“Or he met with someone and they brought the coffee with them,” Teddy countered thoughtfully.
“True. Maybe the killer was some kind of informant. Maybe that’s why they had to meet outside the haven.”
“It’s certainly possible,” Teddy said. “I know the SPA works with all sorts of supers to keep a finger on the pulse of the various groups. It’s best to be at least one step ahead of the next vampire-werewolf war. Those always get nasty.”
“No kidding,” I said. “I mean if Kate Beckinsale can’t fix it, what hope do the rest of us have?”
Teddy and Evangeline stared at me blankly.
“Underworld?” I prompted. “Epic vampires vs. werewolves movie.”
“Never heard of it,” Teddy said.
Evangeline shrugged.
I rolled my eyes. “You guys are from the LA. The home of entertainment.”
The water in the kettle was at a rolling boil. I turned my attention to preparing my tea and then joined Teddy and Evangeline at the table. I stood, hovering over Teddy, with my cup halfway to my lips as the steam poured off the deep green liquid. As I breathed in the medicinal scent of mint leaves and and other herbs and spices, I perused the spread of papers. “So, we don’t know who Harvey was meeting. Or why. We also don’t know what happened to the driver of the taxi he was found in.” I sighed heavily. It seemed there were more blank spots than not. “What are these then?” I asked, gesturing at the pages spread over the tabletop.
“Harriet sent these over. All of these are cases that Harvey was involved with that were considered hostile,” Evangeline explained. “We got copies of the most interesting ones. As you can imagine, most of the really dangerous supers that Harvey helped put away are still serving their sentences. Most will never get out. However, there are a few that have been released.”
“Is that Praxle?” I asked, recognizing the smarmy-looking man from The Witch Wire coverage.
Evangeline nodded. “If Praxle goes down, he will lose a lot of money. Harvey was instrumental in getting his before the council where other investigations have failed. There are reports of Praxle threatening Harvey in front of other agents.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Sounds like motive to me.”
Teddy nodded slowly. “The only problem is that he was in his own hearing at the time of the murder.”
“He could have hired someone?” I suggested.
“I agree that it’s worth considering.” Teddy reached out and plucked one of the sheets from the collection. “This guy is especially interesting to me.”
I looked at the picture in his hand. The face of a shaggy-looking man glared at me from the page. Shifter, if I had to guess. Something large and predatory. A bear? They usually tended to like the gruff, lumberjack look. Some pulled it off better than others. The face staring back at me was less Brawny-paper-towel mascot and more unwashed hermit. “Why’s that?”
Teddy’s rosy lips twisted into an expression that was a mix between a scowl and a frown. “In my experience, most criminals tend to lay low once they’re released from an SPA prison. But this guy, Dune Kasey, he runs right to the press, almost the same day he’s released. Says he wants to give a tell-all account that could possibly take down the SPA. Or, my guess, he was hoping to get some kind of settlement for what he claims was mistreatment.”
My eyebrows hitched up. “That’s … bold.”
Teddy bristled. “Stupid is more like it.”
Evangeline smiled at Teddy’s response.
“What’s his complaint?” I asked.
“He claims that he was framed and that even after he presented concrete evidence he was still found guilty.”
“And Harvey’s connection?”
Evangeline took over. “He had a meeting with Harvey, the lead on the case at the time, and presented his evidence, but three weeks later, Harvey testified against him anyway.”
I frowned. “Is that really enough motive to murder someone?”
Teddy looked up at me. “It is when he claims that the evidence he presented to Harvey was buried and not allowed before the council.”
“Hmm. And would it have gotten him off the hook?”
“That’s the problem,” Teddy replied. “The evidence, whatever it was, vanished. Harvey never put it into the case notes. All that it says is that a meeting occurred. Whatever they discussed wasn’t recorded.”
“Harvey was certainly capable of burying things,” I said, frowning.
“Look, all of this might add up to nothing, but it might be worth looking into,” Evangeline said.
