Chapter Two
I waited until Crane had loaded up the body and Ed had finished with the scene, and then Loki and I went in to see Kate and her beau.
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the noise. Kate’s dogs were barking, and the sound only increased when they spotted my bird flying tauntingly out of reach.
Play nicely, I murmured to Loki, and he chortled back.
Kate’s poor sister was clearly flustered by the dogs’ nonstop barking.
‘If it’s okay,’ Beth said to me over the din as I walked in, ‘I’ll take the dogs out so you can actually speak to Kate. Otherwise you won’t hear a thing.’
‘Sure, sounds good.’
Beth started snapping on leads. They had two fluffy blonde Pekingese dogs and two miniature Schnauzers. The fluffy blondes looked like adorable miniature teddy bears; though with their teeth bared at Loki, they resembled teddy bears who’d seen combat, enjoyed it, and were ready to go another round.
I followed Beth to the entrance hall and crouched down to give the dogs some attention, distracting them from my cocky caladrius with cuddles.
Evidently enjoying my strokes, they leapt onto my thighs like enthusiastic toddlers but did not cease their relentless barking.
‘They’re not usually like this,’ Beth hollered over their noise. ‘I think they can sense our agitation with it all.’
I looked at the fluffy things. The only thing they could sense would be dinner.
‘Just a few questions before you go,’ I said over the racket. ‘Did you see or hear anything unusual tonight?’
Beth grinned. ‘Well, I saw my sister fussing over hair and makeup. That’s new.
She was excited for her … visit with Troy.
I was planning on making myself scarce. I’ve got plans to go to a friend’s house tonight.
I told Jacky I’d be late though, you know, because of the body.
’ She looked at the dogs. ‘Jacky’s not really an animal person, but I’m sure she’ll be okay with the dogs coming too, once she understands the circumstances. ’
I made noncommittal noises. I’d had a dog called Gus growing up, but I vividly remembered my nana’s disapproval should we ever dare to bring him over to her house.
Nana was old school and believed dogs should be kept outside, not in the home.
If ever we brought Gus with us, she would shove him into her garden, no matter the weather.
‘Did you know the deceased?’ I pressed on despite the racket.
‘Nope,’ Beth said. ‘Never seen the guy before. Sorry I can’t be more help, but I didn’t see anything, didn’t hear anything, and I don’t know the dead guy. I’ve honestly got nothing helpful to say.’
I surreptitiously checked her knuckles. No redness. Nothing to indicate she’d thrown a punch recently, and though I was loath to agree with Crane regarding literally anything, he was right that she certainly didn’t have the strength to sever a spinal column the way Ash’s had been.
‘No problem,’ I said. ‘Have a nice night with Jacky. Kate’s got my telephone number if you do remember anything pertinent.’
‘Sure. Nice to finally meet you, Stacy. Kate’s always talking about you.’
I straightened from stroking the dogs. ‘Nice to meet you too, and same. She talks often of you.’
‘We should do drinks one time,’ she suggested. ‘I’m always trying to get Kate to do things that don’t involve dead bodies.’ She eyed me. ‘I suspect you have the same penchant for dead things.’
‘You could say that,’ I replied lightly. Standing for the dead was my job. ‘Drinks sometime sound good.’
I saw Beth and the four dogs out of the house, and the noise level diminished significantly.
I joined Kate and Troy in the living room.
They were sitting next to each other on the sofa, quietly murmuring.
It was a cosy scene. In fact, the whole room was a cosy assault of warmth and softness.
A red-and-white gingham pattern was liberally scattered across the cushions and the curtains.
Small cushions were piled on the sofa in deliberate excess, throws were folded just so, and lamps cast a honeyed glow to highlight the overflowing bookshelves.
The whole place felt lived in, loved and comforting, with sprinkles of the two sisters everywhere, in photo frames, knick-knacks and Disney-related paraphernalia scattered around.
Loki circled overhead until he landed on a lamp.
Troy watched my bird as he flew, eyes alight with curiosity, and I took the opportunity to check his knuckles unobserved. I felt utter relief when I saw unblemished skin. Not a hint of a cut, scrape or red knuckle in sight.
A third party must have been involved. Mers had access to the IR, but I had never heard of a mer that could heal.
Even if Troy could heal, everyone knew you couldn’t use the IR to self-heal; it was one of the absolute laws of the magic, just like you couldn’t use the IR to bring back the dead or create something from nothing.
Out of completeness, I looked over Kate’s hands too, but they were unmarked as well. Tension slid out of me. At least Kate wasn’t a suspect.
I wasn’t sure if Jingo would ever take a woman’s body as his next host. In all of the bodies I’d tracked of his so far, they’d all been male, but was that opportunity, preference, or an absolute? Did he always have to be in a male form?
I cleared my throat and focused on the not-quite-a-couple sitting opposite me.
‘You have such a beautiful home,’ I told Kate, gently easing her into the interview. Channing might have spoken to them already, but there was no way I wasn’t dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on this one.
She tucked a coil of hair behind her ear. ‘Thank you. I’m just sorry you’re seeing it for the first time under these circumstances.’
‘It can’t be helped. I’m sure I’ll be back on a more fun occasion.’ I turned my attention to Troy and offered him a warm smile. ‘Inspector Wise, nice to meet you, Mr…?’
‘Fairglass. Troy Fairglass.’
With effort, I kept the surprise off my face. The current king of the merpeople was a Fairglass. The man who sat so casually against the gingham pillows was a prince. I hadn’t realised Kate had such fine taste. It seemed I wasn’t the only one dating royalty.
