Page 89 of Hart's Redemption

“Who did?”

“Beatrice Harker.”

“Did you join the Lycan Detectives so you could further your family’s mission statement and commit genocide on a larger scale?”

“While the intent may have been to leverage the cover of a Lycan Detective to find and eliminate more targets, the actuality may have prevented it.”

“Please clarify.”

“Lycan Detectives are under constant scrutiny, if not by our own agency, then by others. Every kill I made in my position as Lycan Detective was clean and by the book. The fact that I rose to become the current top agent meant that I was called on to take more assignments, thus limiting the time that may otherwise have been used in pursuit of unsanctioned targets.”

Clearly growing frustrated that she wasn’t getting the answers she wanted, Hightower ceded the floor and allowed Lombardi to take her place.

“Now that we’ve established your oaths are very much intact, I’d like to double back over a few questions my colleague asked.”

I gave Lombardi a dubious look, not sure at all how this tactic fit with our game plan. Rather than meet my gaze, he kept his eyes fixed slightly above the ground.

“How many unsanctioned kills have you made in your lifetime?”

“Fifty-three.”

“And this includes your first kill at thirteen?”

“Yes,” I ground out.

“And how many sanctioned kills have you made since becoming a Lycan Detective beneath the watchful eye of our esteemed governments?”

“Objection,” Hightower interjected. “Relevance?”

Lombardi turned to address the panel. “There is a point, and these numbers are a matter of public record.”

“Proceed,” Senator Stevens said, though they looked less than pleased at the allowance.

“How many?” Lombardi repeated.

“One hundred and twelve.” Despite the fact that the number was accessible to the public, shock still rippled through the crowd in waves.

“You suggested to Councilor Hightower that being a Lycan Detective actually inhibited your ability to pursue kills off the books. What would you estimate your full count would be if you had never become a detective?”

“Easily twice that, if not three times.”

“That’s quite a lot of lycans you didn’t kill.”

“The purpose of this trial is not to establish how manyweresI haven’t killed, but how many I have.”

Lombardi cocked his head to the side. “Is it?”

At the casual question, anxiety threaded through my chest. I dug my fingers into the arms of the chair and forced my breathing to remain even.

“How long have you known your mother was magically controlling you?”

“What are you doing?”

“Answer the question, Detective.” I glanced over at General Zarka, where he leaned forward in anticipation of my answer.

“Please don’t do this,” I whispered to Lombardi, not caring what other supernaturals were capable of hearing me.

“I believe the panel is awaiting your answer. When did you learn that Beatrice Harker was using a potent—illegal—compulsion spell to control your actions?”