Greed and Other Dangers

by TJ Nichols

  “You think they will accept us? You are a fool.” She spat the last word. “You can bow and scrape, but we will rule the seas. They will fear us.”

  He smelled Jordan before he saw him. He stood a couple of yards to the side, flanked by another cop. Jordan flicked the safety off his gun but kept a safe distance. “You have the right to remain silent.”

  The mermaid shifted her attention from Edra to Jordan.

  Edra pulled a burger out of the bag and unwrapped it. Watching the SFPD arrest a mermaid was going to be entertaining.

  Chapter 25

  JORDAN LOOKED at the mermaid, but he was aware of Edra unwrapping and eating the burger when he should be helping. He’d have shot him a glare, but the mermaid was crawling toward him with murder in her pale gray eyes.

  He wasn’t going to sleep for a week. The horror films he’d watched growing up had nothing on reality. His heart thumped on his ribs, but he tried to keep his breathing calm.

  “A little help, knight?”

  “I think you’re doing fine.”

  “How do you arrest a mermaid?”

  “Don’t know, never have. We tended to leave them alone, and they mostly left us alone.”

  “I know that.” He remembered Edra saying something to that effect. “But what’s the best way to do this?” He took a step back. She was getting too close. Her tail was arched up over her head as though she were some kind of fishy scorpion. The poisonous spur protruded in a rather provocative way.

  “Don’t get stung. There’s no cure, and it’s rather painful and fatal.” There was only the faintest note of concern in Edra’s voice.

  Yeah, wouldn’t want to lose a second mate.

  “Lower your weapon… your tail.”

  She laughed. “What are you going to do?”

  “Tell me who gave you the list of things to steal, and I’ll get the dragon to drop you in the bay. Don’t tell me, and you’ll have to crawl.” He didn’t want to shoot her. It wouldn’t be justified, for a start, and he didn’t want to damage mermaid-human relations.

  She glanced at Edra. “The love trials are sacred.”

  “They are.” He stepped closer, burger in hand. “But you didn’t love Narv. You only wanted him for what he could do for you and whatever scheme you have going. So why don’t you explain what’s going on?”

  She shrugged.

  Jordan gritted his teeth. Caught between fear and frustration, his nerves thrummed. Beneath all of that was his body’s craving for pleasure. He was messed up and couldn’t afford to fuck this case any more than it already was.

  “Maybe I did love him.”

  “If you did, the items he stole for you wouldn’t have ended up for sale.”

  She bared her pointed teeth and scuttled closer to Edra, moving far faster than Jordan had thought possible.

  “Stay where you are.” He didn’t want to lose his mate when he hadn’t even worked out what that was or what it meant. One rushed wedding, mytho style. No Elvis impersonators, just a big dick temple.

  Edra held his ground. “What you did breaks mermaid law. The treasure, if unwanted, should’ve been returned to the owner.”

  “Washed ashore, that’s what happened, and someone picked it up.”

  “No.” Edra shook his head. “Who were you dealing with? And what did they promise you?”

  “Were they human or mytho?” Jordan asked, trying not to jump to conclusions, but he suspected it would be a human.

  She turned and flicked her tail at him. “Human, with a shiny gun and full of threats. Just like you.”

  “A name. I need a name.” He needed something to follow up on, because there was no way they were getting a mermaid into a holding cell, and Narv was gone. Jordan would never admit to approving that, but now there was no proof that mythos could be invisible.

  “I didn’t get one,” she rasped, her voice like hot asphalt over an open wound.

  He suppressed a shudder. “Then we’re going to have to hold you.”

  They could get some kind of pen down there.

  “Give us a name, and this ends.” Edra finished the burger. That was three. Where did he put all that food? His stomach wasn’t even bloated.

  “This ends anyway. I can’t stay here. You have turned my pod against me.”

  “You did that,” Edra said softly. “Help us and I’ll talk to Mistress Selena.”

  She hesitated and then turned and started to drag herself across the grass, toward the water.

