by Beth Lyons
Sutton inclined his head. “That will please ‘the old man’.”
I swear I saw a trace of a smile, but it was gone when Sutton raised his head again.
He led us to the library and pushed open the double doors. Miles Edjrest sat by the fire in his wheeled chair, Vance stood near the window.
“Miss Morningstar and Miss Swift,” Sutton said solemnly.
“Jessie!” A smile blazed across Miles’ face. “I haven’t seen you in months.” He fumbled to get his hands out from under the blanket on his lap.
“Miles. You are looking well.” Jesskah strode across the room to the old man’s side.
I took a half step forward, unsure what to do. Miles leaned past Jesskah and said, “And Miss Swift, you must be out of money. Otherwise why would you or that wizard bother to come by? Certainly not to update your client. Certainly not to tell me that you’ve caught the killer.”
“Actually,” said Jesskah, “that’s why—”
“We’ve had a breakthrough, sir.” I stepped forward to stand in front of Miles’ chair. Let’s try to ease into this, I told myself. “Does the name Beltine Byrd mean anything to you?” I asked him.
After a moment’s thought Miles shook his head. “Should it?”
“It would appear that he was romantically linked to Helena. Boleian caught up with him in the Rinchik Range, and—”
“He’s the killer?” Miles knuckles whitened as he gripped the arms of his chair. “What the devil is he doing in the East? Running away, no doubt.”
“Actually, no,” I said. “He’s innocent. Boleian went to the Ri—”
“Which cost a kettle of copper. My copper.”
How was I losing control of this conversation? “We felt that time was running out, sir; finding Byrd was paramount to the invest—”
“I might have had my own opinion about that! It’s my money you’re spending. Did both of you go? Druids charge by weight, I believe. You’re a slip of a thing, but coin is coin.”
“Miles, Vox was here, working with me. She’s been tireless.” Jesskah caught my eye and smiled. “We don’t agree on process necessarily, but we’re close to the end. Only a few people could have killed her, Helena.”
“Means, motive, opportunity.” Miles ticked them off on one hand. “I read mysteries; I know.”
I said, “It’s a bit more complicated than that, I’m afraid.”
“Vox is right.” Boleian’s voice boomed through the library. “You’re in danger, Miles.”
Boleian walked to the fireplace and warmed his hands. Even came up beside me. “Quite a place,” she muttered.
Miles Edjrest raised his eyebrows at Boleian’s words. “That fellow outside with the sign? Harmless.”
“Not the charming man outside.” Boleian looked at Miles for a long moment, and his eyes slid toward Vance who was still standing by the window. “This is delicate, and I’d rather discuss it privately.”
“I’ve known Vance since he was a boy. Have your say, wizard. Less dramatics and more substance, that’s what I say.”
“Greed can do strange things to a man,” Boleian said to Miles. “You know that as well as I do.”
“For the last time, I am not sending Vance away!”
“I’m talking about your son. I’m talking about Farley.”
Chapter 24 The Wounded Bird
“I’m talking about your son,” Boleian repeated. “This is about Farley.”
“Farley.” Miles seemed to shrink in his chair.
“Each investigation is a story with characters, scenes, and the like.” Boleian’s voice was quiet. “For the longest time this story made no sense to me. Not the motive but the means. How’d he do it? And then Vox in her own charming way gave me the key to unlock the case.”
“I’m tired now.” Miles fumbled with the wheels of his chair. “Good night.”
“I didn’t think you’d be one to run from the truth, Miles.” Boleian cocked his head. “Anyone would want to run, in the heat of the moment. But you’re better than that, and you’ll remember that any second now.”
The library fell quiet. I had to wonder when anyone had last been so blunt with the millionaire.
The silence stretched until I felt my skin begin to tingle from the tension. Finally Miles spoke. “A parent always knows.” He lifted his head to give Jesskah a small smile. “Children might think otherwise, but we see our children quite clearly whether it’s who they love or the bad things they try to hide.
