Fire Within

by Ally Shields

  The forty permanent members of the Magic Council held their weekly meeting on Friday morning. Ari attended, submitted her written reports on the two vampire deaths, and answered a handful of questions from the representatives. Most of the Council members were professional and friendly, including Steffan, of course. Definitely not Lucien, the vamp rep and her nemesis. They’d had words more than once. She was surprised to learn that Andreas’s presence on the investigative team had a plus side. It kept Lucien from grilling her at length. While Lucien made it sound like Andreas was conducting a one-man inquiry, that was no big deal to Ari. Maybe Andreas would be the one to solve the murders. She’d never said he wasn’t skilled.

  At the conclusion of the meeting, the council president, an elderly wizard, stopped her in the hallway. “These vampire murders trouble me very much, Ari. If they continue, the vampire community may demand revenge and take matters into their own hands. That would indeed be a serious development.”

  “Especially if they draw the obvious conclusion—that a human is hunting them.”

  He peered at her over his reading glasses. “Do you disagree?”

  “Not sure yet. It doesn’t feel right. I’m hoping a report from the lab will point us in the right direction.” She wasn’t ready to discuss the eerie feeling she’d had at the second crime scene. It might be nothing.

  “Whatever you do, you must do it swiftly. I do not want a couple of tragedies to turn into a bloodbath.” The ancient sorcerer retraced his way toward the meeting chambers, his head of snowy hair bent forward as if today he felt the full weight of his duties.

  * * *

  Much as Ari wanted to relieve the old wizard’s anxiety by jumping in and solving the murders, she didn’t have a single lead to follow. She listened eagerly when she found a message from Ryan waiting on her cell phone. He wanted her to stop by the station. Good news or bad, at least something was happening.

  Knowing the second murder had placed Eddie’s guilt in question, she entered the PD building in a hopeful mood. Ryan looked harried when she arrived at his door. His disordered curls were proof that he’d run his fingers through them repeatedly, a sure indication of stress.

  “Bad day?” she said, plunking her butt onto a well-worn wooden chair.

  “You think?” He threw down his pen, heaved a long-suffering sigh, and leaned back. “This case is driving me nuts. And I thought it was a shoo-in.” He fidgeted with a paperclip on his desk. “With this second murder, The Clarion’s lawyers are putting pressure on the district attorney to release Eddie, and the DA’s been all over me. I was resisting, until this.” He handed her a report. “ME’s findings on our second victim. Homicide by traumatic injury. Weapon unknown.” He frowned. “Might be a gun, might not, but I can’t prove it one way or the other. Inconclusive at best. Off the record, he thought it was the same cause of death as victim one. Oh, and the report on Mrs. West’s gun is underneath. Hasn’t been fired,” he added as an obvious afterthought. Having delivered what he considered bad news, he sank into glum silence.

  “Eddie’s confession was a lie,” she said.

  Ryan grimaced as if she’d stuck him with a pin. “Maybe. The park murder doesn’t clear him, but it muddies the case. Of course, we could have two killers. Maybe Eddie’s accomplice committed the second murder alone.” His suggestion was half-hearted.

  Ari bit her tongue, saying nothing, and Ryan went back to brooding. He was having a hard time ditching his ironclad theory, but he’d come around. She was relieved on Eddie’s behalf, but Ryan wasn’t in the mood to share the sentiment. Ari was already thinking ahead, wondering if clearing Eddie had actually been the easiest of her tasks. The investigation was back at square one, starting over.

  “We have to question everything again,” she concluded. “Gillian didn’t find evidence of gun fire at the first crime scene. No residue, nothing in the air. I don’t have last night’s report from her yet, but what if it’s the same? I was at the scene quickly. I didn’t notice any odor of gunfire. But there was something. Something creepy.” Ari saw Ryan’s instant frown. He hated the vague, magical stuff. “Sorry. Wish I could be more precise.”

  “No, it’s not that. It’s something Andreas said. About a strange feel to the park last night. Had no idea what he was talking about.”

  Ari straightened in her chair. “So, Andreas noticed it too. He didn’t explain? Or suggest what it was?”

