Allie disagreed, but instead of arguing said, “What officers?”
“There are uniformed officers in Officer Lyons’ room, checking for any evidence that might relate to her death.” Zarethyn said, more kindly. Allie felt herself automatically flinch at the idea of strangers going through Syndra’s things, and Jess came over to stand with her, pulling her against his chest as he had when they’d first heard the news. This time though she allowed herself to be embraced, wrapping her own arms around him and resting her head against his chest. The sound of his heartbeat, even through the armor, was reassuring on a visceral level and she was suddenly glad that the Elven Guard were there and that they were what they were. It was a disturbing feeling though, for someone who had always been wary of what the Guard represented and who was determined not to get pulled into Elven culture. She realized that in the last week her life had changed so radically that she almost didn’t recognize it.
“If I can find the site of the murders, I need to. That will help give the police the evidence they want, and it’ll give you a place to start hunting for the killer.” Allie said.
“I’m afraid we don’t need to look for him,” Jess said gravely. “I believe he is stalking you. If we protect you he will come to us.”
“Or he’ll just keep killing everyone I care about, until I wish I was dead,” she said. Jess tensed, and she swallowed hard, fighting tears. “No, I need to start fighting back, and this is the only way I know how.”
Zarethyn nodded. “How can we help?”
*******************************
They had been driving around for hours already, down all the main roads and side roads of the town, working their way out into the old farm lands at the outskirts. Allie sat in the back seat of one of the Guard vehicles, with her eyes closed trying to focus on the energy of the dream-vision and Syndra, without getting overwhelmed by her own emotions. It was a tedious process, but they were making progress.
They had tried starting at the store, which had also given her time to grab the surveillance video the police wanted and stick up a rough sign on the door apologizing to her customers for the shutdown. After getting that done she’d been unable to get any kind of emotional feel from the area, which seemed very odd to her. Frustrated she had suggested they drop off the video at the police station and afterwards Jess had come up with the idea of driving around letting her act like an antennae trying to tune in on the energy. At first it had seemed equally futile but to her surprise as they drove she realized that by focusing on where she felt uncomfortable she could slowly feel her way towards what they were looking for. It was a slow method, but the closer they eventually got to the site the stronger the discomfort grew, until she was sure she could actually feel a tingle of the pain and fear she remembered from the dream.
When she told them to take a left onto one of the old farm roads she knew they were nearly there. Her stomach knotted and she felt her fists clenching, “Slow down, we’re almost there.”
The car slowed and she felt the energy surge, along with something else, something she couldn’t quite describe.
“Stop.”
“Here?” Natarien asked, uncertainly, “There is nothing but empty fields.”
“I know, pull the car over and park.” Allie said, then added, “Please.”
As soon as the car rolled to a stop she was jumping out, leaving the two Elven Guard to catch up. She stood for a moment getting her bearings; there was nothing in sight but old wooden fencing running along the road, and long stretches of empty fields. She hopped the fence and landed easily in the grass on the other side.
This field was being reclaimed by the woods now, but looked like it had still been in use within the last few decades. The grass was high and heavy bushes were everywhere but the largest trees were young birch, with a few saplings of oak and maple mixed in.
She began making her way into the brush at a slight angle to the road only to have Jess grab her wrist and force her to stop. She was going to complain until she realized both of the armored Guard had their swords drawn. When he spoke, Jess’s voice was low, “We can feel something here as well, Allie. You have done enough in leading us this far; let us call for reinforcements now and fall back until they arrive.”
She wanted desperately to argue– she could feel the emotional trail she had been following pulling her forward into the tree line across the field–but one look at the odd, disturbed look on both the elves’ faces convinced her not to argue. “Okay. If that’s what you think is best.”
Jess looked relieved and she realized he had expected her to argue. You have no idea how much I want to argue, she thought, but one or the other of you would probably just pick me up and carry me back to the car anyway. So I’ll behave.
Feeling like she was failing somehow, she turned and went back to the road. All three retreated to the car, where Jess used his Guard-issued cell phone to call the Outpost, and then at Allie’s urging the human detectives as well. I really should get a cell phone, she thought idly as they waited for everyone else to arrive, but I’d probably lose it in the first day. Or break it.
The Elven contingent showed up first, and to her extreme annoyance Jessilaen made her sit in the car, while he got out to talk with Zarethyn and the others. She counted 5 cars, which meant that at least they were taking her seriously. Now if only the human police could be as accommodating.
Will you listen to yourself, Allie, she thought suddenly embarrassed. What has gotten into me? Before all this started I didn’t think there was anything special or important about me at all, and now I’m sitting here feeling resentful that I’m not right in the middle of the action. I get one boyfriend and someone calls me an expert in something and all of a sudden I have delusions of grandeur. It was a humbling thought and she settled down into her seat trying to get some perspective.
This should be it. I found their crime scene; my part in this is done now. What else can I do, really? I gave them the ritual, the information from the book, now this. Maybe I can get back to my real life now. Gods know if I don’t get the store re-opened soon I’m screwed financially.
