by Gina LaManna
“She’s a little pricy for you on a normal night,” I said, deducing easily what he’d meant. “Fine. You use the same girls normally?”
“Use.” He flinched at the word. “I see some of the same girls from time to time, yes. But more often than not, it’s whoever is...available.”
“Lovely,” I said icily, my voice giving away exactly what I thought of his practice. “The man whose description I gave you: I want names.”
“Lady—er, sorry, Detective, you know we don’t do names around these places. There are two people I can think of who I’ve played MagiCraps with at the casino that might fit. But don’t quote me on it—I didn’t see them around here tonight. They’re called Joey Jones and Lucas Fitz.”
“Where might I find these gentlemen?”
“Gentlemen.” He snorted at that, which I thought was interesting considering his own present state of undress. “Yeah, sure. You’ll find them at Table 13 on any night of the week. They should still be there now if you need to talk to them that badly.”
“What is this about?” The Goblin Girl asked. “Something bad happened, didn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t be here if it was anything pleasant,” I said, then crooked my head toward Matthew. “Neither would he. So, you didn’t see Joey or Lucas here tonight?”
Mr. Long appeared to be deep in thought. “I don’t think so—I don’t recall seeing anyone here tonight except for Melinda—” he nodded toward the girl—“and Donny.”
“Fine.” I took a card out of my pocket and prepared to hand it over. However, I realized it was a card for DeMarco’s Pizza—not my most professional move on the job.
Before I could turn to Matthew, he’d already crossed the room and handed both Melinda and Mr. Long one of his cards. “Get in touch if you remember anything else. Doesn’t matter if it seems insignificant; it might not be.”
Even after two years of dating, his quickness still sent my heart racing. He could cross rooms in the blink of an eye, and it just wasn’t fair. Then again, I suppose that’s what others thought about my ability to see Residuals. We all had our strengths, and Mr. Long’s was an alarming lack of inhibition.
Matthew and I had barely made it out of the room before the towel came back down and sloppy sounds resumed, echoing through the thin walls.
“Getting his money’s worth, I guess,” I said with a frown. “Pig.”
Matthew made no comment. He knew better than to get involved when I was in a mood—even if he agreed with me.
“Do we know how the bodies were discovered?” I asked as we walked back down the hall. I felt itchy from being in this place and wanted a shower. “Who called the cops?”
“Donny called, though reluctantly,” Matthew said. “We have the record on the Comm system if you need, but it doesn’t say much. He asked for the Sixth Precinct badges to check into a room.”
“I get the feeling Donny normally checks on things himself,” I said. “Keeps the cops out. What was different this time?”
“Charlie Bone only rented the room for an hour. After two hours had passed, Donny was getting anxious.”
“Donny must have smelled something fishy about Charlie, or else he would’ve busted down that door himself. Unless he’s holding out on us and knows more.”
We’d reached the front office again. Officer Dwight was still grilling Donny. Judging by the annoyed look on the latter’s face, the cop was doing a fine job. I left them to it.
“You should get some rest,” Matthew said, reading the tiredness in my face correctly. “I’ll fill you in tomorrow. We’ve got officers canvassing every full room in this place, and Nash will be here until morning to monitor. If we find anything, I’ll let you know.”
“You’re going to interview Joey and Lucas.” Before I finished speaking, Matthew’s quick blink and crooked nod confirmed my suspicions. “Great. I’m going with you.”
“Danielle—”
“Detective DeMarco,” I said swiftly. “The Residuals clock is counting down, and we need to find that crime scene or we’ll have no clue who—or how—someone did this, let alone why.”
Chapter 5
Matthew and Dani crossed the short distance between the Motel Sixth and the casino. The land where they walked toed the line between Goblin Grid, the troll and gnome residential areas, and the ogre and orc stomping grounds. In the distance light gleamed from the prestigious Golden District belonging to the elves, shiny and glittery above the dirt and grime of the slums. The biggest dichotomy in the borough, aside from the Outer Regions.
