Page 15 of Wicked Enemy

The last thing I remembered them talking about was the reports on the ongoing gang war on the south side. But Jamila was in this meeting, and she always talked. A lot. And often just said the same things over and over again using different words. So chances were that we were still discussing that same subject.

“We’re going through the reports on the gang war on the south side,” I said, trying to sound as confident as possible.

For a few seconds, Chief only stared at me from beneath lowered brows. Then he grunted in acknowledgement. Relief flooded my chest.

“Well, if youarein fact paying attention,” he muttered, “then at least try to look like it too.”

“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”

“As I was saying…” he began, turning back to the others.

I let my gaze drift across the people seated around the pale wooden table. Chief was sitting at the head of the table, with Captain Smith on the other end. Between them were all the Senior Constables in the South Side Department. Every seat was taken except one. Since no one else had been promoted to Senior Constable yet, the chair that used to be mine was still empty. I tried not to think about how long it had taken me to earn that chair, and how quickly I had lost it. And more importantly,whyI had lost it.

“That concludes the reports,” Chief said as he pushed together the papers scattered in front of him and placed them in a neat pile. Then he paused for a few seconds while looking each one of us in the eye. “Now, I need everyone to keep their head on straight for what I’m about to tell you next.”

Apprehension swept through the room like a cold fall wind.

I glanced towards Ulric to see if he already knew about this, but he just remained sitting there at the end of the table, looking at Chief, so it was impossible to tell.

Then a spike of fear shot up my spine. Was this about me? Had they somehow found out that I had willingly let Levi go at that warehouse? My heart rate kicked up. Was I about to be arrested by all of my colleagues?

With my pulse fluttering nervously, I slid my gaze back to Chief. His scarred face was serious as he knitted his fingers and placed his hands on top of the small stack of papers.

“I have received word from one of my contacts up north,” he began.

Everyone held their breath.

“A worldwalker is targeting Malgrave.”

Gasps echoed throughout the white-painted room. The relief I felt at realizing that this wasn’t about my betrayal was quickly drowned out by shock. A worldwalker? There had been rumors that a worldwalker existed somewhere up north, but never in my wildest nightmares had I thought that one would be coming here. To Malgrave.

“What?” Frank blurted out.

“I said keep your head, Constable,” Chief Anderson snapped.

Frank blushed and quickly dipped his chin.

From a few seats away, Ulric clasped his hands and studied Chief with furrowed brows. “How credible is this intel, sir?”

“Very. He’s apparently quite the menace who has caused lots of trouble in the city next to where my contact lives.”

“But…” Jamila began, her black curls rippling as she shook her head in confusion. “What could he possibly want in Malgrave?”

Chief’s sharp blue eyes shifted to her. “A healer.”

For a moment, I couldn’t process his words. A healer? Where would he even find a healer in our city? Then coldness spread through my chest like poison.

Gemma.

“We need to warn her,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Everyone whipped around to stare at me. Junior Constables didn’t usually speak during these kinds of meetings. But I had been a Senior up until last week, so I still wasn’t used to keeping my mouth shut. And besides, I was too stunned by this news to think straight.

“No, we don’t,” Chief Anderson said, a hard edge to his voice.

I jerked back. “What?”

“We need to stay out of this.”