Zechariah pursed his lips awkwardly when Alice burst into tears. The poor child was legitimately terrified for her life, and for what? A laugh? He was going to need a week in the bathhouse to soak out all this Ward pity off him once all was said and done.

Then Appleton shouted at her like the child she was, and Zechariah just felt worse for the poor thing.

When the older man started barking orders at him again, Zechariah blinked. Then, his brows furrowed in confusion. Did he want him gone, or did he want the juicy parts?

For once, Zechariah actually resisted lashon hara and took a step backward.