Excerpt: Hunted

“I’m confused about something,” Garrett announced suddenly, making me look at him curiously. “I get that you were put on Sparky’s case after she attacked Nila.” God save me if he was calling the demon Sparky too. “But you know the ins and outs of this case better than anyone else, and there really aren’t any notes on this anywhere that I can find. Did you talk to the person that was on this case before?"

I looked at him for a moment before sighing and putting all of my papers to the side. “I haven’t been completely honest with you.”

He raised an eyebrow at me before putting his own papers aside. “I kind of got that feeling, I have to admit.”

I nodded slowly, considering how best to break the news to him. “I know all of the facts because I’m the only one that’s ever been on that case. I told you that she hasn’t really been a serious issue before now, and she hasn’t, so she never really needed someone specific on her case.”

“But you’ve been on her case before,” he said slowly.

I bit my lip before admitting, “She was my partner. Before.”

He blinked before smiling wryly. “And when were you planning on telling me this?”

“At first, I wasn’t going to because I didn’t want to give you any more information than necessary. I wanted you gone, and so you didn’t need to know any of that background. But then you started to get to know the case a little better, and I realized it was kind of pointless to keep trying to get rid of you… I was going to tell you eventually, but it just never really came up.”

He looked at me for a moment before shaking his head in mild disbelief. “You never saw the point in telling me that this demon was once your partner?”

“I told you, I was going to tell you eventually.”

“Oh, right, eventually. Are there any other secrets you should probably tell me that might help with the case?”

“Not that I can think of,” I said, wanting to make it a joke but not really having the heart to.

He nodded slowly before looking at me seriously. “If something like this comes up again, I need to you tell me the truth from the beginning.”

I wanted to protest that I had only kept the truth from him in the beginning this time because I hadn’t trusted him, but I kind of felt that it would be pointless. Instead, I just nodded. “Of course I will.”

“Good,” he said a little stiffly before turning back to his papers.

I felt oddly hurt by the fact that he seemed so upset with me. Before I could even ask myself why it bothered me so much, I started babbling to try and correct the problem. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t trust you, you know. But I would tell you now because I do trust you. That won’t happen again.”

“I know it won’t. But what would have happened if you two ended up face to face, Leigh? I wouldn’t have known how to get you away because I didn’t know about your relationship in the first place.”

I opened my mouth to argue with him but stopped myself by closing my mouth again. I knew he was right. Of course he was. If the demon had somehow managed to catch my eye and pull me into its spell, Garrett wouldn’t know enough to pull me out of it. He wouldn’t know that he had to do anything to pull me out because she was there.

He looked up when I didn’t immediately respond. “What, no response?”

“No,” I said calmly. “You’re right.”

“Really?” he asked before shaking his head. “Well, I didn’t expect that one.”

I glared him. “I can admit that I’m wrong if I’m really wrong, you now. I was being stupid by not telling you. Trust me, I know that. Kiera kept telling me that I should tell you about my history with… the demon. But I didn’t want a partner, and you were way more observant that any partner I’ve ever had. I figured you would find out way more about than I wanted you to, so I figured you could figure out that information on your own if you wanted it. I know I should have told you, but I was being selfish. I can admit that. And I won’t keep be information like that from you again. Happy?”

“Happy enough,” he said lightly before smiling at me. I couldn’t help smiling back when he was grinning at me like that.

Oh, I was so screwed.