by Robin Roseau
"I would drive you wild with need," she whispered. She began telling me how.
Answers
I was panting heavily and trembling as well. Evaline never stopped whispering in my ear, although from time to time, she switched ears. My body long had betrayed me, expressing its appreciation for what she was telling me. When she asked questions, whether I wanted to or not, I found myself answering, her questions always answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'.
She punctuated her words with her tail, waving in the air before my eyes, and she told me some of the things she would do with the tail. I found myself hitching my breath more than once. Each time she laughed lightly, judging my reactions accurately, I was sure.
The sound didn't register with me for some time. There was an insistent beeping coming from somewhere behind Evaline. She stopped talking but then leaned away. She pushed off the couch, and I felt deep disappointment at the loss of her warmth. I watched as she crossed her desk and silenced the alarm. She stood with her back towards me, but then I watched her shimmer. The tail disappeared, as did the horns. When she turned to face me, she was human again.
"Good game, Detective," she said. She offered a small bow. Then she played with her timer for a moment before looking back at me. "Did you need a moment to recover your composure?"
I nodded, listened to directions to the ladies, and fled.
* * * *
When I returned, the demon was seated behind her desk. There was a glass of water waiting for me. I took the seat across the desk from her. She held the timer up, and I could see it was set for an hour.
"I will answer your questions briefly, and you may ask for greater detail if you wish me to spend the time." At that, I nodded. She hit start and set the timer down.
I had my photos of Beth's cousin. I set them on the desk facing Ms. Marsh. "To the best of your knowledge, have you ever met this woman?"
"Yes."
I stared. I wasn't sure she would answer. Finally I shook my head. "When?"
"The first time?" Ms. Marsh said. "Approximately two years ago."
"Please describe the encounter."
"It was late, well after midnight. I was out for a drive. I like going for rides on lonely roads. I find it soothing. I came across a car with its emergency lights flashing. I slowed as I passed and saw a woman inside. I stopped, backed up, then got out of the car to see if she needed assistance."
"And encountered Rachel Spencer?"
The demon nodded. "Yes. She had a flat tire and no cell phone coverage. She had tried to change it, but the lug nuts were too tight for her. She was adorable. She had grime across her face, and her hands were dirty. She was wearing a lovely pink sweater, but she ruined it while removing the spare from the trunk."
I grew cold. "What did you do to her?"
"Two years ago?" Ms. Marsh clarified.
"Yes."
"I helped change her tire then let her follow me until we reached more familiar territory for her."
"You didn't touch her?"
"Well, of course. We shook hands when we met, and she hugged me exuberantly once I'd changed her tire." The demon smiled. "She seemed quite smitten."
"I would have pegged her as straight."
She laughed. "Around me, Detective, labels like 'straight' and 'gay' aren't always absolutes."
I supposed they weren't.
"Have you seen her since that night?"
"Yes. We exchanged information. She expressed a committed desire to repay me for my kindness. I gave her one of my cards, and she asked to take me to dinner in compensation. The dinner she offered wasn't necessarily the dinner I wanted from her, but I accepted."
"When was that?"
"About two weeks later." The demon grinned. "She picked me up here. She was quite distraught to discover the sort of club I own."
"You did that intentionally."
"I sure did. Rachel is tougher than she looks. She spent most of the meal trying to convince me to amend my evil ways." Ms. Marsh laughed lightly. "It was quite the conversation. I enjoyed myself immensely."
"Is that the last time you saw her?"
"Oh, no," she replied. "We became friends."
"Friends."
"Yes, Detective. Do I need to explain the concept of friendship?"
"I just find it unlikely that Ms. Spencer would consort with a demon."
"Consort, is it?" She laughed again, her eyes settling on me. "Of course, she didn't know of my demonic nature."
"Have you seen her recently."
The demon wagged her finger at me. "Oh, no. It's my turn."
"Excuse me."
"I was clear, was I not? I will answer your questions, but you will also answer mine. Is this the first missing person's case you've taken since leaving the Crimes Against Children division?"
I didn't want to tell this woman anything about me. She was far too astute, and I was sure anything I told her was ammunition for whatever she planned. She watched me calmly, finally asking me, "Perhaps you're done asking questions and don't care to answer mine."
"Yes, this is the first missing person's case I've worked in three years."
"You're not assigned to this case. You're poaching. Why?"
"Someone asked me to look into it."
"How vague," she replied. "Perhaps you would like if my answers were equally vague."
"You promised to be forthcoming."
"As did you, Detective. Who asked you to look into this case?"
"I don't want to involve her."
"Her. Ah. A former lover then."
"Leave her out of this, Ms. Marsh." I half rose from my seat. The demon didn't seem impressed.
"Relax, Detective. I am not interested in this mysterious person you are protecting. I am interested in you. I want to know why you are risking your career -- and you believe far more than your career -- for this girl. Who is she to you?" The demon folded her arms over her chest.
