Case: 2: Annalise Storm Chronicles, #3

By May Freighter

Duty or friendship, which to choose?

Annalise is faced with a new case. She must find out who plotted to assassinate the CEO of ETek and keep her findings a secret from Falcon. Easier said than done. The man pulling her strings from the shadows knows she's up to something and takes what Annalise values the most as collateral.

A choice must be made—friendship or duty. Whatever she picks, there may be no good ending.

Secrets, lies, mystery, and forbidden romance await you in this final volume of Annalise Storm Chronicles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: May Freighter
• Release date: Dec 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386949459

May Freighter

May Freighter is an internationally bestselling author from Dublin, Ireland. She writes Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Sci-Fi mysteries that will keep you entertained, mystified, and hopefully craving more. Her only pets are cacti. They're the only things that survived. It may be too dangerous to entrust her with an animal while she's engrossed in writing. ​ On sunny, rainy, and overcast days, she spends her time with her fictional friends, putting them through dangerous adventures while wishing them the best of luck. Her hobbies are photography, drawing, and plotting different ways of characters' demise.  ***** HELENA HAWTHORN SERIES:  - Alexander: Memoirs (Prequel) - Russian Roulette - Demon Gates - Crumbling Control - Desired (Spin-off Novella) - Alexander: Monochrome Interview - Fated Origins  - Cherished (Spin-off Novella) - Dark Affiliations (Release date: 2018) ***** ANNALISE STORM CHRONICLES: - Case: 0  - Case: 1 - Case: 2 - (Release date: 2018)

Book preview

PROLOGUE

OPAL

The gathering of the mob bosses was a new gig to Opal. Sure, she had stabbed the previous kingpin of the Red District with an electric knife—three dozen times—for his lack of manners. But why did she need to attend these boring meetings with men who bickered more than the prostitutes at the Macabre?

She lifted her booted feet onto the marble table, knowing full well that the man across from her, Garl, was trying to sneak a peek under her mini skirt. A naughty smirk stretched her lips.

I didn’t wear any underwear today. He should end up stuttering right...about...now... As she thought that, Garl’s cat-like, silver eyes bulged in their sockets. He cleared his meaty throat multiple times and tried to tear his attention away from the tiny gap Opal made for his pleasant viewing experience.

Men are so dumb.

Get a hold of yourself, Garl, Falhar, the basilisk in his mid-forties snapped from the head of the table. "Opal is not the only fuckable alabaster in Green."

According to Opal’s second-in-command, Falhar was the one in charge of running the Black District. A guy like that, with muscles bulging every which way under that tight-fitting grey suit, was a prize to behold. Too bad he was married to some chick who had bigger breasts than Opal. They had to be fake.

She peered at her cleavage. Should I get something done to grow these babies?

Another man in his forties, Nine, wore sunglasses indoors. Opal guessed he was a flare. It had to be a subconscious thing for his kind. They liked to hide their pretty eyeballs from view. It made Opal trust him even less. He wasn’t alabaster-beautiful, either. His nose was too long, brows too bushy, and when he talked, it highlighted his overbite. Her research told her that he was her biggest rival for territory. Only a few blocks separated his gang’s dealings from hers. The asshole also had the nerve to try out some kind of new drug in her district, addicting over twenty people to it in less than a week.

She glared at him, seeing Nine smirking in return. Bastard.

Nine looked to the head of the table and raised his nasal voice, Falhar, we all know why we’re here. Let’s get on with the damn meeting!

Opal lifted her hand into the air and fluttered her false eyelashes for effect. Unlike Nine, I have no idea why this meeting is taking place. Care to share? She stared directly at Falhar. From the corner of her eye, she noticed that Garl was in the middle of attempting another sneak peek at her goods. She rolled her eyes and lowered her legs. The faster she got this meeting over and done with, the better.

As most of you already know, Hamer was killed this week. We are here to figure out how to distribute his territory without sparking a war between our gangs, Falhar replied.

Opal raised a brow. The fat guy is dead? Who got him?

Don’t you know anything other than how to stab someone? Nine asked.

She shot out of her seat, slamming her palms against the table. Try saying that when my knife is shoved up your ass!

