Sound's Familiar

by Dana Marie Bell

  How had he missed that last night?

  She started the coffee, yawning into her fist as the first cup began to brew. “What’s on the agenda for today?”

  He grimaced. “Work, work, work.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind, grinning when she leaned back against him. “Is that all that’s on your mind?”

  “As much as I’d like to spend the day in bed, we have to earn our keep.”

  “Damn it. Stupid mortgage.” He kissed her shoulder when she giggled and stood back, releasing her. “We need to go over to the campus and begin interviewing students, as well as follow up on that lead that Dean Anthony gave you about Chief Rivers. After that, we need to head to the precinct and check up on some of our other cases.” No matter how much he wanted to concentrate solely on the campus murders, he couldn’t let his other cases slide. Carol needed to catch up on where he was with them. So far, she’d been a trooper, combing through records and notes without too much complaint.

  “Gotcha.” She pulled the cup toward her and started the next one, putting the pod in before starting the machine. “The students have to be freaked out.”

  “I would be, if I were them.” Jonah waved her away when she went to hand him the cup. “You have that one, I’ll take the next.”

  “Thank you.” She added sugar and an ungodly amount of creamer. “Coffee makes my world go around.”

  “Hmm.” When the maker was done, he pulled his own mug free. Watching her savor her morning coffee was a religious experience. She leaned back against the counter, her eyes closed as she sipped at her brew. Her dainty feet were crossed at the ankles, the tiny shorts showing that, despite how short she was, her legs were long and smooth. Her skin had a healthy glow to it, and without makeup, her face appeared younger, more vulnerable. Her curls were clipped up, exposing the back of her neck, the tiny red hairs at the base of her head inviting his fingers.

  Jonah rubbed the back of her neck, almost moaning when she leaned into his touch. He could sense her contentment through their bond, the peaceful moment only broken by the ticking of the clock he’d hung on the kitchen wall.

  With a sigh, he pulled his hand away. “We need to get ready for the day.”

  She opened her eyes and smiled at him. “Maybe today’s the day we get the clue we need to catch this rat bastard.”

  “Maybe.” He tapped his fingers on the side of his mug. “Something’s been bugging me since the other day.”

  “What?” She stood, rinsing her mug out and preparing another pod. She was a two-cup-a-morning girl, while Jonah preferred to follow up his first cup with juice.

  “Why did the pinhole appear in the custodial rooms so far from the ritual space?”

  She froze for a moment before pressing the button to start the coffee maker. “Huh. Good point. It should have happened a lot closer to the baseball field, but it was all the way on the other side of the campus.”

  “Exactly. The power surge that caused the pinhole should have manifested closer to the baseball field. So why there? Why not in, say, the parking lot we use when another body is dumped?”

  “Or the stands. Could the ritual space be somewhere else?” She pulled out the fixings for cereal. Apparently, they were going without eggs and toast in favor of a quicker meal. “We need to check out that closet.”

  “Agreed. I’ll call Dean Hill and get permission to bring in a few CSI guys. You call our chief and Ian.”

  “Think we’ll need a warrant?” She’d fixed two bowls and handed him one, then went to the fridge and got the juice he preferred.

  Jonah took a seat at the table. “Maybe? So far we haven’t had issues thanks to Dean Hill being on our side.” He quietly thanked her when she handed him his juice. “What’s near that custodial hall?”

  “We need a map of the building. Or a blueprint.” Carol sat across from him, a thoughtful frown on her face. “That, we might need a warrant for, just to make everything kosher.”

  “We could pick up a student map, but I doubt it will do more than show the buildings.”

  “There might be interior maps posted inside the building. There were in my alma mater, mostly to show where the fire exits were. We could check for those and photograph them for reference.”

  “Good idea.” Jonah ate some of his cereal, his mind racing. He hadn’t been in enough of the building to make a mental map of the place. “Searching the whole building won’t make us any friends.”

  Jonah quickly finished the rest of his breakfast and headed for the stairway. “We need to get dressed and go check this out. Call Ian, tell him to meet us there.”