  “I got the impression he didn’t know. Or that he wasn’t sure.” Ryan gave her his cop stare. “I take it you two didn’t get anything settled on the walk home. Sure would help if you’d talk to one another, figure this out. These supernatural elements are beyond me.” He stood, gave himself a visible shake, and gestured for her to follow him. “Come on. Your buddy should be in Interview by now. I told the jail to bring him up as soon as you arrived. Thought you’d want to be in on his release. Let’s go do this.”

  Before she could respond with more than a big grin, her cell rang. She stopped to answer, while Ryan waited. “Yes, Mr. Shale.”

  “Really wish you’d call me Harold.”

  “Okay, Harold. How can I help you?”

  “Carl asked that I call and see if you’ve made any progress. Anything I could tell him might help.”

  Ari wondered if this was going to be a daily annoyance. She gave him the standard line. “It’s early in the investigation. We’re still pursuing leads.”

  “Good. I’m sure you and the lieutenant know what you’re doing.” There was a short pause. “The, ah, other man, the vampire with you, is he a cop, too?”

  “You mean Andreas?” She frowned at the phone. “Why do you ask?”

  “He practically accused someone on my staff of being a killer.”

  “It wasn’t personal. It’s routine to consider everyone. Andreas isn’t a cop, but he’s our liaison with the vampire community. We’ve worked with him before.”

  “Oh, yes, I see. Suppose a go-between would be useful.”

  “Yes, but he’s more than that, and he’ll be especially helpful if the killer turns out to be non-human.” Ari wasn’t sure why she’d chosen to defend Andreas. She just didn’t like Shale’s dismissive attitude.

  “You think that’s possible? That an Otherworlder did this?” The counselor’s voice sharpened with interest, and Ari backpedaled.

  “Hard to say. The ME hasn’t confirmed the cause of death, which makes everyone a suspect at this stage. We consider all possibilities, no matter how remote.” There, she thought, that was vague enough.

  “I see. Well, here I am keeping you on the phone when you have work to do. We’re all anxious for these killings to be solved, but I’ll tell Carl to be patient.” Shale gave a noticeable sigh. “And I’ll try to follow my own advice. If you learn anything new, please let us know.”

  When she disconnected, Ryan looked at her with a question on his face.

  “Shale. For an update, he said, but I think he really wanted to know about Andreas. Didn’t like being questioned about his agency or staff. And, it isn’t often you see a vampire working with the police. Which reminds me, have you heard from him?”

  Ryan slapped his forehead. “Dammit. Didn’t I tell you? Tonight, 7:00. He’s bringing in three members of some vampire gang called the Pure Bloods.”

  “As in ‘vampires are the only pure race’?”

  Ryan shrugged. “I’m sure they’ll tell us.”

  “What’s next?” Ari mused. “Actually, bigots might fit the profile. Racial purity as a motive.”

  “Didn’t know we had a profile.”

  “Two vampire victims. Both romantically involved outside their species. Looks like a developing pattern to me.”

  Ryan shook his head, probably regretting he’d chosen law enforcement as a career. The topic often came up when things weren’t going well. “I suppose you’re subtly reminding me Eddie only hated one particular vampire. So, OK, let’s talk with him.”

  * * *

  Ari decided the redheaded repor
ter looked worse than the last time. He’d lost weight. His face was gaunt; the blue jumpsuit hung loose. Jail life didn’t agree with him. Ari supposed a really good friend should ooze sympathy, but she was annoyed. Patricia’s death confirmed for her that Eddie was innocent, but his false confession had sidetracked the investigation and delayed the search for the real killer. He should have trusted the system. Or at least trusted her.

  “Sit down, Eddie,” Ryan began. “We have a few more questions for you.”

  “I’ve told you both I have nothing more to say.” Eddie’s voice was weary.

  “There’s been another killing,” Ryan said.

  “What?” The reporter’s eyes bugged, face paled. “That can’t be! Is this some kind of trick?” He searched Ari’s face, then back to Ryan. “Who?”

  “Thought you’d consider this good news,” Ryan said, studying his reaction. “Obviously you weren’t the shooter this time. If you have something more to tell us about Jules’s death, now’s the time.”