  Jordan lowered his gun, but the other uniformed cops didn’t. “She can’t just walk away from this.” He shook his head and holstered his gun. “Dammit. I’ll have to talk to some of my informants. Are you sure that she was working with someone?”

  “Yes.”

  “How sure?”

  “Mermaids don’t get Wi-Fi. She couldn’t have listed the items for sale.”

  “Skery?”

  “Was living on the beach. I’ve checked him out and found nothing. He was in love with her.” Edra watched as she wriggled her way across the park.

  “Fuck it. We’re going to find a way to hold her. Surround her so she can’t get away.” He pulled out his phone. “I need a vet down at the Presidio with enough tranq to knock out a mermaid.”

  He looked at Edra. “This is happening my way.”

  “SO A dragon ate your main suspect?” The captain raised one eyebrow.

  “Yes.” Which was worse than the dog ate his homework by quite a mile. “But Ireni, the mermaid, is in custody.” And she’d been monitored by a dolphin specialist while she was unconscious, because that was the best they could do. The vet had also taken blood and venom samples.

  “And this.” The captain tapped the printout of the news article that claimed there were invisible mythos.

  “The leak is a concern. That information wasn’t released.”

  “I meant the invisible mythos. We need to know who they are and determine what kind of threat they pose. Perhaps the mayor will realize her mytho-hugging ways are putting us all in danger.”

  Jordan bit the tip of his tongue and kept the stupid neutral smile on his lips, even though he was sure he could taste blood. “I will liaise with Mytho Servo and see what they say about invisible mythos. There don’t seem to be reports. Perhaps he was the last of his kind? Or maybe water dragons shun humans.” Couldn’t imagine why when he was half tempted to do the same for the rest of the afternoon. “And the leak?”

  “Do you have anything?”

  “No.”

  “Then maybe Carlin Howard found out on his own. He’s been chasing mytho stories for a while.” The captain gave him a smug smile.

  Howard had been fired from his previous job for making up stories to stir hatred. But there was too much in the article for him to have worked it out on his own. Jordan was going to look into Howard and his connections in his spare time—nothing official—and he was sure Edra wouldn’t mind helping out.

  “Are you planning on closing this case, or is Mytho SID going to become a black hole of cold cases?”

  “I’m going to get to the bottom of it. But the trade in mytho artifacts is far bigger than San Francisco. I’ll need to contact Interpol.”

  “I’m sure they have better things to do.”

  Jordan smiled. He expected pushback, so he’d come prepared. “Actually they have an ongoing investigation. I’m going to shake down my old CIs, and then I’ll give Interpol a call.” His days in property crime might pay off. But if this case tied in to the much bigger problem—which it probably did—closure was going to take a while. He’d settle for a name and an arrest. The elf armor and bow were long gone. “At least we got the dragon eggs back. That would’ve been kidnapping, right?”

  His captain frowned. “Who the hell knows? Trading in protected wildlife?”

  Jordan forced a smile and stood. “Maybe.”

  “The Mytho Servo guy. He was okay with you knocking out the mermaid and putting her in a cell?” The captain frowned as though he
gave a damn.

  “Yup. All he requested was a paddling pool filled with bay water be placed in her cell, which we supplied, along with raw fish to meet her dietary requirements.”

  “And you’re charging her with possessing dragon eggs. She’s confessed?”

  “Oh yes, she said she wanted them.” And the other items. “She won’t admit to selling or stealing, and she won’t give up a name.”

  “She acquired stolen goods. That’ll do for the moment. Let’s see how Mytho Servo likes that.”

  Chapter 26

  “WHAT’S THIS?” Edra took the white shopping bag emblazoned with a sports-store logo and peeked inside. Still in the evidence bag was the heat-warped vampire mirror. “Done with it already?”

  “There were no prints, and no one really wanted to touch it after your warning.” Jordan rocked on his heels as his gaze drifted across the office space that made up Mytho Servo. It was an average looking place, not unlike Jordan’s office, except for the people at the desks.

