Trent’s wispy hair rose in the current from the air vents. Seeing my gaze on it, he ran a hand over his head, hinting at irritation. “She means well.”

How patronizing was that? Angry, I set my bag on the floor with a thump. “Dr. Anders meant well, too,” I said. “Did you kill her after she turned down your offer of employment?”

Jonathan stiffened, and Edden’s hands jerked as if he was trying to keep them in his lap and away from around my neck. “I’m not going to warn you again, Rachel …” he growled.

Trent’s smile never flickered. He was angry and trying not to show it. I was glad I could paint the walls with my feelings; it was far more satisfying. “No, it’s all right,” Trent said, clasping his fingers together and leaning forward to set them on his desk. “If it will ease Ms. Morgan’s belief that I’m capable of such monstrous crimes, I’ll be more than happy to tell you what we discussed last night.” Though he was talking to Edden, his gaze didn’t shift from mine. “We were discussing the possibility of my funding her research.”

“Ley line research?” I questioned.

He picked up a pencil, the motion as he twirled it giving away his discomfort. He really should have broken himself of the habit. “Ley line research,” he agreed. “The vein of which has little practical value. I was indulging my curiosity, nothing more.”

“I think you offered her a job,” I said. “And when she refused to work for you, you had her killed, just like all the other ley line witches in Cincinnati.”

“Morgan!” Edden exclaimed, pulling himself upright in his chair. “Go wait in the van.” He rose, giving Trent an apologetic look. “Mr. Kalamack, I’m very sorry. Ms. Morgan is entirely out of line, and is not acting under FIB authority in her accusations.”

I spun in my chair to face him. “It’s what he tried to do to me. Why would Dr. Anders be any different?”

Edden’s face went red behind his little round glasses. I clenched my jaw, ready to argue right back. He took an angry breath, letting it out at the knock at the door. Jonathan opened it, stepping back as Glenn came in, ducking his head briefly to Trent in acknowledgment. I could tell by his hunched, furtive expression that the search wasn’t going well.

He murmured something to Edden, and the captain scowled, growling something back. Trent watched the exchange with interest, his brow smoothing and the faint tension in his shoulders easing. The pencil was set aside, and he leaned back in his chair.

Jonathan went to Trent, putting a hand on his desk as he leaned to whisper in Trent’s ear. My attention flicked from Jonathan’s condescending smile to Edden’s worried frown. Trent was going to come out of this looking like an injured citizen brutalized by the FIB. Damn.

Jonathan straightened and Trent’s green eyes met mine, softly mocking. Edden’s voice rasped at my awareness as he told Glenn to have Jenks double-check the gardens. Trent was going to get away with it. He killed those people, and he was going to get away with it!