Sit. Down. Falhar sucked in a deep breath and released it through his mouth. I want to get this out of the way as fast as possible. So, shut the hell up and focus. Both of you!

I don’t see why Opal should be here at all, Garl said, folding his bulky arms on the table. My territory and Nine’s are the ones surrounding Hamer’s. We could split it down the middle and be done with it.

Ha! Opal flipped him the middle finger. I am not giving up territory to you. Split it four ways. I want the eastern part. It’s next to the Willmott Bridge, which means there is money to be made.

Extorting people for money now? Nine chuckled. Your list is getting more predictable.

Could you two stop your bickering? Falhar shouted.

The double doors to the meeting room burst open. A single woman with long black hair, relaxed demeanour, and confident walk strode in.

Past the intruder, Opal saw the security guards lying on the floor, unconscious.

Who is this chick? She didn’t even make a noise.

Falhar’s entire body tensed. When Opal looked around at the other men in the room, they were equally as nervous.

What brings you here? Nine asked.

The woman arrived at the edge of the table and threw an envelope at the centre of it. This is the building I want you to protect. There is someone there who has to stay safe no matter what. Understood?

Opal snorted. Why should we listen to you?

The woman didn’t reply. She turned on her heel and sashayed out of the room like she owned the damn place.

Opal’s upper lip curved. Who the fuck was that? And why did you all tuck your dicks in the second she came in?

Do you know why Hamer is not here today? Falhar asked her.

Because he was an idiot? she replied smartly.

His blue eyes narrowed on her. That woman killed him. He had fifty modded guarding him at the time. Like a ghost, she appeared, killed him, and vanished because he didn’t do what she’d asked.

You’re kidding... Opal mumbled.

As much as I hate to admit it, Nine began with a grimace, she is more dangerous than all of us put together. Best we do what she wants.

Falhar and Garl nodded.

Opal eyed the envelope the mystery woman left behind and opened it. In it was a single photo of a rundown apartment complex somewhere in the Green District. This has to be a joke...

1

ETEK

ANNALISE

Driving from the Silver to Golden District, Annalise couldn’t stop wondering why ETek wanted her and Devlin to work this case. More importantly, why was it to be kept a secret from the rest of the DPD? She was a newbie in the Human Possession Department. Anyone else was much more skilled than her as a detective. So why?

If you think any harder, smoke may start coming out of your ears, Devlin commented from the passenger’s seat of their car.

Annalise sighed. The bug his brother, Xavier, had planted in her comms was still active. To keep her friend safe, she couldn’t turn it off. For the time being, she had to act like everything was fine. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t kick Xavier where it hurt if the situation arose to pay him back for the humiliation he had put her through.

Are we not going to talk about the case? Devlin asked.

Sorry, I spaced out a little. Annalise gave him a weak smile. She couldn’t help a mixture of feelings that floated around her body every time she was near him. To some degree, she couldn’t believe she pretended to sleep with Devlin to make Xavier think they were officially engaged. Her perception of Devin had changed as well since they began working together. He wasn’t the stuck-up, rich guy she initially believe him to be. Devlin cared about his job and had his good points. He also cooked better than her, which made her realise that she was doomed without a personal chef if she ever ended up as a spinster.

Are you nervous? Do you want to stop off for another cup of coffee?

She shook her head. Driving manually helps clear my head.

He didn’t say anything else and returned to reading the news on his wrist comms.

Annalise passed the bridging point between the districts. The scenery changed from office blocks and corner cafes to expensive bungalows and mansions. In the distance, she could see the Towers along with the ETek Headquarters that were fifty-eight storeys high. It was one of three buildings in Divinity excluded from the ten-storey limit. She had no idea how ETek managed to broker such a deal with the City Hall. Not only that, they also became the sole business company in the Golden District outside of the shopping centres built into the ground floors of the Towers. But then, she had given up on guessing what Divinity was hiding under its shell. One peek got her nearly killed and the second one forced her to become a walking microphone for Falcon.

Devlin tensed and pointed out the window. I have to get off here. I have a meeting I was supposed to attend that I completely forgot about.

What do you mean? Annalise looked at the short distance left to ETek. We’re almost there, and I can’t go in alone...

