Catching a Man

by Elizabeth Corrigan

  “Well, it’s not public knowledge.” Vinnie ate a bite of pancake. “If Chaise knew his son was sideways and unlikely to produce heirs, it would break the poor duke’s heart. Which would cause him to break rocks—or his son’s face—with his bare fists or something. But if Baurus thought that something was going on between Landis and Callista, then something was going on. It just wasn’t an affair.”

  “So what was it?”

  He took another mouthful of food and chewed it. “I don’t know. You’d have to talk to Landis, or maybe his sister Elyesse. She usually knows about his goings-on.”

  That’s what I planned to do anyway. Well, if the detectives let me have plans. She took a moment to watch Vinnie eat before she voiced her next request. “I want to know where Duke Baurus is.”

  “You think I know?” Vinnie’s voice was light, but he refused to meet her eyes. “I told you, I haven’t seen him since the murder.”

  “Maybe not, but you can tell me where he is.”

  Vinnie watched the silver tines of his fork as he shifted pieces of pancake around on his plate.

  Kadin sighed. “Look, I don’t think that he killed anyone, but the detectives are focusing all their energy on trying to find him, and they won’t consider another suspect until he’s brought into custody. If I can convince him to turn himself in, we can clear his name and figure out who really killed her.”

  Vinnie ate several more bites of food, and Kadin wondered if he planned to ignore her until she changed the subject. “I don’t know for sure,” he said at last. “I honestly haven’t seen him, and it’s not as if we worked out a contingency plan in the event that one of us was ever on the run from the authorities. But he’s probably at his house in the Merchant District.”

  “He has a house in the Merchant District? What, the estate in the Imperial District isn’t enough?”

  Vinnie took a sip of java. “Most of us do. It’s a stupid trend that’s been going on for years. Sort of a private way of sticking it to the Merchants—we can buy houses in their district, but they can’t buy property in ours. It’s all under aliases, but I think most of them know we do it. You can see that I find having a secret house and identity worthwhile, and I would imagine Baurus has reached the same conclusion.”

  Kadin pulled a napkin out of the holder and took a pen out of her purse. She slid both over to him. “Address, please.”

  Vinnie scrawled something on the napkin and pushed it back over to her. “The house is owned under the name Camus Wrench.”

  Kadin folded the napkin and put it in her bag. She tried not to feel bad as Vinnie hung his head. “It’s for the best.”

  “I guess.” Vinnie pushed his empty plate away from himself. “Now, unless you want me to sell out any more of my relatives tonight, come on. I’ll give you a ride home.”

  Vinnie paid his bill, and he and Kadin strolled out to the autocar. As he opened the door, he met her eyes over the top of the vehicle. “You’re not going to tell anyone who I am, are you?”

  Kadin studied the unassuming man across from her. No one would ever guess he held the kingdom in his hands. “Your secret is safe with me. I promise.”

  Vinnie pulled out of the parking lot, and for most of the ride they were silent except for Kadin giving directions to her house.

  When they were almost there, she thought of something. “Hey, Vinnie? Do you know what it means when the racers give you a scarf at the drag?”

  “You mean the tokens at the beginning?” He adjusted the clutch as they went up a hill.

  “Yeah, those.”

  Vinnie turned the autocar onto Kadin’s street. “If he wins the drag, the girl with the token has to go to dinner with him.”

  Kadin groaned. “I think I may be worse at dating than anyone else in the city.”

  Vinnie pulled up to the curb in front of her house. “Try being a Merchant with a secret identity. I can never tell if guys like me or are only after my money. And they never understand why I can’t go out when the Assembly’s in session.”

  Kadin pulled open the door and stepped onto the sidewalk. “Thanks for the ride. And the information.”

  “Yeah.” Vinnie shifted the autocar into reverse. “See you around.”

  When Kadin entered the kitchen, she found Octavira waiting for her.

  Octavira peered out the window, watching the autocar pull away. “Was that another man driving you home?”

  Now she thinks I’m promiscuous? Kadin took a glass out of the cabinet and got some water from the tap. “This one’s sideways. His name’s Vinnie Royal.”

  Octavira’s eyes bugged. “Isn’t he a Merchant?”

  Kadin paused in lifting the glass to her mouth. “You know him?”

  Octavira shrugged. “I’ve heard the name. What were you doing with him?”

  “Oh, nothing.” She took a sip of water. The worst date ever, followed by the worst party ever. Oh, and meeting the king’s alter ego. And it may not have been my strangest day this week.

  Chapter 17

  Kadin knocked on the stately off-white door of a brick house with a neat evergreen hedge. The Merchant District lacked the prestige of the Imperial District. The houses stood closer together and had small, well-maintained lawns instead of independent parks, but this part of town was still a step up from the rest of the city. The air smelled of crisp autumn leaves and mowed grass instead of gasoline and garbage, and the autocars purred down the street instead of clunking. Kadin could spend the rest of her life working as a detective and never earn enough for a down payment on such a residence.

  After a moment Kadin heard hesitant steps on the other side of the door. A man with a wrinkled face and tufts of white hair over his ears opened the door and looked at her with wary eyes. “May I help you?”

