Page 92 of A Shade Too Far
“No,” she said tightly.
“And yet you haven’t scrubbed all the academic journals or the memories of Sapien professors who teach about his torture methods. It seems to me that there’s a lot of playing fast and loose with when the prime directive is implemented, and I resent being slapped down for something that has no clear rules.” I leaned against the railing, exhausted by the impossibility of my situation.
“I appreciate that it feels that way to you.”
I rolled my eyes. Of all the passive-aggressive bullshit. “You know how you had leeway to tell your dad about magic without any blowback and you would have done the same with Eli if I hadn’t beat you to it? Well, consider this my leeway. I’m asking questions about the relic to save a Ohrist’s life.”
“Whose?”
“Client confidentiality.” No way was I giving up Tatiana. “I’ll get you the attacker, you keep me off the radar of any higher-ups. Deal?”
“Deal,” she said after a pause.
I hung up and shoved my phone in my pocket, rolling my eyes at Naveen staring at me through the open door. “What?” I stomped back into the kitchen.
“You lasted longer than I do talking to her. I generally have about ten seconds before I want to throttle her.”
Evani wailed, making sure we both saw her, and even mad, I laughed because that had been a total ploy for attention.
“Trade you children?” Daya had returned, watching her brother stand guard over the toddler. She looked worn down.
I hugged her. “Nah. I’ve sunk too much money into mine.”
She sighed, resting her head on my shoulder briefly, before waving a pink shirt at her daughter. “You want to wear this? Go ahead. I’ll just look like a shit parent for sending my kid to preschool in the same dirty shirt for a second day in a row,” she added in a mutter.
“Aw, sweetie.” I made a tsk sound. “You’ll be judged for so much more than that. Are you going to brush her hair?”
“I hate you.”
“Love you too. And thank you for taking care of my family. I mean it.”
“I’m the one who invited them,” Naveen said.
“Yes, you’re brilliant,” Daya said airily. “Evani, enough. Pink shirt?”
The toddler’s cries calmed down to shuddery breaths. “Juice box.”
Naveen rolled his eyes but got her a drink and she allowed herself to be dressed. I wished my problems could be solved with fruit concentrate.
After bidding Daya and Evani goodbye, Naveen and I got into his Porsche, though when I slammed the door a little too hard, he glared at me.
“Sorry.” I hit the speed dial for Eli’s cell.
“Detective Chu,” he said.
“You owe me an apology.”
“For what?”
“Call Ryann. And next time listen to me.” I hung up. Not saying goodbye was a fun power move. Fine, Tatiana. I’d go along with your plans, but I’d also study and learn until the pupil became the master.
“Kicking butt and taking names,” Naveen said.
For a second, I thought he meant Tatiana, then I realized he was talking about Eli. “He deserved it.”
Naveen signaled, checking not only the rearview, but both side mirrors before he smoothly merged into the next lane.
I’d never examined driving as a means of psychological insight, but if I did, the way that I stayed at the speed limit while often invoking a slew of curses for my fellow drivers made me shake my head. The rule follower with underlying rage.
