Read Wind-Scarred (The Will of the Elements, Book 1) for Free Online Page B

holding it just on the verge of
where it would become painful. The taser vanished from his throat
and was suddenly pressed up against his wrist, out of view from the
DOLTs in front of them.
    “ Good evening officers!” Ezra winced as her voice rang out,
altogether too loud. “I found this young man fleeing the
Conservatorium of Culture a few minutes ago, subdued him and, in
the spirit of civic duty, have brought him to your
custody.”
    The DOLT nearest them stared with his mouth
hanging open, ignoring his net connection. His partner stepped
forward, bumping him and giving the now open virtual interface a
meaningful look. “Thank you for your enthusiasm ma’am,” he said in
a long-suffering voice. “But the Department of Ordinances and
Lawful Temerity has everything well in hand. I'm sure that this
citizen has nothing to hide and would appreciate it if you
would-”
    The taser pressed meaningfully into Ezra's
wrist, and he squeaked out, “No, no, it was me, I was in the
museum, I triggered the alarms.” This earned him a skeptical look
from the officer. The tension on his shoulder increased as the girl
began twisting his arm upwards. “Also, also, I'm Ezra Hawkins! I
have my ID in my pocket! I believe you were notified that I would
be in the university district and should be apprehended.”
    The first officer blinked,
stunned, then cleared his throat, and said, “'In the university
district causing trouble and should be apprehended' were the exact words, I
believe.” Ezra winced again.
    “ Yes, I was causing trouble, I broke into the museum, I set off
the alarms, I knocked down the display cases. I admit to it all.”
The pressure eased on his arm and he chanced a glance over his
shoulder at the girl again. She was giving him a wide-eyed stare as
her mouth tightened into a hard line. So she hadn't known who he
was. Well, now she knew what she was dealing with. She had to know
now that this was too big for her. A triumphant smile began to
spread over his face as he opened his mouth to speak
again.
    Her eyes narrowed into a hard
look. The taser bit into his wrist, sudden pain blossoming out and
coursing through his body. It hurt. It hurt . Every muscle in Ezra's body
convulsed and he fought to breathe. His legs went weak and he
started to fall. Someone caught him before he hit the ground and he
heard the girl explaining how he might have had too much to drink
tonight and of course she'd be willing to fill out any reports they
needed. She was probably smiling that winning smile of hers up at
them. He could almost see those adorable, evil little
dimples. Damn hormones , Ezra thought as blackness washed over him.

Chapter
7
Irritation,
Interrogation, and the Truth
    Ezra woke up groggily as the door to his
holding cell opened.
    “ Come with me,” grunted a uniformed DOLT officer. So he was in
custody. Well, at least whoever the other people were, they'd have
to go through DOLT to get to him. He climbed to his feet slowly,
muscles aching.
    Mental note: avoid electrocution in the
future.
    He followed the guard
through the building, where people in uniform were moving about
briskly and efficiently. The guard left him in a room with a table
and two chairs facing each other across it. He walked around the
small room warily. Five minutes later, the door opened to admit a
hard looking man in his early forties, a public workspace hovering
translucently before him. He gestured to the chair on the far side
of the room. “I'm Lieutenant Jeffries, a detective for the
Department, and I'd just like to have a quick word with you before
you go on your merry way. Have a seat, Mr. Hawkins.” He managed to convey a
tremendous amount of disrespect in the slightly emphasized
honorific. Ezra sat down.
    Jeffries touched the table, which began
displaying holographic depictions of the state in which Ezra had
left the museum. They sat in silence and watched the pictures of
broken glass and overturned display cases scroll by.
    “ What were