Matthew moved at Dani’s pace, quickly and silently, both of them lost in thought. Matthew watched the frown form on her lips and wondered what had put it there. He suspected it might be the death she’d seen this evening, or possibly the return to a career she’d tried to escape. Or maybe, she was just frustrated by the lack of Residuals she’d been able to read.
Dani looked tired, but he knew she wouldn’t agree to rest until he did. The tiredness in her gaze wasn’t that of physical fatigue, but the sort that showed her exhaustion with the world. The never-ending cycle of death and violence, of darkness and despair, no matter how much she tried to outrun it.
Matthew hated to draw her back into the cycle, but the truth was that he needed her. They all did. And until they could find Lucia or another Reserve with even half Dani’s talent, their options were limited.
“Lucky table thirteen,” Dani muttered as she pushed the door open to the casino. “What are the chances both men have vanished?”
“High enough,” Matthew said. “Word travels fast around here.”
Dani gave a nod, obviously remembering how quickly folks around these parts scattered at the first mention of the cops. As she and Matthew entered the casino, she gave a shudder, as if she could feel the hope slipping away when the scents grime and desperation swarmed them like a noxious cloud.
They wound their way through the casino, Matthew doing his best to keep Dani close without letting her sense she was being protected. She hated that, but she’d have to deal with it on his watch. As Captain, Matthew took the job of watching over his men and women seriously. Though Dani had never technically reported to him—Reserves were floaters around the Investigative Division, never attached exclusively to one unit—he still considered her his responsibility.
As Dani and Matthew reached Table 13, Matthew signaled to Dani that he would be taking the lead on this one. He stepped forward, resting against the MagiCraps table as he scanned the paranormal folks cringing at the disruption.
An ogre leered from one side, and a group of three elfin women gave him plenty of space as they curled against the opposite corner to watch. A spellslinger held dice in his hand and waited for the round to start. He was one of the flashy sorts of men who’d bought his magic with gold.
Spellslingers used magic like witches—casting spells and brewing potions, but the majority of them weren’t innately gifted with powers. They purchased spells and magicks from select stores, and sometimes The Void. When trained well and armed with appropriate hexes, a spellslinger was almost indiscernible from a witch or wizard. The one at this table, however, wasn’t all that harmful. Annoying, maybe, but that might be due to the fact that he wore a purple cape and a lopsided crown and bellowed for luck as he blew into his palm.
“We’ve got a winner,” intoned the gnome officiating over the table. He had a stool that reached two thirds of the way up the table and a stick longer than his entire body to pull the dice toward him. “Another win for Mr. Royal! The man is on fire tonight, ladies and gents.”
“Speaking of fires,” Matthew said, as he discreetly flashed a badge to the gnome who had a name tag that read Alvin. “Nobody moves. I’m looking for Joey Jones and Lucas Fitz. The sooner someone gives me their location, the sooner I pretend there’s no SpellHash around this table.”
Alvin’s eyes narrowed. Gnomes were notoriously bad with magic and had a horrendous sense of smell. “Who’s got the Hash?” Alvin snarled.
“You think just because I can’t smell I won’t kick out whoever’s packing? Y’all know the rules.”
“We’ll forget all about it,” Matthew said evenly, “for a little information. We hear these two boys frequent the table.”
“Pretty much every night of the week,” one of the elf girls supplied. “They usually buy a round of drinks for the table around midnight. That’s why we’re here—we want our free drinks.”
One of her friends nodded in agreement. “I thought I saw Lucas leave about an hour ago, but I don’t know where he went—or why he’d leave. He’s here all the time. I’m sure if you come back tomorrow, you’ll find him.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Matthew said. “It’s imperative we find them both quickly.”
“What’re they running from?” The spellslinger on the end put a hand on his hip and leaned against the table. He was tall and fit, his body probably accentuated with some sort of Body Buffer to blow up his muscles and tan his face. “Joey didn’t even show tonight. Do Lucas and Joey know each other outside of the table?”
Matthew ignored him. “Anyone know where they live? Where they might be? I’m guessing those aren’t their real names.”
