Fire Within

by Ally Shields

  Shale indicated he understood and turned to the task of reassuring the distraught victim. As she left, Ari heard Shale begin with “Carl, I’m so sorry.”

  Relieved the victim’s boyfriend was now in professional hands, she tracked down Ryan. Probably should have told him Shale was coming before the counselor arrived. Would have, if Andreas’s presence hadn’t already screwed up her concentration.

  “That’s the counselor, isn’t it?” Ryan asked as soon as he noticed her.

  “Yeah, I called him when I first got here. Sorry I didn’t mention it before.”

  “You think he can help? Boyfriend’s a mess.”

  “Yeah, I noticed. That’s why I thought we needed a pro. If Shale can calm him, we’ll have a better chance at an interview.”

  “He better not question him about this,” Ryan groused. “The boyfriend’s still a suspect.”

  “I warned him.”

  “Yeah, well, not sure I like getting civilians involved. This second vampire murder is big trouble, Ari.” He gave her an apprehensive look.

  “Yeah.” Neither of them said the words—serial killer—but they hung unspoken in the air.

  “Can’t have a bunch of untrained personnel stumbling around.”

  Ari bridled. “You were more than ready to welcome a certain vampire.”

  “You know that’s different. It’s necessary.”

  “So is Shale. We need to interview the boyfriend tonight. That won’t happen if we have a hysterical witness.” Ryan’s attitude was irritating. How come Andreas was OK and Shale wasn’t?

  “OK. OK. But just because Andreas annoys you, don’t take it out on me. You need to chill. Let’s just get this scene processed.”

  Ari stared at Ryan’s back as he stalked across to his techs. Was she being unreasonable? Maybe, but Ryan didn’t have all the facts. She flushed, wondering what he’d say if he did. One thing was for sure, he wouldn’t want her personal life to interfere with the investigation. She’d work on minimizing the overlap. It’d help if a certain vampire would go home.

  The Medical Examiner came, verified the two murder scenes were similar, and left. Not very helpful. Gillian arrived and took samples from the body and from the surrounding area. Ari noticed she did a complete circuit of the scene, speaking with the crime scene techs and the victim’s boyfriend. Before she left, Gillian found Ari again and showed her the strange readings on the ES recorder.

  “It’s really weird,” Gillian said. “See these multiple rows of sharp spikes. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Gillian shook her head over the strange readings and was mumbling to herself when she left.

  An unidentified pattern. It had to be the same phenomenon that Ari had found so oppressive. At least they had viable samples this time, and Gillian could do further testing back at the lab. The lack of immediate identification by the ES wasn’t a complete surprise, since the handhelds were only programmed with common energy patterns, but Gillian was puzzled, and that was a bad sign. It confirmed Ari’s gnawing fears that something about this case was very wrong.

  * * *

  As soon as Gillian left and the remains were taken away, Shale asked if he could take Carl Austin, the victim’s boyfriend, to his agency to await questioning. Ryan checked with Ari before agreeing. His earlier irritation with her seemed forgotten, but he’d also consulted with Andreas before giving final approval. Obviously, the vampire had been included in the investigation. That didn’t help Ari’s mood or focus. She flexed her tense shoulders and went about the task of processing the scene. When she checked, too often for her peace of mind, Andreas was always far away from her. She didn’t think it was coincidence.

  It was an hour and a half later before they were finished with the scene and ready to interview the boyfriend. Ari rode with Ryan in his cruiser, and Andreas met them at Shale & Associates. Ari had hoped Andreas wouldn’t take it this far, that he’d be content with viewing the crime scene, but here they were, and he showed no sign of leaving.

  Shale and their witness sat at a far table near the back of the main meeting room. They were talking quietly, heads bent toward one another. Otherwise, the area was empty. Instead of Ms. Binderman, an early-twenties woman operated the front desk. Before they could tell her their business, Shale spotted them and waved.

  Carl Austin appeared more composed. His forehead still creased with misery, but the tears had stopped. His square, fleshy face remained red and blotchy.

