by Tamsin Baker
I laughed. “I don’t know what you already know, so how can I answer that?”
His lips quirked up into a strange grin. “True. So, tell me everything.”
I sighed and then nestled back in the chair as I filled in how I found my father’s body the night he was murdered, the mess we found when we got home, and then the break in last night.
He held up a hand as though to say ‘stop right there’. “Someone broke into your home twice in two days? Once to trash your father’s office and the next time, they broke into your father’s bedroom?”
I nodded. “Yes. Though of course I don’t know if it was the same person, or people, or not. Fridge and Rogan said it was a vampire both times. But we don’t know if it was the same one. We only saw the guy on the second night.”
Shadow’s nostrils flared. “It seems they are looking for something. Perhaps your father had information they wanted. Which begs the question, was his murder intentional, or due to anger?”
“Oh, definitely intentional. I believe, anyway,” I said. “There was no-one hanging around afterwards. No drunk, overly fed vampire. And Dad was drained. Like, there was a few drops of blood on his neck where they’d bitten him, but overall, he was cold as ice and blue as an ocean. They meant to kill him, whoever they were.”
Shadow nodded and pressed his lips together, thinking. “Could have been two of them, I suppose. Or three. After all, your dad was a big man.”
“Exactly what I thought!” I said. “But there was only one set of fang marks, that I could see on his neck.”
Shadow shrugged. “They can feed from any artery. Femoral. Brachial. If there was more than one, they could have taken the blood from several different angles.”
I shuddered, trying not to think about it. “He had all his clothes on... but you’re right. I didn’t check. And with his strength and size, it would have taken a couple of younger vamps, or one very old, very skilled one to take him out. And even then...” I shook my head. “I can’t imagine Dad went down without a fight.”
“He would have fought,” Shadow said. “I know that without question. But why kill him when they obviously hadn’t found what they were looking for. That’s... stupid. And vampires aren’t usually stupid.”
I played with the rings on my right hand absently. They looked good there. I was never taking them off.
“So... what then? They thought they had the information, killed him, then worked out it was wrong?”
Shadow grinned. “More like your dad pulled a fast one on them. Hid the real information. That’s something I’ll keep in mind when I go digging. That they’re still looking.”
He stood up, and that seemed to be the end of our conversation.
I jumped to my feet and walked around the desk. “Do I need to pay you? How does this all work?”
Shadow shook his head. “No. I’ll do this one for free. I want these vamps caught.”
The money didn’t matter to me, of course, but the fact he offered showed how much he cared for my dad. And that was what I liked. “I appreciate that.”
We walked to the door together.
I touched his shoulder. “Thank you so much for your help. I look forward to whatever information you can dig up.”
He nodded and reached for the door handle.
Before he left, I had to ask. “What should I be doing in the meantime? I mean... do you have any suggestions?”
He turned back around, his strangely violet eyes glowing beneath the bright fluorescent lights.
“Just look after yourself, and... if you can, be careful. Stay alert. It’s obvious they still want something, which means they’ll be checking the office, your apartment, anywhere your father went regularly. And they’ll probably be following you as well.”
I swallowed hard. I hated the idea of being watched like that.
“Well, I’m staying with Fridge and Rogan for the moment,” I said, trying to sound confident.
He smiled. “Then I’d spend my time sorting out that fated mate bond, and let me figure out where to go next in the hunt for your dad’s killer.”
I grinned at him. “Sounds like a plan. Thanks.”
Shadow limped out and I closed the door.
The boys had been right: strangest individual I’d ever met.
Chapter 18.
I’d barely sunk back into my dad’s chair before the door opened and my mates walked back in.
“What happened?”
“Are you all right?”
“What did he say?”
I could barely tell who asked what, they fired their questions so fast.
I waved them in. “Shut the door, and I’ll tell you.”
Fridge did as I asked, and they both sat in the chairs opposite me.
I leaned forward and opened the final bottle of water, taking a sip to wet my dry mouth before speaking. “Well, basically, he told me all about how the vampires run the city and have underground breeding programs for specific blood lines they crave.”
Rogan and Fridge looked at each other, a strange guilty expression crossing over their faces.
My mouth fell open. “Did you guys know about that?”
Rogan cleared his throat. “We’ve heard rumors, but never seen anything concrete.”
Fridge sighed. “That’s half the reason I try not to hunt the vamps too often—they love my blood.”
He stretched his neck at an odd angle as though remembering times he’d been fed from.
“They do?” I asked, surprised someone as big and strong as Fridge had been attacked by a vampire.
I’d never even been propositioned by a vampire. And now, thanks to my cousin, I knew why.
“I captured one once, part of a bounty, and he was practically gnashing his teeth together over my smell.” He shuddered and crossed his arms over his chest. “They like dragon blood, not as much as they used to like witch or warlock’s blood of course, but they don’t have the choice of them anymore.”
They knew about that... How did I not know?