  “Got it.” She picked up her mug and headed for her bedroom, where her phone was currently charging.

  Jonah dressed quickly, barely taking time to brush his teeth and wash his face, let alone shave. That could wait. For now, he had a suspect to question. He made a note of where they were going and why, then headed for his bedroom and called his boss.

  As the phone rang, he glanced around. Carol would be moving in as soon as possible. He didn’t like that she was in a different bedroom. He needed her in there, with him.

  “Hello?” Captain Ford’s voice was clipped, professional.

  He set aside his plan to hijack her clothing when they got home and put his mind back on work. “It’s Jonah. Carol and I are headed to the campus. We need blueprints of the building where the pinhole was.”

  “Oh?” That had piqued his boss’s curiosity.

  “Yup. We want to find out what’s close to where the pinhole popped up. If we can see the blueprints, we might be able to figure out where the murders took place. We also need to talk to Chief Rivers about the boy that Dean Anthony says he lost.”

  “Carol already called. Ian’s on his way out now to meet you at the campus. He’s been here since dawn, going over case notes.”

  Jonah grinned. He was really beginning to like Ian. “He’s a good partner. Carol likes him too.”

  “Glad to hear it. Keep me posted, and I’ll get started on getting your blueprints.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Oh, and Jonah? If you run into another pinhole, call me, or I swear to the goddess of magic I’ll bust you down to meter maid. Not Carol, not Ian. Just you. Understood?”

  Jonah winced. “Yes, ma’am. Loud and clear.”

  “Good. You risk your familiar again like that, and I’ll personally kick your ass.” Captain Ford’s voice to her normal, no-nonsense demeanor. “Now get said ass in gear, Detective. I expect your call in two hours.”

  She hung up before he could say goodbye, but she was like that with all of her detectives. If she liked you, she was a mother hen. A very busy, very brusque hen who pecked at anyone who hurt the men and women under her.

  Carol strolled through the bedroom door, her shoes in her hand. She’d dressed professionally, her curls bound up at the nape of her neck, her makeup understated but there. She had a pair of sunglasses perched on top of her head, and her badge and ID were hanging between her breasts. “Ready?”

  “I am.” He opened the cabinet he kept his gun and shoulder holster in, strapping the holster in place before holstering his gun.

  Carol grimaced. “You think you’ll need that?”

  “In a magical college, against a magical opponent? Sometimes using a physical weapon gives me an advantage.” He’d surprised more than one blood sorcerer by using his service weapon. For some reason, they seemed to think magic solved all problems.

  Carol blew out a breath. “Okay, then. Prep for battle mode.”

  “Maybe, but be aware all we’ve got to go on is a hunch that the murders took place near the pinhole.” He slid his jacket on and strode past her toward the stairway. “For now, we take notes, check things out. We only arrest him or her once we have enough evidence.”

  She followed him, her footfalls silent on the wooden steps. “Ian agrees with our hunch. He said, and I quote, ‘Well that’s suspicious as fuck.’” When they were by the front door, Carol slipped h
er shoes on.

  Jonah reached for his own. “Let’s go. Our boss wants a status update in less than two hours.”

  “Shit.”

  Jonah opened the front door. “Yeah, she sounded pissed. She’s still upset about the pinhole thing.”

  Her eyes went wide with fear. “Double shit. We should bring donuts as sacrificial offerings.”

  “And coffee. Lots of coffee.” Jonah shut the front door.

  “Driving!” Carol took off toward his car, waving his keys and cackling like a loon.

  Jonah followed. He was pretty sure he’d follow her even into Terra Noctem.

  Chapter 36

  Jonah smiled as Carol snapped pictures of the posted maps by the elevators in the administration building. He still wanted blueprints, but they could use this as well to make sure everything matched up.

  “She’s doing a great job, isn’t she? It was like she was born for this.” Ian was studying Carol with obvious admiration. “We couldn’t have picked a better partner, am I right?”

  “What’s this ‘we’ shit?” Jonah glared at Ian. “That’s my girl over there.”

