Basil (The Brinnswick Chronicles #3) - Michele Notaro Page 0,123

him in there with you?” she asked him, ignoring his Alec comment.

“Yeah. I wouldn’t want your meaty paws touching him, anyway.”

She ignored him again, but ordered one of the other agents to check the body. It was right behind us, but luckily, Bas hadn’t covered the body with his shield, so the other agent was able to look at it. I kept my hands on my head, still on my knees so no one freaked out and did somethin’ stupid.

Basil turned his gaze on the agent checkin’ the body, and I heard him mutter, “Sweet Mother of All, that’s Armina.” He made a choking noise. “I’m gonna be sick.”

“If you puke on my crime scene, Basil Ellwood, I’ll murder you,” Anita said.

Basil turned around to face her with wide eyes. He took a few deep breaths, and I could feel a myriad of emotions going through him, but after a moment, he said, “The victim’s name is Armina Hallawelle. She’s a witch, light affinity, she’s twenty-four—no, she would’ve turned twenty-five last month.”

I eyed him. You know her?

Uh, yeah… we dated in high school. She was… not a nice person.

Anita made a phone call and began reporting everything Basil told her to whoever was on the other end of the line, but she hung up when three SUVs began driving toward us on the grass. They stopped behind Anita, and Alec got out of one, but he had his phone up to his ear.

Basil crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at his brother-in-law, and the werewolf Chief of the BCA frowned over at us. When he hung up the phone, he closed his eyes for a few seconds, then headed in our direction and said, “Hiro, you can relax and stand up, but you’re going to have to come in.”

“What the fuck’s the matter with you?” Basil yelled as I dropped my hands and stood.

“It isn’t my call, Bas,” Alec said.

“What the hell’s that supposed to mean? You’re the damn chief! You know Hiro didn’t do it!”

“I know,” Alec said.

“Don’t be a fucking idiot, you know he didn’t—what? You know? Then why the hell are you making him come in?”

“I had to call Petunia Crane as soon as I realized Hiro was the person they found here. It’s a conflict of interest.”

My eyes widened a little. Petunia Crane was in charge of the whole damn Brinnswick Union. Alec legit answered to the top dog of the whole damn country.

Bas said, “He found the body, Alec. He didn’t kill her.”

“I know that. I know, Bas. Please calm down. I know, but he’s family, and the fact that it’s Armina’s body he found… it doesn’t look good.”

“What? Why would that even matter? I haven’t talked to her in years,” Bas said.

“Basil, after what she did to you, it gives Hiro motive,” Alec said.

“After what she did to you?” I asked Basil. “What did she do to you?”

Basil kept his eyes on Alec, but waved a hand at me. “See? He doesn’t even know anything about that. I never even told him.”

Alec’s eyes darted back and forth between us for a few seconds. “Both of you need to stop talking right now. Not another fucking word. Hiro, I need you to come in, right now. Bas, I know you’re not going to stay away, but you can’t ride in the same car as him—”

“Like hell I can’t.”

Alec’s nostrils flared. “Basil, if you want any chance of clearing Hiro’s name quickly, you’ll shut the fuck up and listen to me for once in your goddamn life! I’m trying to help you.”

I said through our link, It’s fine, love. It’ll be okay. We have nothing to hide.

Basil’s eyes met mine. It’s not fine. They can’t do this.

Seriously, baby, it’s easier to let them do their thing. I’ll keep Blaze with me if that makes you feel better.

It does.

“Fuck, no speaking telepathically, either,” Alec shouted, then quieter, “This is a nightmare. Hiro, get in the first SUV. Now.” He pointed to one. “Bas, get in the other.” He pointed to another one. “No bloody talking.”

Basil growled out in anger, but dropped his shield, and the two of us followed Alec’s instructions.

Rubbing my temples, I said, “I’ve told you a thousand times already. I got a call from my handler, and she sent me to the fuckin’ baseball field. I dunno where she gets my marks from, that’s why I go through her.”

“Jasmyn Borly confirms your story,” Agent Asshole said. That was what I decided