"It really takes a lot -especially in our line of work- for me to feel alive, but you do that for me, Vivienne."
When psychically gifted Vivienne Salvatore is forced to flee to London from her home up north, she stumbles upon a "prestigious" agency...
CHAPTER SIXTEEN ~ losing my mind ~ vivienne salvatore
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"You're up, Salvatore," Barnes shouts from under a portable canopy beside a yellow DEPRAC van. The 'interrogation station', I've called it.
The medic at my side who patched up a few scrapes and gave me a shot of adrenaline helps me up by the arm, escorting me over in case I gain the energy to sprint off before this dreadful conversation.
We pass George on the way, who looks positively buzz-killed. As we pass, he gives me a look that says 'good luck, you'll need it', and I know I will.
"Miss Salvatore," Barnes says, starting a tape recorder at his side. "Please take a seat. Miranda, give that miserable looking boy another shot of adrenaline. I think I drained him."
"Yes, sir," Miranda —the medic— says, heading off after George.
"Now, Salvatore," Barnes begins. "If I'm not mistaken, I believe I do remember specifically telling you to leave your position at Lockwood & Co, and return home."
"Must've slipped my mind," I sass.
"Just like how the law slipped your mind during this case?" He prods. "There's thousands in damages."
"The law never slips my mind, sir," I mock. "Every damage made inside that manor was an act of self defence. Might I remind you that the manor's owner is now dead, and he has no living relatives, so the house now belongs to the government. None of them are going to care for those damages."
Barnes shows the slightest cock of his brow before turning back to the incident report before him.
"Take me through what happened," he says.
"My colleague, George Karim, just told you this same story," I say. "Why don't I save you the trouble and not bore you with it again?"
"I wouldn't call this case boring," he says. "You lot, a team of four poorly trained agents, cleared one of the most haunted houses in England. That's quite some luck."
"It wasn't luck," I say. "We're well trained."
"The story, Miss Salvatore."
"Fairfax hired us to clear his manor from a haunting by telling us he intended to sell it, though, of course, he was lying to lure us inside," I say. "He lied about the structure of the building, history of the property, and the nature of the haunting, almost getting the four of us killed."
