by Ann Denton
That’s it. He’s totally gonna take me outside and strangle me after this. He specifically said no participation. When I’m dead, I want a giant jellybean gravestone, okay? Like huge. Twelve feet. Okay. I take a deep calming breath. If these are gonna be my last moments, better make them count.
“Max, did you hear anything weird just before Bernard fell over the second time?”
The cat turns his blue eyes to me. “Yes. It was a whistle. Or a whiz. A whizzing whistle. Horribly high-pitched.”
I nod. “Thank you. That is exactly what I wanted to know. You’ve been really helpful.” I infuse my voice with extra gratitude. What? Cat’s love to think they’re superior. Why not milk it a little? If I can have a City Councilor think good of me, maybe Bennett won’t be able to kill me after all.
“Cracked the case for you, did I?”
“You might have,” I wink and walk away, leaving Seena and Bennett to trail after me.
“What was that?” Ben growls once we’re out of earshot.
I look at Seena. “You heard that noise too, right? You were halfway across the room right before Bernard fell over.”
“Yeah, why?”
“Did he describe the sound right? Did it sound like a whistle to you?”
“Yeah. Something scary though, like a moving whistle. Like a train. That doesn’t make much sense. But something. It made my hair stand on end.”
Bennett’s growl is not the sexy kind. “Lyon, what’s the point of this?”
“I didn’t hear anything. But Honeycutt’s bats swooped in. He ducked. Tabby and Max were both freaking out. Even Flowers mentioned hearing something.”
“And?”
He doesn’t get it.
“Why is it all the were-animals heard something, but I didn’t?”
“Did the boobies react?” Ben asks.
This time, I don’t even snicker. I’m too focused on the conversation. There’s something here. I can feel it. But it’s like sand in my hands. I don’t quite know my own point yet.
Seena jumps in to help. “I don’t know about sea boobies’ hearing. But you’re right. Gor didn’t really react. Or most of the assistants. Jackie and her cameraman were still standing there, she was blabbing away.”
“Okay. So we know there was a noise.”
“A scary noise,” I cut in.
“A scary noise,” Bennett mocks me. “That only were-animals with sensitive hearing could hear. Why is that important?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Bennett lets out a snort. If he were in dragon form, smoke would be rolling off him right now. He’d be shooting sparks at me. If I wasn’t already fried to a crisp. “Well, now that we’ve wasted time on this enlightening conversation, let’s get back to work.”
Chapter 8
To my surprise, Bennett heads over to talk to the pixie.
"Why—"
"I'm not about to tick off one of our most important City Councilors by acting like I dismissed his theory. Especially not the one that has nine lives." Bennett replies. “We’ll talk to her next, see what’s up, and move on.”
With a nod of respect, he steps in front of the pixie, who’s hovering in place at head-height. "Miss Daisy, I'd like to take your statement on the record about what happened tonight. If you don't mind."
She nods and claps her hands to release a sprinkle of pixie dust, some of which she captures and smears on her throat to magnify her voice. I expect her to start talking, but she starts pulling at the neck of her dress like it’s suffocating her. For a second, I wonder if we’re about to have a third person collapse on us. But then I realize, she just stuck her hand down the front of her dress. And is rummaging around. OMG.
"You can call me Eudora, as long as you're okay with me chewing here," she rasps as she pulls out a tiny tin.
Bennett eyes slide left to right and he leans in conspiratorially. "It's fine by me 'til you get caught. Then I had nothing to do with it."
She laughs and it's a gruff, manly sound. Completely the opposite of what I was expecting.
She opens the tin and shoves something in her mouth. It takes me a second to realize its chewing tobacco.
"So, a statement you said?"
Next to her ABC creaks forward. He puts his head right next to where she’s hovering on iridescent blue wings. I don't think life-infused clay men have the best hearing. But his fingers tap-tap-tap away at that belly.
Bennett gives her one of his killer smiles.
"Well I knew they were never gonna give it to me. Councilor. Told my squadron the same. Big waste of time for me to come from beyond the Veil. But politics, you know. Can't go shootin’ Clo in the foot."
