Page 56 of Butterfly Assassin
“As you’ve brought up the murders, I think this is a good time to discuss where we are on that.”
“I agree.” Alpha Wallace glanced at the four of them, and Aaron was positive he felt Harry flinch with him. “I’m assuming that will explain why you have members of the Clapham Common pack here?”
“It will.”
Aaron attempted a subtle glance between Sam and Alpha Wallace. Was Sam in trouble? Should he have contacted her first? Fuck, alpha etiquette was so not Aaron’s strong suit.
Much to Aaron’s horror, Arlington gestured for Michael and Frank to detail the case as it stood. They told the council everything in a quick, concise manner while Aaron tried to make himself as small as possible.
When they finished explaining how they planned to go undercover at the next few illegal fights Smith organised, Alpha Wallace faced Aaron and his pack, eyebrows raised. “Alpha Thomas, although the SCTF have declined to bring any charges against your pack members, I trust you have dealt with that matter yourself, as their alpha?”
“I have.”
“Very well.” She turned her attention back to Arlington, and Aaron sat there shocked.
Was that it? Was that all she was going to say on the matter? Sam had said as much in the car, but Aaron hadn’t quite believed him.
He should have.
“How do we proceed from here?” she asked. “Both with your murder investigation and my missing beta.”
Arlington sat back in his chair. “We’ll carry on as planned with investigating Mr Smith. If there’s a connection between him and the murders or him and Mr Wilson, then hopefully we can find it. In the meantime, I would very much appreciate if you could get me copies of the text messages sent to Wilson’s sister and his alpha. And also provide me with his phone number so we can see what other calls he made during that time.” He paused while she made a note of his requests. “And I’d also appreciate if you could talk to Alpha Yates as soon as possible. Archer and Coldwell will give you detailed reports of each crime scene to help you tailor your questions.”
He reached for the photo, then paused. “May I take this?”
“Yes. I’ve emailed the alphas of the London packs; they’re all aware that Wilson’s missing. I’ve asked them to contact the council if they have any information, which of course I will immediately pass on to you.”
“Thank you. I’ll make copies and send them to the Met and City police. Ask them to keep an eye out.”
She nodded and then she and Alpha Jones stood. “I’ll be in touch, Detective Chief Inspector.”
He rose and escorted them out.
With the three of them gone, the whole room seemed to relax with a collective sigh.
Once again, Aaron’s gaze was drawn to Michael. Their car journey Thursday night had been…Weirdwas probably the best way to describe it. The darkness had somehow pulled some truths out of him that he would never have said in the light of day.
Being alone with Michael in the quiet of his car had loosened Aaron’s tongue, and he’d been far more open than he’d meant to be. At twenty-six years old, Aaron should have had his fair share of relationships by now, in comparison to the other shifters his age, anyway. But being bitten at fifteen, his self-confidence had taken a hit. Not the most popular of teenagers, it wasn’t all that good to begin with, but then it had been like starting from scratch. He still struggled with letting people in. Worried that shifters still thought of him as an outsider—which was rubbish. Rationally he knew none of his pack thought that, but it wouldn’t go away. Or that humans looked at him and wondered why he’d done it, why he’d taken the bite.
So Aaron had hookups, but nothing more meaningful where he might actually have to tell people about himself.
“…that right, Aaron?”
Hearing his name startled him out of his thoughts, and then Harry nudged him hard with his elbow.
“Sorry, what?”
Michael laughed and shook his head. “I was just checking that you usually get a text Thursday night, asking if you’re going to be fighting.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s right. And then I get another text on Friday telling me where the fight’s being held.”
“What about you?” he asked Harry. “What do you have to do?”
“I’ve already told Rob that I want to bring you along. He was reluctant at first since he doesn’t know you, but when I said I’d vouch for you and that I was applying for membership so it’d just be the one time, he agreed. I need to give him some basic details though.”
“Yeah, I’ve got them here.” He passed a sheet of paper towards Harry.
“Archie Michaels?” Harry laughed. “Original.”