  Eddie hesitated, and Ari threw him a lifeline. “Your mom gave me her gun. Lab tests confirmed this morning that it hadn’t been fired in months.”

  His shoulders slumped, and he let out a long breath. “Thank God.”

  Ryan looked at Ari and shook his head. “OK, Eddie, tell us exactly what you know about this mess.”

  Eddie brushed back his rumpled hair. “I really thought my mother shot him.”

  Ari sat back and listened to the rest of Eddie’s retraction. No surprises. He’d simply found the body and jumped to the wrong conclusion.

  “When I arrived at the Woodland, the lot was full of cars, so I parked down the street at the curb. I was walking toward the bar when I heard the shots. I ran around the bushes, and Jules was on the ground. I assumed my mother had been there and taken off.”

  “But you saw nobody? Not even a weapon?” Ryan was incredulous. “I have trouble believing that.”

  Eddie glared at him. “If I’d seen anything, anybody other than my mother, do you think I’d be in here? I would’ve told you right away.”

  “Yeah, maybe. But then, you’ve already lied to us. So why were you at the bar?” Ryan wasn’t giving an inch.

  Eddie glanced away and looked sheepish. “I came to warn Jules. About Mother. She was so upset, and she had Dad's gun. I wanted him to stay away for a while. I didn’t like the guy, at least not with my sister. But I didn’t want Mother to shoot him.”

  Ryan thought about this for a moment. “Assuming I believe you, this would have been a lot easier if you’d told the truth from the beginning.”

  Eddie’s face creased with irritation. “No way I’d let my mother go to jail.” He turned to Ari. “How are they? Lorraine? Mother?”

  “Not bad.” She turned to Ryan. “Well?”

  He didn’t look happy about it, but he said, “OK, I guess you can find out for yourself. You’re free to go, as soon as the jail completes the paperwork. But don’t leave town. You’re still a suspect in Jules’s murder.”

  “Leave town? Heck, no. I’ve got a story to write.” Eddie’s tired face broke into a grin.

  Ari was satisfied on behalf of both the West kids. Lorraine could use her brother’s support right now. As for their mother, Ari wondered how many other “good citizens” just like her were out there. The woman wasn’t guilty of murder, but she was part of the poisonous hatred that surrounded this case. Mrs. West’s attitude made Ari angry and uneasy, worried they’d only scratched the surface of something much uglier.

  * * *

  Dark thoughts lingered around her like a black cloud throughout the afternoon. As dusk began to fall, she approached the interviews with the Pure Bloods in an ill-tempered frame of mind.

  Her first glimpse of the three male vamps did nothing to dispel her irritation. They swaggered into the police interview room clothed in muscle shirts, jeans, and a smartass attitude. Andreas followed, his controlled energy providing a sharp contrast to their overblown bravado. Ryan took one look at the trio and ordered the two assisting cops to take two of them into another room. Divide and conquer.

  Ari studied the remaining vampire, the stated leader of the group. A brawny biker-dude with a full head of spiky black hair. He returned her look, arrogant, dismissive. Even without his buddies, he didn’t lose the attitude, and he glared at everyone in the room. Ari concluded the only thing keeping him halfway civil was the presence of a more powerful vampire. Andreas was making sure the suspect didn’t forget that fact by allowing his energy to hover in the room. Ari’s skin tingled with it, raising her level of discomfort. When Andreas flashed her a brief pointed look, she interpreted it as an apology. Only Ryan, being human, was unaware of the magical tension. Biker-dude’s face froze in a scowl, but his gaze repeatedly flickered toward the vampire leader. In turn, Andreas ignored him.

  The gang leader’s name turned out to be Bernard, an unimaginative label that Ari silently shortened to Bernie. Wussy for a vampire. Maybe that was why he acted so tough. He even tried to stare down Ryan, which almost made Ari laugh.

  But even the steely-eyed cop didn’t get far with questioning him. Bernie was surly, uncooperative, admitting nothing, except that he knew Patricia.

  Ryan finally leaned forward, his voice clipped. “We know you talked to her about dating a human. I want to know exactly what you said.”