"Are you related to her?" Bennett tries to sound disinterested.
"Shoot, boy! I thought everyone knew that. She's my second cousin's step-grandmother. Might be once removed or something. Who knows with all those inbreeding fools beyond the Veil." Her eyes flicker to me and she raises her diamond encrusted brows.
"See you've got some fairy blood in you," Eudora gestures at the sapphire in my chin.
I nod but don't speak. First off, I'm not sure how Bennett would react if I broke the rules a second time. Secondly, she might've just insulted fairies, but it's one thing for a full fairy to insult her own kind and it's totally another thing for a part-Fae to insult fairies. Kinda like if I was gonna talk about your mother…
"Well I hope you have more sense than most of them," she spits. Literally.
I have to step aside, because she's got quite the range. Seena’s not so lucky. Tobacco hits him right on the chest.
Bennett gives me a subtle nod. I'm guessing he wants me to get her back on track since she's engaging with me.
"I hope so ma'am," I respond. "Did you observe anything unusual today?"
"Besides that booby being a boob?" Her eyes twinkle.
I somewhat smother a snicker.
"Look all I know is that reporter was in our face blabbing on about how important this appointment was. And that goblin, Gor or Gory or whatever, was on his phone a couple times, answering questions for work, I guess. Something about consignment. And potions. That there seems like a shady business. Heard him tell some assistant to offer some hard-up Fae a quarter the value of his throwing stars. Highway robbery!" She pounds a tiny fist into her palm. "Criminal behavior, if you ask me. What with that—and that accusation being tossed out about his association with those Crypts hooligans—I wouldn't be surprised if he had something to do with all this. ‘Just takes one step off the straight and narrow to start down a crooked path,’ my mother always said."
“Did you see him do anything suspicious?” I follow up.
“Well, I wasn’t really looking for it.” For the first time, Eudora looks a little sheepish. “Let my guard down today. And look. I would ream one of my flyers if this happened to him!” She shakes her pink head. "Maybe I need to look at retirement. Did you know I was one of the first women ever to make captain?" She sighs. "522 years in. Some people might say that's long enough. But I’d always hope to die in battle, like Petal the Pickax or Vanquished Violet."
Bennett clears his throat. I can tell he's thoroughly annoyed by Miss Daisy's meandering thoughts.
"Other than Gor, did you see anyone else doing anything suspicious on stage? Did anyone bring any packages up or wave their fingers to do secret spell work?" Bennett is polite but clipped.
“I didn’t hear much else. Clo was blabbing in my ear about the other City Councilors. Seems like they don't all get along."
"Why's that?" Bennett asks.
Eudora shakes her pink head. "Why else? Power. Idiots always become seduced by power. And they think being in the spotlight gives it to 'em. Real power comes from the tip end of your sword. That's what I always tell my squad. Don't get hung up on promotions. Don't get hung up on orders. All those can change. At the end of the day, the one with the power is the one that's still breathing. Closer you are to the top, less likely you are that’s you. Top get the f
irst chop." She grabs another pinch of snuff. “Clo seems to hate that vampire member. He seems a bit shady. She kept snapping at him about leaving during an important time. And he kept complaining about how long all this was taking. Of course, that’s just tempers. But that cat, you know. Can’t trust cats. Dunno what idiots elected him. I mean, look at what that orange one did. Jumping on a man like that. My squad woulda’ ripped into her. She’s a violent one, you can tell.”
I have to work hard not to stiffen as she calls Tabby violent. Raspberry took the first swing. Tabby just grabbed him by the—don’t argue in your head, Lyon. It shows on your face. Deep breath. Deep breath.
“Well, thank you.” Bennett turns to leave and I take a step to follow him. That’s why I almost slam into him when he turns back around. “Are you sure all the current City Councilors knew you were related to Clo?”
Eudora shrugs. “Like I said, I thought everyone knew when she tossed my name to the mayor as an option. Not like we used a cloaking spell to hide the family tree.”
Bennett nods. “Please stay in town with her while we have this investigation open.”
Eudora nods.
Seena salutes her as we leave.
