Staying on Top

by Elizabeth Corrigan

  “True, but somehow I doubt Baurus—”

  “Kadin Stone!” Octavira interrupted whatever Ralvin planned to say about his cousin. “Are you going to be on the phone all day, or are you actually going to help me with some of the housework?”

  Kadin leaned out of the kitchen to see Octavira in the dining room with a pile of bedding in her arms. She didn’t look much like she was prepared for housework in her white floral dress and three-inch heels, but then she never did.

  “I’d better go,” Kadin said to Ralvin. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle Baurus.”

  That got a laugh out of Ralvin. “No one can handle Baurus, but you’re welcome to try. I’ll talk to you soon.” There was a click on the other end of the line.

  Kadin hung up, and by the time she emerged into the dining room, Octavira had headed upstairs, presumably to check on the children and make the beds. Kadin headed into the living room, where a number of papers and books lay scattered across the java table.

  Kadin sorted through the papers first, some days-old to-do lists of Octavira’s and a few bills. Kadin sorted the bills into paid and unpaid, and the latter pile made her cringe. She knew her brother got along all right on his salary, but she wished he allowed her to contribute more to the household expenses.

  Most of the books were Tobin’s medical journals. He always liked to keep abreast of the most recent research in his field. They were numbered, so even though she understood none of the topics in them, she could put them on the shelf in the proper order. Two of the remaining three books were scenic photograph books that belonged on the java table, but the third puzzled Kadin.

  A surgery textbook? Why do we have this? Tobin’s a primary care doctor, and he hasn’t needed textbooks in years. She flipped it open to check the publication date. Maybe it was left over from his medical school days, though she couldn’t imagine why he would have pulled it out. Maybe he needs to consult on a surgery case?

  As she flipped through the books, she noticed the words “Property of the Valeriel City Library” stamped on a number of pages. She continued to flip through the pages, not knowing what she was looking for until she reached the end. When she got to the checkout pocket at the back, she read the name the library had released the book to: Octavira Stone.

  I didn’t know Octavira was interested in surgery. And that’s unfair of me. I never thought of Octavira as interested in anything other than being a wife and mother, but of course, she has interests of her own.

  Kadin returned the book to the java table. Well, at least now I know what to get her for her birthday on Thursday.

  Monday morning, Kadin arrived at the office early enough to make java for the team, as was her custom. She tried not to think of Baurus as she poured the water into the machine and flipped it on, but she thought of him every time she brewed java. After all, he was the one who had helped her learn to make the beverage six months ago—and had provided the Astrevian grounds that had won her back into the good graces of the homicide department after her first botched attempt. Then after she had solved his case, both he and his fancy java had disappeared back into the upper echelons of society, leaving everything as it was meant to be. But that version of “meant to be” didn’t allow him showing up in her living room on Saturday night.

  He respects me as a homicide detective. Kadin poured Detective Fellows’s java and carried it back to their adjoining offices. And he needed a homicide detective. That’s all.

  She placed Fellows’s java on his desk at took a seat at her own. She pulled the cover off her typewriter and wheeled in a fresh sheet of paper on which to formalize her notes from Saturday night, except as she stared at the blank white canvas, she found she didn’t want to commit any of her and Dahran’s interrogation debacle to writing.

  A knock sounded at the door, and Kadin glanced up, grateful for the interruption, at least until she saw the woman who had interrupted her unpleasant memories.

  Leslina Wolfsbane was more aptly described as striking than pretty. Her curly brown hair framed her face in a fashionable enough do, but her face needed more makeup to sharpen its hard angles. Trinithy had offered more than once to show Leslina how to do up her face in a more pleasing way, but Leslina had always turned her down, though if Kadin were being honest, Leslina’s refusals probably had as much to do with Trinithy’s mocking tone as Leslina’s lack of interest in makeup.

  “What brings you up from the call center?” Kadin said and instantly regretted it. Leslina would no doubt take that as a dig, since Kadin had worked in the call center before she had won the detective’s aide position over Leslina. Not that I really care if I offend Leslina. She’s always gone out of her way to antagonize me, and I have no idea why.

