A Little Wicked (The Bewitching Hour Book #4)
Mallory Crowe
“So... let me get this straight. You’re a witch.”
Samantha Harris nodded and studied the man in front of her intently, looking for any sign that he was about to freak out or pull his gun on her. But Captain Voss should handle this news better than anyone, considering their history. A history that would be more helpful if he could remember anything about it.
“And I recruited you to help with a case?” he asked skeptically.
“You were very insistent that I look into the Tommy Collins murders.”
“You made her work with me,” added Derek.
Without looking behind her, she could feel the tense energy from him. She should’ve added that part. She winced at the omission. Captain Voss wasn’t the only one who had his memories messed with. Here she was, trying to convince Voss about their shared history when huge parts of it were blank to her as well.
He pointed to the blonde who stood toward the back of the office, obviously trying to stay out of the way. “Did I make you work with Parker too?”
Detective Angela Parker held up her hands as if to excuse herself from the conversation. “Hey, I’m new to all this.”
“But she saw it for herself.” Derek stepped forward so he was side by side with Sam. Even though they were in a room full of people, the slight electrical current she felt as his shoulder almost touched hers caused her to fight back a smile. She caught herself immediately, and her guilty eyes cut away from him only to see Claire, the last person in the crowded office, looking at her knowingly.
“The point is”—Sam tried to get the conversation under control—“there are things going on in the city right now that could be dangerous for everyone involved. So we think it’s important that at least someone higher up in the police force knows about it.” It had taken a lot of arguing between her, Derek, and Angela, but eventually she had to concede that they were right. Her family had already caused too much death and destruction in the past few months, and now the city was about to be inundated with more exceptionally powerful witches.
Derek couldn’t do all this alone.
“If what you’re saying is true”—Voss narrowed his eyes at Sam as he spoke, letting her know he wasn’t fully convinced yet—“then you’re aware that I already know a little bit about all this magic shit.”
When he’d first asked her to help Derek, he’d mentioned that one of his relatives had married a witch, but she’d never found out anything else before his mind had been wiped clean. But knowing magic exists and believing that the city could be going up in flames any minute were completely different. Voss continued, “But what do you want me to do about it?”
Sam pursed her lips and looked over at Derek. That was the same point she’d made. Repeatedly. Luckily, Derek took it from there. “I want you to let me and Parker work together. Move her over to homicide and if there are any cases that seem more... unnatural, give us the collar.”
It took everything in her to keep her disapproval from showing. Her family had nearly killed Derek countless times already, and here he was volunteering to throw himself in the line of fire again.
Voss sat back in his chair, considering the offer. “Narcotics isn’t going to want to let Parker go. She’s a closer.”
“They owe you enough favors. I’m sure you can work something out,” said Parker.
Sam was more than grateful for the woman’s help, but she wished like hell that she wasn’t just as self-sacrificing as Derek. At least Derek was getting regular sex out of the deal. Angela Parker had only seen magic when Jackson was using it to try to awaken a darkness that could overtake the entire city. Sam would really appreciate it if the people she knew started having less of a hero complex.
Everyone was silent for a few moments as Voss mulled the situation over. Finally he said, “I’ll see what I can do.”
A collective sigh of relief went out in the room and Sam just wanted to roll her eyes. She knew that this was a great thing for the city and for any innocent people who might get hurt by her kind, but hadn’t Derek already risked enough?
Voss looked to Derek and pointed an accusing finger. “Now stop wasting time with your girlfriend and go get some work done.”
“On it,” said Derek before he ushered everyone out of the office. As soon as they were out of the office and walking along the cubicle section of the detective floor, Derek and Angela talked in hushed tones about what their next move would be while the captain got things moving.
“Well, I feel unneeded.” Claire fell in step next to Sam.
“You were backup,” insisted Sam. She was stronger than ever, but her powers were still unpredictable. If Voss had demanded some sign or proof, Claire, now flushed with power since she took down Jackson, would be able to give him any magic trick he wanted to see.
As they reached Derek’s office, he and Parker kept whispering to each other and Sam stayed put. She really didn’t want to hear what the two heroes were talking about.
“That doesn’t bother you?” Claire leaned in close.
Sam blinked in surprise. “What doesn’t bother me?”
She pointed to where Derek and Parker were talking. “Your super-hot boyfriend and the super-hot girl who’s about to be his partner.”