Eudora just spits another wad at him and he has to duck as we walk away.
“Well, she’s off her rocker,” Seena mumbles once we’re out of earshot.
“She’s actually the most pleasant pixie I’ve ever met,” I respond.
“Don’t think I need to meet anymore then,” he grins at me.
“Probably not. They tend to be terrors. I think age has mellowed her.”
“Mellowed her mind,” Bennett shoots back.
I shrug. What he says is true.
“We dodged a bullet with her nearly being the appointee,” Bennett looks at ABC. “Strike that from the record.”
ABC frantically hits backspace.
“In fact, we’re gonna take a quick break. Go over and help out Teri down there. Food’s here.” Bennett nods toward a delivery donkey with a pack on its back.
Yum! I’m thrilled until I realize that the delivery is sushi. Leave it up to a tiger-shifter to order expensive fishy crap. What was he thinking? My tummy protests. I sigh. Oh well. At least Town Hall has vending machines.
I go grab some peanut M&Ms and a candy bar. I don’t know why vending machines don’t carry jellybeans. It’s like their deliciousness is a hidden secret only I know. Sad. Until I go to the store and clean out every bag they have! (Muhahhaha—an evil villain laugh is always necessary when your arms are full of all the jellybeans.)
Seena is also not a fan of the fish food. He’s stuck plowing through the edamame.
A little ways away, Bennett is tossing sushi disks down his throat. I sit on a chair next to him and nudge his foot with mine. What? That’s not flirting is it? It’s just a friendly hello. To a hot supervisor.
“Flowers is never allowed to order takeout again,” I declare.
“Technically, his assistant did it.”
“Don’t care. Only you like this crud,” I say.
“Yeah, well the mayor should never be allowed to nominate candidates again,” he confides in a low voice.
“She didn’t really think she was gonna get it,” I whisper back.
“But look at Bernard.” Our gazes drift to the body, which still can’t be removed because the highly trained and oh-so-magically-competent medical team can’t figure out what’s wrong with him or Becca. What’s it been, three hours? Thirty spells? Still no clue. Not inspiring a lotta confidence, guys.
“I’m looking.”
“He was an idiot, too.”
I shrug. “Maybe Gor was the choice all along and the mayor had to just put butts in the seats to make it look fair.”
Bennett turns to me. “How can you shrug off the mayor being unfair about the most important post in town, but you ride my ass about letting pony-boy tag along?”
I meet his gaze head on. Oh no you don’t, Mr. French. I stare into his eyes and will myself not to get lost in the sea of green. What the hell is it with him and talking about everything? Focus on work. Stay on work. Don’t make me cry at work. It’s not hard. He wants to play it like that. Fine. I’ll play it like that. Suck it up, Ly. Straight delivery. Hit him where it hurts. “Easy. I hold the potential father of my future children to a higher standard.”
He chokes. “What?” His face goes through fifty shades of freaked out. The expressions are so exaggerated he looks like a mime. I consider pulling out my camera.
“Oh, I got you good. You freaked!”
He shakes his head, still coughing. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“Bennett, don’t you wanna be my baby-daddy?” I bat my eyes.
“Not fair. We have not had this conversation.”
I don’t give a shit about fair. Right now, I’m just glad the tears have been swallowed back into the abyss. Work. I need more work. I let my gaze wander around the room. It looks like ABC and another investigator are talking with Tabby and Sarah Snow. “Fine. I’ll stop. But only because I don’t want you embarrassing yourself any more in front of the mayor.”
Bennett rolls his eyes. “Thank you, Ms. Fox.”
I stand.
He grabs my hand and interlaces our fingers.
“Don’t. People will see.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do.”
Bennett’s eyes turn dark. He leans forward. And even though I’m standing and he’s still sitting, the authority rolling off of him is palpable. “Since you wanted to bring up bearing my children, I thought I’d let you know… I have a ring. Ready and waiting.”
My heart stops. My cheeks heat. What the mother eff? Is he serious?
This time, he smirks. “Gotcha.”
I storm off. Jerk-face.
Chapter 9
I head over to Tabby and Mrs. Snow.