Teddy nodded in agreement. “Really, at this point, the only thing we know for sure is that there appears to be quite a few people who might have wanted revenge on Harvey.”
“Guess being at the top isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” I said, frowning at the angry-looking faces staring back at me from the pictures. “I’ll read through it. Although I’m not sure what I can do even if something does look fishy. Agent Bramble certainly doesn’t seem to want my help with the investigation.”
Evangeline smiled. “That sounds familiar.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you can find a way to work with Chief Lincoln, you can find a way to work with Agent Bramble.”
I smiled. “I suppose that’s true. Thanks, you guys.”
The following morning, I got out of bed before the sun was even up. Normally, I despised early mornings. They were a necessary evil of working at a coffee shop. On my days off, I rarely wake before eight-thirty, but that morning sleep was impossible to come by and lying in bed staring blankly at the darkened ceiling was more miserable than facing the prospect of rising before the sun.
My bedroom was freezing cold and I quickly bundled into a thick robe and two pairs of fuzzy socks. Boots stirred on the bed and when I tossed a soft orb of light into the air, I caught a flash of amber eyes staring up at me. “Sorry, Bootsie. Go back to sleep.”
His eyes slid closed and I waved a hand to send the light out into the hallway ahead of me. I left the bedroom door open, knowing Boots would want out as soon as he realized that I was in the kitchen. I didn’t need him yowling and waking up the rest of the household. In the living room, I sent a shower of sparks toward the fireplace and watched as a roaring fire burst to life. The manor had been updated—a feat that Adam claimed had taken months of prodding at Posy—with central heat but most of the rooms had a fireplace, and sometimes I preferred the comforting glow of a fire.
While the living room heated up, I padded to the kitchen and made myself a stack of pancakes with sliced fruit, a drizzle of chocolate hazelnut syrup, and a dollop of cream on top. As long as my hands were busy, I was able to block out the knot of tangled worries that were warring in the back of my mind. When my fit-for-a-gourmet breakfast was ready, I went back out to the living room and plopped myself on the couch before the fire. Posy hated when we ate anywhere but in the kitchen, but she didn’t appear to be lurking nearby, so I went ahead. Besides, she’d been sympathetic toward me over the week since the disastrous council hearing and the loss of Harvey. She’d likely let me get away with it—after a sniff (or twelve) of disapproval.
The luscious scent of my breakfast eventually reached Boots and he waddled into the living room and jumped up to take his place beside me. His pink nose twitched in the direction of my plate and with a long-suffering sigh, I scooped up a dollop of creamy topping and let him lick it off my finger. “There,” I told him when he was done. “That’s all you’re getting from me.”
He gave me a long look and blinked his eyes slowly.
I smiled and gave him a second serving. “I don’t know how you managed to wrap me so completely around your chubby little paws, but job well done.”
He licked happily at the cream and then lay down beside me, wedging his paws under my leg.
“At least you keep me warm,” I muttered as I stroked under his chin. “Good for something I guess.”
He purred.
After all the work of preparing the picture-perfect breakfast, I scarfed three-quarters of the stack of pancakes before I hit the wall and I couldn’t manage another bite. I set the fork aside and balanced my plate on one knee. Footsteps sounded on the stairs behind me. I didn’t have to turn to know who it was. “Your food radar appears to be a few minutes slower than Bootsie’s,” I teased as Adam came around the low-profile couch and sat beside me.
“As long as King Fluff left some for me, I got no complaints.” He smiled over my lap at Boots, who was fast asleep. “What are you doing up, Gorgeous?”
“Couldn’t sleep. Figured I may as well get the day started.”
Adam reached for the fork I’d laid to one side and speared three bites of leftovers into his mouth. I passed him the plate and he dug in with typical Adam gusto. “Big plans?”
