Bruja Born (Brooklyn Brujas #2)(9)

The detective gives my sister a side-eye look, and it’s that gesture which jogs my memory. He’s the same detective that ran the investigation on our “home robbery.” When we returned nearly dead from Los Lagos, no time had passed on this realm. Windows were shattered, feathers burned into the walls, floorboards ripped right out. Yeah, a robbery. There was no other explanation that wouldn’t reveal us or our magical community. But the cops bought it, and the case was closed. Now, Detective Hill is back and his muddy-brown eyes settle on each and every one of us.

“We’re old friends now, aren’t we?” Detective Hill asks, trying for charming but ending at patronizing. He looks my dad up and down, then my mother and sisters. “You’re all pretty banged up, there.”

“We were in one of the accidents on the BQE,” Alex lies.

“It’s a mess out there,” Detective Hill says, running his hands over his thick salt-and-pepper hair as he turns to me. “That’s where you come in, Miss Mortiz.”

“Yes, Detective,” I say, sounding like I swallowed a cheese grater. But the sooner he leaves, the sooner I can check on Maks.

“First of all, I’m glad you’re feeling better. It’s been a hectic couple of days.”

“Days?” I try to sit up but a shooting pain keeps me pinned to the bed. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Four days.”

“Four days?”

“I don’t mean to upset you, Ms. Mortiz,” Detective Hill says. “But there were a number of casualties and we’d like to get to the bottom of what happened. You’re the only survivor who’s awake.”

“The only one?”

Detective Hill nods gravely. “Do you remember anything?”

“How many—” I’m not sure what to ask. How many dead? Alive? But Detective Hill understands what I want to know.

“Five players and three cheerleaders are in comas. Others are out of surgery, but it doesn’t look good. The victims of the pileup behind the bus are still unconscious and the ones who walked away with broken bones say they didn’t see anything. No one has been able to give any statements, and you’re the only soul who can string a sentence together. So you can see my frustration. This accident added fifty bodies to the morgue and I’ve got no answers as to how this happened.”

“Fifty,” I repeat. Then I remember my vision. “Kassandra?”

He flips open a notepad. “Kassandra Toussaint. She goes back into surgery to remove debris from her stomach. Really rare blood type and not enough to go around.”

The machines measuring my heart rate go off like a carnival ride.

“Calm down, nena.” My mom pushes past the detective to get to my side.

I open my mouth, but it’s like I’m breathing through a straw and the rest of me is buried under cement. My mother’s hand is warm, resting behind my neck. At first I think she’s going to use her magic, but then she simply brushes my hair away from my face, blowing cool breath against my eyelids. Something about her presence calms me in ways I can’t explain. I’m not better, not by a long shot, but at least I can breathe again.

“You all right?” Detective Hill asks.

“I don’t care who you are,” Alex says suddenly. “But I’m going to call the doctor to kick you out if you don’t have any more actual questions.”

“Don’t threaten me, Ms. Mortiz. I thought I’d seen the last of your family five months ago, but here we are again. It seems bad luck follows you.” His tongue pushes against his cheek, like he’s digging for food particles stuck in his teeth. Then he mutters, “Curious, isn’t it?”

“I don’t remember much,” I say. “I was sitting with Maks. Everyone was listening to music and dancing, like usual. They were excited for the game.”

“Does the driver always let you stand up and party?”

“What? No, that’s not what I meant.”

“But you said ‘like usual.’”

“Yes, but—” My head aches at the temples.

“You’re twisting her words,” Alex snaps.

“Stay out of this, Miss Mortiz,” he shouts.

My vision blurs with tears and I breathe fast because my heart is racing. Dad tries to step in, but Ma puts an arm on his shoulder, because we know it would be worse if he gets involved.

“Will you let me talk?” I shout at Alex and Detective Hill. “Yes, everyone was extra excited. It was the final game and most of the team are seniors. Coach kept telling everyone to sit, but they didn’t listen. The next thing I knew, the bus swerved and everything turned upside down.”

I shut my eyes but can’t stop the images from flooding my mind. Blood and flesh and glass and bones and a woman dressed in black. “When I came to, Maks was trying to keep me conscious. Then I woke up here.”

“Thank you, Ms. Mortiz. You’ve been most helpful. I hope you have a speedy recovery.” Detective Hill looks at Alex. “See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

I nod and we wait in silence as he slowly makes his way out the door.

“One last thing.” Detective Hill turns around. “The scars on your face. They’re older than the accident. How’d that happen?”