Chapter 47 #2
"Not even with reasonable cause given his history or the fact that there are Lativa Weres walking around with a branded J? His mark of solidarity."
"Buddy," Dad starts, "in this line of work, things are never so cut and dry. You'll spend more time trying to catch a perp than actually catching them. We could bring him in for questioning even if we know he's somehow connected to all of this. But if we can't establish a solid connection,
if we can't prove the attack at Lativa or Nadia's attempt tonight were by his command –"
"He'll go free," I finish for him, understanding now the stakes that are stacked against us.
"And it'll be harder to catch him," Beta Chad chimes in. "He'll know we're onto him."
Dad pats my shoulder. "For now, let's focus on questioning this rogue."
"His file," Commander Rick informs, handing a manila folder over. Dad takes it first. As he reads the file's contents, the rest of us move along to the cell.
Inside, one LED panel light illuminates the space. It's sparse except for the hooks and chains embedded into the rock wall. A table and chair are situated at the center of the small cell that will be significantly cramped for space with all of us inside it.
The rogue sits at the table, his wrists shackled. I'm momentarily stunned when I see him because he looks not much older than Dale and me. He's probably in his early twenties.
His skin is pale; fatigue etched onto his face. Dark circles have formed beneath his eyes which are bloodshot from too little sleep and a poor diet on top of having minor, non-lethal doses of aconite in his system for a little less than a week.
Beneath the white light of the overhead panel, his pale complexion, and blonde hair, he looks almost ghostly in Marcana's standard issue white jersey and slacks that are given to inmates.
Behind him, their hands clasped behind their backs and feet apart, two burly guards oversee the rogue. When Beta Chad nods to them, they step out into the corridor, their footsteps retreating a short distance.
Dad steps forward, dragging out the second chair and slides in. He sets the open folder on the table, the first page displaying a mugshot picture of the rogue and basic information.
Dad scans the page and prattles off the start of the interview.
"Christopher Weis. Aged twenty-three. It says here," Dad continues, tapping a finger against the first page, "that you're originally from Shadow Hills. When did you leave?"
Shadow Hills is a bit of a problem for councils across the three counties. They used to be prosperous and the pinnacle for what proper pack governance should look like with a stronghold as the alpha family. That changed around twenty years ago.
From what I know, a member of the pack's beta family was against the way of rule and sought to take control for himself.
What ensued was a war that crippled the pack's numbers and brought the survivors under a dictatorship.
Many fled. Those who weren't lucky enough to escape or be killed, were enslaved.
"I was taken away eighteen years ago," Christopher Weis replies.
"You were taken away?"
The rogue nods. "My parents were killed during a rebellion. A family friend took me with him when he escaped."
"And you've lived as a rogue since then." Dad flips the page and scans it. "I'm curious. You've spent all this time away from Shadow Hills. Why did you choose a life of crime?"
Christopher Weis' jaw tense. He picked at dust on the table. "Keaton has a way of making things difficult. Even from miles away. We didn't always have the means to get by. Legally, anyway."
I have heard that before. There was a time Keaton Peters was actively hunting down those who fled Shadow Hills. It'll come as no surprise he changed tactics since the councils in Murdoc Province and Schrattner's County sanctioned him to the borders of Berkel County.
It doesn't mean that there aren't other ways to reach those he considers traitors.
Between Jessop Atkinson and Keaton Peters, I don't know who's worse.
"So, you chose crime."
"I chose survival."
"Vehicular theft. Larceny and grand larceny. Kidnapping is quite the jump from your usual hustle. Especially, kidnapping an alpha's daughter."
Christopher Weis scrunches his nose. His gaze flicks from Dad to the rest of us and back. "I thought you were supposed to ask questions, and I'd give you the information you want. What's all the judgment about?"
"I'm not judging you, Christopher," Dad replies coolly. "Just pointing out a fact."
"Your facts sound like judgment."
It's clear that Christopher either isn't proud of his life choices and hates being called out for it, or he simply dislikes the law.
"Think what you will but your crimes aren't without consequence. Now, before we go completely off track, you made a deal with us. You said you had crucial information that could lead us directly to who hired you."
Christopher Weis expels a deep breath. "I'll tell you, but only if you promise to deliver on your end of the deal."
