Free Elemental Moon: The Eldritch Files, Book Three by Phaedra Weldon

and didn't say anything, I got a little worried. Glancing at Jack and Kyle, I said, "What? Did something happen to my Elementals?"
    "Oh, no," Cromwell said a bit too forcefully. "I want you to prove to me you're capable of a simple retrieval."
    "You mean you want me dead. Because that's what'll happen." I didn't think finding some Codex was going to be that hard. Kyle had spells to look for magical items, and if it was an Arcane item, Ivan would be able to see it, and so would I.
    I just couldn't shake the feeling there was something they weren't telling me. But I knew I wasn't going to get much more out of them.
    Fred twitched. I hope he fell, and I was very happy he didn't have my Salamander.
    "I have conditions."
    Cromwell raised his hand. “I will remove the warlock when you succeed."
    "That's not all, and don't think I won't hold you to that. I'm already considering my own counsel, and you know any magical lawyer in the country would request a Tribunal."
    All five of them reacted to that. If there was one thing any Cleric hated, it was the group of Witches hired to watch the Clerics. Clerics were held to a higher standard than everyone else. And the Tribunal Members?
    Practically saints. With no patience.
    A Tribunal assumes the bringer is innocent and the punishers must prove their actions were justified.
    "There's no need to take things that far." Cromwell looked irritated.
    "Yes there is, because you people haven't made any sense from the moment you came to warlock me. As for my other condition," I pointed to the ground. "This is it. No more. No more service and no more poking your noses into my business. And no more just busting in here without my permission."
    "I can only assure removal of the warlocking."
    "Then you better get the rest of my requests approved. Because I'm not looking until I have all of it in writing. With everyone's signatures."
    "That's ridiculous!" Mister Air shouted. Yay. Because he knew, like they all knew, if I had it in writing, I could bind them to it.
    Cromwell looked as if he were about to answer when Emily spoke up. "Where is your father? Where is his house? Or his wife? Or the nurse that took care of your father?"
    I wasn't prepared to answer that so I just stared at her.
    -Tell them they are in a better place.-
    I almost answered that voice out loud and told it to shut up.
    "Why are you hesitating, Sam?"
    "Because I don't know."
    "But you're aware the house he lived in is missing."
    I didn't say anything. Grey leaned in close to me.
    Cromwell spoke up. "The lot where the house stood is empty, Samantha. The house hasn't been bulldozed or torn down. It was never built. It's as if it never existed. The neighbors we talked with don't recall there being a house on that corner. It's been an empty lot since the subdivision was built."
    I tried to keep what I was feeling inside from showing on the outside. What I remembered most about my dad was that he always knew when I was lying…because I was bad at it. My expression always told on me. And I sure as hell didn't want it telling on me now.
    "You don't look upset or surprised."
    "I haven't been there in a long time. I don't know what it looks like. You sure you have the address right?"
    Cromwell took a step toward me and put a finger under my chin. He lifted my head so I would look up at him. "I suspect you know more than you're willing to tell. But if this matter were brought up before the Parliament, I am more than sure that without answers, that warlock would never be removed. So let us just agree that you will find the Codex and I will remove the warlock."
    I pulled back and glared at him. What a son of a bitch. "What is it I'm supposed to know about my dad? I haven't been to his house or talked to him and my stepmother. He has dementia, Cromwell. Maybe she took him to a hospital for care? And if everything is gone—" I held out my arms. "What am I supposed to do? I don't have magic. You took that away from me before Yule. Are you