Page 10 of Born Wicked

“So?” he asks.

Side by side, we walk down the sidewalk. I point us in the direction of the hospital. I have an interview with a potential new doctor in thirty minutes. Roman doesn’t question where we’re going, but he matches my pace, step for step.

“Sylvano swears she can’t pin anything on me,” I report. “But when you’ve always been the scapegoat who’s occasionally been guilty, it’s hard to believe anyone can get you out of trouble but yourself.”

Roman nods as if he understands. Maybe he does. There’s still too much I don’t know about him.

“What have you learned about the Superintendent?” I ask, fixing my eyes on the path in front of us.

Roman takes one deep breath in, and I can already tell it’s not going to be good. “She’s single, no children. She lives on the South side. In the time we’ve been watching her, she’s only gone home for about five hours. The woman lives for her job.”

“So she has nothing else to do but sit and obsess about me possibly killing Sebastian,” I say. “Great.”

“She’s a workaholic,” Roman agrees. “She’s been with the CPD for sixteen years. She joined the police academy as soon as she was eligible and has been with the force ever since. But I think I also know why she’s going so hard on this.”

“Oh?” I question, raising an eyebrow.

Roman nods. “She was shot while on duty two years ago. Guess what hospital she was closest to and taken into?”

“Sebastian’s,” I answer with a sigh.

Roman nods again. “Sebastian was on duty in the emergency room and patched her up. I talked to Diana, who was also on duty. She said Sebastian was all charm that night, totally won Teresa over.”

“Shit,” I breathe out. “So, she’s got some serious hero worship going on. She’s thinking Sebastian is a saint, so how could he possibly do anything wrong here?”

“I’m afraid so.”

I sigh again. “Well, at least now we know why she’s coming at me so hard. Any indication if she knows what’s going on at night in this city?” I ask as we wait for the crossing light, then step out into the street.

“I don’t think so,” Roman confirms.

The hospital comes into view as we cross the city. Waiting for me is a mountain of work. I pray that Jon has found me an assistant.

“Any leads on the damage Sebastian inflicted?” Roman asks. We cross the last intersection and hesitate outside.

I shake my head. “Not yet. But we’re running some more tests. Hopefully, we’ll have answers any day now.”

Roman nods. “Alright. Call if you need anything.”

“Roman,” I stop him as he turns to go. “I don’t know if it means anything, but Superintendent Day’s last question was about the relationship between me and you. I don’t know who is telling her what, but I thought you should have a heads-up. She might want to question you.”

“Good to know,” he says, and like he’s some kind of super-secret agent, his black SUV pulls up to the curb right then, Jay Asher at the steering wheel. He climbs in, and just like that, he’s gone.

I walk into the office,and immediately, from the smell of him, I know he’s a vampire.

Thank heavens.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Doe,” I say as I step around my desk. He stands, reaching out and shaking my hand. “Forgive me for being a few minutes late. There’s been a lot to take care of.”

“Not a problem,” he says, and we both take a seat. “It’s becoming common news, Dr. Vincent’s sudden disappearance. You have a lot on your plate.”

A sigh escapes my lips before I give it permission. “I’m just going to ask straight up. Are you under the impression that I killed Sebastian or had anything to do with his disappearance?”

The man’s brows raise just slightly as if this were the last question he expected to be asked during this interview. And slowly, his shock is replaced by a smile. “Dr. Vincent was brilliant. All that he has accomplished is admirable. But it was also apparent to everyone who knew anything about him that there was a darkness in his soul. Whatever the reason he isn’t present in this city any longer, I have no doubt there is something he did that made him run. So, no, I do not have any inclination that you killed Dr. Vincent.”

“Well, that sets us out on the right foot, Dr…” I glance down at the resume in front of me. “Roshan.” First name Dev. “So, tell me, why would you want to work at this hospital?”

He leans back and crosses one ankle over the opposite knee. There’s a confidence about him, but it’s relaxed. Completely different than Sebastian’s intimidating confidence. “I have been watching for a position at this hospital for four years, Dr. Doe. I will be honest, when I heard you were hired and never went through an interview process, I was somewhat annoyed. I’ve been at Saint Anthony’s for seven years now. I’ve enjoyed my time there, but as the only vampire in the hospital, some things are more difficult to explain. It would be a breath of fresh air to be fully understood. To not have to hide.”