  “Oh, haven’t you heard? I’m not in the call center anymore.” Leslina’s eyes narrowed slightly at the corners before she said the words. “I would think that Trinithy or Olivan would have told you, but I guess you’re not as close as you used to be, what with you having so much work to do as Caison Fellows’s aide.”

  Leslina was no doubt referring to the fact that prior to Kadin, all of Fellows’s aides had been hired for their looks rather than any detecting skills. Kadin, too, had been hired because of the effort she put into her appearance, but Fellows had also come to respect her as a detective. These days, her job really was a lot of hard work.

  Leslina’s words didn’t sting for the reason she intended them to, but they hurt all the same. Kadin wasn’t as close to Trinithy as she used to be, simply because she didn’t sit next to her in the call center day in and day out the way she used to. And keeping Ralvin’s secret had put a wedge between Kadin and Ollie that she couldn’t quite breach.

  Still, she would have thought one of them would have told her Leslina got a new job. Angry with Kadin or not, both of them were incurable gossips.

  Hurt was the only explanation she could give for the words that came out of her mouth next. “Oh, congratulations! Did you get married?”

  Of course Leslina hadn’t gotten married. She had no interest in getting married. Leslina wanted to become a detective’s aide more than anything in the world. She complained all the time about being lumped into the category of women who sought a husband above all else, and she always glared at Kadin when she did.

  “No, silly! I got a job as a detective’s aide in the robbery department!” Kadin had to give Leslina credit. She almost sounded as though she wasn’t offended. “So maybe we’ll be working together next time there’s a robbery-turned-homicide!”

  Kadin could hear the subtext: “And I will solve the case before you do, proving once and for all that I am the smarter of us.”

  “That’ll be great!” A flash of fear burst through Kadin’s chest. She realized Leslina might try to steal her job.

  I have nothing to worry about. I did better in our detective’s aide class than she did, and I’ve got six months of on-the-job experience. Yeah, but Leslina’s got something I don’t: the desire to be a great detective. All I want is a husband who will support me.

  Leslina smirked as if Kadin’s fears were written all over her face, which, Kadin admitted, they probably were. “Just headed off to get my routine bloodwork.” Leslina referred to the mandatory drug testing all women employees took to prove they were not on birth control pills. “Shouldn’t be that hard. I mean, you passed it.”

  Kadin sniffed, suddenly feeling angry rather than threatened. It’s one thing to imply I’m a rotten detective. It’s another to say I should be a Class D!

  Fortunately, Detective Caison Fellows chose that moment to come into the office, sparing Kadin the need to respond to Leslina’s taunt.

  “Good morning, sir!” Kadin plastered her obligatory greeting-the-boss smile on her face as the older, balding man brushed past her. “When you have a minute, I’d like to discuss a case that came up over the weekend.”

  Fellows stopped and t
urned around. “The Crest case? Warring filled me in. I’ll take care of it.”

  Interesting that Inspector Warring was the one who talked to him about it, thought Kadin, referencing the head of the homicide department. Dahran said he was going to talk to Fellows directly, but I guess he decided to go over Fellows’s head. Kadin stopped herself before she had an uncharitable thought about her boyfriend.

  “Yes, sir. I can be available to discuss it at any time. I have a few leads—”

  “Don’t worry about it, Miss Stone,” said Fellows. “I can handle the Crest case. You focus on the Mook case and the Tiara case.”

  “Sir, if this is about what happened during the interviews—”

  “Is my java in my office, Miss Stone?”

  “Yes, sir.” Kadin knew when she had been shut down. It’s fine. It doesn’t really matter if I’m the one who solves the case, so long as it gets solved.

  As Fellows headed back to his office, Kadin stifled a groan as she realized Leslina had been privy to the conversation. “Don’t you have a blood test to get to?”

  “I do.” Leslina fluffed her hair. “Have a good rest of your day, java girl.”

  Kadin laughed to herself as Leslina sauntered out of the office. If Leslina thought she wasn’t going to be the robbery department’s new java girl, she was about to learn otherwise.

