Chapter 39 Kane #2
“Indeed,” Price said placidly. “And yet terms of a deal can change. I don’t expect a girl like you to understand the intricacies of such things.”
Zaria’s scoff was delicate. “A girl like me understands the art of a deal far better than you’d think, Inspector. As a matter of fact, what do you say we strike one?”
Kane’s insides seemed to seize. He didn’t know what Zaria’s intentions were, but he wasn’t about to let her get involved with someone like Price. The man was as corrupt as they came and had far too much power in this city. “Zaria, no,” he said, but she didn’t so much as glance in his direction.
“I can give you an address,” she told Price.
“Head there with your men, and you’ll find more than enough evidence to convince people of Aurora Vaughan’s guilt, woman or not.
However, should you need a man to share the blame, look no further than the crown’s very own Royal Commission.
Evan Pritchard has worked very closely with her.
And I suspect he can provide you with the names of their other associates, coward that he is.
” Zaria paused. Kane couldn’t tell whether her moment of consideration was real or feigned.
“You know what?” she added. “When you find Pritchard, ask him about Louisa Hoffman, too. You’ve no doubt received reports of her death. ”
Price’s look of amusement had faded. “I’ll thank you not to tell me how to do my job.”
“She’s telling the truth,” Kane put in smoothly. “Hunt down Evan Pritchard. He may lie at first, but he’ll crack. Men like him always do.”
A long beat of silence stretched between them.
Kane could tell Price was mulling over the information, trying to decide what to do.
It was clear the inspector was uncomfortable with—and unaccustomed to—not having reinforcements at his beck and call.
That was what the man got for trying to take him in alone, Kane thought with a twinge of smug satisfaction.
“Come now, Inspector,” said Zaria, who evidently wasn’t finished yet. Her lips curled up. “There are benefits to having a relationship with the dark market kingpin, are there not? I understand you worked well with Alexander Ward over the years. And he didn’t even have a primateria source.”
Kane’s mouth went dry. He shook his head sharply at Zaria, trying to persuade her to be quiet, but she continued to ignore him. Instead, she yanked the necklace out from beneath the collar of her dress, letting the crimson stone catch the light of the remaining solanum crystals overhead.
Even Price, who couldn’t have had much knowledge about such things, was visibly awestruck. His throat shifted, his chin trembling. “Is that—”
“You know exactly what it is,” Zaria said.
“I’ll give it to you, but only if you let Kane go.
Return it to George Waterhouse, and reap the benefits of a continued partnership with the kingpin, while gaining all the acclaim that comes with uncovering the identity of the Curator.
Or”—she shrugged—“someone can find your body here tomorrow morning.”
A sneer lifted Price’s top lip, though it looked forced. “You wouldn’t get away with killing me. I’m a police inspector.”
Zaria was unmoved. “Yet I expect you die like any other man. Do you want the necklace or not, Inspector?”
And that was the moment in which Kane decided he fully and truly loved Zaria Mendoza.
It didn’t change anything now, of course—but he felt it just the same.
He was not a man made for such things. It was a fact proven many times over that those he loved were likely to destroy him.
Still, whatever inherent flaw existed in his very nature, it had drawn him to Zaria over and over again in a way that he was powerless to resist, even when it defied all logic and good sense.
With difficulty, Kane tore his gaze away from her and back to Price.
“Make your choice,” he told the man. “We can start over, Richard. Forget any of this happened, and stay out of each other’s way unless something necessitates our cooperation.
Given what we are, I expect that’s as good as it’s going to get. ”
Finally—although he did it with a grimace—Price nodded. His voice was curt as he said, “You have a deal, Durante. It’s a truce. For now.”
“For now,” Kane agreed.
“And keep an eye on this one,” Price added, his frown shifting to Zaria. “She’s far too cunning for a woman. With her at your side, I’d say you’ve all but got the dark market in the palm of your hand.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Zaria said coolly. She flung the necklace to the floor at the inspector’s feet, never lowering the revolver.
Kane, meanwhile, tried not to let the pain at Price’s words show on his face. Because Zaria wouldn’t be at his side—not for much longer. Not when there were no threats or blackmail keeping her here. He forced a cocky grin. “Nice doing business with you. But if I could give you a piece of advice?”
Price lifted his gaze reluctantly skyward. “Does it matter if I agree?”
Kane ignored that, leaning closer to the man, his mouth still faintly curved in triumph. “Never underestimate the cunning of a woman, Inspector.”