Jack wrote these down but didn’t bother to underline them. “Who are they? How do you know them?”
“I was helping them solve the crimes.” Chaz reiterated as much as he could from the house, including how some of the vampires had been transported, but Jack only shook his head.
“Come on, man. Have you heard yourself?”
“It’s all true. Look in my car, Jack, please. For the love of God, you have to believe me.”
“We already have looked at your car. Nothing to find but a bunch of cigarette packages,” Declan said. His voice cut through the tension. He stood in the doorway, not quite leaning into the room. He held a file folder in his hand but didn’t read from it. “You know when those women were shouting at the other crime scenes about the devil? How do I know they weren’t talking about you?”
“What? What do you mean?”
“This is all nonsense. Sex workers. Fiends. You’re trying to protect the lowest of the low, Chaz. You’ve always been doing that, ever since your days at Divine Interventions. Vamps are always the same.”
“I’m not like that.”
“You think yourself so pure,” Declan said. “So you kill everything else that comes into your way, thinking you can heal yourself by taking out all you’ve touched with your body and your mind. But it won’t do, none of it will do.”
“No, no, that’s not it at all. You have to look at the research. You have to. And Imogen’s number is in the file. Ask her. She knows I was there—so I couldn’t have killed that protestor.” Chaz shot a look to Jack, who was staring at his legal pad. He could barely look up, seemingly crushed. Declan seemed delighted. He hung in the doorway, not moving but taunting with the research.
Chaz touched his jacket pocket and pulled out the saint card. “Saint Therese. The patron saint of gardeners and florists. Imogen gave me this.”
“The same type of cards we found on the bodies?” Jack said. He picked up the card by its edges and put it into an evidence bag. “Chaz. What are you doing?”
“Nothing! I didn’t do a thing. I—”
“Ah yes,” Declan said, eyeing the number on the card’s back. “Imogen Nicholas. She’s come up a couple times in the vamp cases. I will look into this, but I suspect it won’t do much. She gonna alibi for everything with this monster business?”
“She’s not a monster. She’s human.”
“Okay, well, as long as she passes a blood test, that’s good to hear,” Jack said. “That will do favors for you. But we’re still going to need alibis for the other kills. Let’s start at the beginning.”
Without another moment, Jack listed off all the victims’ time of death. When it came time for Hector’s, Chaz shot a look at Declan. “I was with you.”
“You were in a separate hotel room. And he was killed the same time as Patrick, so you can’t exactly use me as your alibi.”
“Then I was at Jack’s party. A lot of people saw me.”
Jack nodded, his brow furrowed. Chaz saw a flicker of belief flash on his face. “But Ramirez. You were out on injury leave with that.”
“I was with Sully. The entire time after the explosion. I was always with Sully.”
“The translator?” Jack asked.
“And your fuck toy?” Declan said. “I’m sure that’s not a complicated alibi. You pay him for it?”
“Shut the fuck up.” Chaz slammed the table with a fist. Jack jumped at the sudden movement. Declan just seemed pleased.
“We know about Sully. He’s not a translator,” Declan said. “He’s a fiend like you. We found his records at the school. Tracked down the guy who bought his degree and had a nice long discussion. Your boy is a worker. Your boy is scum. And for once, it’s not going to come clean.”
“Don’t you dare talk about him like that. You know nothing about any of this.”
“We know that you’ve been working for the wrong side for too long. And now it’s time to pay for that.” Declan edged closer to the table, closer to Chaz and got in his face. It was only for a brief second, but it was as if they both turned to white light in the mirror. “You brought your whore to the house where he made his cash lying on his back. Did he help you kill more whores to make yourself feel better? What a crock.”
Chaz leaned out to hit Declan on the jaw, understanding exactly how Gabe must have felt. Declan was too quick. He slunk back against the wall while Jack restrained Chaz.
“This is not getting us anywhere. Declan—go home. Take a break. You’ve been working too long on this case.”