You will be fine without me. Find out what you can about the case and why they want us to take it in particular. When she stopped at the traffic lights, he climbed out. Glancing at her wrist comms, he mouthed, Be careful, and closed the door.

Annalise drove the rest of the way to the ETek HQ with a frown. It wasn’t like him to come up with such a lame excuse. He didn’t even try to make it seem believable.

What’s going on?

She parked the car in the staff carpark. It was almost empty for some reason. She made her way to the front entrance. People were entering the enormous glass structure in the shape of a spire. Past the sliding doors, a small queue for the scanners awaited her. The virtual intelligence holo-projection greeted every person individually after they scanned their identification cards.

Annalise arrived at the top of the queue and showed her police ID to the security officer. He waved for her to pass through the metal detectors and a biometric scanner.

The VI shimmered for a second. She looked at Annalise, smiled softly and said, Welcome to ETek, Detective Storm.

Annalise blinked several times. She hadn’t scanned her ID anywhere. How could a simple VI give me a response?

Another security officer arrived at her side and motioned for her to follow him. He led the way to a single lift at the end of a long corridor that had no doors lining it. It was a little too claustrophobic for her, like being in a tunnel of a mine.

By the lift doors, two more security guards with weapons greeted her and opened the lift doors for her after getting permission from above.

For a technology company, they had a lot of security. Then again, ETek was responsible for the development and design of the scanners dotted around the city to identify the modded and the purebloods. Their tech was responsible for the segregation. Even her pistol that was locked to her biometric signature was designed by them. It wouldn’t surprise her if there was no end to assassination attempts on their CEO. He was a hated man by many people in Divinity.

She entered the lift which shot to the fifty-sixth floor. When she got out, she couldn’t help taking in her surroundings. An empty receptionist’s desk and glass offices filled the entire floor.

Is the receptionist not in today?

Not a single soul was in her vicinity. She decided it would be best to take a seat in the waiting area. Someone was bound to come for her when the time was right. The security officers did inform someone of her arrival.

After ten minutes of not seeing a single human being, she decided to read the news on her comms. As much as she hated waiting, Devin had the right idea about passing the time by finding out what was going on in the city through the headlines.

In the Divinity Press, the main article that stood out was about the City Hall. They were in the middle of a discussion about hiring PMCs to guard the bridging points between Green and Bronze. The number of drugs pouring into the Bronze District had increased along with the number of violent crimes. Are the things really this dire in Green?

Annalise’s father was bound to be involved in the decision-making process. She didn’t care to give him a call and find out. Not after the last fight she had with him.

When twenty minutes passed in the waiting room, Annalise looked up to find the same brunette who waltzed into the HPD office that morning sitting at the reception desk. She waved to Annalise from behind the reception desk.

Mr Fox is ready for you in his office. Come this way. The secretary stood. Each of her movements was full of grace and seemed to be honed to perfection. The tight white suit she wore with a hip-hugging pencil skirt reminded Annalise of why she chose to work in the police department instead of a commercial company.

The secretary opened a glass door for Annalise through which she didn’t see anyone in the office. But, when she walked into the room, she was faced with a man in his late thirties. His office glass had holographic projection installed in it. No one on the outside could see what was going on, but Mr Fox could see everything from where he was. This meant that she was sitting out there for twenty minutes to stroke his self-important ego. She wasn’t keen on working a case with Divinity’s tech giant and now she hated his guts, too.

Maybe if I ask nicely, or beg, the Chief will assign something else to me instead?

Mr Fox folded his arms behind his back and assessed her like the security officers in the building did earlier.

Does he think I pose a threat?

Mr Fox, why does the CEO of ETek want someone like me to help you? she asked.

Christopher is fine, and I have summoned you here to discuss a modded matter that needs looking into. His voice was deep and pleasant to the ears.

From what Annalise had heard about him, he was anti-modded all the way. That was why Christopher and his father—the founder of ETek—were in the business of creating the technology and weaponry that continued to help oppress the modded in the city.

Her eyes unconsciously were drawn to her comms. Xavier would hear their entire conversation. She didn’t want him involved in the things her chief wanted to keep from the rest of DPD.

