Chapter 21 #2
Fawzy agreed, and added the detail necessary to make the finding relevant.
“We followed up with Lenore, and she confirmed that her members only get clues about the fang ceremony location. Leading up to the event, details are revealed at pre-determined intervals. It is fair to say the people who attend know the approximate direction and distance from Huntington, so that they can plan their travel to some extent, but the exact location is announced only twelve hours in advance. The only exceptions to this are Lenore, her familiar, and her events team.”
“So, the familiar, or someone on the events team is responsible,” Zhou offered. “Or they let it slip.”
I tried not to take offence to the agents referring to Jezebel by her role as familiar, rather than her name, or the blame being assigned to her.
“Lenore pays her staff for their discretion,” I countered, shifting in my seat because I could still feel the weight of Jack’s lingering gaze.
He knew something was up, I was sure of it.
“She’s not afraid to make a show of firing someone when they break the rules, so it’s not something that happens very often.
And her familiar, Jezebel, is resourceful, clever, and capable, which could make her a suspect, yes, but she works with the vamps to prevent people from getting hurt.
To make sure that Lenore’s vamps don’t take things too far. She wouldn’t do something like this.”
Todd nodded his support.
“Heard all about your familiar friend,” Zhou said. “But just because you trust her doesn’t mean she’s innocent in this. Friends have a way of letting people down.”
I trusted Jezebel with my life. More than once. But it sounded like Zhou had a different experience. Someone she trusted must’ve let her down, I’d put my money on it.
Kaatz elbowed Zhou. “Operating on little sleep, friend?”
Zhou’s fists were balled, her chest expanded like she had more to say, but let it go with a breath. “Isn’t it at all possible, that Delilah’s old network, the people at that pie place, are responsible?”
Jack’s voice held a warning tone, “Zhou.”
“What? I mean, think about it. Lenore’s familiar is the one who told us about the murders in Lexington, and Delilah’s old network tore cults apart, and their methods weren’t what I’d classify as above board.
” Zhou searched for support in the room.
“You can’t tell me no one else here thought it. Not even once?”
It was strange. The tension in the room shifted, like the tables were turning against Zhou. Todd grumbled beside me. Fawzy cocked her head. Jack leaned forward, fists on the table, waiting for my go-ahead to counter.
But Zhou had a right to ask these questions.
She didn’t know what code those a part of Leslie’s Pies followed, or where we drew the line.
We were paid to get people out of cults.
I didn’t know everyone in the network, and there was a lot of room for individual license, but we didn’t cause destruction—kill people—because we didn’t understand their practices.
And we sure as hell wouldn’t pre-meditate murder.
On the other hand, Zhou was right. It wasn’t like my work with Leslie’s Pies gave me a sterling reputation.
I’d stabbed people. Spiked their drinks and food. Seduced them into telling me their secrets, then used their secrets against them.
I could honor her curiosity, if only to dispel the notion my former network was at fault.
“It’s a fair question.” I chose my words carefully to unravel the tension coiling in the room.
“Jezebel is in place to ensure Lenore and her team abide by the rules. No one else would have been assigned to the vamps, unless Jezebel requested assistance. We may take liberties with the law, but no one at the ‘pie place’ kills, unless it is in self-defense.”
Zhou scrunched her nose, and sunk back into her chair. I got the distinct impression she wanted to be mad, that she wanted to dispute what I said. But I’d given her idea acknowledgement, even if it didn’t allow her to place the blame on an organization so intrinsically tied to my past.
Ha, take that!
An almost unfamiliar glimmer of joy bubbled up inside. I kind of liked being the bigger person. It was fun watching people squirm at my benevolence.
“We are always open to new theories.” Jack’s voice was smooth, and thick, like honey.
“But if you bring a new idea to the table, be sure to back it in evidence rather than blame.” He pushed off the table, righting himself.
“With the suspects’ use of adrenaline, hallowed ground, and positioning of the victim’s bodies, the current theory stands.
Vamp hunters are involved. Now, are there any updates on this aspect of the investigation? ”
“Cyber did not find anything that could be tied to anti-vampire activity.” Fawzy flipped over a piece of paper in front of her.
