Scorched Heart (The Firebrand Series Book 4), Helen Harper [free ereaders .txt] 📗

I schooled my expression carefully. ‘I take it that you have a detective in mind?’

Barnes answered instantly. ‘Detective Sergeant Owen Grace. He’s keen, ambitious and he has a strong sense of right and wrong.’

‘I don’t know him,’ I answered.

‘There’s no reason why you would. He’s kept his nose clean and had an unremarkable career up to now. When I say that, I mean it as a good thing. And you’ll be pleased to learn that he is more than amenable to working with supes.’

Unlike some of the other Metropolitan police officers, who thought that anyone with supe blood was automatically scum. ‘Okay,’ I said. Until I met DS Grace, I was prepared to keep an open mind.

‘He’ll be your superior officer,’ Barnes said. ‘And you’ll be expected to answer to him. I expect there will be something of an adjustment period to begin with that might prove … awkward.’

‘I’m not planning on causing any problems,’ I said stiffly.

Barnes offered me a kind smile. ‘I know. Neither is DS Grace. But problems can arise when one detective is more knowledgeable than another. You are, after all, a supe yourself and that gives you an edge that DS Grace might find … difficult, given his seniority. Fortunately, I have an idea about how to ensure that he finds his feet.’

I was wary now. ‘Go on.’

‘You visited Samuel Beswick yesterday.’

It wasn’t a question. ‘I followed all the correct procedures,’ I said, instantly on the defensive.

DSI Barnes held up her hands. ‘I’m not suggesting otherwise, Emma. To be honest, I’m surprised that you didn’t visit him before now. Did he provide you with any answers about what happened to your parents?’

I looked down. ‘Other than finally admitting that he was responsible for their murders, not really.’

Barnes pursed her lips. ‘Hmm. It’s not just your parents that you must have questions about. You have extraordinary, unique powers that seem to have sprung from nowhere – you must wonder about those, too.’

‘Of course I do.’ I folded my arms. I wasn’t sure where DSI Barnes was going with this and I definitely wasn’t sure that I liked it.

‘I don’t know how much of a close eye you keep on the news, but there was a rather nasty murder in Kent last night.’

I squinted. What did a new murder in Kent have to with anything? Unless…

‘In Barchapel to be precise,’ DSI Barnes continued.

I stiffened, icy fingers of dread trickling down my spine at the mention of the village where I’d spent the first five years of my life.

‘There has been a suggestion that rogue supes were involved. I very much doubt it, but once a rumour like that starts it’s difficult to stop it. Alas, the Metropolitan Police don’t have any jurisdiction so far away from London, even though I’m certain we could offer assistance.’ She paused, her silence heavy with meaning. ‘You could offer assistance.’

I swallowed.

Barnes waved a sheet of paper at me. ‘I’ve taken the liberty of booking your leave. I have the paperwork ready to go. You just need to sign it.’

‘Leave?’

‘You’re due a holiday. Given all that has occurred recently, this would be a good time for you to take it. You can have two weeks’ break to recuperate. I hear that Kent is very nice at this time of year.’ Barnes smiled blandly. ‘At the same time, it will allow DS Grace to settle in to Supe Squad under his own terms. It will make things easier for both of you in the long run if he can find his own way. Not that I think you would interfere, but because everyone needs the opportunity to develop their own ways of doing things.’

‘I’m not sure that I need a holiday in Kent,’ I said carefully.

‘You want to find out more about what happened to your parents, and we all want to find out why you are what you are. A visit to Barchapel might answer those questions. I’ve contacted the local police and suggested that you might pop by. They might take advantage of the opportunity to pick your brains about supe activity to help them with their ongoing murder investigation. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.’

Barnes hesitated and I realised that was actually quite unsure of herself. ‘You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. It isn’t an order, Emma – it’s not even a request. But the opportunity is there if you’d like it. Barchapel might not have any answers for you, but it could be a good place to start. You can head there first thing tomorrow morning.’

I dropped my hands by my sides but otherwise didn’t move for a long moment, then I saw Liza give me a small nod of encouragement. She was right: I’d already set the ball rolling. I’d spoken to my uncle and read everything he had relating to my parents. I’d been to see Samuel Beswick. Perhaps now was the time to step things up a gear and find out more about my past.

Why was I, of all people, the phoenix? Did my parents’ deaths have anything to do with my inability to stay dead? And would Barchapel offer any clues? I swallowed, then I walked up to Barnes, took the sheet of paper and scrawled my name on the dotted line.

‘If you wait a couple of days, I can come with you,’ Lukas said. He gave the grimy train a dubious look. ‘I can drive.’

‘I can drive too,’ I said lightly. ‘But Tallulah doesn’t do well on country roads and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the train. I like trains,’ I added firmly. ‘When you finish your business here, you can join me. A country break might be fun. I bet the people of Barchapel have never even seen a vampire before. You’ll give them a thrill.’

‘I’m not sure I’m the sort of thrill they’ll be after,’ he muttered. He ran a hand through his ink-dark hair. ‘But very well,’ he said grudgingly. ‘They’ll be more