Ah, are you worried about Xavier listening in? he asked in a nonchalant manner. Christopher smirked and sat on the corner of his large obsidian desk. AID...

The AI that was only supposed to function within the DPD building appeared. Unlike at the Police Department, her holo-projection was that of a twelve-year-old girl with dirty blonde hair and green eyes. She stood next to him and looked from Annalise to Christopher. For a second, Annalise thought the AI resembled him somewhat.

AID smiled at him. Yes, Christopher?

Did you do as I asked earlier? he inquired, crossing his arms.

I’ve looped the recording of Detective Storm’s waiting. The people listening to your conversation will not hear anything you are about to tell her.

Annalise swallowed nervously. How did you know Falcon was listening?

I make it my business to know everything that’s going on in this city, Detective, he replied.

So, you also hacked into my comms? Her face reddened with anger. Why did you call me here?

I see Mr Madoc is still unable setting foot on the premises. He was in the car with you earlier, wasn’t he?

You’ve bugged my car, too?

AID stepped in front of Christopher and shook her head. Protecting Christopher and his company is part of my job, Detective Storm. You may not like to hear this, but I am an integral part of Divinity.

You are supposed to be an AI for the police. Doesn’t this breach the agreement between the department and ETek? Annalise snapped.

Not in the least. This is the true version of the AI that is helping the police, Christopher clarified. They are connected but only the important data that can harm me or my company is passed on to me by AID. None of this is the reason why you are here. He picked up a digital tablet from his desk and offered it to Annalise.

Seeing no other choice, she made her way to him, avoiding the AI that watched her every step. She took the tablet from him and skimmed through the photos of a man lying on face down on the pavement. What is this?

That is your new case. You and Mr Madoc are going to look into today’s attempt on my life.

Annalise frowned. Wouldn’t another department be more suited for this?

The HPD is perfect because the perpetrator was registered as modded in the city’s database, he informed her.

A modded attacked you? So what? I’m sure you and your company have pissed off your fair share of people doing what you do.

AID piped in, Christopher was attacked by a possessed man this morning at 8:05 a.m. I have compiled all of the relevant information that you will need to begin your investigation and stored it on that digital device. Please be advised not to copy it to your comms as I have uploaded a separate folder to it with the false data for Falcon.

Annalise was speechless. She was compromised, and anyone else in HPD would be a better choice for the job. Why are AID and Christopher being persistent?

You can start by going to the last address he lived at, Christopher pushed away from the desk and took a seat in his office chair. You should receive a full autopsy report from Mr Hopps by the end of the day as well.

Hopps is involved in this?

He is someone you can trust, that’s all you need to know.

Great, more mystery... Annalise tucked the slim device into her inner jacket’s pocket. Is there anything else I should know?

Not yet.

Annalise forced a pleasant smile that didn’t reach her eyes. How do I get in contact with you?

AID will keep me up to date on your investigation. If you have any questions, you will have to come to see me in my office.

How will I know when you’re here? she countered.

I am almost always in the building, Detective Storm. Today’s attempt on my life was the closest they’ve ever gotten. To keep this city from falling apart, I cannot afford to lose my life just yet.

Just another rich guy worried about his life ending too early. Great. With the amount of money and energy those people put into lengthening their lifespans, it was a miracle they hadn’t discovered a way to become immortal. I will get in contact with you if I learn anything new.

She left the office, and the secretary soundlessly glided to her with a small bag in her hand. I’m sorry, Detective. It appears that Mr Fox will not be able to see you today. He has instructed me to give you this information dossier. I have also sent you a digital copy to your comms address.

I guess Xavier can hear me again. Thank you. I will be leaving. She headed for the lift and a notification popped up on her comms, informing her that she had received the files. No doubt, Xavier was already sifting through them. Despite that, she had to maintain the pretence. Not that she wasn’t used to putting on a show, but one mistake could put Monique in danger.

Annalise’s life definitely wasn’t getting any easier.

2

THREE-HEADED FALCON

DEVLIN

Devlin used his wrist comms to summon one of his cars to the Golden District corner where he waited. No matter the cost, he had to keep the truth from Annalise. She would expel him from her life like everyone else if she ever knew his secret. His mother had paid a lot of money to keep the truth from the