"When you said that we had the wrong person, I asked Oliver to check the information while I went out to get you. This is what we based the order on."

Silently I nodded, looking through the newspaper articles, newsletters, and the surveillance notes. These notes had come from someone who was in the halfways watching Henley. The right Henley. They'd attached photos with their notes, they had the right person.

I'd heard the speech; I'd sat through the passionate words about what Henley believed in. He said that he was wrong and that I'd shown him that we were not something to be feared. Had he changed or was it all for show? Did he know that his father was trying to get him out of the halfways and decided to go along with it?

"Is he really the mayor of the Grove?"

"Yes."

"And he's anti-drugs?"

"The surveillance has shown him at many rallies, urging the government to fund rehab clinics, to put more money into the police force. He wanted youth groups and things for the young to do rather than joining gangs."

"But that's pretty standard for a mayor, especially when they're in a high crime area. That portion of the halfways is not his original home. When his mother first moved into the area, she was deeper into the zone. Henley moved to this district after she died. We know that it is the one district that has the highest rate of doorways."

"Doorways?"

My frown said it all but still, I had to ask.

"The gates that the slayers and humans use to get in and out of the halfways. We're watching the wall and it has become so bad that we're about to start the construction of a building free zone. This area will be the first to undergo a trial."

"He said that he's lived there since he was a kid."

"Well, that's true. His mother died when he was ten. The nearest orphanage was in the Grove so that's where they shipped him to."

"Can we check to see if he was at HAVU in the past week?"

"Done and done," Oliver said as he turned a few pages of notes.

"Answer me something, if you will. You know by these notes that Henley was in the halfways for the past week and you even know that he's lived most of his life there. You know that he is the son of a slayer but has not seen his father since he was a child. You know that he's the mayor of the Grove and that he's an upstanding member of their community. You know that he's not a slayer yet you sent me after him with the belief that he was one. My question to both of you is why? Why do you want Henley?"

There was silence.

"I ask because you both know that if I believe that I am faced with a slayer, I will kill them. Why do you want Henley dead?"

"That's two questions."

I growled, tossing the folder aside as I lunged at Alaric. Slamming him into the wall, I looked at him with a wildness that I'd never felt before.

"Stop the games and tell me the truth."

"Claudia,"

The gentle touch of my father's hand on my shoulder distracted me for a moment. Lowering Alaric's feet back to the ground, I slammed my fist into his gut. He doubled over, looking at me with a burning hatred that I was used to. When I said that we were dysfunctional, I was being completely honest.

"I don't like being lied to," I whispered in his ear.

"You are so much like your mother."

He made the mistake of lifting his body upright again. I slammed him back into the wall, hard enough to make the painting fall. The frame smashed and broke into several pieces. Alaric wasn't fazed by it at all, merely staring at me with a smirk that needed to be punched off his face.

The love-hate relationship between Alaric and my mother was nothing new. She'd stood up to the king that slew all but one of the royal families. My mother brought him to his knees and I don't think that Alaric has ever forgiven her for it. He had a plan and it was to rule everything. She stood in his way.

The words swirled in my mind. He'd said that my mother had sent guards to the border to watch for Lockhart. Did that leave her exposed? My father was here, not with her. I turned and looked at him with fear, he frowned as if he couldn't understand.

What length would Alaric go to? Would he destroy my family just to have everything? Would he take the love of my father's life just to appease his need for revenge? He said that I was like my mother and to be honest, Alaric and I have never really gotten along. Things were amicable, but that's the best spin that I could put on it.

Slamming Alaric into the wall again, I let go and walked out of the room. My step was fast, determined to put as much distance between me and him as I could manage. Pulling out my phone, I rang my mother.

It felt like an eternity, I struggled to remain strong.

"Claudia?"

"Mom, tell me you're okay."

"Of course I'm okay. You're the one that should be answering that question. What's going on up there, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Dad's here and I think that you are in danger."

"Who from this time?"

"Alaric," I whispered.

There was silence.

"Mom?"

"Yeah, I'm here. Just a little shocked. I shouldn't be, given the history."

"Did he ask you to send guards to the border?"

I'd reached the front door, eager to get out of this house. I couldn't stand it any longer. Feeling my hand pull back, I turned with a lot of fear. Dad was standing behind me, Oliver a few steps behind. At the top of the stairs, I could see the smug jerk watching like I was doing everything that he expected.

"He did though I don't know why he'd want that. There are always enough guards at the border. Was he trying to leave me high and dry?"

"I think so."

Mom chuckled mercilessly.

"I like how he underestimates me. Get in the car with your father and come home."

"I can't, I've got a human to find."

She hummed warmly, a hint of humor in her tone.

"Would he be about six foot five, honey blonde hair with a three day growth that's at that perfect level and goes by the name of Henley?"

"Yeah," I said softly.

"I got you covered baby girl, come on home."