“Joey is his real first name,” one of the elfin girls said with a giggle and a blush that gave away exactly how she knew that. “Jones isn’t, though. I don’t know his real last name.”
“Lucas doesn’t say much,” Alvin supplied from his perch on the stool. “He shows up, plays, leaves. Tips well if he wins, mild if he loses. Never had a problem with the guy.”
“And Joey?” Dani asked. “He gives you trouble?”
Alvin squinted, cocked his head in thought. “I wouldn’t say trouble, but he’s a character. In a good mood, he’s the most fun guy you’ll ever meet. In a bad mood...”
The silence around the table spoke volumes.
“Were they here tonight?” Dani asked again. “What times did you see them—exactly?”
“Lucas was here eight to eleven-ish, but I don’t think he stayed put the whole time.” Alvin frowned. “He went to refill his drinks a few times or something—not sure what. Joey didn’t turn up at all tonight. It’s not totally unheard of, but it’s unusual. Usually means he’s got a new squeeze at home.”
“You might want to try the Sorcerer’s Square apartments to find Lucas,” the spellslinger suggested. “I thought I saw him headed in that direction once. And he knows how to use magic, but he’s not a spellslinger.”
Matthew nodded his thanks but didn’t make eye contact. He focused his next question on the giggly elf. “And Joey?”
She rolled her eyes. “I think his dad’s a shifter. Joey’s not, but he gets along with them best out of all the species. I’d head toward the Howler and ask around.”
Dani bit her bottom lip in thought. Matthew noticed the movement in his peripheral and flinched. He hated when she did that. It reminded him of the last time they’d been together; the moment he’d ruined everything.
“Detective.” Matthew spoke the word so sharply Dani flinched. “Let’s go.”
She looked confused as Matthew managed a nod toward Alvin, then stormed off at a pace that had Dani jogging to keep up. Matthew didn’t bother to explain, instead brushing through the casino with such force pixies and faeries and the like scattered in his wake.
“Where are we going?” Dani asked, breathless as they stepped outside the casino. “Do you really think Joey and Lucas would just go home?”
He shrugged. “Hard to say, but we need to follow up.”
“Did I say something to offend you?” There was no apology in Dani’s question. “I didn’t mean to step on your toes back there.”
“You didn’t.”
“Fine, then...” she sighed. “Be mad. We’ll walk in silence.”
Matthew turned to her, spun on a heel as he reached the street corner. The torch above their heads burned directly on them like a flashlight. Matthew reached roughly for Dani’s arm and tugged her into a darker alleyway, into a dimmer, more private corner of the world.
“I’m sorry,” Matthew said, his eyes flashing dark gemstones against the moonlight. “I hate that I dragged you into this. You’ve been on the job for only a few hours, and I can already tell it’s tearing you apart. You’re exhausted—”
“I’m fine, Matthew.”
“It’s hurting you to be back.” He let his statement hang, offering her a chance at a rebuttal, but she didn’t take it. “I wouldn’t bring you into this if I didn’t have to—if I knew any other way.”
“I know,” she said in a whisper. “I could have said no.”
“I knew you wouldn’t say ‘no’ if I offered you The Hex Files.”
“That’s my choice.”
Matthew stepped forward, entering an odd dance with Dani as she stepped backward, her spine pressing against the wall of the brick building. “Try to forgive me.”
“Matthew, there’s nothing to forgive. You offered me a job with fair payment, and I accepted.”
Matthew raised a pale finger, one that looked like marble in the moonlight. When it connected with her cheek, however, it was no more weight than a breath of air. “Then don’t let it break you. If this—any of it—becomes too much, let me know.”
“Sure,” she said, though they both knew that wasn’t any sort of promise. “I say we stop by Sorcerer’s Square first, then hit the Howler on the way back to the station.”
Matthew blinked, though the movement was unnecessary for his kind. It was no more than a practiced reaction meant to make him appear more human-like. “Fine.”
He backed away from her, noting Dani’s racing heartbeat, the erratic gait of her breath. With a frown, Matthew wondered when she had become afraid of him.