  Kadin cleared her throat. “I’m here to see Camus Wrench?” She couldn’t quite keep her voice from going up at the end, turning it into a question.

  “I’m sorry.” The butler gave a small bow. “He is not in residence.”

  He’s a good liar, but I don’t buy it. “I’m sure you’ve been told to turn away anyone who comes to the door, but he needs to talk to me.”

  The butler did a good impression of a sturdy road block for such a frail-looking old man. “I am sure he does, and I shall be sure to tell my master that you came by when he returns.”

  Kadin noticed he didn’t ask for her name. “I have it on good authority that Mr. Wrench—and I think we both know that’s not his real name—is here, and I’m going to have to insist upon seeing him.”

  The butler turned up his nose at her tone. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Good day, madam.” He moved to close the door.

  Kadin stuck her high-heeled foot in the door jamb. She couldn’t believe she had figured out where Duke Baurus was but wouldn’t be able to see him. “Please! You have to let me in!”

  The butler sniffed. “Madam, if you do not remove your foot, I shall be forced to contact Mr. Wrench’s private security force.”

  Kadin’s breath came faster. Oh my Deity, what am I doing? “And if you don’t let me—”

  “In the name of all that is sacred, what is going on out here?” A tall form created a sinister shadow behind the butler, and Kadin realized the duke had come into the foyer.

  She waved her hand to catch his attention, as if he hadn’t already noticed her. “Duke Baurus!”

  A thunderous cloud descended on his face. He grabbed the door and whipped it open, as the old man faded into the background. “You! What are you doing here?” asked the duke.

  You showed up at my house without warning. I thought I’d return the favor. “I needed to talk to you.” Kadin pulled her foot back and made an effort at composing herself. “You need to turn yourself in.”

  Duke Baurus gave
a barking laugh. “Why would I do that?”

  Kadin glanced at the brick houses lining the street. A black autocar slowed as it passed, and Kadin could see the passenger’s face pressed to the window. The man trimming the hedge that bordered the lot also seemed interested in the conversation. “Do you want to have this conversation in the middle of the Merchant District?”

  The duke started and looked down at himself, as if remembering he was supposed to be in hiding. “Not really. You’d better come in.”

  He pulled the door open a bit more, and Kadin ducked in under his arm. She tried not to stare at the expensive paintings and the intricate stone flooring as he led her into a sitting room decorated in DeValeriel red and black, with some warm brown tones mixed in to soften the effect. Kadin wanted to lower herself into one of the plush red chairs, but she thought standing would make her argument stronger.

  Duke Baurus glowered at her. “I didn’t kill Callista! I told you that!”

  Kadin met his glare and once again found that she couldn’t bring herself to fear him. “I know, and I don’t believe that you did. But the investigation team is under orders to bring you into custody as soon as possible.”

  He took a step closer, his hulking form trying to appear menacing, but the amusement in his hazel eyes belied the effect. “Then where are they? Why are you here on your own?”

  “They don’t know I’m here.” She kept eye contact with him, communicating with her entire posture that he didn’t intimidate her. “I thought I’d give you a chance to turn yourself in and save your dignity before I told them where you were.”

  His smirk nearly made Kadin growl in her throat. “That’s cute, but I don’t think so,” he said.

  “I’m trying to give you a chance!” Kadin closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “If you turn yourself in and tell everyone the story you told me, they’ll have to recognize the flaws in their case.”

  He looked at her as if she had suggested he run down the street naked. “You’re serious? You have got to be the stupidest…” His eyes lost their humor and flashed with anger. “Do you honestly think that the investigation system works that way? If they can get me into custody with sufficient evidence that I committed the murder, they aren’t going to look for someone else! They want this case done and settled, and I’m a convenient scapegoat. How naïve are you?”

  “I don’t know. How naïve are you?” Kadin could hear the frustration in her tone. “Do you think you’re helping your case by hiding out from everyone and refusing to come in for questioning?”

  “How is getting myself locked up and interrogated by people who will do anything to get me to confess going to be any better?” He took another step forward.

  This isn’t going anywhere, which is fair. The investigation system hasn’t seemed too interested in justice this week. He stood so close to her that she had to arch her neck to look at him. “Because as long as you’re on the loose, they’re going to spend all their energy looking for you. Do you want the trail to go even colder while they’re chasing a dead end?”

  Baurus crossed his arms. “And what if they don’t decide to look for someone else? What if I end up convicted for murder?”

  “You’re going to tell me you don’t have the means to bribe your way out of prison and run away to Astrevia?”

  He didn’t look convinced.

  She let out a long breath. “Please, Your Grace, I need you to trust me.”

  He stood there for a long time studying her face, as if trying to determine whether or not he could, in fact, trust her. After a moment, he nodded. “Okay. I’ll do this your way.”

  Kadin let out an audible sigh of relief. “You’ll turn yourself in first thing tomorrow?”

  His mouth set in a grim line. “Unless I convince myself that it’s a bad idea before then.”

  Deity save me from impulsive Imperials. “If you do that, I’ll be back at your door with some enforcers next time.”