I nodded, a wave of sadness washing over me as I remembered that part of the conversation. “Yeah, Shadow was telling me that’s why the witches are extinct. I’d known the vampires hunted them, of course, but I hadn’t thought it was for their blood. I thought it was for their magic... or something...”
I’d been stupid not to put it all together.
“The vampires don’t go for you?” Fridge asked, as though he was confused.
I shook my head. “No, never.”
“Wonder why,” he said. “Most humans I’ve spoken to have generally had at least one encounter.”
I shrugged. “I’ve always carried knives. Dad taught me how to defend myself... I don’t know.”
I used all the old excuses, not wanting to share everything I’d been told today, but they now made no sense. I was pretty sure Fridge and Rogan had always carried knives and been able to take care of themselves. But with everything going on in my head, I couldn’t think fast enough to come up with a better reason.
And despite the fact that these men had earnt my trust, and that I should be able to trust them, especially with the fated mates connection, the less people who knew about my past, and the threat that my blood lines caused, the better.
“You’ve been lucky,” Fridge said. “Being bitten by a vamp is not fun, despite what they tell you.”
I shook myself, not wanting to even think about Fridge being attacked by a thirsty vampire. “The thing is, Shadow didn’t know what it had to do with my dad. I told him about the break ins, and he thinks it’s best I not be here at the workshop alone, or go back to Dad’s apartment for a while. The guys who killed him are still looking for something.”
I agreed with him on that one. I wanted to catch my father’s killer, but I wanted to stay alive too.
Rogan slid forward on his seat, his blue eyes lighting up. “So, you’ll stay with us?”
I nodded, happiness winging through my heart to see my mate so excited to sp
end time with me. “If you’ll have me.”
Rogan grinned. “Of course.”
My gaze slid to Fridge. “Is that okay with you, as well?”
Fridge nodded, his face serious and solemn. “Of course. I wouldn’t want you anywhere else.”
Relief made me sigh. That was something. At least.
“Good. Well... I’ve spoken to the lawyer. Everything to do with Dad’s business and the apartment seems pretty straight forward, which is one thing off my mind. Shadow’s going to do some digging and see if he can find out more about Dad’s killer, so that’s under control as well.” I chewed on my lip for a moment, thinking. “What do you guys suggest I do now?”
Fridge shrugged. “I don’t know. Do you need to sort out any of the funeral stuff, or do you want a break from all that?”
I sighed. “You’re right. That’s something I can do.”
The men stood up.
Rogan “We’ll get back to work and bring you some lunch in an hour or so. That suit you?”
I smiled, gratefully. “That would be great.”
Food was one thing I’d forgotten about.
They headed out and I turned on my dad’s computer, researching some local crematoriums and funeral services I could use.
I’d never been to a funeral. Not since my mother’s and being three years old at the time, I really didn’t remember much. I had no idea what the protocol was, or even where to start.
I sighed as the minutes ticked by and I didn’t find anything I liked. Not that I knew what I was really looking for. How was I going to organize a funeral for the most complex, intense, fantastic man on the planet?
Rogan cracked open the door and stuck his head in. “Chinese for lunch okay?”
“Yeah. Fried rice for me please. And chicken and corn soup,” I said.
He nodded and headed off again.
I picked up the phone to call the first funeral home on my list, then realized I didn’t even know when my father’s body would be released for cremation. That was probably something I’d need to know if I wanted to organize his funeral.
Then Shadow’s words swirled in my head. Would the autopsy reveal multiple puncture marks?
I’d need to make a different sort of phone call to have those questions answered.
I glanced through the notes I’d made on the pad of paper on my desk and flipped through my cell. Where was that phone number I needed?
I found it on my received calls list. Detective Lazy who’d phoned yesterday to say that everything was fine, and that they really weren’t investigating much.
I dialed the number on the workshop landline so I could check emails on my phone at the same time. My work had signed off my leave quickly and without fuss.
“Hello, this is Detective O’Connell.”
“Detective, it’s Sarah Williams here,” I interrupted.
“Hello Sarah. What can I do for you today?”
Other than your job, you mean?
I forced a smile to my face, which I knew helped keep my tone happier sounding. “I was ringing for a couple of things, but mostly to find out how the investigation is going?”
“We’re investigating leads, and security footage in the area to see if we can identify anyone who looks suspicious, since you said they left out the back door when you arrived.”
I pressed my lips together. No self-respecting vampire would be slow enough to be caught on any sort of security footage, but okay.
“Great. Next question is, when will my father’s body be released so that I can organize cremation and a funeral? I don’t know the normal time frames for these things.”
I had to assume that it would take at least a week for an autopsy and the other things that would need to be done with a suspected murder.
“I received an email this morning that your father’s ashes can be picked up as soon as you’d like. Or they can be sent onto your chosen funeral home.”
My mouth dropped open. “My father’s... what?”
He hadn’t just said what I thought he had. Had he?
“Your father’s ashes. He was a wolf shifter and by state law, he was cremated yesterday.”
“I’m sorry... state law... what? Since when?”