“I have no—”
“Go home.” Jack’s voice was hard, stern. He wasn’t taking no for an answer. After a while, Declan straightened his jacket. He shot Chaz another devious look, one that had no warmth or light in it whatsoever. His eyes were like ice and made Chaz shudder until he left.
Jack placed his hands on the table, drawing Chaz’s attention back to him. “You know, Chaz, things will go a lot easier if you confess. There are a lot of families who want to bury their kids in proper cemeteries. They can’t now because of you.”
“They can’t because of a silly law. They can’t because we don’t recognize vamps as people.”
“I’m not here to change the law,” Jack said, his eyes pleading. “I’m only here to enforce it.”
“Why can’t we change it, though? You know it’s bullshit just as much as I do.”
Jack shook his head. “Killing will always be wrong no matter what.”
“I know that, Jack. Please. You know me. I’m not a killer. A vampire, yes. But I’ve never killed a single person. I’ve turned them, yes, in the past. But I haven’t done that anymore.”
“So Divine Interventions cured you?”
“I never needed to be cured because there was nothing wrong with me. A vampire is still human. Still born of body. I haven’t done anything wrong here. I haven’t killed those people.”
“Maybe so. But someone did. And the evidence is looking good for you unless you get more credible witnesses. Not Sully. The department already looks bad for letting him get too close.”
Chaz balked. “What about Imogen? She can alibi me for tonight. If one chain in this supposed pattern is broken, then it’s not me.”
“Maybe,” Jack said. “But if you’re not going to confess, then there’s nothing I can do here. We have enough information to charge you.”
Chaz gasped. There wasn’t enough information at all, especially since the law said he couldn’t be held for killing vampires. But that one person—fuck, until Imogen arrived, they had him on the one by using the vampire kills as an established pattern. Now that Chaz wasn’t a human anymore but a monster in this system, it was back to being treated like crap. He remembered his first arrest and the cart off to prison.
“Shit, Jack. Don’t leave. Not yet. I get a phone call, right?”
“You do. And a lawyer if you want. Get a good one.”
“Okay. Get me the phone call and that person will get a lawyer.”
When Jack finally nodded, Chaz had arranged the dominos as they were supposed to fall in his mind. It would take a lot longer than he anticipated to sort out this mess—but he wasn’t a killer. One was still out there, with the freedom to commit horrible crimes because there was no law to punish them.
Now, more than ever, Chaz needed to focus.
Chapter 39
IMOGEN ARRIVED three hours later. It was nearly two in the morning, but she looked just as wonderful as she had in the kitchen. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she wore the same red jacket and matching skirt. Chaz rose in the small jail cell they’d put him in as she wandered over to the bars.
“Well, I thought I’d see you soon, but not this soon.”
“I’m sorry. Thank you so much for helping…. I didn’t know who else to call,” Chaz said. Other than Sully. Chaz’s heart hurt realizing he was probably going out of his mind with worry. “So what’s the verdict?”
“Well, I alibied you for tonight. Gave a statement
to Jack about how you came over for a dinner since we met through friends. I can’t alibi you for all the other murders, though. I’ve called a lawyer for you. The best I know. She should help.”
“Athena? Or Anna, whatever she prefers.”
“Yes. Either name is fine. And she’s got you out for the night. Worked some magic for that. We’ve surrendered your passport and they’ve already executed a search warrant for your place. You’ll have to come with me, since I paid your bond as well, and they may give you an ankle bracelet. But that kind of measure may be saved for the court date we’ll have in a few days. It’s not the final date, but we will find out the official charges then.”
Chaz nodded along, already knowing most of it by heart. “But I can leave tonight?”
“Yes.”
A guard with a sour expression came by and unlocked the holding cell. Chaz walked out and rushed into her arms. She made a small noise of surprise but hugged back.
“Ma’am, do you need help?”
“No, no.” Imogen batted away the guard’s concern. When the man left to sit back at his watch desk, Imogen grasped Chaz’s arm and led him to the exit. “I do need some kind of help, though,” Imogen confessed. “Any idea where we can get a good cup of coffee at this hour?”
