Elemental Assassin 02 - Web of Lies

original booth. Cassidy munched on her fourth cookie and took a swig of the milk I’d given her. Eva leaned one elbow on the tabletop, holding her head up with her hand. With her free hand, she methodically broke apart a cookie and slowly ate it, piece by piece. Looked like the shock had finally caught up with her.
    At the stove, Sophia ladled baked beans into glass Mason jars to take home to her older sister, Jo-Jo. I perched on my usual stool behind the cash register, eating my third cookie and reading about odysseus blinding a cyclops.
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    The first cop was about my height, five seven or so, The cops looked at the two men, then at me, then a wiry Hispanic guy with nut-brown skin and a mop of Sophia, and finally the girls.
    matching curls that escaped the toboggan he’d stuffed
    “Is that how it happened?” the short cop asked. them under. Dark freckles dotted his cheeks like walnuts. Eva and Cassidy nodded their heads. Sophia grunted He had his gun out and held down against his leg. her agreement.
    In contrast, the other officer was around seven feet tall,
    “That’s exactly how it happened,” I said.
    with a shaved head as big as a cantaloupe and matching, The short cop focused on Lance. “And the other guy ham-size fists. His skin was so black it was glossy, like there?”
    polished jet. So were his eyes. His name was Xavier. I’d
    “His buddy. Tried to calm him down. Didn’t work.”
    seen him working as a bouncer out at Northern AggresThe cop looked at the two men a moment more, then sion, a trendy nightclub I’d had occasion to visit recently. back at me. “And you did this to them? With what? A I hadn’t realized he was a member of the police force as baseball bat?”
    well.
    “No,” I replied. “I just handled the first guy, the big Xavier recognized me too and tipped his head in my one. My cook took care of the other man. Neither one of direction. I returned the gesture.
    us had a weapon.”
    Xavier didn’t have his gun out. Didn’t need to. Giants With her great strength, Sophia didn’t need a weapon could take a couple bullets in the chest before they went anymore than a giant did. And I didn’t think it was necdown, and one well-placed punch from his fists would essary to mention the five silverstone knives currently snap just about anyone’s neck. Strange that he’d be workhidden on my body. or the others placed in strategic ing as a cop, though. Most of the giants in Ashland hired locations throughout the restaurant. or the fact that I themselves out as private security. Paid better, even if it could have just formed a jagged icicle with my Ice magic was just as dangerous.
    and cut Jake’s throat with it. or even used my other el“We had a call about a robbery,” the first cop spoke. emental Stone power to collapse the whole restaurant on His voice was high and whiny, like a power saw. top of his head.
    “Yeah. Those two guys busted in and tried to rob me. The short cop let out a low whistle. “Picked the wrong That one,” I pointed to Jake, “came into the store and place to rob, didn’t they?”
    told everybody to freeze. When I started to open the cash I didn’t respond. He could see exactly how wrong register for him, he grabbed one of the girls and held a they’d been from the blood spatters on the floor. knife to her throat. He’s a Fire elemental. Put flames on The two men were starting to come around. Lance his knife and almost burned the girl with it. But luckily, rocked back and forth on the floor, holding his stomach, my cook and I were able to subdue them both.”
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    punched him. Jake lay on his back and blinked up at the most folks, Mab was the richest businesswoman in the ceiling as though he wasn’t really seeing it. city, who generously, selflessly, used her wealth to help the The giant cop, Xavier, reached down, picked up Lance less fortunate. But those of us who moved in the shady by the scruff of his neck with one hand, and slapped a set of side of life knew Mab did everything from ordering kidsilverstone cuffs on him with the other. “You. Stand still.”
    nappings, to bribing government officials, to murdering Lance was too busy trying not to puke to do someanyone who got in her way. thing stupid, like run. Xavier got