  Ian shot him the worst innocent look Jonah had ever seen. If the man had been in the interrogation room, Jonah would have arrested him on the spot. “But we both work with her, so that makes her ours.”

  Gods, Carol was right. Ian probably didn’t look innocent even as an infant. “Keep that up, and you’ll find out how good I am at transmutation magic. You never know. You might enjoy life as a frog.”

  Ian cleared his throat. “Right. Cute redhead is yours.”

  Jonah patted Ian’s arm. “Good boy.”

  Carol waved them over. “You guys coming or not?”

  “Don’t say a word,” Jonah growled at Ian.

  “Mnut fayin anamfin.” Ian’s lips remained sealed even as he mumbled something unintelligible.

  “What’s going on?” Carol’s glance between the two of them was filled with suspicion.

  “Absolutely nothing, sweetheart.” Jonah put his arm around her waist and shuffled her into the elevator. “You have any idea what questions you want to ask Chief Rivers?”

  “Hmm.” Carol tapped her finger on her lips. “I promised Dean Anthony I’d go easy on him. Apparently, the loss of his son is still a painful topic, so we either bulldog it or be delicate.”

  Ian’s brows rose. “Bulldog it?”

  “Go in guns blazing. Be pushy assholes. That sort of thing.” She frowned. “Although every bulldog I’ve ever met has been sweet as pie, so I don’t get why people use that phrase.”

  The elevator doors opened, and Ian led the way. “Sometimes I really wish I was a sorcerer just so I could have a familiar.” He sighed sadly, putting his hand over his heart. “Maybe I’d find my soulmate too.”

  Jonah coughed. “It’s a good thing you never tried becoming an actor, Ian. You’d suck at it.”

  Ian blew a raspberry at him, making Carol giggle.

  They were nearing Chief Rivers’s office. “Game faces, people.”

  Both Carol and Ian’s shoulders straightened as Jonah knocked on the door.

  “Enter.”

  Jonah opened the door. “Chief Rivers? We have some questions for you.”

  “Come in, come in!” Chief Rivers waved, then pointed to the chairs in front of his desk. The thing was huge, just like the man. “And call me Larry, please.”

  “Thank you.” Jonah, Ian, and Carol sat, Carol starting up her recording device while Jonah took out a paper notepad. “I don’t think you’ve met Ian. Detective Ian Matsumoto, meet Chief Laurence Rivers, head of security here on campus.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Ian shook hands with the chief.

  “Nice to meet you too.” Chief Rivers sat back, studying them curiously. “What can I do for you?”

  “First, I need any security tapes of the destroyed camera over home plate.” Jonah was hoping he’d find something useful on the videos.

  “Done.” Chief Rivers turned to his computer and tapped. “I’ll email you the file. It’s not that large, so I don’t think you’ll need to put it on that special thumb drive you’ve got.”

  “No withers on the tape?” Ian asked, scribbling already.

  “Nope. Just looks like some kids with baseball bats.” Chief Rivers shrugged. “I hate to say it, but that happens all the time. Either the high school kids come and vandalize the campus, or Greeks have their pledges do it while wearing stupid-ass masks so we can’t identify them.”

  “Which do you think this was?” Carol leaned forward and placed the recorder on the edge of Chief Rivers’s desk.

  “Honestly? Greeks.” Chief Rivers turned back to them, his hands clasped on the desk. His posture was relaxed, his expression one of easy camaraderie. “You’ll see what I mean when you get a glimpse of the masks.” He shuddered dramatically. “I never wanted to see a plastic First Lady that close before.”

  Ian chuckled. “Ah, the good old days.”

  “You were in a fraternity?” Chief Rivers stared at Ian curiously.

  “Chi Pi Sigma. It’s small, but it was just for criminal justice students, so it was a lot of fun as well as a great learning opportunity.” Ian sighed wistfully. “I kind of miss those days, to be honest.”