“Adelaide’s. Best coffee I’ve had since becoming a vamp.”
“Then let’s go. Maybe we can catch a break tonight and they’ll serve some kind of cake too.”
Fifteen minutes later Chaz and Imogen took up the back booth at Adelaide’s. There was no cake, but Imogen settled on cherry pie and seemed happy enough with her choice. The blue light from the diner’s sign cascaded across her pale cheeks and gave her a glow. Before they left the station, she’d made sure to give Chaz a hoodie so he could hide his face. There were no protestors, but Chaz figured it was only a matter of time before they figured out he was released. Imogen gave him more details about the case, the search warrant, and the interview that had been aired on the Citizen’s Brigade’s website and TV channel from Atticus’s jail cell.
“Atticus? Really?”
“Yeah, but he was a minor player in all of it. Just used to confirm the story a reporter named Igby told.”
“Fuck.” Chaz slumped in his seat. He was hoping Igby hadn’t been the one to sell him out. “I actually liked him.”
“And you still should. He was acting on an anonymous tip. He was doing what he thought was right. It screwed you, but as a citizen, you would be happy to catch a killer in the force, right?”
“But I’m not a killer.”
Imogen held up her hand again, nodding along. “Yes, I know. You’re not. But there is one in the force. We figured that much with how easily the guy gained access to the sex trade workers’ lives. Not Alan Ramirez but someone else. So Igby thought he was protecting people. We really need to figure out who this tipster was.”
“And we can’t do that,” Chaz said, then cited the law that gave the press separation from the police.
“And you shouldn’t want to break that law in order to get it. The law is a document that makes tough decisions so regular people are spared the burden. The law can be flawed, yes, but then it’s our job to fix the flaws and rewrite the language. Igby, in spite of outing you, isn’t the bad guy. So let’s focus on the bad guys.”
Chaz nodded. He sipped his coffee and eyed the cherry pie with curiosity.
“Oh, right. You don’t really eat, do you?” Imogen asked.
“I can. Just doesn’t mean much. I need blood, that’s about it.”
“How are you for that?”
“Fine. I fed at Artie’s a few days ago, so I’m fine for another couple more.” Chaz sighed. “If I go back to jail, they’re actually pretty good about keeping it up.”
“They know the ramifications if they don’t. Still, it’s another law I’d like to fix. The prisons are full of innocent people as well. But another time, another time.” Imogen nodded and took a large drink of coffee. “We’re going to need to find you a constant supply of blood regardless. There are people in your apartment already and they will be doing everything in their power to tie you to those murders. They want you to burn for them.”
“I know. I didn’t do it, though.”
“But you admitted to fraud. You’re going to plead guilty on that case. Even if Atticus was the one to help you with it. I know it’s shitty, but you have Athena on your side now. It seems intimidating, but she will get you the best deal she can within what’s currently written. And she’s going to use your case now as a public stand against the separation between supernaturals and humans.”
“What do you mean? The victimhood statute?”
“Yes. You’re aware. Good. This is going to be a lot easier. The thing is, if Athena can get your first case retried—but against who turned you, then this subsequent fraud will go away. It’s complicated, but if we can use you as a reason why the idea of victimhood itself under the law needs to be rewritten, for the good of the public, then we have a chance to make the laws around sex-trafficking work.”
“Really?”
“Yes. One law begets another. You standing up and being the first vampire tried as a victim will become case law. Then, if we go into making sex work legal in a world where both humans and supernaturals are considered victims, our work becomes a lot easier. Sex work is complicated even for humans. In Canada, there are too many vague terms on who and what counts as sex work. In theory, it’s not illegal to do it—it’s illegal to live off the profits. Complicated stuff, and when you add monster laws into this, it becomes even more ridiculous. Like the term monster itself! It’s supernatural. You’re not a beast, or a monster. You’re born of body. You have different genetic makeup, but we all started off the same way, whether we manifested later or were turned. And we all deserve a fair chance.”
