Captain Tosh’s office looked just the same as Jen remembered it. A huge mahogany desk covered with curlicue inlays filled with gold dominated the center of the room, a single chair for guests in front of it which she ignored, preferring to stand with her men. A bookcase filled each corner, curios rather than books covering the shelves.

The captain had never been one for study. He always claimed he read enough reports over the course of the day that the last thing he wanted to do was read books in his spare time. Behind the desk a window looked out over the glittering city.

The sun had set just as Master Shen landed the chariot, and now glow lamps twinkled on every street corner. Captain Tosh’s office sat on the top floor in the northeast corner of watch headquarters. It took up a quarter of the floor all by itself, though she couldn’t pin that one on him. The office hadn’t changed in two hundred years.

Behind the garish desk Captain Tosh reclined in a soft leather chair and looked at them through half-closed eyes. A short, barrel-chested man, with an oiled goatee and polished fingernails, the captain considered himself the angels’ gift to women. Whether the women agreed or not concerned him little.

He leaned forward and smiled. “I can’t tell you what a pleasant surprise it was to hear my favorite former subordinate was leading the investigation into Dominic’s disappearance. Jennifer, you’re looking as beautiful as ever.”

Tosh’s oily grin turned Jen’s stomach in a way the flight hadn’t. The less time she had to spend in the pig’s presence the better for both of them. “Have you made the arrangements for us to speak with the family?”

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He heaved a dramatic sigh. “Always right to business with you. Same old Jennifer. The family has agreed to see you at ten tomorrow morning. Dominic’s widow…ahem…wife, have to stay optimistic, is too distraught to talk, but the eldest son, Mikhail, has agreed to meet with you.”

Good of him considering they had a royal charter to investigate this matter that gave them the authority to go anywhere and talk to anyone they wanted, whenever they wanted. “I appreciate that. I won’t take up any more of their time than necessary.”

“Go easy, Jennifer. The boy’s lost a father after all. I trust you’ll keep me informed of anything you discover.”

Jen nodded, intending to tell him as little as possible. “As time permits. I assume you’ll inform your men to provide whatever help we need.”

“As long as it doesn’t interfere with their duties. I still have a city to keep safe.”

So, they understood each other. Jen would offer him as little information as she could and he would offer her as little help as he could. She and her squad were basically on their own, which she’d expected.

“Best of luck with your investigation, Jennifer.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

Jen led her team out of Tosh’s office, into the hall, and past his assistant, a pretty blond girl about half Tosh’s age. How many bruises did she have from the captain’s pinches? They left the bored girl behind and headed toward the stairwell.

“Talk about sleazy,” Talon said.

Jen held a finger to her lips. They needed to stay quiet until they left headquarters. They arrived on the first floor and, luckily for them, avoided the main processing area where the watch brought in criminals, handled interrogations, and basically took care of business. A back door by the staircase led to the street. Jen took a deep breath of cool night air.

“Can we talk now?” Alec asked.

“No.” Jen turned north toward their inn. She wouldn’t feel comfortable until they had locked the doors behind them and checked for spies.