“I think I might go into the haven and see about meeting with Harriet, Harvey’s assistant. I want to see if she has any information that might be helpful. I’m sure she’s already been interviewed, but I want to ask her what she’s heard and get her opinion on a couple of cases Teddy and Evangeline brought to my attention.”
I’d been up half the night reading the data they’d pulled together. I agreed that Dune Kasey seemed to be the most obvious suspect, but as far as I could see, there wasn’t an address or phone number anywhere in the stack of papers.
“Teddy was also waiting to see if she’d found anything from Harvey regarding my council hearing. I’ll see if there’s any progress there and offer to help look. All I know is that I can’t sit in this house waiting another day. If I can’t make potions, I can at least help the investigation, and in the process, possibly myself.”
Adam polished off the last bite, set the plate on the square coffee table and then draped an arm over my shoulders. “I wouldn’t mind a little trip into the haven.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Really? You?”
Adam chuckled. “I venture into society every now and again.”
“Yes, but not usually voluntarily.”
Adam’s work occasionally demanded he spend a day or two in Seattle and even within the Seattle haven sometimes. But these trips were usually preceded by lots of complaining and packing procrastination.
“Should we take the train? Or can you still use the portal?”
“No one told me not to take the portal anymore.” I shrugged. “That’s what I was planning on doing. Sure beats a three-hour trek.”
Adam smiled. “They do have great food on the train though.”
I laughed. “Come on. I’ll make up the rest of the pancake batter since you’ve clearly still got food on the brain.”
Adam stood and then reached for my hand. I disentangled myself from Boots, who curled into a tighter ball as soon as I was off the couch, and let Adam lead me into the kitchen.
I was halfway through cooking up what was left of the pancake batter when Adam hopped up onto the counter beside me. “So, when are you going to tell me what’s on your mind? I don’t think I’ve ever known you to wake up before the sun’s even up just for a pancake fix. Is this all because of the case? Or Harvey? Or something else entirely?”
Using the corner of the spatula, I lifted the edge of a fluffy cake. It was the perfect golden brown, so I ignored Adam’s question a moment longer and flipped the pancakes over. Once they were sizzling away on the other side, I set aside the spatula and finally risked a peek at Adam. We’d been dating for several months now and, while I was sure we had a lot more to learn about one another, we had the basics pretty well covered. Adam knew when something was on my mind and wasn’t content to let me stew in it alone for too long. I supposed it was a good sign of a strong relationship, but there were times when I missed the days when I’d lived alone and could retreat into myself as often and for as long as I needed.
“I think it’s a little bit of everything.” I sighed heavily and leaned against the counter. “I worked with Cassie last night. She said Nick hasn’t been to the shop in over a week, since before I left for my trip.”
“Have you seen him? I mean besides that whole fiasco here at the manor?”
I nodded. “I went to his office last night.”
“How was he?”
“He said he’s been busy, but I think there’s more to it. He thinks he’s having bad dreams about monsters.”
Adam rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Oh boy. He’s still asking questions about the whole Raven thing?”
I gave a miserable nod. “I got the feeling he knows more than he’s letting on. It was almost like he was setting it up, hoping that I would confirm his suspicions.”
“We’ve got to figure something out before he makes trouble.”
“I know. I just don’t have any ideas. At least none that I’m confident enough to try. I don’t want to make it worse.” I checked the pancakes, my mind churning. “I don’t think he would say anything to anyone else. At least we have that in our favor. The SPA isn’t going to catch wind of some human talking about a supernatural sighting.” I chewed on my lower lip for a moment. “At least, I don’t think so.”
That was the last thing I needed—another SPA scandal within Beechwood Harbor. There’d been more close calls than I cared to admit since my arrival in the sleepy little town. What can I say? Trouble follows me around like a hungry stray cat follows a fisherman.
“I don’t think he would say anything to someone he didn’t trust, and from what I can see, his only friends are here in this house,” Adam said.
I smiled up at him. “Are you saying Nick is your friend?”