She was starting to nod off with Natarien sitting still as statue in the front seat when the car door opened. She shook herself out of her doze and looked over to see Riordan crouching next to the car. “Hi Detective.”
“Well, I don’t know how you did it, but you said you would and you did,” he said, sounding mystified.
“You found it then? The crime scene?” she couldn’t keep the eagerness form her voice.
“Yeah, we found it. It took a while to get at it, I guess there was all kinds of wards and spells and things. Strange magic, the elves said,” he gave her a long look, “they’re pretty upset about everything actually. I guess they can’t quite figure out some of what’s going on out there–its stuff they’ve never seen before. I can’t say that makes me feel very comfortable.”
She nodded in sympathy, then dared to ask, “Where’s your partner?”
He gestured with his chin up the road, “He’s interviewing people that live around here to see if they saw or heard anything strange lately. He’s pretty shaken up–you wouldn’t know this but Rick actually grew up around here. Finding a major crime scene practically in his backyard has him freaked out.”
“I can imagine,” Allie said feeling an unexpected sympathy for the unlikeable detective.
“I wanted to thank you for pushing this after we told you to back off. The crime scene is our biggest clue so far and it’s our best chance at some solid physical evidence.” Riordan said.
“You’re–you’re sure it’s definitely your crime scene then?” she asked hesitantly.
“We found four more bodies, buried out near the site. Well, the elves did. Older ones, but not badly decomposed because of the cold. It looks like after the ground froze he switched to dumping them in parking lots rather than risk leaving them lying out in the woods where someone might have stumbled across one. Whoever this guy–or g
roup, I guess–is he’s clever. With the weather warming up, if we hadn’t found this site now he probably would have switched back to it and stopped dumping the bodies and we’d have thought he moved or stopped.”
The detective sounded tired, “We’ve got a crime scene unit on the way out and the elves are processing the magical stuff. It’ll take days, maybe weeks to sift through everything.”
“Do you still think Syndra’s murder was part of this ritual, or…” Allie started to ask, but the detective held up his hand.
“I appreciate all your help. We’d never have gotten here today without you, that’s for sure. But we still have to be careful not to jump to conclusions. Until we prove otherwise, her death looks like one of our murders, and I don’t see why our killer would go to all that trouble if it wasn’t part of his plan.” The detective’s voice was firm, so Allie nodded. Riordan stood up and thanked her again before heading back towards a cluster of police cruisers she hadn’t noticed down the road. He passed Zarethyn who was walking towards her.
The Elven Captain stood next to the car for a moment, gathering his thoughts, before speaking, “You have done us an invaluable service, Aliaine.”
“Please, call me Allie.” She said, sure it was probably a breach of etiquette but sick of hearing her full name all the time. She had a sinking feeling when he mentioned service, since the last thing she wanted was for the Guard to start seeing her as potentially useful in other cases.
He looked startled at being given the nickname, but nodded, “Certainly, Allie, if you prefer.”
Eh, it sounds weird when you say it she thought I guess I‘ll get used to it. “The strange energy here–it’s from the ritual, isn’t it?”
He nodded, looking unnerved, which worried her. Seeing an adept mage who, she guessed, was probably over a thousand years old disconcerted by anything magical was disturbing.
“Yes. I must admit something to you–I did not doubt that what you told us was in your book, but I did not believe such a thing could in truth be done. Even seeing it now, with my own eyes, I almost still cannot believe it. It is just as you said though–standing within the ground that marks the killer’s ritual space, it as if the ritual is happening right now. It is a most disturbing feeling indeed, and the energy swirls like a whirlpool. We fear that it has significantly weakened the fabric of the Worlds here.”
“What would that do?” Allie asked, wide eyed.
“Not separate the worlds again, but perhaps tear a hole through to a third world. It is hard to say with certainty.”
“So in trying to split the two worlds he was actually making the Sundering worse?” Allie found the idea appalling.
“It seems so. We have sent for a High Adept to see what can be done, if anything, to repair the damage. It may take a long time, perhaps more than a year for her to arrive, but the phenomena seems stable as it is,” Zarethyn said
“What if the killer finishes the cycle? They said they found more bodies, which makes the total, what? 8? That we know of for sure. What if he kills the last 5 that he needs to complete a full year?”
“We will not allow him to continue. It is clear that he presents a great danger to both worlds and must be stopped,” Zarethyn was trying to be reassuring but Allie did not share his optimism. “As it stands though, your part here is done. Natarien will take you back to the house now and we will try to join you later when we may.”
“I’m still under Guard then? You don’t think with the book gone and this place found that maybe my part in all of this is, you know, finished?” Allie said, trying not to sound hopeful.
Zarethyn gave her a sympathetic look and crouched down to pat her leg reassuringly. “I believe that this killer will continue to see you as a threat because of what you have done so far, and as well he may seek vengeance for your interference. I believe you are correct that he killed Aeyliss, and that he did so to prevent her from tracking him, and–I am sorry–that he killed Officer Lyons not only to distract us all and throw us off his scent but also to upset you personally. The fact that it did not work, and led you to push to find this place, will only enrage him further. I would be remiss in my duty to have allowed you to get us so far in this case at such risk to yourself only to abandon you to danger now. And we do not know if the Dark Court agents still seek you, something else that I must resolve.”