  “I think we all miss college in one way or another,” Jonah replied, glancing at Carol to note her reaction. She was smiling, so her college experience must have been a good one. She hadn’t talked much about it other than to say she missed it too. Jonah shook off the need to ask her about her campus life. He could do that at home. Right now, he had other things to ask about. “Chief Rivers, I hate to bring this up, but—”

  “My son?” The smile left his face. He stared down at his hands, his shoulders slumping. “Frank warned me that you’d be asking about Sean.”

  “I’m sorry to ask this, but what happened?” Carol’s tone was quiet, her brows furrowed in concern.

  “Sean was bullied, physically, mentally, and magically.” Chief Rivers looked up at Carol, then glanced back down. “You might have noticed, but my family isn’t completely human. Our dimen side is giant.”

  “That’s nothing to be ashamed of, Chief.” Jonah had met some fine giants in his day. They were larger than humans, stronger, but slower and not as agile. Unlike the myths, they weren’t stupid at all. Intellectually, they were a match for humans.

  “You know how kids can be, Detective. Anything they view as different is cause for bullying. Sean didn’t have any magic, unlike his mother. The kids bullied him for that too.”

  “Who is his mother?” Ian asked, scribbling furiously.

  “Anna. Anna Templeton.”

  Jonah whistled. Anna Templeton was the Neil deGrasse Tyson of dimensional magics, famous for giving lectures that even non-magical folk could not only understand but enjoy. He’d seen her on television more than once, learning things he hadn’t realized he’d needed to. She was a champion of dimen rights, as well, earning Jonah’s respect. Rose worshiped the ground Anna Templeton walked on.

  “Don’t get me wrong. Anna loved Sean as much as I did, but nothing we said or tried got through to him. He got more and more depressed. We took him to a psychologist who suggested we remove him from the school, but the bullying continued online, which we didn’t even find out about until after he took his life.” Chief Rivers’s jaw clenched, his eyes reddening. “He hung himself in the garage. I found him when I came home from work.”

  “Jeez.” Ian stopped scribbling and stared at Chief Rivers, horrified. “Tell me the school did something about it.”

  Chief Rivers laughed, but it didn’t sound at all amused. “Two-week suspension for two of them. Expulsion for the worst offender. Nothing happened to the others. The cops said there was nothing they could do since the laws don’t consider bullying someone to death murder.”

  “Shit.” Jonah rubbed his hands over his face. “I’ll talk to my mother. Maybe there’s something she can do through her work to get the laws changed.”
<
br />   Chief Rivers looked surprised at first, then intensely grateful. “Thank you. My wife and I would appreciate that.” He sat up straighter, but his eyes were still red with unshed tears. “Anna has been through hell these last few years. Our daughter has done her best to try and fill in the gap, but that’s not something a child should have to attempt. I tell her that over and over. So does Anna, but I’m worried about her. We’re going to therapy as a family. Harley, our daughter, wants to work in law. She’s determined to get things changed for the better, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Carol replied softly. “If she needs any help, please contact me. I might be able to do something with my familiar contacts. She could listen to their stories as well. She’ll find a lot of sympathy among them.”

  Chief Rivers smiled. “You have no idea how much I appreciate hearing that. My son, he was a good kid. He didn’t deserve what happened to him.”

  “No one does,” Ian grunted. He looked pissed off. “Now, for the really hard part, and you have no idea how sorry I am to ask these questions, but I have to.”

  “I understand, Detective. I truly do. Ask your questions.”

  “Do you think Anna could be involved in the murders on campus?” Ian was going for the throat on that question.

  Chief Rivers looked furious for a moment before his expression blanked. “No. As much as my wife and I miss Sean, we would never deprive another parent of their child.”

  “Yet her work as an interdimensional sorcerer would be a boon to the ritual currently taking place on campus.” Jonah decided to back up Ian’s play. “How well does she know the campus?”

  “Not that well. She’s familiar with this building, but she works for UCLA, so she’s not here often.” He looked thoughtful now, his brows furrowed, his gaze distant. “She’s familiar with how to get to my office, Dean Hill’s office, and Dean Anthony’s. Other than that, I’d say there’s not much more of the campus she’s visited.”