Scaring Bennett was fun. He got me back. But oh, he’ll get his.
I sigh. He came way too close to talking about real stuff. I can tell when he gets that look in his eyes. He did it the first time we broke up, too. He’s weird. I mean, who talks to their ex after a breakup about the breakup? Just now he wanted to psychoanalyze why I hold him to a higher standard. Geez. We have to work together, but there’s no way I want to air all this out at a murder scene. I mean, shouldn’t he be focused on that? We should definitely be focused on that, right?
I rub my eyebrows to stave off a migraine. Compared to Bennett, Luke’s sweet attention is so uncomplicated. And he invited me on a date. Kinda. To help me practice spells. That’s a date, right? Shit. Now I feel guilty for flirt-teasing Bennett. I’m gonna have to tell JR I can’t help with wedding sweatshop tonight. Even with Peppy Perk, I’m clearly a danger to society. And hearts. (My own included.) I have a firm no-reckless heartbreaking policy. So… yeah. Sleep. And work.
I walk past Becca’s stiff form. The medics have a green haze swirling around her now, trying out yet another tentative cure. Yes. Focus. See? This is what I mean. I need to help Becca. So that she can wake up and we can execute our Halloween plans for Seena. That’s four nights away.
I have to pass the crusty photographer on my way to my friends. I stop when he starts shaking his camera like a maniac.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” he mutters.
“Whoa. What’s up? Can I help?”
He turns to me, about to snarl, but then his lip gives an extra twist and I worry he might cry. Awkward. “Both of my cameras are broken.”
“Can I take a look?” I gently relieve the pretty black camera body from his death grip. I take a couple test shots. I see nothing wrong. But I don’t want to make Mr. Mental-Instability worse, so I casually ask, “What seems to be the problem?”
“Pixelation. The other camera, my newer one, has it too. I think my grandmother’s cursed me. That witch. She never wanted me to take this job in the first place. But to ruin two cameras … Do you know how much that costs?”
I take another test sho
t. “I’m not seeing pixelation.”
The photog raises his eyebrows. “Maybe it is a curse then. On me. You mean my cameras aren’t broken?”
I aim a test shot at the bodies. And there it is. Dammit. A dark spot.
“Shoot.”
“Oh man! You see it?”
“Yeah.” I take a few steps and try another test shot, zooming in on Bennett. No spots. Turn back to the bodies. Click. A spot. “Wait.”
I take another few steps. Click. Check the on-screen image. A spot. But the spot is moving around. Bad pixels don’t move. They create a dead spot on the screen. But I’m moving, taking shots in different places. Always aiming at the bodies but different angles. The spot shows up on Raspberry’s neck, no matter where I seem to stand.
I pause, holding up a hand to stop the camera guy who’s come to take back his equipment. His other rig showed pixelation too. Two cameras with the same issue? It can’t be a coincidence. But what can it mean?
Just then—with the perfect timing of real-life coincidence that somehow manages to seem impossible—Tabby hollers at her investigator.
“I bet this is all gonna be some massive cover up!”
I turn to look at her, holding the camera overhead so the photo-wizard can’t easily grab it back. (Thank goodness he’s so short.) A cover up.
Eudora flutters by and suddenly my brain’s on overdrive. Something she said … Cover up. Cloaking spell. That’s it!
“Give that back!” Photo-wiz stomps his foot.
“Oh, keep your shirt on. I’m about to save you from looking like a fool.” I start adjusting settings on his camera. I turn the frame rate up to 240 per second. I turn back to Bernard the booby. I zoom. And start taking rapid-fire photos of his neck. There! And there! Every eight frames or so I see something. An outline or something. I go to the menu and delete the ‘normal’ frames. I start flipping through the messed up photos. Faster. And faster. Like those flip-book comics they used to make us draw in third grade. And I see it. A tube. Or a vial. Raspberry’s got something sticking out of his neck.
“Shut the front door!” I did it! I figured out a clue! Or found evidence. Or whatever. But I did it! I could do a happy dance. I wink at the pouting photo-wizard before I yell, “Bennett!”