Since when did they cremate people without the family’s consent? That was... ludicrous.
“All shifters are cremated now. Wasn’t that his wish?”
He was also half human! And they liked to be buried. Since when did the paranormal element trump all others?
And as far as I knew, yes, he did want to be cremated... but that really wasn’t the point.
“Shouldn’t you have checked with me first?” I asked, trying not to sound as irritated as I felt. “He was, after all, half human. Plus, I didn’t even get to see the body once after you took him away. Where’s the closure in that?”
“You wouldn’t have wanted to see your father like that, Sarah.”
I snorted, clenching my teeth together. How condescending.
“Well, I have a few questions about his body and what was found.”
Specifically, if they thought one vampire had drained him. Or two.
“Sarah....”
I jumped in, not wanting to hear him lecture me about my place in all this, like I was some cotton headed female who couldn’t conduct a conversation. “When do you get the coroner’s report on his autopsy? I assume they signed the death certificate and listed the cause of death?”
I didn’t know how they’d gotten his autopsy done in a single day, but maybe it was a slow month for murders.
“Well, unfortunately, there was a bit of a mix up with communication at the morgue.”
“I’m sorry. What?”
I waited for him to continue, my stomach tightening as each moment ticked by. A mix-up?
“Well...” He coughed once, then twice.
“A mix-up in communication?” I repeated, in case he needed a reminder of what we were talking about.
“Yes. I was informed, unfortunately, that the coroner believed your father was a heart attack victim, and simply cremated him, without an autopsy.”
“He. Fucking. What?” I screamed into the phone.
“Miss Williams! Lower your voice.”
“I will not lower my voice,” I hissed, then took a breath and grabbed hold of my control, so I was at least understandable. “Are you telling me that the coroner, or whoever put my father’s body in the furnace, did not determine cause of death before they did so?”
There was a long pause, and part of me thought the Detective may have hung up on me.
“Yes,” he said, at length.
I closed my eyes, angry magic pulsing through me at a rate of knots.
I didn’t usually feel my mother’s magic inside of me. It had never been trained and I wasn’t focused on it, but by god... if the man on the phone was standing in front of me in the flesh, I may have blasted him to dust.
“So,” I growled into the phone, then inhaled through my nose to bring back my humanity. “You’re telling me that they destroyed all evidence of my father’s murder?”
“No! No... Miss Williams. We have your testimony, everything found at the scene, we still have a case.”
I leaned back in the chair, a cool calm passing over me at his tone. I’d take them for every penny they had...
“Really?” I asked, struggling to be calm enough to communicate, but using years of corporate training to speak correctly. “What case? How many puncture wounds were on his body? What was the cause of death?”
“We’re investigating possibilities.”
“Such as...?” I asked, tapping my fingernails on the desk in front of me.
“Well, as the coroner has ruled it as a heart attack, we are no longer following murder protocol...”
“You’re no longer...” Oh... wow.
This imbecile couldn’t be this stupid, could he?
“Well, ah...”
I sat up and slid my hand over the cool wood of the desktop.
“So, tell me, detective. Are you on the take, like half the city and probably half the police force? Or are you just covering for the coroner that was paid to destroy the evidence so it will be impossible to catch my father’s murderer?”
There was a gasp and a sharp growl on the other end of the line. “If you’re accusing me...”
I lifted my hand up and slammed my palm down on the desk. “I am accusing you of being a filthy, no good sack of shit. My father did not deserve to die, and I will make sure his killer is brought to justice, so you better stay out of my way.”
“Miss Williams, vigilantes are not looked upon favorable by the state...”
“I am not a vigilante,” I corrected him. “I am putting out a private bounty on my father’s killer, with a million-dollar price tag. I wonder how many people will be interested in my father’s murder with that.”
“Miss Williams...”
I slammed the phone down so hard my hand vibrated with the force and let out a growl.
Fridge opened the door, holding containers of steaming hot Chinese.
His greeting froze on his lips, then his eyebrows lowered as he frowned. “What’s wrong?”
I screamed, tearing at the air as I paced back and forward behind the desk. “Can you believe it! The fucking... stupid... pigs!”
I wanted to smash something. I wanted to punch that Detective in the face. I wanted to cry and knife him, straight through his oversized beer belly.
Those fuckers! I’d make them pay.
Fridge came forward, put our lunch down on the desk, and stood back up, puffing his chest out as though he were readying himself for a fight.
“What’s happened?” he asked. “Tell me.”
“They... they...” The tears begun. “Fuck! No.”
I wiped at the wetness on my face. I would not cry over what the corrupt cops and the coroner had done to me. To my father. I would get even. And there was no better revenge than that.
“The coroner... the police... They cremated my dad’s body yesterday. Without an autopsy.”
The growl that rolled through the room was loud and would have scared me if I didn’t know the dragon was on my side.
“They... what?” he roared. “How the hell are they going to catch a killer if they can’t... Oh, those low lives! They’re covering it all up.”