  “Probably for the best. I’ll return it to the vampires.”

  Jordan was being watched. Some were subtly suddenly needing a drink or to pick up something they’d printed. Others leaned on their neighbor’s cubicle wall and openly stared.

  Jordan returned his attention to Edra. “So dragons like shiny things too?”

  “No. They like things of value that can be traded. Mermaids hoard, but dragons are generous with those they trust.” He lifted the bag. “This makes people speak the truth. Dragons value that.”

  “Most people do.”

  “Do they?” Edra held his gaze. Most people ran from the truth. The truth hurt and left wounds that couldn’t be healed. “How many people have you told?” Jordan dropped his gaze to the floor, but his shoulders tensed. “I haven’t told anyone, so you can relax.”

  Jordan glanced up, lips pressed together as though he really wanted to say something but knew this wasn’t the time or place. He shook his head and a lock of blond fell over his forehead. “Ireni has been charged with receiving stolen goods.”

  Edra drew in a breath. He hadn’t expected Jordan to actually arrest a mermaid. That took balls. “What does that mean?”

  “She’ll go to court. Because they were endangered species eggs, she could face jail time.”

  “How’s that going to work?”

  “I don’t know. That’s not my problem. But you’ll need to make the special requirements clear. The aquarium could host her.”

  “And let the scientists prod her?” He should have made sure she wasn’t captured, but with a clutch of cops all twitchy with their guns drawn, there hadn’t been much he could do. He’d completely failed at covering up mytho involvement this time.

  “What would you rather?”

  “I don’t know. It’s a mess.”

  Jordan sighed. “Yeah. But if every case were clean and tidy, things would get boring fast. I’ll see you later?”

  “You will.” Like he could stay away now.

  Edra walked Jordan to the lift. They didn’t speak and didn’t touch. He wanted to, but the gossip that would create…. Jordan wasn’t ready for that. The doors shut, and Edra turned. They were still looking at him. Had he given something away?

  “What? Have you never seen a cop before? He’s the Mytho SID inspector.”

  “They don’t come here,” Carly said. “Ever.”

  “That one does. And I go there. You know, liaising with the cops.”

  Carly curled her lip. “Just who are you helping? Us or them?” She sniffed, no doubt catching the scent of Jordan on his skin. “Or has one pretty human turned your head?”

  Edra walked away. “I’m doing the same job I’ve done for decades—solving problems and stopping people from doing something dumb. Stealing from us was dumb and dangerous.”

  He knocked on Ardel’s door and waited.

  “Come in.”

  Ardel stared out the window. Was Jordan on the street below? Edra put the bag on the desk but didn’t take his hand off it. “Your mirror.” He paused, waiting for Ardel to turn.

  It was several heartbeats before the vampire did, but he didn’t speak.

  “I didn’t know it was stolen. I didn’t investigate this… so that means either you didn’t want it investigated or you had someone else, like Carly, investigate.” He hoped that wasn’t true, but it was the most likely answer.

  “I had to be sure. There aren’t that many silver dragons, water or lesser.”

  “You could have asked.”

  “You’d have said anything to get the promotion.”

  Edra put both hands on the table. “If you question my integrity that much, why give me the job?”

  “Because she found nothing on you.” He crossed his arms and smiled, revealing his fangs. “But I was right about the humans working best with someone who at least passes for one. How is Inspector Kells?”

  “He survived arresting a mermaid. So I guess he thinks he’s pretty good.”

  “Not good for you.”

  Edra tilted his head.

  “A dead water dragon, a mermaid arrested, and two drowned humans.” Ardel listed the things that hadn’t gone well.

  “The wildfires were put out, which generated goodwill, the eggs were returned, and someone is selling mytho artifacts online, which Kells is following up on. It wasn’t all bad.” Between the two of them, they should be able to figure out who was stealing from mythos to sell to humans.