“But they noted anti-vampire activity would be much more difficult to trace. Besides the epinephrine, vampire hunting activities would not trigger any alarms. There is no specialized equipment. Whoever is killing familiars is keeping communications off of digital channels.”
“I didn’t find anything on socials, either,” Zhou added.
“Huntington’s population is less than fifty thousand.
” Picking up the remote again, Thruppy advanced the slides to demonstrate the demographic breakdown of Huntington’s residents.
“It’s large enough that not everyone knows each other, but small enough that an anti-vamp group could still hold significant sway. ”
“Sounds very torch and pitchfork.”
Todd was right. It did. And chances were, it was.
But I didn’t have the opportunity to comment, because just then the door to the meeting room opened, and the conversation came to an abrupt stop.
The purpose of using the meeting room was to maintain confidentiality. There was an occupancy light outside to ensure that anyone entering knew the room was occupied and discussion was underway.
“Sorry, the room is in use,” Jack announced to our unexpected visitor.
“I know that Agent Hess,” Rochan slipped through the door as it shut with a click behind her. “Which is precisely why I’m occupying it.”
Jack and Todd remained unaffected by Rochan’s unexpected arrival. The other four agents, however, straightened. Sitting taller, spines pencil-straight, they looked like a team of teacher’s pets.
“To what do we owe the pleasure, Assistant Director?”
Pulling out the free seat beside mine, Rochan sat, and with her attentions pinned on me she said, “Observation.” Then to Jack, “Go on, pay me no mind. Proceed.”
Having Rochan spontaneously inject herself into a meeting must not have been a regular occurrence, as silence ensued.
Guess I’d have to be the one to break it.
“So, we know the suspects are local to Huntington, and have access to sensitive vamp information. Any updates on the woman with the false confession?”
The strange tension broke, and the room picked up its rhythm.
“Selena Belle.” Thruppy clicked through a couple slides. On the screen flashed the image of the elfish woman. “Born Abigaile Johns. Changed her name three years ago. Still holding out that she alone is responsible for the murders.”
Damn it. I was hoping that some jail time would make her come to her senses, make her realize the consequences of her actions were real. “There is no way she did it.”
“We are aware of your reservations.” Zhou still sat pin-straight, her gaze flickering towards Rochan, then Jack. “Hess made that quite clear.”
“So, you know about her love of vamps? Her adoration for everything vamp culture?” But it was more, it went beyond that. “A legal name change takes commitment, and Selena Belle is exactly the kind of name a vamp wannabe would pick for themselves.”
“But why would she confess?” Fawzy flipped the errant hair from her eye line. I really had to remember to offer her a bobby pin. “We can understand duress, but what force is being applied so that she maintains her story?”
“I looked into it. She has no record.” Thruppy went on, “Under either of her names. No close family, beyond a step-brother in the area she sees once a year. No outstanding debts. No history of drug use. She came back clean, with none of the usual extortion flags. She doesn’t even have a parking ticket.
Her only recorded interaction with the police was when her wallet was stolen. ”
“We’re thinking about this wrong.” I was tempted to stand, it would feel a whole lot better to discuss this on my feet. “She took on a vamp name. Her whole life is about vamps. It’s more than an obsession its…”
“A compulsion.” Jack could see where this was going.
“Part of her identity.”
Jointly, we said, “Shit.”
We were onto something, and paid little attention to the sounds and muttering around the room. Swearing in front of the assistant director was likely not on the approved behavior list.
“Someone would have had to approach her,” he said.
“And made it sound like a dream come true. She just had to prove her worth.”
“She confessed to killing them because…”
“She thought it was…”
“An initiation.” Good, Todd was following along. I wouldn’t have expected anything less.
Jack, Todd, and I traded knowing glances. “She still does.”
“Fawzy, Zhou, we’re going to need you to head back to Huntington.
” Jack’s tone was matter-of-fact and left no room for argument.
“We need you to speak with Selena, get her to confirm whether she was approached to take blame as part of an initiation with the vamps. She needs to know real people died. Take her into your custody, bring her to the morgue in Cincinnati, if you have to. Anything that would make her escape the bubble of reality she’s crafted for herself. ”
“Why wouldn’t she think that people died?” Zhou asked with genuine curiosity, none of the rebuttal she’d demonstrated before.