"You have my word," Beta Chad pipes from the corner of the cell he's occupied. "I'll oversee your relocation and security myself."
Christopher leans forward and scratches his forehead, suddenly looking uneasy and afraid. "There's one more thing I want."
"That wasn't part of the deal," Beta Chad snaps.
"I didn't think of it then. You want this information, don't you?"
"There are other ways we can get that information," Dad informs with too sinister a smile. He's talking about torture.
I swear, sometimes my own father frightens me. You'd think I know the man well enough by now.
The rogue goes silent. Deep within the rock tunnels of where we are, wind whistles quietly. The temperature drops the later into night we get. Beta Chad checks his wristwatch, pulls out his phone, checks something on it. He checks the screen one last time before putting his phone away.
"We don't have all might, Mr. Weis," Beta Chad pushes.
"And I'll uphold my end," Christopher Weis snaps, flashing hateful eyes at the superiors in the cell with him.
His lips curl back baring teeth but since he's still under the influence of wolfsbane, no canines make an appearance.
"All I'm asking is for one more thing. It'll be no different than what you've already agreed to with the whole witness protection thing. Please."
Dad opens his mouth to retort. By the look on his face, the crease between his eyebrows, he's close to jumping over that table and killing Christopher Weis himself, but Alpha's voice cuts like a sharpened blade.
"You're in no position to be making demands."
Alpha closes the distance to the table, casting a long shadow that covers the rogue as he glowers down at him.
He grips the table's edge. "I don't judge those with less for what they do to survive but you were apart of a team sent into Lativa territory with the aim of kidnapping my daughter. You're lucky you were among the three we decided to keep alive. You don't get to request adjustments to our deal."
"So, you won't hear me out even though you and I are trying to do the same thing?"
Christopher Weis replies, his voice softer, almost pleading.
Gone is the earlier loathing, recognition of his position and the possible outcomes if he doesn't comply.
"The only difference is that you have power. You give one command and everyone follows. I don't have that, so bargaining for the protection of the only person who means anything to me is all I can do."
Alpha's grip tightens on the table's edge. I can almost hear the squeak and creek of the PVC surface cracking in his grip. A muscle ticks violently in his jaw and at a glance, he's not gripping the table simply out of anger. It's the only thing standing between Christopher Weis and certain death.
I can only imagine Alpha's anger at being forced in a corner, his integrity dangled in front of him.
If he gives the rogue what he wants, he might be seen as fair and understanding but it comes at the expense of Jessica's safety.
If he kills the rogue for his audacity, still, it comes at the expense of her safety.
"You want a witness protection order for this person you mentioned? Is that it?" Alpha grits out.
Christopher Weis nods once. "For the family friend who raised me. He...he was also hired by the same person. He had a different mission, but I haven't heard from him since Tuesday morning."
My gaze snaps to the rogue.
Tuesday morning?
My stomach churns and drops. The sudden fear that hits me over the head sends my mind reeling. It can't be a coincidence.
The words are out of my mouth before I can stop from interrupting the flow of the interrogation.
"Do you know what he was supposed to do?"
All eyes turn to me. Realization flashes across Dad's face and one by one, the rest of them seem to understand the point of my question. They turn back to Christopher Weis who is frowning as if only now noticing my presence.
Alpha nods his head toward me. "Answer him."
Christopher Weis raises an eyebrow, studying me for a moment. Then he shakes his head. Iron manacles clank together when he shifts his hands, palms pressing flat against the table's surface. He moves them again, picking at his fingers.
"He didn't give much details," Christopher replies beneath a heavy sigh. "Just said he got a job to do. Up in one of those neighborhoods past the stretch of tall grass heading to the coast."
Motherfucker!
"Is that all your family friend said?" I push, the hairs on my arms rising, chills sweeping over me. Suddenly, the need to see Jace is overwhelming.
Fuck! Even hearing his voice would work wonders at subsiding the rising anxiety because for a brief heartbeat, I'm slammed back into Tuesday morning.
I'd pulled up to the curb of the Conner's residence and immediately noticed that something was off. The whole house wasn't right, and I saw it before I got out of the car.
Open garage door. Unmoving figures. One figure donned in black shuffling around, crouching and working at something in his hands.