  Kadin pulled out her notes on Mook, a Merchant who had murdered his father for the inheritance money.

  Leslina can be as competitive as she wants. Most of the time, we’re just there to certify evidence. Kadin hated to admit it, but sometimes, she found detective work boring. The Coelis Crest case, though, had all the makings of a real investigation. Too bad I won’t be involved in it.

  Chapter 6

  “I cannot believe you did not call me!” A petite blonde wearing a pink, full-skirted dress appeared at Kadin’s door as she packed up for the evening.

  “Sorry, Trinithy,” said Kadin, even though she was not entirely sure what she was apologizing for. “I take it Ollie spilled the beans about Coelis Crest.”

  “What?” Trinithy’s mouth formed a perfect pink “o” as she flopped down in the chair opposite Kadin’s desk. “Ollie knows? When I had to read about it in the paper like a plebian?”

  Kadin stopped wondering how Trinithy always found lipstick that exactly matched the shade of her dress and sat up straight. “It’s in the papers already? What did the papers say?”

  Trinithy’s voice took on a tone of ghoulish fascination. “Oh, only that Coelis Crest was found dead during Duke Baurus’s party. And there was a statement from the duke saying you were on the case, so it would be solved in no time.”

  All the blood rushed out of Kadin’s face. “He mentioned me by name?” Deity, what will Dahran and Fellows think if the Tribune claims I’m in charge of the investigation?

  “No, silly.” Trinithy brushed aside Kadin’s words with a wave. “He said ‘the most talented detective in Valeriel,’ which, of course, has to be you. You solved his whole ordeal last year.”

  That… is surprisingly discreet of Baurus.

  Trinithy bounced up and down in her chair. “Anyway, we are going out tonight, and you are going to tell me everything.”

  “I can’t tell you everything. There’s such a thing as need-to-know. Besides, I have a date with Dahran tonight.” Kadin found herself hard-pressed to determine whether she would rather spend the evening listening to Dahran blather on about race cars or fending off Trinithy’s questions about a case Kadin wasn’t even involved in anymore.

  Trinithy cooed. “Well, I can’t possibly come between you and your dreamboat. Where is he taking you? Someplace horribly romantic?”

  Thank the Deity, no. “We’re just going to check out the new club on Kendrey Street.” Where it will hopefully be too loud for anything even remotely resembling a proposal. “Nothing romantic at all.”

  Trinithy’s face lit up. “Excellent! Then we can join you!”

  “We?” Kadin didn’t think Trinithy was seeing anyone at the moment, but keeping track of her romantic entanglements required more attention than Kadin was usually willing to give, which might have explained why the two women weren’t as close as they used to be.

  “Me, Ollie, and Vinnie, of course! You apparently told Ollie everything—traitor—but Vinnie’s going to want to hear, too! Besides, I said I’d go out with them tonight before I found out I needed to get your scoop.”

  Kadin opened her mouth to protest, but she knew it was a losing battle. She decided to change the subject instead. “I don’t know why you’re upset with me for keeping secrets when you didn’t tell me about Leslina’s new job.”

  Trinithy waved a dismissive hand. “No one cares about Leslina and her stupid job. She’s out of both of our hair now, and thank the Deity for that! No one wants her greasy brown mess anywhere near my lovely locks.”

  “And what lovely locks they are.” Dahran appeared in the doorway and gave Trinithy’s curves an appreciative once-over. “Looking good, Trinithy.”

  Trinithy preened and fluffed her hair. “Why, thank you! I was just telling Kadin about how wonderful it would be if we could go out with you two tonight. It’s been so long since we talked.”

  Kadin pulled her purse out of her desk drawer and slammed the drawer shut a little harder than necessary. She could count on one hand the number of times Trinithy and Dahran had spoken, and most of those interactions had been as long and satisfying as the one Kadin had just witnessed.

  But I guess I don’t want Trinithy to tell him the real reason she wants to tag along.