  Bernie leaned back in his chair, tipping it onto its two back legs. His gaze lay insolently on Ryan’s face. “Why? What’s it to you?”

  The chair suddenly fell backward, crashed on the floor and dumped Bernie onto the painted concrete. Without sparing a glance for the fallen vampire, Andreas drew his leg back under the table. Ari struggled to suppress a laugh; Ryan quickly wiped a grin off his face. Andreas remained as cool and distant as she’d seen him in a long time. Except for what might have been a glint of humor in his eye.

  Bernie scrambled to his feet, glowering at Andreas, but he wasn’t quite bold enough to say anything. Andreas waved him to his seat with a careless hand. He sat and pulled his chair to the table.

  Andreas finally looked at him, a long look. “Enough.”

  Bernie broke eye contact and muttered to Ryan. “Patricia shouldn’t have been dating outside her own people. That’s what we told her. That’s all.”

  “Who do you mean by ‘we’?” Ryan asked, acting as if the conversation hadn’t been interrupted.

  “Me, Richard, Bario. But we never hurt nobody. ’Specially Patricia.”

  “Why do you say it that way? ‘Especially Patricia.’”

  “No reason. She was a good kid.”

  Uh-huh. He’d been attracted to Patricia, Ari thought. Maybe he’d been harassing her out of a socially awkward bid for attention or simple jealousy.

  “I guess you didn’t like her boyfriend, Carl,” Ryan said.

  “Didn’t know him, but he’s a full blooded human.”

  “And that’s a problem for you?”

  Bernard snorted. “Duh. Of course. Not that I’d expect you to understand. We’re the chosen, see? Patricia had gone slumming. We were just trying to straighten her out. But nobody in the Pure Bloods would have hurt a sister.”

  “Just who are the Pure Bloods?” Ari asked. “What does your group stand for?”

  Bernie gave her a cheeky look. “How’s that any of your business, honey?”

  Andreas cleared his throat.

  Bernie scowled at the table. “We’re friends who like to hang together. We understand and acknowledge the superiority of vampires.”

  “Superior to who?” she asked. “Humans or everyone?”

  “Everyone. In every way. Wouldn’t mind giving you a demonstration, honey.” He leered at her, licking his lips.

  “Ok, Bernie, I’m not interested in playing games or flirting with you. You’re here to answer questions. And you’ll sit in that chair until you do.”

  His smug face said he wasn’t impressed yet.

  Ari hardened her voice. Playing the bitch was an easy role, especial
ly tonight. “Your attitude makes me think you’re guilty of something. I could hold you for further questioning on that alone. If I decide to do that, whether you spend your jail time at the Otherworld center or in a human cell, with its sunny windows and no blood bank, would be up to me.” She leaned across the table. “And my name’s not ‘honey.’ Got it?”

  Bernie’s nostrils flared. The human jail was a death trap for vamps. His focus slid to Andreas and Ryan before returning to Ari. “Yeah, I get it.”

  “Good. How many Pure Bloods are there?”

  “About twenty. It varies.”

  “Can you account for any of them at the time Patricia was killed? And for yourself? That would be last night between six and ten.”

  “I told you, none of us would do that.”

  “Humor me.”

  His mouth hardened. “We were together. Here and there.”

  “Try again. Who and where?”

  “We don’t take attendance. Don’t pay much attention to time either.” His face was flat, the tone careless. “Can’t exactly say where we were at any particular moment.”

  Ari clenched her jaw. Now, he was playing dumb. “Then begin when you crawled out of your coffin. Or wherever in hell cockroaches like you sleep. Relate everything you did, and I’ll tell you when you can stop.” He’d gotten under her skin, and her witch blood began to stir.

  Bernie grinned. “Now, honey, you sure are cute when you’re mad.”

  He had such a short freaking memory.

  He leaned toward her, broadening the grin, smug, showing full fangs.

  At the first hint of fang, a flash of blue fire erupted from Ari’s fingers. The stun sent Bernie flying backward and planted his butt firmly on the floor for the second time that evening.

  Ryan leaped to his feet. He eyed the uninjured vampire and then Andreas, who hadn’t moved a muscle. “Why don’t we take a break?” he said. “I could use some coffee. Anyone else?”