Matthew and Dani arrived at Sorcerer’s Square in silence. Dani looked to him for guidance, but Matthew tilted his chin toward her, offering her the lead. Dani wasted no time in searching through the listing of names, and to her surprise, she found Lucas Fitz listed there. It was either his real name, or a well-constructed alias.
Matthew and Dani were buzzed in without being asked for a name. After climbing to the second floor, they quickly located Lucas’s door. Danielle gave two succinct knocks, then waited.
The door eventually opened to reveal Lucas Fitz in his bathrobe, a bowl of popcorn in one hand. He looked wildly innocent—too innocent. His eyes were a murky green, his hair the light-reddish color that Donny had described, and even his height was accurate at just a few inches taller than Dani.
Lucas crooked an eyebrow at the sight of us. “The head vamp,” he said. “What’d someone accuse me of doing to get a visit from you?”
“What were you doing at the Motel Sixth tonight?” Dani launched straight into her attack. “I’m Detective DeMarco, and you’re obviously familiar with Captain King, so let’s not waste time. We have eyewitness accounts of you there.”
“I wasn’t there, Detective.” Lucas’s voice was smooth sailing. “I was at the casino. Table 13, but I suppose you’ve already checked there.”
“Nobody could verify you remained at Table 13 the entire evening,” Dani said. “Where were you, Lucas? Where’d you go? Did you kill them, or were you just doing the dirty work moving the bodies?”
Lucas’s eyes widened ever so slightly. Despite his cool-as-a-cucumber attitude, Dani suspected it was true surprise. “Detective, I’ve never killed anyone—ever. I have my flaws like anyone, but helping murder along in any capacity isn’t one of them. Now, if you don’t have anything to arrest me on, I’m going to bed.”
“Lucas—”
“Warrant?” That eyebrow raised again, and like most good crooks in the business, he knew his rights. “Goodnight, officers.”
Lucas closed the door tightly and left Matthew and Dani alone. “He didn’t kill them,” she said. “A hunch, but I think that was genuine surprise.”
“I agree,” Matthew confirmed. “Let’s find Joey.”
“I think...” Dani stopp
ed, rested a finger against her lip in thought. “I think we also need to find out who ratted on us. How’d Joey and Lucas know to scram so quickly?”
Matthew’s jaw tightened. “Either someone saw us at the Motel Sixth, or someone on the inside gave a tip.”
“Whoever it is better enjoy their evening because when I find them...” Dani trailed off, shook her head in dismay. “I hate rats.”
As they set off toward the Howler, Matthew suspected her disgust for snitches stemmed from her past caseload. He wondered as they walked if the answers would be in The Hex Files—and if that’s why she wanted them so badly.
Or maybe, it was something more.
Chapter 6
The Howler sits on the east side of the borough. It’s located outside the edge of a dense forest known as The Depth—named aptly for the darkness under its canopy of trees. The woods are mostly reserved for frightening monsters—and those who transform into them at night.
While The Depth is home to a wide variety of magical creatures—not all of them are monsters. The forest floor undoubtedly belongs to the shifters, but the treetops belong to the fairies and wood nymphs, the phoenixes and the creatures who soar. It’s a mixed bag inside the trees, and one doesn’t tend to venture much deeper into the arena than a stone’s throw—because death is always close in The Depth.
The Howler is considered the last ‘safe’ establishment on the perimeter of the woods. It lurks just out of reach from the waving treetop shadows and acts as a trading post, a center for gossip, and a home base for the shifters in their human form.
I’ve spent more than my fair share of time at the Howler—and not always for pleasantries. I’ve had to arrest more than one werewolf for transforming too early in public—the equivalent of a drunk and disorderly or indecent exposure for the human NYPD. It’s always a good time.
Then, there’d been the half-shifter I’d dated a while back—we’d spent an evening or two at the Howler. However, things had never progressed past a third date. Call me shallow, but I could never get over the fact that he had hair everywhere. That, and there’d been no chemistry.
