Free Sin's Dark Caress by Tracey O'Hara Page A

had heard of Mr. Grace’s recent rise to prominence in the organization. He was one bright boy, from all accounts. So what was he doing here with this VCU idiot?
    â€œWhat’s going on?” McManus asked in a wary tone, eyeing both Palatine and Roberts.
    Captain Phillips looked down at his hands. “This baby snatching murder case has been taken over by the Violent Crimes Unit.”
    â€œNo,” McManus said. “This is my case. I’ve been working it day and night for the past three weeks. Now that Bianca’s working with me, we’re making good headway.”
    A lie. They had nothing, but she understood his desperation.
    â€œI’m afraid . . .” Agent Roberts steepled his fingers. “ . . . Oberon and his team are no longer involved in the Womb Raider case. Any jurisdiction they may have had has been revoked by CHaPR.”
    Palatine shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “The power granted to the team briefly during the campus killer case was always seen as temporary.”
    Sweat beaded on Oberon’s brow, his jaw clenched tight. She could see he used every ounce of self-control to stop from exploding. Agent Roberts sat in smug silence, brushing a piece of invisible lint off his crossed knee. The man was enjoying every damn second of this.
    â€œThis is bullshit,” McManus spat, and shoved his left hand deep into his coat pocket.
    Palatine Grace shuffled his papers and cleared his throat. “There’ve been a few changes on the council recently and it’s been agreed that VCU are best suited to investigate this particular crime. It’s a priority that the stolen infants are found and returned to the victims’ families as soon as possible.”
    â€œWhat do you think we’re doing?” McManus leaned in, his hands braced on Captain Phillips’s desk. “Twiddling our fucking thumbs?”
    â€œDetective McManus.” For the first time, Neil Roberts looked up at him. “You’re quite welcome to stay on in a limited capacity. As a consultant.”
    â€œAnd Bianca?” McManus frowned. “She’s the most qualified forensic thaumaturgist there is.”
    She knew Oberon well enough to see how much he struggled to keep his temper. His hands balled into tight fists, the knuckles white with the effort. Just hang in there a little longer, Captain .
    â€œWe don’t require any of Oberon’s people to assist in this case,” Roberts said with that same condescending smile, then stood up. “We have our own thaumaturgic expert.”
    A powerful wave of anger washed over her. Though she struggled to keep it locked away, a cup flew off the desk and smashed against the far wall, painting it with coffee.
    All heads turned to the sound. She stood there, just as shocked as everyone else. It was an instinctive emotional burst of energy, raw and unharnessed.
    â€œFuck,” McManus said.
    It was enough to snap her out of it. She hadn’t meant to unleash the energy, but it was safer than making Agent Roberts’s head explode, which is what she’d pictured. Oberon looked at her, one eyebrow raised.
    He knew. Somehow, he knew it was her. Well, too late to take it back now. She straightened her shoulders as if nothing had happened. The crash had been enough to release some of the tension in the room until Roberts opened his mouth, destroying the illusion.
    â€œAs I was saying, Detective, Dr. Sin will not be needed on this case.” The agent watched Oberon. “So you will agree not to share any information about the Womb Raider with her or anyone else.”
    â€œAnd if I don’t agree?” McManus asked.
    â€œThen you will be removed completely,” his captain answered.
    â€œI see.” McManus nodded sadly and glanced at Bianca. “Sorry, Sin. But it’s my case.”
    He’s going to do it. He’s going to work with VCU. His betrayal stung, leaving a foul taste in