  Ryan got through the preliminaries in a hurry. Everyone in the room was eager to know what Carl had to say. His early answers deflated their hopes. According to his account, he’d found Patricia’s dead body when he arrived.

  “I was a few minutes late. We met there every night around eight o’clock. Maybe if I had been on time…”

  Yeah, you might be dead, too, Ari thought. Considering the condition of the victim’s body, she must have died near 8:00. He hadn’t missed the killer by much.

  Or he was the killer.

  Ryan didn’t let him dwell on the ifs. “Did you see anyone? Hear anything?” When Carl shook his head, Ryan said, “Describe what you did and saw as you approached the shelter.”

  “Nothing unusual. I was surprised I didn’t see her waiting. I walked over to the table, and that’s when I saw…” His jaw worked back and forth. “She was just laying there. So still. I saw the wounds, the blood. Who would do that? Patricia never hurt anyone.” He looked like he might start crying again.

  “We don’t know yet,” Ryan said. “But you’re helping us find out. How’d you get the blood on the front of your shirt?”

  Carl kept his hands on the table, avoiding contact with the dried stain. “I kind of freaked, started to pick her up. Then I realized how bad it was and called 911. I knew she was gone, but I had to try. After that, I just sat there.”

  “We need the shirt for forensics. Did anyone at the scene spray you with preservative?”

  “Guess so. Some stuff that smelled funny.”

  “Like turpentine. That’s Hemocoat,” Ari interjected, pleased Gillian had preserved this sample too.

  When Shale took Carl to a back room for clean clothes and Ryan accompanied them to collect the shirt as evidence, Ari immediately stood and walked around the room. She wasn’t about to remain at the table with Andreas. All she wanted to do was keep her mind on the murders. She began to compare the two cases in her head. Vampire victims, both involved with human partners. Similar time of day, similar injuries. Looked like the same killer, and this time Eddie was safely in jail.

  She took a quick glance at Andreas, but he had a cell phone to one ear. He didn’t hang up until the other men returned.

  Once everyone was seated again, Carl appeared more relaxed than before. Not a big surprise. Sitting around covered in your dead girlfriend’s blood was about as bad as it got. Ari wished they had gotten to his interview earlier.

  “I loved her, you know. Patricia and I planned to be bonded.” Carl blurted the declaration as he dumped himself into a chair. Self-serving? Or just the topmost thought in his mind? For a brief instant, there was silence before the others recovered, and the interview went on.

  As Carl answered Ryan’s questions, an ordinary boy meets girl story developed. They’d met at a bar, struck up a conversation. He described her as quiet, shy, reconciled to but not enamored with her vampire life. He hadn’t objected to her undead status; he’d just wanted her.

  “Enemies? Threats?”

  “The only trouble she had was with some of her so-called friends. Other vampires. They let her know they weren’t happy with her dating a human.”

  “Was this a conversation or something more?” Andreas interjected, leaning forward, black eyes suddenly alert.

  “Bullying, intimidating. Nothing physical. She was told she should find better company. It was really directed at me.”

  “Did you ever see them? Hear their names? Were they her nestmates?”

  “No, no names, and she never pointed them out. Patrici
a was annoyed, not scared. I think it was three or four men.” Carl scratched his chin. “Guess I should have asked Patricia more about them. She knew one guy. From before. From her home town of Cincinnati. But, no, not from her nest. She’d have mentioned that. They belonged to some vampire gang.”

  Andreas looked at Ryan. “Leave this to me. I will find them, bring them in.”

  “I hope you catch the bastards who killed her, whoever they are,” Austin said through clenched teeth. He studied his hands fisted in front of him. “Or maybe I’d rather find them myself.”

  Ryan gave him a pained look and brought the interview to a close. “We’ll keep you informed of our progress, but don’t go looking for trouble. You’d get in our way or get yourself killed. And don’t leave town.”

  “Yeah, sure,” Carl mumbled.