It occurred to Allie suddenly that the Guard might be using her for bait in both cases and she found the idea very troubling. Bleidd warned you not to trust them and you did anyway, she thought. And maybe they were thinking the whole time that even if you couldn’t actually help them with leads you could help them by being a tasty bit of cheese in the trap…
She bit her lip, looking down, “You know I am kind of tired, maybe I should go home.”
The Elven Captain misinterpreted her reaction, “Do not worry Aliaine–Allie–we will not let harm come to you.” He squeezed her leg reassuringly, before standing and closing the door. Before stepping away he nodded to Natarien who nodded back and started the car, “I will get you back to your home Aliaine” Natarien said kindly, “and the others will follow as soon as they are able.”
She swallowed her paranoid thoughts, and tried to speak evenly, “I appreciate that, Natarien. When we get back, I’ll fix something to eat. As a guest in my home, you’re welcome to have some, if you’re hungry.”
He smiled, “I would not refuse a good meal.”
**********************************
They sat in the kitchen eating the quick chicken stir-fry that Allie had thrown together after they returned to the house. It was late afternoon, but since she hadn’t had lunch she decided that an early dinner was in order and Natarien, who had never had stir-fry before, was too curious to refuse the new food. Allie was fairly certain that he was young, for an elf, because he was willing to engage in small talk and proved eager to ask questions about human society–usually the older elves were more reserved and unwilling to admit to their ignorance about human culture unless they had to. To her surprise she found herself enjoying spending time with him, even if most of it was giving him a crash course in human culture.
She was in the middle of trying to explain about human names, a subject that consistently baffled the elves, when Bleidd came in, “No the first name is a personal name and the second name is kind of like the clan name, sort of, but most people in formal settings are called by the second name–Hi Bleidd, there’s stir-fry on the stove, if you’re hungry–and using a first name denotes a level of intimacy.”
“That seems very confusing. If everyone is addressed by clan name then how are individuals identified?” Natarien frowned, “And how do shortened names fit in?”
“Nicknames? Well they would also denote intimacy, sometimes, but sometimes it’s just if the person doesn’t like their name. Like I don’t like mine, so I ask people who use my first name to call me Allie,” she said between mouthfuls of food.
Bleidd stood for a moment watching this exchange with a bemused look on his face, and then went over to get a bowl out of the cabinet. She watched out of the corner of her eye as he grabbed a drink form the fridge and was disproportionately relieved to see him take a soda. She had feared Syndra’s death would push him back to drinking and she had been enjoying sober-Bleidd.
Natarien nodded thoughtfully. “So it would be more appropriate to call you Allie?”
“Well, I prefer it, yes. But of course, among elves it denotes a close bond, so…” she shrugged. He chewed and considered. Bleidd sat down at the table with his plate and drink as Natarien was finishing; Allie had talked so much she still had half her meal left. With a polite nod to both of them the Elven Guard stood up. “If it is alright with you I would like to speak with the squad that is patrolling the grounds.”
She wasn’t sure why he needed her permission. “Sure. I’m not going anywhere.”
He nodded again, almost a short bow, and headed out the back door. She watched him go, and then looked at Bleidd. “So, h
ow are you holding up? I meant to talk with you earlier…”
“It’s been a difficult day,” he said shortly.
“They found the ritual site. Where the altar is and all that,” she said awkwardly.
“They found it, or you found it for them?” he asked pointedly.
“I found it,” she said. They both fell silent, eating. Finally she said, “Bleidd, I want you to know. I need you to know. She probably died because of me.”
“No,” he said shaking his head and looking up at Allie.
“Yes. And I don’t want you to get hurt too, because of this. You and Liz and Jason are my family. I think you should all be extra careful.”
“Allie, I love you,” he said. She looked at him like he’d grown a second head, feeling the unexpected emotion from him as he spoke. Flustered he kept talking, “I know this isn’t the best time to tell you. I know you’re with that Guard right now. But Syndra dying made me realize that I need to say this to you because we don’t any of us know what is going to happen. And I can’t bear the idea of anything happening to you and you not knowing how I feel about you.”
“You–what?” she sputtered. “You love me? You’re telling me this now?”
“I should have told you sooner, but…”
“You should have told me this a lot sooner! Gods’ damn you Bleidd!” she put her head in her hands. “Why? Why all those years ago when I was reaching out to you, flirting, hinting–I mean I know I was subtle, but you knew I was interested! You gave me that whole “let’s just be friends, platonic love” talk. And I spent the last 10 years resigned to just being friends. I accepted things as they are. And now–now! You’re going to tell me that you love me! I want to punch you in the crotch, you moron!”
He winced, “I deserve that. I thought…I knew how young you were…too young, I thought. I didn’t want to take advantage, and I thought I could wait for you until you were old enough…”
Murder Between the Worlds: A Between the Worlds Novel Page 21