“Farley was a greedy child, jealous of what others had. He’d be the one to eye another boy’s slice of cake to make sure it wasn’t bigger than his own. But he seemed to outgrow that as he matured.”
He took a deep breath. “And who would imagine…? I was afraid when Helena went missing – it’s true. And then when she turned up dead in Morningstar’s library I knew Farley had killed her.” He paused. “Not consciously. But it rode the back of my mind, always present, this niggling feeling that he was hiding something.”
Miles looked at the five of us scattered around the room. “Have you already arrested him, Jessie? Is that why you came?”
“No, Miles.”
“There’s a slight problem,” said Boleian. “We don’t have enough evidence yet. We can’t prove—”
“Your honor, if I may?” Even said to Miles as she stepped forward, hand raised.
“I’m not a damned judge! Call me Miles. Who are you?”
“Even Weymoor, I’m conducting my own investigation, and—”
“Is she on the payroll, too?” Miles asked Boleian. “How many people do you need, man?”
“A second girl lost her life on Saturday, sir,” I said to Miles. “Farley, he caused her death, too.”
Miles Edjrest put his head in his hands.
“Time to clear out.” Vance finally left his post and came to his employer’s side.
“You didn’t meet her, Jessie, but Helena, she reminded me of Belinda.” Miles raised his head, and his eyes were wet. “It was like I had my daughter back again.” All this,” he gestured at the room, “and now there’s no one to leave it to.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “My love kills people.”
“Miles, if I may…?” Boleian stepped forward. “You can help us bring justice to Helena.”
“And Fara,” Even chimed in.
“Fara?”
“An orphan girl,” Jesskah spoke up. “Fara Fram. I’m investigating her murder.”
“And you say it’s also Farley’s doing?” Miles didn’t wait for a response. “What do you need?”
“Sir,” Vance spoke. “You’re overly tired. Let me—”
“Damn your ‘overly tired’! Damn it all to hell.” Miles pushed himself up, bracing his hands against the armrests of the wheeled chair. “Broken but not down. Plenty of fire in the old boy. Plenty.”
Boleian folded his hands in front of him. “Farley may try to kill you, Miles.”
“No,” the old man shook his head. “My son is weak-willed, but why would he kill me?”
“Because you confronted him about his crimes.”
Miles opened his mouth and closed it again. He cocked his head at Boleian. “It’s a trap. I’m the wounded bird.”
Boleian nodded silently.
“Wait. What?” I stepped forward. “I thought—”
“It’s a good plan,” Miles said. “The mother bird feigns an injury to lure the snake away from the nest.”
“I still don’t—”
Boleian said, “Miles confronts Farley, plays at frailty.”
I shot a quick look at Miles Edjrest. He wouldn’t have to act frail. For all his words to the contrary, Miles seemed half the man I’d met on Monday in Boleian’s office.
“Focus Vox,” Boleian said to me. “Miles will goad Farley into confessing. A dying man’s wish perhaps? And Farley will either confess all or he’ll try to kill his father.” He shrugged. “Possibly both.”
“That’s not enough, though,” Jesskah said to Boleian.
“Say Farley does try to kill Miles, and we catch him. That’s hardly enough punishment.” She leaned down so that her face was level with Miles. “Make him admit it, Miles. All of it. For the love you bore Helena.”
No one spoke for a long moment until Even said, “Tell me how you happened to end up in that chair. What did the healers say?”
“I’m not a religious man,” said Miles. “They can’t do anything for me.”
“Never cared about a man’s gods when I was healing him. What order did you consult?”
“What’s your plan, wizard?” Miles ignored Even’s question. “And is it going to cost me more gold coins?”
###
I found myself standing beside Jesskah Morningstar as we waited for Farley Edjrest to answer his father’s summons. Boleian had come prepared with a potion for detect thoughts. He handed it to me as he explained his plan. “Right before Farley arrives, drink this. You’ll have about five minutes. If you notice any murderous thoughts, charge right at Farley. You’ll have surprise on your side. While you’re detecting, stand in the shadows. If Farley even notices you he’ll assume you are one of Miles’ team.”