  “Well, if we’re through here, I assume Carl’s free to go.” Harold Shale stood and turned to his client. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

  With a heavy sigh, the young man pushed back his chair. He nodded at each of them and left. Ari watched him close the door. No smell of fear rising from him, no abnormal anxiety. His eye movements and body language were appropriate. Unless Carl possessed an unusual talent for deception, he had a long, sleepless night ahead, grieving for someone very important to him. She stood, suddenly tired, anxious to be home.

  “I have one or two questions for Mr. Shale.”

  Ari froze, as Andreas’s voice seemed to breathe over her skin. She was much too aware of him. If everyone else hadn’t immediately sat down, she might have suggested his questions could wait. Instead, she raised her mental shields to keep his magic at bay and dropped into her chair.

  “Questions for me?” the counselor said. “Yes, of course. Ask me anything.”

  “Thank you.” Andreas leaned forward. “This is the second vampire murder, and both victims were clients of your agency. I think we have to ask if there is anyone among your staff or other clientele who might be involved. Any arguments, someone with a grudge?”

  Shale’s face tightened. “I would have told Ms. Calin if there was.” He smoothed out his features. “Sorry, I don’t mean to sound so defensive, but you hit a nerve. As I listened to the interview, I started worrying about the same thing. But I don’t think the victims even knew one another.” He shook his head slowly. “I haven’t heard of any trouble among the clients, and I can vouch for my staff. Perhaps the connection is merely the ethnicity of our clientele. A hate crime, if you will.”

  “Have you received threats?”

  “From time to time we do. Nothing I remember within the past month. Ms. Binderman could be more specific. She’d know of crank letters or calls. I want to help, but that’s all I know. If you don’t mind, I’d like to get home now. It’s very late, and tomorrow will be busy.”

  Ari noted Shale’s annoyance. Although he hadn’t liked Andreas bringing up the agency connection, she was glad the issue was out in the open. She’d hesitated to alienate Shale so early in the investigation, but she was aware the agency was the only known link between the deaths. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t uncover something else, but for now, they would keep a close eye on Shale & Associates.

  Ari had almost reached the front door in her second attempt to leave, when Andreas spoke from close behind her. She nearly jumped.

  “Arianna, I would like to see you home.”

  Taken aback, she looked over her shoulder and frowned. “That’s not necessary. It’s not far.”

  “We need to talk.”

  Ari was shaking her head before he finished. “No, we don’t. Let it go, Andreas. I’m tired. I just want to go home.”

  “Not about the past, the present.”

  She glanced at his face, suddenly curious. What was on his mind? He’d joined the investigation—what more could he want? Aware Ryan and Shale were listening, she wanted to end this quickly. She considered refusing. Almost did. But Andreas’s raised brow told her he wouldn’t give up easy.

  “Make it quick,” she said, facing him squarely.

  He reached past her. “In private,” he insisted, holding the door.

  Ryan cleared his throat, as if he might intervene, then shrugged. Ari was relieved. If she had to have this awkward conversation, she preferred to do it without witnesses. As they stepped outside, she was aware of the speculation following them. Ari started up the street toward home. Andreas fell into step beside her. His magical energy seeped along her skin, making her jittery. She wasn’t sure if it was deliberate or a sign that he was nervous, too.

  “My presence is not comfortable for you. Nor yours for me. Regardless, we must find a way to work together.” Andreas’s voice was controlled, easing but not eliminating the flow of magic between them.

  “Not if you’d let Ryan and me handle this.” Ari tried not to sound bitchy, but she wasn’t good at hiding her moods. He’d forced this situation on her. She didn’t want to be around him, didn’t want to have this or any other conversation with him—and definitely didn’t want to feel the way he made her feel.

  “You know I cannot back off from this. Prince Daron is responsible for what happens to his people. To ignore these murders would cost him their respect. The vampire court is making an effort to cooperate with local authorities. If you refuse, we will be forced to proceed on our own.”

  “How? By ripping someone’s head off?” The blurted words were harsher than intended. And unfair. Ari heard his sharp intake of breath. He didn’t answer for several agonizing heartbeats.

  “You knew what I was. I never tried to hide it from you.”

