I swallowed hard as I reached for the two cups. Now it was my turn for trust. There might be anything in those tiny white pills, but finding relief from my pain was beyond expectation. The pills rattled as I brought the cup close and peered down at them.

I’d heard about pills. I’d had a roommate who swore by them, keeping a bottle of white tablets next to her toothbrush. She said they worked better than amulets, and you didn’t have to stick your finger. I had watched her take one once. You were supposed to swallow them whole.

Nick leaned close. “You can palm it if you want,” he whispered, and I shook my head. I quickly upended the cup with the aspirin, tasting the bitter bite of willow bark as I took a swallow of tepid water. I struggled not to cough as I felt the pills go down, clenching at the pain the sudden movement brought on. This was supposed to make me feel better?

Nick patted me hesitantly on the back. Through my watering eyes I could see Edden all but laughing at my ineptness. I waved Nick off and forced myself to sit up straight. A moment passed, then another. Still the aspirin didn’t take effect. I sighed. Nothing. No wonder humans were so suspicious. Their medicines didn’t work.

“I can give you Kalamack, Captain Edden.” I glanced at the clock behind him. Ten forty-five. “I can prove he’s dealing in illegal drugs. Both manufacturing and distribution.”

Edden’s eyes went alight. “Give me the proof, and we will go to the airport.”

I felt my expression freeze. Ivy had told him nearly everything, and he still wanted to talk to me? Why hadn’t he taken the information and brought some glory for himself? God knew it would be cheaper. What was he up to? “I don’t have all of it,” I admitted. “But I heard him discussing the arrangements. If we find the drugs, that’s proof enough.”

Edden pressed his lips together to make his mustache move. “I won’t go out on circumstantial evidence. I’ve been a fool for the I.S. before.”

I glanced at the clock again. Ten forty-six. His eyes met mine as I looked away, and I bit back a flash of annoyance. Now he knew I was in a hurry. “Captain,” I said, trying to keep the imploring from my voice. “I broke into Trent Kalamack’s office to get the proof but got caught. I spent the last three days as an unwilling guest. I overheard several meetings that substantiated my beliefs. He’s a manufacturer and distributor of illegal biodrugs.”

Calm and collected, Edden leaned back and swiveled his chair. “You spent three days with Kalamack and expect me to believe he was speaking the truth in front of you?”

“I was a mink,” I said dryly. “I was supposed to die in the city’s rat fights. I wasn’t supposed to escape.”

Nick shifted uneasily beside me, but Edden nodded as if I had confirmed his suspicions.