As Imogen continued to talk over cherry pie and coffee, Chaz felt immensely better. His past started to rearrange itself. The time with Nat had been resolved, as best as it could, and now he felt better about his time with Vanessa and his first few victims.
“How do you know so much about me?” Chaz asked. “Did Sully tell you my story?”
“No, actually. Artie forwarded your blood results. It would be helpful to figure out who you’ve been in contact with through the results, so giving us some names is good. Athena’s going to want it for your case, anyway. We’re going to use you as a guinea pig. We didn’t realize it before, but after a large meeting, we think it’s the best.”
“You already had that meeting? I was only in lock up for a couple hours.”
“Bitches get stuff done,” Imogen teased. “But we’ve also been doing this a long, long time. Do you want to see the research?”
“I do. But… I lost your file.”
“I know. We’ve factored that in. Hopefully your crime unit will use it and figure out their fucking issues.” Imogen huffed. She ate a couple big pieces of pie. “I think I left some of the map and your genetic stuff out in the car. I stopped off at Artie’s before coming to see you.”
“Did you see Sully?”
“No. I don’t know him! But you should call him. Especially if he’s one of your alibis.”
“Good idea.”
Imogen shimmied out of the booth and looped her purse over her arm. She was about to leave when Chaz asked, “Can I see him?”
She gave him a smile but shook her head. “No, sweetie, I’m sorry. You need to go to a safe house. You can’t go back to Artie’s.”
“What if he came with us? He was kept in the safe house?”
“Maybe,” Imogen said. “Let me get the research and you call him, okay?”
Chaz nodded. He was about to ask for a phone when Imogen slid him one from her purse. She disappeared out the door with a wave. Chaz sank down in the booth, pulling the strings of his hoodie tight. So far no one had stopped to look at him twice, but he was still worried they’d put two and two together from him eating here so often before. He dialed Artie’s number�
��he knew it of by heart now—and heard Tabby’s voice right away.
“Hey, is Sully around?”
“Oh my God. You’re alive!”
“Why wouldn’t I be alive?”
“You were arrested. They think you killed people.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know. Sully knows. Hold on. I’ll get him. Congrats on being alive!”
Chaz tapped his fingers against the booth table, his blood running cold. When he finally heard the breathy hello from Sully, his heart beat again. He touched his throat, his chest, and his thighs where all his pulse points were and felt his skin hum to life.
“Oh wow,” Chaz said. “It’s so nice to hear your voice.”
“Chaz. Oh, Chaz. I was so scared.”
“Me too. I’m terrified actually.”
“What’s happening? Are you in jail?”
“I was. Imogen got me out.”
“Imogen?”
“You know her?”
“Um,” Sully said. Chaz could picture him biting his lip as he thought over his response. “Yes and no. I’ve never met her, but I saw her on one of Trina’s cards. She helps people get out. Gives them new names.”
“And works on the sex-traffic stuff. She has me. It’s a long story, but I have to tell you. I saw Nat again. He’s alive. And safe. Nothing I did killed him. He’s okay, he’s fine… he’s….”
“Oh, Chaz. I’m so relieved. I saw him in Trina’s cards too, but—”
“You knew he was alive?”
“I didn’t. I wasn’t sure. Trina sometimes talks nonsense. I didn’t tell you in case she was wrong. But she’s not. This is great. Are you okay?”
“I’m as good as I can be. I’m a criminal. But… why didn’t you tell me Nat was alive?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Sully said. “You’re alive, Chaz. You’re not a criminal. You were never, ever tainted.”
Chaz crumpled at the words. He’d always thought he was the killer they were calling him now. He came into places and destroyed everything. But Sully was here, and Sully was proof, along with Imogen and the rest of the people he’d met, that maybe he could become something new. He didn’t even care that Sully hadn’t told him about Nat. He wouldn’t have believed it was true either.
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