  She sighed. “I know.” The conversation had quickly slipped to where they had agreed it wouldn’t go. The past. To that night last fall when Ari had seen him snap a woman’s neck with one twist, not tearing it off, as she had implied, but bad just the same. A werewolf who more than deserved killing. Still, when Andreas’s vampiric nature had been thrown in her face, when she’d seen what lurked under his charming exterior, Ari hadn’t handled it well. In fact, she hadn’t handled it at all. She had run like hell. Yeah, real cop-like.

  “I guess…for a while I forgot what you were.” The same excuse she’d used for months, as she’d tried to understand her reaction. It had sounded lame then, still did.

  They had come to a standstill in front of her apartment building. Too aware to look at him, Ari watched a beetle crawl across the sidewalk and disappear into the grass.

  “You did not forget, little witch.” Andreas’s voice was softer now. “You chose to ignore it, as long as I let you. It is the one thing you could not accept and the one I cannot change. I am what I am.”

  She lifted her lashes. “If that’s what you think, why did you flaunt it and force the issue by killing her? I’ve had plenty of time to think about this, and I know you have better control. So, tell me, why did you kill her?”

  “Is that the question you really want to ask? Or is it why did I not let you kill her?”

  Ari looked away, confused. Why had she let this conversation get started? It was so complicated. And he was at least partly right. She’d been angry that he’d denied her personal vengeance. Or at least robbed her of the right to make the decision.

  When she didn’t answer, he asked, “Would knowing the answer make a difference?”

  She thought about it. He deserved an honest answer. “Probably not. I just want to know.”

  Andreas cut off a harsh laugh. “Then I have no reason to enlighten you. I did not come here to satisfy your curiosity.” He sounded pissed now. “What I did is done. Over. But we still have to cooperate on these murders and end the threat. If you prefer, I will contact Lt. Foster whenever possible, but I must remain involved.” He paused, and she sensed his anger fade. “Arianna, I never meant to…”

  He reached a hand toward her arm, and she jerked away, cutting off his words. “Don’t touch me.” The last thing she wanted was for him to be nice. Anger she could take. But he was too close. She didn’t want that compelli
ng magic to spill over her. She didn’t trust her response.

  Andreas dropped his hand. “I would not harm you.” His voice was sharp with disbelief.

  “Harm me?” Ari exclaimed, stepping toward her door. “As in attack me? I never thought you would.” At least, not recently. Not for a long time, in fact.

  “Then, what frightens you?”

  “Nothing,” she lied. And everything. She didn’t want to care about a creature capable of unleashing such violence. She had her own demons to deal with. And neither of them had mentioned the really scary stuff. The strange mystical link their magics shared. Or the dreams. The unexplained bond. Andreas was way too dangerous to ever make a comfortable boyfriend.

  His eyes darkened into unfathomable depths. Ari shifted her gaze, avoiding direct contact, and clamped down her defenses. No magical stuff tonight. But her precautions were unnecessary. Andreas cut off his magic, leaving the space around her strangely empty.

  “I am delighted to hear that,” he said, once more the aloof vampire. “If you have no legitimate concerns, I assume we can work the case without difficulty. Are we agreed?”

  “Yeah, fine.” Anything was better than continuing this discussion. “But call Ryan, not me.”

  “As you wish.”

  He sounded exasperated, but Ari’s quick glance at his face caught a hint of something else. Satisfaction? Now that she thought about it, he’d gotten his way. Again.

  Chapter Seven

  Thursday was busy but totally worthless as far as the murder investigations. Before Ari left her apartment, her cell phone was already ringing. Every Otherworlder in Olde Town had chosen that day to have issues. Nothing serious, just time consuming. A pregnant dwarf needing a mid-wife, complaints against landlords, neighbors, spouses. Even a con-artist, masquerading as a palm reader. It took Ari almost four hours to track the palmist and prove she was a fraud. In the end, Ari left it to Gillian and OFR to confiscate the equipment and arrange for the culprit’s appearance before the Magic Council. The calls she didn’t get were the ones she wanted: OFR’s sensory report from the latest crime scene and word that Andreas had located the vampire bullies.