  Dahran gave Trinithy a small bow. “Always happy to have another lovely lady around.” He glanced at Kadin. “Though of course none are as lovely as my lady.”

  Kadin bit the inside of her cheek until it hurt—and until she stopped herself from pleading too much work to go out that night. “Great! Let’s go!”

  The club was not as crowded as Kadin had hoped it would be, which meant they had no problem finding a table, and the music and conversation stayed at a low enough level that she couldn’t plead a headache after an hour or two.

  “This place is not making my top ten list.” Olivan slid into the round booth after Ralvin, who pressed in closer to Kadin to make room.

  “Aw, come on, they just opened,” said Ralvin. “Give them a chance.

  Olivan harrumphed, but Kadin knew he would acquiesce to his boyfriend’s wishes. There go my chances of getting out of here early due to Ollie-boredom.

  Trinithy slid into the other end of the booth next to Dahran. She leaned in close and put her hand on Kadin’s boyfriend’s arm. Kadin might have been jealous if she didn’t know that flirting came as naturally to Trinithy as breathing—and that Trinithy was just pumping Dahran for information.

  Or if you actually liked him.

  “So, Dahran,” said Trinithy, “I hear you’re involved in the Coelis Crest case. You simply must tell us everything.”

  Dahran laughed, pleased at the attention. “Well, I can hardly tell you everything. I haven’t solved the case yet.”

  Trinithy giggled, a noise Kadin found more calculated than genuine. “But you can tell me what you do know.”

  “Trin, he can’t.” Kadin intended her voice to sound apologetic, but it came out sounding more annoyed. “We can’t discuss an ongoing investigation.”

  Trinithy pulled back from Dahran and pouted at Kadin. Kadin couldn’t help noticing that the pink of her dress clashed terribly with the bright-red vinyl of the seat cushions—really with the black, brown, and red decor of the entire club. “I don’t want to know anything really secret. Just, what was the duke’s house like? Did you meet anyone famous?”

  “Come on, Kay,” said Dahran. “We can give her something.”

  She’s manipulating you, you dolt! But of course Kadin couldn’t say that. “The duke’s hou
se was very nice,” she said instead. “Lots of marble columns and red carpets. His entry hall was a giant ballroom full of Imperials dressed for a gala.” And waiting to go home so they didn’t have to be in the same house as a dead body.

  Trinithy kept her lower lip stuck out, clearly disappointed with Kadin’s description.

  “We met Philindra Dixie and Mandrick Pane!” Dahran spoke in a rush.

  Of course, he had to one-up me, which I have to admit wasn’t hard.

  “Oooh.” Trinithy bounced a bit and flashed her golden eyelashes at Dahran. “What were they like in person?”

  Sad, thought Kadin. Angry. Confused. The same as anyone else right after a friend has died.

  “Larger than life,” said Dahran. “It was like a film come right off the screen. Pane in particular made you wish you could have his life.” He gave Kadin a sly wink.

  Kadin did her best to smile then felt a hand on her leg. She automatically reached out to slap Dahran’s hand away when she realized it had come from her other side. She hesitantly touched the offered fingers, and Ralvin twisted his hand to give hers a comforting squeeze. He and Olivan had been conversing about something else, but Ralvin had apparently paid enough attention to Kadin to realize she was uncomfortable. Her smile became a lot more natural after that.

  “Hey, hey! Look who it is!” Olivan stood up and waved his hands in the direction of the door.

  Kadin glanced toward the entryway and was surprised to see Jace and a blond woman Kadin recognized as his wife, Joelle. Jace gave Olivan a puzzled look at first, but then his gaze met Kadin’s, and he nodded and headed over in their direction. Trinithy, Olivan, and Ralvin stayed focused on Jace as he approached, and for a moment, Kadin thought Dahran was as well. Then she realized Dahran was staring at Joelle.

  Kadin took in Joelle’s too-short skirt, low-cut top, and abundance of makeup and wondered if Dahran found her attractive. She’s kind of pretty but so trashy. I didn’t think he was into that. Deity, I hope he doesn’t ever want me to dress like that.