Counting Shadows (Duplicity)

says as we near a steep staircase. “This will take us to the third floor.”
    I gesture for him to lead the way. My legs are sore by the time we reach the top of the staircase, and my heart beats out a frantic rhythm. I’ve made it. I’m here.
    But is Ashe’s killer?
    I hold my breath, trying to detect any noise. But there’s only the sound of my heavy breathing and Hirard clearing his throat. He gestures down the main hallway we’ve reached, each side lined with cells.
    “Well, have at it.”
    I shake my head. “These cells are empty.”
    “This is the section for demonic creatures, ma’am. And we don’t get many of those ‘round here.” He scrunches his face and gives me a curious look. “Don’t ya know that? I mean, if ya’re here for—”
    “Of course I know,” I snap. I scramble to find a reasonable explanation, and then give Hirard an appraising look. “You’ve just passed the first of eleven tests, Hirard. Each is specifically designed to ensure the quality of this prison. But don’t let me catch you lacking knowledge about anything else. Understood?”
    He does that bobbing-nodding thing again. “Of course, ma’am. Of course.”
    I give a tight smile. “I’ll examine the cell alone, Hirard. You may stay here.”
    “Err, ma’am?”
    I sigh. “What is it?”
    “Well, are ya sure ya want to go alone? There’s an Angel in that cell. Dangerous beasties, those are.” Hirard clears his throat again. “He’ll be put to death soon, for trespassin’ on human lands. Maybe ya could come back after?”
    I swallow hard, hoping Hirard mistakes my fast breathing for fear, and doesn’t recognize it as excitement. Could I have actually found him? I’d always guessed an Angel was tied to Ashe’s death, but… Could I have actually been
right
?
    “What was his crime?” I ask, my voice breathy.
    “Thievery.”
    I turn and pretend to examine the bars of the empty cell next to me, trying to hide my frown. If this is Ashe’s killer, then his crime should be something horrific. But still… Thievery can be bad. Maybe he tried stealing sensitive political documents, or maybe he injured someone while he was trying to escape.
    “Like I said,” I murmur to Hirard. “Stay here.”
    I don’t wait for a reply, and take a shaking breath to steady myself. Then I step forward, counting the cells as I walk down the hallway.
One, two, three, four, five…
My chest grows tight. He’s not here, I know it. He can’t be. It’s impossible. Besides, these cells are all empty, and—
    “Are you looking for someone?” an amused voice asks.
    Not just any voice: Ashe’s killer. It’s right behind me, and then in front of me as I whirl around.
    I face a dark cell, one far from any window and trapped in shadows. I take a step toward it, and then back, unable to see anyone in the darkness.
    Then a figure steps forward into a faint patch of light, and I let out a choked sound.
    It’s him.
    Young, about my own age. Tanned skin. Muscular and well-built, but taller than any Irradorian. Sharp facial features, strong jaw, and the scar that runs from his right eyebrow down to his bottom lip—
    The scar. It’s not there. I frantically scan the man’s face another time, but the scar is still missing.
    The man in front of me raises an eyebrow and leans against the bars of his cell. “You like something you see?”
    “No,” I blurt out.
    I don’t like this. I
hate
this. This man looks exactly like Ashe’s killer, but… he’s not. As I look over him a second time, I notice a few more subtle differences; this man is a little taller than Ashe’s killer, a little younger, and he has a tattoo on his collarbone. I can only see a portion of the black ink, but it’s enough to prove this isn’t who I’m looking for. Ashe’s killer didn’t have any tattoos.
    But maybe he just got the tattoo
after
he killed Ashe. Maybe… No. He could gain a tattoo, but he could never lose a scar.
    This isn’t the man I’ve been searching for.
    The man in the cell hisses in a breath, reminding me that I said something offensive. “Ouch.” The way he speaks reminds me of Farren’s sarcastic drawl, only this man’s is much more practiced. He has a slight accent that somehow manages to make his husky voice sound elegant, but it just makes me shudder. His voice sounds so much like Ashe’s killer’s. “That hurts, sweetheart. Like an arrow through the heart. Words can kill, you know.”
    My chest constricts, knowing how