"I've done a lot more for other cases."
"Give me an example of what you've done that is a greater risk than what you're doing on this case."
I looked away, not saying anything for several minutes. The demon said nothing. Finally I admitted, "I went to the vampire after some of the cases."
"Because you were unable to rescue the missing child."
"Not always," I said. "But sometimes what we found..." I trailed off. A moment later, the demon shifted in her seat, leaning across her desk and setting her delicate hand on my arm.
"I understand, Teigan," she said gently. "Why this woman? Who is she to you?"
"She's a woman who needs help." I looked back at her. "Isn't that enough?"
Our eyes locked for a moment, and it was the demon who looked down first. She leaned back in her chair, trailing her fingers across my arm as she drew away.
"Perhaps so, but if you do not offer a clear answer, I will consider you in default of our agreement. Who is this woman to you, Detective?"
"You can't do that!"
"I certainly can!" she thundered. "Answer me!"
"She's a friend's cousin," I said. "Why does it matter?"
"It seems to matter to you a great deal," she replied. "It seems to matter to you enough to pursue this case at risk of your career and possibly your soul. It seems to equally matter to you that I don't know your relationship to you. Is she a lover, Detective?"
"No. I told you I thought she was straight."
"Last chance. Who is she?"
"I told you. She's a friend's cousin."
"A friend's cousin. So you do this for your friend."
"I do it for Rachel."
"That's only a half truth, or not even half."
"Fine. Yes, I'm doing this for my friend! Satisfied?"
"Not yet. Who is your friend?"
"I told you to leave her out of this!"
"Who is she to you? I don't need a name, but you will tell me why this is so important to you."
"A lover. You already guess. She was a lover."
> "A lover? Or a love?"
I looked away again. When I finally answered, my voice was small. "The only woman I ever truly loved."
"Finally," the demon said, and I could hear the satisfaction in her voice. "It is now your turn, but if you again make me work that hard for proper answers, you will find demons can be quite infuriating in talking a great deal while saying very little."
I nodded understanding.
I was worried about the time I had remaining to me, and so I jumped to the chase. "What have you done with Rachel Spencer?"
"A great deal. It would take far longer than the time remaining for me to offer a detailed answer. I changed her tire. I shook her hand. I hugged her. Perhaps you should ask a narrower question."
"Do you know where she is?"
She began tapping her fingers against her lips, studying me while saying nothing. When that went on longer than I preferred, I added, "You promised to answer."
"I am wondering if I should play the sort of games with you that you played with me. I am better at it than you are."
We stared into each other's eyes for a while until I lowered mine. "I'm sorry."
"No you're not," she said. She tapped her lips again. "You have a choice. You will offer reparations or you will see just how good I am at the game you attempted to play with me."
"I'm sorry," I said again. "I don't know what you want."
"I should declare you in default," the demon said firmly. "If you want further answers, I should claim you as my pet for two days."
"You can't do that!" I looked up at her.
"I can," she said. "If you promise to be more forthright with any further answers, I will accept a smaller apology."
"I'll be forthright if you limit yourself to questions about me. Leave my friends out of it."
She considered me for a moment, then nodded. "And for your apology, I want you to remove your jacket and unbutton your blouse."
"Excuse me?"
"Go ahead," she replied. "Argue with me. It's your hour."
I shut my mouth, slipped out of the jacket, and unbuttoned the blouse. I didn't untuck it from the waistband of my slacks, so it stayed somewhat closed, but the demon could see a good deal of cleavage and a serviceable bra underneath the blouse. She smiled.
"Thank you. Yes, I know where she is."
"Is she alive?"
"She was alive and healthy the last time I saw her."
"Oh, thank god!" I blurted.
The demon frowned. "No, I do not believe so."
"Oh. Sorry." She waved the apology away. "When did you last see her?"
She smiled. "When did you and Rachel's cousin break up?"
"How did you know we broke up?"
"I thought you intended to answer my questions, Detective."
"I'm sorry," I said. "Habit." I looked at the wall. "Three years ago."
"Have there been other lovers since?"
"One night stands."
"Because you're still in love with your former girlfriend?"
"Because love sucks. When did you last see Rachel?"
She smiled. "Three hours ago, Detective, and I would have heard if something untoward had happened to her in the intervening hours."
I stared. "She's alive."
"Alive and well. Tell me, Detective, do you believe I have the right to defend myself?"
"Excuse me?"
"It was my turn. Do I have the right to defend myself?"
"From what?"
"Does it matter? If someone attacks me, do I have a right to defend myself?"
"I don't know."
"How can you not know?"
"You're a demon. I don't know what rules there are."
"I am asking your opinion then. In your opinion, do I have the right to defend myself?"
"Within reason. Where is she?"
"That is not a complete answer, Detective. What do you mean by within reason?"