“I don’t think he’ll notice you,” said Jesskah. “He’s ignored servants so long, they’re invisible to him.”
“And you, you need to be behind the chair,” Boleian said to Jesskah. “When you feel the time is right, cast your zone. Farley might notice, of course and if he does I’ll cast hold person. Even will be ready with a sleep spell if things get dicey.”
“Everybody else is casting their spells.” I held up the potion. “Why do I have to drink?”
“Can you cast detect thoughts yet? I got it specifically with you in mind, Vox. It’s the next spell you should learn. Charm person is all well and good, but—”
The signal bell silenced Boleian, and we all scrambled to take our places.
The neck of the potion bottle felt slick in my hands. What if I drop it? Miles glanced at me and then faced the door squarely. Any second Farley will walk through that door, and I need to have downed the potion already. But Boleian said I’d only have five minutes. What can I do in five minutes?
Jesskah sat on the floor, back to back with a chair, facing me. Even and Boleian were across the room, behind a decorative screen. No one else had a clear view of the scene except me. Could I chance taking the potion? What if Boleian got the wrong one?
It’s happened before – not to me, but you hear stories of people getting the wrong one. Someone hoping to make a great first impression buys a bottle of eagle’s splendor and gets enlarge person instead. What if this is a sleeping potion or potion of wounding? I’d be no help to anyone.
“Vox,” Jesskah hissed at me and mimed drinking. I didn’t react. Softly she said, “Vox, you need to drink your potion. Now.”
In that moment Jesskah seemed more beautiful than ever. She sat on the floor, but the back of the chair framed her head and shoulders like a throne. Her grace and poise seemed unmatched. How could I refuse her anything? Ripping off the stopper I chugged the thick liquid, letting it fill my mouth.
A moment later Farley entered the room. With a quick glance around the room he strode to his father. “What was so urgent that it couldn’t wait? Are you ill?”
I struggled to swallow the potion silently. My lungs felt tight as my nose tried to get enough air to them.
How much time had already passed? Was the potion even working yet?
“Nothing like that. I’ve seen that wizard. He’s had a break in the case.”
I tried to bring my focus to Farley and his father. What are they talking about? Is Farley thinking about killing his father? Why can’t I tell?
My panic did serve one purpose – I’d swallowed the potion without realizing it. That thought was followed by a strange buzzing sound. Before I could process what the sound might be, other thoughts entered my head. I heard Jesskah’s voice: It’s not exactly a law, so— but she was interrupted by a man’s voice: This had better work. The gold that wizard— which was interrupted by another: Shame really how soft he’s gone. Then I heard Even’s voice: Why did I call him ‘Your honor’? That was a little odd, even for me.
With a slight twitch I tried to find the second man’s voice – Farley’s voice. He thought his father had gone soft.
Part of me heard Miles say, “Does the name Beltine Byrd mean anything to you, son? Helena….”
Beltine Byrd? Ha! I could dance a jig right here. That smug bastard of a wizard— “And they think he killed her?” Farley asked as he sat in the chair nearest his father. “Senseless.” Farley furrowed his brow. “Did you—”
His words rang clear, and I knew that Jesskah had cast her zone of truth spell.
“Did you cast – no, let me rephrase that, Father.” Farley sat forward in his chair, and I tensed. “Did you have someone cast a truth spell on me?”
“On you? No.” Miles’ knuckles shone white as he gripped the arms of his chair.
“Huh. And yet,” Farley twirled his finger in the air, “truth is in the air. Did you not expect veracity from me?”
“Yes.”
“Meaning you—”
“Did not expect veracity from you. I’d like to know why you did it, Farley.” Miles gave a wet cough, and his hand shook as he wiped his mouth with the edge of the blanket. “Call it a dying man’s wish. Why did you kill Helena?”
He knows! Farley’s thought zinged across my mind. Fear and exhilaration from Farley as he tried to decide how to react. “She wasn’t truthful with you,” he said aloud. “You said so yourself, father. Beltine Byrd. His name was Beltine Byrd, and Helena loved him.”