  “It makes us look bad. You are supposed to mask that.”

  “There is only so much I can do.”

  “Then perhaps you should stop fucking the cop.”

  He’d barely started. He pulled the mirror out of the bag. The surface was buckled from the heat of the blaze and ash was caught in the knotwork, but it was still a beautiful mirror. “You doubt my loyalty? My ability? I am the city’s knight, the same as always. You want me to swear again?”

  Ardel paled.

  As head of the vampires and the ruler of what was left, that would mean he’d have to swear too. Edra could’ve left all of this behind, but he’d wanted Jordan so much that even the idea of leaving hurt.

  “You think Carly would swear? Do you think she’d be able to do what I do? She’s good with disputes that haven’t already escalated, but by the time people want a knight, it’s too late for her to calm things down. The cops trust me. Let me do what I do. Sacrificing one mermaid for the greater good was the best option.” It had been the only option. “Better her than the humans having proof that there are invisible mythos.”

  Ardel grimaced. “It has been decided that you should continue. Your responsibilities as a knight mesh with those of the SFPD.”

  Who had decided? Dr. Lew? She was the person Ardel answered to.

  “Do I get a pay raise with that promotion? Cops earn more than we do.”

  “I’ll see what I can do, but it won’t be anything close. Even I don’t get paid like that. And I can’t see that changing.” He paused and turned to the mirror. “You need to do something about that reporter.”

  “I’ll ask the dragon to eat him next time he pops down to see them.” He lifted his hand. “That was a joke. I don’t know what I can do. If a mytho is suspected in his death, it will look like retaliation. We can’t risk that, not after Andrew Campbell.”

  Ardel closed his eyes. “Can you set him up so he looks like a fool and loses his job?”

  “Who did it last time?”

  Ardel’s smile was all knives. “I owe the Strega, but I’d rather not do that again. How is she?”

  “Fine. I’ll be going to LA apparently… isn’t that where the other groom-to-be was from? The one who sent the suit and the cash?”

  Ardel’s forehead crumpled, his wrinkles getting wrinkles. “Why would you go there?”

  “I don’t know, but the Strega are never wrong.” The world had changed, but magic still existed. Not everything had been lost.

  “And what did she say about the cop?”
/>   Edra’s lips curved. “You already know or at least suspect. I just ask that you keep it to yourself for the moment.”

  “And does he know you want him as your mate?”

  “He is my mate.” The words rolled off his tongue and widened his smile. He couldn’t help it even if he tried.

  Ardel looked away. “How could you? You could’ve screwed your way through the entire city, human and mytho, instead of taking a mate. Did you not think to ask first?”

  “I don’t need permission to mate. I never have and never will. I’m informing you as a courtesy, because you’ll smell him on my skin.”

  Ardel rolled his eyes. “That’s the last thing I want.”

  “He’s a good man.”

  “I hope he is, for your sake… for all our sakes.”

  Chapter 27

  THE FEMALE dragon cooed in welcome, but Edra approached cautiously and Jordan hung back at the barricade, waiting to be invited closer. While the dragons knew him, that didn’t mean they liked him. He was human. It took time to make friends with dragons, and it could be ruined in a blink. Edra emptied the raw chickens onto the grass and thanked her for her help.

  Instead of stepping forward, she nudged her mate so he could eat first. He gobbled up two chickens, leaving her two. The wounds on his side were healing well, but he was thinner from sitting on the nest for so long. If he was eating first, the eggs had hatched.

  Successfully?

  There was always the chance that the hatchlings hadn’t made it out of the shell, and he didn’t want to ask, but they didn’t appear to be grieving.

  Something mewled behind the bodies of the adults. He sighed. At least one had survived.

  “Hatchlings? Congratulations.” He should’ve brought some sausages for the babies.

  The male moved to the side, and a bright green head stuck up over the edge of the nest. The babies would darken as they got older, but for the moment, they were a lurid shade of green. He hadn’t seen baby dragons in twenty years.