning as dawn drew closer. I wondered
     how good his night-sight was, whether he could see things I couldn’t.
    ‘So?’
    ‘Detective Inspector McIntyre says there’s a body at Waterfront Place.’
    ‘Of course there is.’ I shivered.
    ‘Should I call Ziggi?’
    ‘Nah. Let one of us get some sleep. You can give me a lift in your fancy car.’ I stretched. ‘I take it Donovan Baker is no
     longer a priority?’
    His mouth said
Yes
, but his eyes said
You’re very annoying
. I touched his shoulder lightly. ‘Tell his father to contact me sometime. If he makes his case, gives me compelling evidence
     that it’s more than the boy just trying escape from him,