Page 31 of Innocent Until Proven Witch

I glance up. Row approaches carrying a crate. "You should be worried."

"I already am," I say.

He sets the crate down. "What have you found?"

I show him the notebook. Row studies the list, his frown deepening. "The eastern market?"

I nod. "Most of the attacks connect back to it."

"That's strange."

"Exactly."

Row scratches his jaw. "Why would somebody target fishermen selling there?"

"Good question." I close the notebook. "Here's another one."

His eyebrows rise. "There's more?"

"Several incidents seem to benefit the same people."

Row folds his arms. "Who?"

I gaze toward the harbor warehouses, toward the larger operations, the ones capable of absorbing losses while smaller traders struggle. "I don't know yet."

The answer frustrates me, because I'm close. Close enough to see pieces. Not close enough to see the whole picture.

Row studies me carefully. "You're heading somewhere with this."

"I hope so."

"That usually means trouble."

"Probably."

He sighs. "Your mother isn't going to like this."

"My mother rarely likes my investigations."

"Fair," he admits.

The conversation ends there, my attention already shifting elsewhere, because another piece finally clicks into place. If the attacks benefit certain harbor interests, there should be records. Licenses, Contracts, Trade permits, Council approvals and paper trails. And paper trails are difficult to hide forever.

I know exactly where to start.

The council building sits near the harbor overlooking the water, the structure looking exactly as it did when I was younger. I climb the steps and push through the doors. The secretary looks up immediately, recognition flashing across her face, then suspicion. Apparently my reputation has reached the council. Wonderful.

"Can I help you?" she asks.

"Hopefully." I approach the desk. "I need access to harbor trade records."

Her eyebrows rise. "Why?"

"I enjoy reading."

The secretary stares. I stare back. Eventually she sighs. "That's not funny."

"I wasn't joking," I say, though her expression suggests otherwise. "What records?"