  He smirked. “Maybe I’ll skip town.”

  She shook her head. “If you do that, you’ll never find out who killed Queen Callista. You’re better off listening to me.”

  He reached out and put a hand on her arm, and she felt goose bumps form around the spot where his warmth pressed through. “I’m listening to you. I’ll be there.”

  The next morning, Kadin had finished typing up her notes from the weekend when Inspector Warring stormed into the office. Since her papers stayed on the desk, she had to assume his mood was positively gleeful. Warring glanced at Fellows’s office and noticed that the detective had not arrived yet.

  Warring pointed at Kadin. “You. Fellows’s aide.”

  “Kadin Stone, sir.” She didn’t know why it bothered her that he seemed to think of her as more of an object than a person. At least he thought she was an object capable of performing basic job functions.

  He waved a dismissive hand. “Fine, Stone, then. Get together the team’s notes on this DeValeriel case. I want to see what you’ve got.”

  Well, at least I know where Dahran’s office is now. She got up and wandered down the hall.

  She found her probably-never-would-be husband sitting at his desk. “Inspector Warring wants me to get everyone’s notes for the case.”

  “Of course he does. It’s Monday morning, and he wants a report of all the major cases first thing. Any good aide knows that.” Dahran grinned at her to show he was kidding, though she suspected he wasn’t.

  “Okay.” Kadin took a hesitant step into the room. “Well, can I have your notes so that I can give them to the Inspector?”

  Dahran held up a thin folder with a cluster of rumpled papers in it. “Sure thing. I’ve had them ready for you since Friday.”

  I can’t tell if he’s mad at me or not. But I guess a better question is, do I care?

  She gave him a smile as she reached out to take the folder, in case she did care. “Thanks.”

  As she headed back to Fellows’s office, she narrowly avoided bumping into Combs.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” She took a quick step back.

  He grabbed her arm to steady her, pulling her toward him in the process. “Miss Stone. I was looking for you. I…” He broke off, studying her face, as if trying to decide whether he could trust her.

  Kadin felt a strange tingle at being close enough to his handsome face to feel his breath whisper on her cheeks. She’d had so many men stand close to her this week. Dawban Steel, who she hoped never to see again. Duke Baurus, who she didn’t know what to think about. And now Combs. Yet she’d managed to keep her distance from Dahran, whom she still planned to marry.

  Combs lowered his voice to a whisper. “I ran those tests you were talking about, did the full autopsy I couldn’t do on the queen’s body. I found… I think you were right. The victim’s throat wasn’t damaged, but inside… His air sacs looked as though someone had burned them away.”

  Kadin gasped, all thoughts of handsome men gone from her head. “Then I was right. The murderer did use magic.”

  Combs looked up and down the hall, as if making sure that no one was listening to them. “I have the report right here. In fact, I have two reports. One states exactly what I told you, and one says that I could find no cause of death. I’m trying to decide which one to give you. You’re collecting notes for Warring today, yes?”

  Kadin nodded and looked him straight in the eye. “We have to tell the truth. If the Society of Mages is killing people, we have to hold them accountable.”

  “You’re right, of course. Though you’ll forgive me if I hope we never find the killer, and this evidence never sees the light of day.” He handed her the piece of paper and reached out as if he were going to touch her cheek, but then thought better of it. “Be careful, Miss Stone. I don’t think this path leads anywhere good.”

  He’s
probably right, she thought as he walked away. But somehow she couldn’t bring herself to be scared of the Society of Mages. They seemed too murky and nebulous. One murderer wielding magic seemed much more manageable.

  Kadin returned to her office and flipped through the file that Dahran had given her. “Disaster” was the most positive word she could think of to describe it. The folder was full of smudged handwritten notes on various sizes of paper, and arrangement of the pages appeared haphazard at best.

  Inspector Warring probably won’t mind waiting an extra hour for legible notes. She sat down at her typewriter and organized Dahran’s and Combs’s reports into the case as she believed the detectives saw it, holes included. In addition to the speculations about magic, Combs’s analysis indicated that Tailor had died sometime on Sunday night—long before Duke Baurus encountered Queen Callista.

  Should I put my notes in? Fellows wouldn’t want me to, but Warring did say he wanted the findings of everyone on the team. Feeling a rush of daring, Kadin pulled out her folder on the case and inserted the pages where she thought they best fit. She hoped Duke Baurus had turned himself in by the time Warring read the case file, or he would wonder how and where she had questioned the primary suspect.

  Fellows came in as Kadin finished up. She went to get a steaming cup of java and delivered it to his door. “Do you have any notes for Inspector Warring?” she asked as she handed him the mug.

  Fellows took the java but didn’t look up at her. “I went over all of that with White on Friday.”

  Kadin nodded and headed to find Warring’s office. She only wandered around for a few minutes before finding the right door, and she handed the case file to Warring’s aide, who, judging by the quality of his suit, might have been better paid than Fellows.

  She headed back to her office, wondering if she should try to make further progress on the case. The only lead she had left was Landis and Elyesse Imbolc, and she couldn’t muster up the nerve to schedule an appointment with them on her own.