"If someone attacks you with words, you do not have the right to kill that person."
"Ah. So I may defend myself with my defense in keeping with the nature of the attack."
"Yes."
"So if someone were to attack my businesses by building a competing business, I have the right to engage in the sort of business tactics allowed by law."
"Yes, I suppose."
"I could, for instance, hire their staff away."
I stared. "I guess," I admitted finally.
"Leave bad reviews on Yelp?"
"I suppose."
"If I know of health code violations, I could report them to the health inspector."
"Yes."
"If I knew drugs were being traded on their property, I could call someone from amongst the fine officers of the local police department."
"Yes."
"And if those officers accepted bribes rather than pursue the case, I could ask the internal affairs division to take a peek. Although I admit I am more likely to have a chat with the mayor. She's a good friend, after all."
I stared. "Yes. Where is she?"
"We're not done with my question," the demon said. "What are my choices if a human comes onto my property with the intention of killing me?"
"In my opinion?"
"Yes."
"You could stop him."
"And then what?"
"Turn him over to the police."
"What if this person knows my true nature, and that is the excuse for attempted murder?"
"That's splitting hairs," I said. "Can you even be killed?"
"No, but that isn't the point, is it? Attempted murder is attempted murder. In your opinion, am I allowed to enact my own justice?"
"Absolutely not."
"So you don't believe in vigilante justice."
"No. I'm a cop!"
"So you would never engage in vigilante justice yourself."
"Of course not."
"You've never applied a little more force than necessary when dealing with a, oh, I don't know. Child molester?"
I stared. She couldn't possibly know. It had to be a guess. She was fishing.
"Think carefully before you answer, Detective. I will know if you lie, and I promise you, I will consider you in default."
I looked away, not answering, not sure how to answer.
"Are you a hypocrite, Detective?"
I didn't answer that, either. Instead I asked my own question. "Do these answers matter?"
"Yes."
I looked back at her. "Have you hurt Rachel?"
"Her body is whole. I have not hurt her the way you mean."
"How have you hurt her?"
"If someone comes into your home with the intention of murdering you -- or worse, Rachel's cousin -- do you really intend me to believe you would subdue this person and call the authorities?"
I stared. To be honest, I didn't know what I would do. Finally I admitted that.
"Have you ever applied your own brand of justice when someone was clearly going to escape justice?"
"Please, Evaline," I said. "Don't ask."
"No one is recording us, Teigan," she said gently. "And I have no intention of turning you over to internal affairs. But you will answer my question."
"Have you?" I asked her.
"Of course I have. But I want to know if you have."
"Yes," I said in a small voice. "Yes." I looked up, and I knew pain filled my eyes. "Please don't ask about it. Please."
"Would you judge me if I applied my justice when threatened, then?"
"It isn't my place to judge."
"Don't be evasive, or I won't grant your favor."
"I would want to know what the person did and what you did to stop him."
"So it is possible that some forms of justice may be acceptable."
"I don't know," I said. "I'm a cop, Ms. Marsh. It isn't my nature to decide these things."
"You are an intelligent woman, Teigan," she countered. "Surely you've thought about these issues."
"Where is Rachel Spencer, Ms. Marsh?"
She smiled. "I will answer that, but I believe you need to put two and two together first."
"She tried to kill you."
"Yes."
"The night she went missing."
"She isn't exactly missing if I know where she is, but yes, the way you intend, yes. She came here with the intention of killing a demon."
"I thought she didn't know."
"She guessed."
"How?"
"She one day told me she was praying for my soul. I laughed."
"I bet that went over well."
"Not particularly. She left in a huff but she was back the next day asking if I believed in her god." The demon smiled. "I told her yes, but belief and worship weren't the same thing. After that, she was worse than those people who come to your door to convert you to this religion or that one. Have I found Jesus? Seriously?"
"You can say his name?"
"Apparently I can."
"Then what?"
"If someone killed Ms. Spencer's cousin, would you be satisfied if that person received a slap on the wrist and the keys to the city?"
I didn't like the way she could derail my questions. "No, but clearly Rachel didn't kill you."
"She stabbed a knife, drenched in holy water, into my heart. I'd say she made a darned good attempt at it."
I looked away and stared at the wall for a while. "I'm sorry. Did it hurt?"
"The holy water didn't matter, but yet, it hurt."
I turned back to face her. "You didn't kill her."
"Would I have been within my rights, Detective?"
"Legally-"
"Morally."
"Not if you were able to subdue her without killing her."
"I believe the Biblical answer is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
"She didn't kill you."
"I believe if I were to stab her the way she stabbed me, the final results would have been different for her than for me. Perhaps I am owed a pound of flesh taken closest to the heart."
"Are you torturing her?"
"Not the way you mean."
"Then how are you torturing her?"
"She believes her soul has become damned," the demon said. "I believe that tortures her."