Bound by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #2)(49)

The two men instantly closed ranks, blocking the door. “Can I help you Miss?” the thickset blond with mud-colored eyes on the right asked.

“Yeah.” I folded my arms across my chest. “You can let me through so I can talk to whoever from the Guild is in there.”

“I’m sorry, but we can’t let you pass. Mr. Garidano was very specific in his instructions not to let anyone through.”

“That’s the Secretary of Finance, isn’t it?” Lakin asked.

“Yep.” I held up my Enforcer Bracelet for the guards to see. “Gentlemen, I’m not here to make a withdrawal. Inspector Lakin and I are investigating a series of disappearances in connection with Sandin Federal. If something is going on, we need to find out what it is.”

The second guard, a lean man with pale skin and black hair, shifted a little beneath the weight of my gaze. “The bank’s been shut down for illegal finance practices. The Finance Secretary and his team are sweeping the place.”

“Excellent. Even more reason for you to invite me in.”

When the guards didn’t move, Lakin stepped forward. “Come on, guys. Don’t you know who you’re talking to? This is Sunaya Baine, the Chief Mage’s apprentice. Do you really want her to have to get the Chief Mage involved just because you won’t let her through the doors?”

I gritted my teeth, not enjoying Lakin’s tactic, but the guards exchanged a look and stepped aside. One of them unlocked the front door and held it open. “Right this way, Miss Baine.”

I shot Lakin a look as we stepped inside. “I don’t really like to name drop, especially where the Chief Mage is concerned.” The last thing I wanted to do was become even more reliant on him than I already was – I wanted people to respect me for who I was, and not for my connection to Iannis.

“Yeah, well I didn’t want you to punch out the guards in broad daylight, so that was the best option.” Lakin’s eyes narrowed as we surveyed the space. There were apprentices everywhere, going through the teller drawers and bankers’ desks and boxing up stacks and stacks of paperwork. “What are these guys doing here, anyway?”

“I went to talk to Fenris yesterday after we left the bank,” I admitted quietly. “We figured out that the gold the bank was giving away was counterfeit, and Fenris said that he was going to deal with it. I guess this is what he meant by that.” I gestured to the room.

“And you only thought to mention this now?”

I winced. “I kind of forgot about the counterfeit stuff after we watched all those shifters nearly kill each other yesterday,” I admitted.

“Hmph.” Lakin didn’t sound any less annoyed. “Well I’m hoping they took all the employees into custody, or at least Danrian.”

“Let’s find out.”

Lakin and I made our way over to Lena Moran, the Finance Secretary’s assistant, who was standing in the center of the room and overseeing the apprentices. She wore a set of deep pink robes shot through with gold thread, and her light brown hair was piled atop her head in an elaborate tower of curls that made me want to snort with amusement. I’d seen her in the halls of Solantha Palace a couple times and she always looked like she was going to some kind of ball or event.

“Miss Baine!” Her hazel eyes lit as she saw me approaching. “I’m happy to see you. I could use another apprentice to help us go through all of these boxes.”

“Sorry Miss Moran, but I’m not here as an apprentice.” I held up my bracelet. “I’m here as an Enforcer. Where is the Finance Secretary?”

“Oh.” She pressed her lips together in disappointment, then pointed behind her. “He’s in the manager’s office. I’m not sure he’ll be happy to be interrupted though.”

“Thanks.” I brushed past her with Lakin in tow, making a beeline for Danrian’s office.

Sure enough, the Finance Secretary was there, studying a huge, leather-bound ledger that had been laid out on the manager’s desk. He glanced up at us in surprise as we walked in, his straight, jaw-length hair swinging around his thin, triangular face, and his dark eyes narrowed at the sight of me.

“Miss Baine.” He straightened, his navy blue robes rippling with the movement. The golden seal of his office was stamped just below his left shoulder – a set of scales with a pile of gold on one end and a sheaf of wheat on the other. “Fenris told me you might show up.”

“Great.” I clasped my hands behind my back. “Then you must know the reason why I’m here.”

“Presumably you’re here to speak to Mr. Danrian.” The Finance Secretary sighed. “Unfortunately he wasn’t here when we raided the bank, much to my annoyance. The assistant manager said he’d run out to do an errand, and since he never came back I can only assume he realized what was happening and ran off. I sent a few guards to his house and they reported back that it looked like he’d packed up quickly and left. We’re going to have to put out an alert for him.”

“Shit.” Lakin dragged a hand through his short, dirty-blond hair. His reddish-yellow eyes glimmered with anger as he glared at the Finance Secretary. “Couldn’t you have staked the place out beforehand to make sure he’d be here? What kind of amateurs are you?”

The Finance Secretary stiffened, a dangerous look entering his dark eyes. “I would be very careful how you choose your words, Inspector. I’m a high-ranking member of the Guild, and you’re a shifter, regardless of your status in the community. You do not have leave to speak to me in such a fashion.”