I got out a pen and my PNB. ‘Can you talk to me about your movements today, Mr Fairglass?’
‘Sure. I was in the sea until midday. I came to land around lunchtime – 1pm-ish, perhaps. I went shopping, bought a new shirt for tonight. I wanted to look my best.’ The shirt he wore was crisp and white, with faint creases from having been folded.
Fresh out of the packet, yes, but he’d not had the time or inclination to iron it.
Troy looked at Kate and gave her a warm smile, which made her cheeks redden. ‘I grabbed a quick dinner in my flat, and then I came here to meet Kate for our movie date.’
Next to him, Kate went still at the word ‘date‘, and I had to work hard to keep the smile off my own face.
I knew it!
‘What time was the date planned for?’
‘I said I’d come for 7pm. I arrived a little early, maybe 6.45? I parked a couple of houses down and sat in my truck for five or ten minutes. Father thinks being overly punctual is as rude as being late,’ he explained with a self-deprecating smile.
‘Which house did you park outside?’
‘Number fourteen, I think. On the street, obviously, not on the drive.’
I nodded, noting the house number in my PNB.
‘When I decided it wasn’t too early, I climbed out of the truck and walked to Kate’s.
I—’ He broke off, then cleared his throat.
‘I saw his foot first. Thought he might be drunk or something. I started to go over to see if I could help, but then I saw the blood and his head. It was at such a funny angle. I knew then. That he was dead, I mean.’
‘Did you check the time when you realised he was dead?’
A faint frown creased his forehead as he thought. ‘I—no, I don’t think I did. Didn’t think to, sorry.’
‘Did you touch him at all?’
‘No. I didn’t want to disturb anything. I could tell straight away there was nothing I could do. His chest wasn’t moving. His neck was …’ He paused, looking at Kate. ‘Well, it wasn’t nice to see.’
I suppressed a smile at the idea that he was being modest with his description so that he wouldn’t distress his date. Kate was an ME; she’d seen more death than he ever would.
‘Did you notice anything near him? A weapon, maybe?’
His gaze turned inward as if he were replaying the scene. ‘Nothing stood out. I wasn’t really looking for a weapon. I was just … shocked, I guess.’
‘Did you hear or see anything before you saw him? Shouting? Movement?’
‘It was quiet. Well, I mean, I could hear the dogs once I got closer to the house.’
‘Could you smell the blood before you saw him?’
He hesitated for a fraction of a second. ‘Yes. A bit. I think so. I’m not sure. Sorry. I went straight to Kate’s, knocked on the door, and told her to call the Connection.’
‘He did.’ Kate nodded. ‘That’s why I called you directly. I hope that’s okay.’
‘Of course,’ I reassured her instantly.
A brown mackerel tabby cat padded into the room without haste, hopped onto the sofa, and wedged himself between Kate and Troy.
He settled there with a low, satisfied huff, back to Troy, claiming the space like it had always been his.
He sat with his head pressed against Kate’s leg, tail flicking once in quiet warning.
He stared straight ahead, pointedly ignoring Troy’s existence, as if a line had been drawn. Cats.
Kate reached down and stroked the feline. He extended his head so she could scratch his neck for him. ‘This is Harry,’ she introduced.
‘Nice to meet you,’ Troy said with a wink.
The cat flicked its tail in clear irritation.
‘He’s a rescue. He’s not too fond of men,’ Kate explained apologetically.
‘At least he didn’t have to meet Crane,’ I joked.
Kate grinned back at me. ‘That would have been animal cruelty.’
‘Not a fan of the guy, huh?’ Troy asked.
‘He’s a complete asshat,’ Kate confirmed.
Troy chuckled. ‘Noted.’
‘He’s good at his job though,’ I had to admit. It was the sole thing Crane had going for him. ‘Talking of which, just a few more questions so I can finish mine. While you were waiting in your truck, Troy, did you see anything? Hear anything?’
Troy reddened. ‘To be honest, I was listening to the radio and doing a bit of doom-scrolling on my phone, just wasting the time away, you know? I was nervous. I just wanted tonight to go well.’ He sighed. ‘We’ll reschedule, right, Kate?’
‘Of course we will.’ After a moment’s hesitation she took his hand in her far smaller one.
He smiled, eyes soft.
I cleared my throat. ‘And Kate, did you hear anything?’
She shook her head. ‘I had music on while I was getting ready. The dogs started to go nuts, and Beth hollered at them to shut up.’
‘Did they?’
She laughed ruefully. ‘No. They were as excited as they get at the postal hour.’
‘What were they barking at?’
Kate shrugged. ‘I assumed Troy. They do that with strangers sometimes, though they’d met him before and been fine. But that was at the park, never at our house. I guess they’re just feeling a bit territorial.’
‘How long were the dogs barking before Troy knocked?’
‘A minute? Two? Long enough for Beth to get annoyed.’
‘Thanks.’ I stood. ‘I’ve taken enough of your time.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ Kate fussed. ‘You’re welcome any time.’
I told Troy I might need to speak to him again, and then Kate saw me to the door.
‘I’m sorry your date’s been a bust,’ I murmured.
‘Me too, but it’s been a far worse night for that poor dryad.’
‘True. You’ll reschedule your date?’
‘Yeah, I’m not feeling so amorous now.’ She sighed. ‘I guess I’ll watch that movie alone.’
Reassured, I nodded. ‘Okay, call me if you think of anything? Otherwise, I’ll get out of your hair.’
She waved me off and shut the front door behind me.
As I stepped back into the night, I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Channing.
‘Check the door cameras on numbers twelve through sixteen,’ I said. ‘Now.’