Adam rolled his eyes.
“Aww. That’s adorable!” I giggled and served up a plate of pancakes. “And also, it’s about time!”
He took the plate, dropped a quick kiss to my lips, and then sauntered to the table. “I didn’t say we were going to start hanging out or anything,” he groused.
I tucked my smile away but held onto the warm feeling that remained. Nick and Adam had been rivals for far too long. I suspected it had more to do with some perceived threat on Adam’s part because he’d originally worried that Nick was a competitor for my attention. However, the tension remained long after Adam and I started dating. I wasn’t sure when Adam had changed his mind, but I was glad he had finally come around. Now if I could just get him to stop baiting Lacey … .
Right. Piece of cake. About as easy as telling a lion to eat a salad.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The rest of the household was stirring to life as Adam and I headed for the door. We passed a sleepy-looking Evangeline as she padded down the stairs, wrapped in an exotic silk robe that fell to her ankles. Teddy was a few steps behind, rubbing his eyes. I smiled at the way his boyish blonde hair was sticking out at every direction. It was a far cry from his usually polished, three-piece suit exterior. He’d been staying in the guest room at the very end of the hall during his stay, but I hadn’t seen him in his full morning glory.
We exchanged goodbyes at the foot of the staircase and then Adam and I headed out. The morning air was brisk but once we started walking, it wasn’t too bad. The portal to the haven was less than a mile away and within half an hour we’d crossed from Beechwood Harbor to the hustle and bustle of the haven streets. Shops and restaurants were already in full swing. Smells of coffee and pastries poured out from a local café, and Adam started drifting toward the front doors. I laughed at the way his stomach steered him, but followed him inside anyway. We had espresso and split a basket of freshly baked muffins in front of the picture window, and people-watched as the citizens of the haven started their days.
As we left the shop, I muttered that I really needed to restart my gym membership.
Nick’s memory problem was still in the front of my mind, and as we walked toward the SPA building in the heart of the haven. We passed a small potions shop and I got an idea. I tugged Adam’s coat sleeve and we ducked inside just as the shop owner was unlocking the front door. He was a stocky man and wore a long robe, th
e traditional attire for potion masters. He welcomed us to his store and told us to let him know if we needed anything special.
Adam started to the right and I followed a step behind, my eyes roving the store, trying to take it all in. In some ways, it reminded me of Mrs. Clairmont’s shop—the one that had been tangled up in the awful business with Bill Praxle. I wondered what this shop owner would say about the whole mess. I considered him as he bent over a ledger. He seemed friendly enough, but I knew I’d only get one shot, one chance to wheedle information out of him. It wouldn’t look good if I assaulted him with a laundry list on inquiries. I had to choose carefully.
I tapped Adam’s arm and pointed that I was going to speak to the wizard. He nodded, then went back to perusing a section of gleaming bottles, each a variant of neon orange. The label on the counter in front of them identified the potion as an instant cure for nausea. I smiled and shook my head to myself as I started toward the counter. Adam had a reputation for rummaging through the dumpsters of local restaurants when in his beast form. I had no doubt he often shifted back and found his human system rebelling against the ridiculous amounts of spoiled food he’d stuffed himself with during his run as a dog. He’d likely walk out with a case of the orange concoction.
The wizard at the counter glanced up as I approached. “Is there something I can help you with, Miss?” he asked with a broad smile.
He was nothing like the potion master I’d worked for when I’d lived in the haven. Mr. Keel had been surly and argumentative—even with customers. It was no surprise that he’d been forced to close his business just months after my arrest.
“I don’t know a lot about potions,” I said, starting from a position that I hoped would allow me to wring the most information from him. “What I’m looking for might not even be possible … .”
He gave an encouraging smile. “Well, why don’t you tell me what you need solved and I’ll find a way to help.”
“Thank you.” What a refreshing wizard. “I’m wondering what you would recommend for someone who would like to block out memories.”
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