Miles waved away Farley’s words like gnats. “Perhaps,” he said slowly, “I was wrong.” He fumbled with the edge of the blanket for a moment before looking into his son’s eyes. “Was the wizard wrong about you?”
“I wanted to protect— I had your— You were going to adopt her, you old fool!” Farley tried to rise and realized that he couldn’t move.
Over Farley’s grunting efforts Miles said, “The wizard tells me that’s not the only death to be laid at your feet.”
“The wizard told you a lot, did he?”
“Would the truth kill you?” Miles sounded like an exasperated father, which I remembered he was. “I’ll be dead soon. Don’t I deserve the truth?”
“This fabricated truth, you mean? You didn’t care about Helena anymore than you care about me.” Farley strained to move his arms. “I did you a favor, old man! She only wanted your money.”
“You recognize that in yourself and reflect it back.”
“You are surrounded by enemies, Father! The lies Nori Hawktite wrote about us! I took him down a peg. More than you were willing to do.”
Miles sighed and said, “Jesskah dear, I hope you have what you need. I’ve had quite enough of this discussion.”
“Jess? Jess is here?” Farley’s voice cracked.
I felt the truth spell fade as Jesskah rose from her hiding place. Her face was expressionless as she said, “Farley Fergus Edjrest, you are under arrest for the murders of Helena Grimwell and Fara Fram.”
Chapter 25 Zone of Lies
When Jesskah told Farley that he was under arrest, he scoffed. “I have an alibi for Helena’s murder. And please explain to me about this other girl – why would I kill her?”
I stepped from the shadows. “You just admitted to killing Helena. Don’t try to backtrack now.”
“I did no such thing. Those words have not left my lips. I’m not going to confess to something I haven’t done.”
“You just— you just said that you did your father a favor by killing Helena!” My voice squeaked with incredulity.
“Is that what I said?” Farley smiled and twitched an eyebrow.
Even came out from behind the screen. “Confession,” she said, “is good for the soul. That’s what the gods would have us believe.”
“Who the hell is this?” Farley struggled against Boleian’s hold perso
n spell.
“No one important,” Even replied. “It’s a matter of time before we connect you with the apartment on Treefall. If you confess—”
“My lawyers will—”
Farley didn’t get to finish his thought before his father interrupted. “Your lawyers? Good lawyers are expensive, boy. How will you pay them?”
For the first time Farley looked truly shaken. “This is no time to jest, Father.”
No one spoke.
“I’m your son. You don’t want to see me go to prison. You can’t want that.”
“What I want doesn’t seem to matter to you.” Miles’ voice sounded weak.
“You really should get some rest, sir.” I made to grasp the handles of Miles’ wheeled chair.
“You leave me be, girl. I’m not done talking with my son.”
“I need,” said Jesskah, “to take Farley to Central, Miles. Delaying just complicates things.”
“You’ll take him when I say.” Miles said, and then called out to Boleian. “Do you agree, wizard?”
Farley slumped in his chair as Boleian walked out from behind the screen, breaking his magical focus on the hold person spell. He stopped in front of Farley’s chair. “You are surrounded by four magic users; don’t do anything stupid.”
“Too late for that,” Farley said softly. “But,” he said louder, “it wasn’t my idea.” He raised his head to meet his father’s eyes. “Jana. It was Jana’s idea. She hated her sister. I knew it was wrong. I should have come to you. But I truly believed that Helena only wanted your money. I did it for you, and to protect the business, long term.” He spread out his hands. “Is that so wrong?”
Standing behind Miles, I couldn’t gauge his reaction, but I could see everyone else. Boleian and Jesskah both had thoughtful expressions, as if they were weighing Farley’s words against what they knew to be true. Even looked bored.
“You and Jana were both at the club that night,” I said. “She has the same alibi that you do.”
Something flickered across Farley’s face, and he said, “I lied. She left before me. Jana did.” He looked to his father again. “I should have stopped her, but she was determined, driven, eaten up with jealousy.”
