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“They’ve already got the whole family here?” Wynona asked Rascal as they pulled up to the station.
Rascal nodded and put the truck in park. “Yeah. Heskill said they were all home. It was easy to track them down.”
Wynona sighed. “I really don’t think she did it, Rascal. She’s young and eager, but not a killer.”
Rascal gave her a pitying look. “While I want to believe you, Wy, I’ve seen some pretty doe-eyed murderers. You wouldn’t believe how dark some creatures are on the inside while looking innocent on the outside.”
Wynona turned to look out the window. “Still...I don’t think she’s involved.”
“For your sake, I hope not.” He jumped out and walked around.
Wynona waited for him. She was in a skirt today, making it difficult for her to get up and down in the massive truck.
Rascal gripped her waist and helped her to the ground. Once there, however, he didn’t let go. His eyes flashed a light golden color and he leaned in for a short but fierce kiss. “There,” he said huskily. “That’ll tide the wolf over until later.”
Wynona smiled and rested her hands against his chest. “Maybe it won’t tide me over, though.”
He chuckled darkly and did a much more satisfactory job on the next exchange. “Better?” he asked when he finally pulled away.
“Mm-hm,” she said, feeling slightly off balance. Whew! Her soulmate knew just how to turn her world upside down...in a good way.
Still smirking, Rascal took her hand and led her inside.
“Amaris!” Wynona called.
The vampire, who had been Wynona’s friend since she’d begun working with the police, gave a small wave. Ever since word of Wynona’s power had rocked Hex Haven, there were a few creatures that were noticeably afraid of the witch.
It hurt Wynona to see that her friend was one of them, though she couldn’t exactly blame Amaris. Especially since Wynona had had so much trouble with her control for a while, and it had been absolutely dangerous to be around her up until very recently. While she still needed some good hard practice, Wynona had come a long way in learning about her powers and how to keep them under wraps when necessary.
Rascal tightened his hold, barely restraining a growl at Amaris’s less than enthusiastic response. Ignore her, he told Wynona. She doesn’t know what she’s missing out on.
Wynona squeezed back. She’s scared. I understand. I’d be scared of me too.
She’s an idiot, he shot back. She knows you. The fact that rumor and vague magical impressions are enough to sway her opinion says much more about her than anything else.
Still...it saddened Wynona. She glanced over her shoulder to see Amaris watching them walk down the hallway. They had had such fun conversations and Wynona missed that. She didn’t have a lot of friends to begin with and being the most powerful creature in Hex Haven was only going to make it worse.
Violet poked her nose out of Rascal’s pocket. It was her favorite place after Wynona’s shoulder. Now that you two are done with the lovey junk, are we going to talk to some murderers or what?
Wynona tsked her tongue. “Why are you so bloodthirsty? You shouldn’t want people to be guilty of crimes.”
Violet grinned. Someone has to take them down. I’m only here for the glory.
Rascal chuckled and scratched the mouse’s ears. “That’s my girl,” he teased.
Wynona gave him the stink eye, but he only laughed more. “You two are a dangerous combination,” she muttered.
“Le Doux!” Chief Ligurio shouted from farther down the hallway. “Can we get on with this?” He waved toward one of the interrogation rooms.
Wynona nodded. “Sorry, Chief Ligurio.” She glared at Rascal again when he coughed. “You’re not fooling anyone,” she whispered, though she knew the vampire a feet away heard every word.
“Strongclaw,” Chief Ligurio growled.
“We’re here,” Rascal said good naturedly. He stepped back and let Wynona enter first.
“Ms. Le Doux!” Thallia shouted and raced across the room, throwing herself into Wynona’s arms. “They said Dralo’s dead,” she sobbed into Wynona’s neck.
Wynona was stiff for a moment before returning the embrace. Thallia was in her human form, but the hug was still slightly uncomfortable. “I know,” she finally said, rubbing Thallia’s back. “He was in the shop.”
Thallia sniffed and pulled back. Her nose was bright red and her eyes puffy. “The tea shop? What was he doing there?”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Chief Ligurio said firmly. “If you’ll have a seat, please?”
Thallia began to shake. “How did he die?” she whispered thickly.
“Ms. Pearlily,” Chief Ligurio said in a tighter tone. “Have a seat.”
“Come on, Thallia,” Wynona urged. “Sit down and we can figure all this out.”
“What’s there to figure out?” Thallia asked. “You said he’s dead. There’s nothing we can do about that.”
“Maybe not, but we can figure out who killed him.” Chief Ligurio wasn’t the least bit moved by the young fairy’s hysterics, though Wynona found herself struggling a little.
Thallia was definitely being dramatic, but who wouldn’t be if their significant other turned up dead?
“Someone killed him?” Thallia’s teal eyes widened. “He was murdered?” Her voice rose into a high-pitched squeal and without warning, she poofed back into her fairy form. Her wings were beating frantically and Wynona had to step back to keep from being hit. “Why would someone want to kill him? Why was he at the office? He never hurt anyone!” Thallia cried. “He was misunderstood! That’s all! Nobody understands him the way I do!”
Chief Ligurio pinched the bridge of his nose and looked to Wynona. “Got a tea for this?”
Wynona pursed her lips. “I can try.”
“Do.”
She nodded and tilted her head, studying the fairy. “I think we better go with a strong batch. Mint, chamomile, lavender and rose.” Wynona shrugged. “It should do the trick, though I’m not sure we’ll find them all here.”
“Go talk to Nightshade,” Chief Ligurio said. “See what she’s got in her desk.”
Wynona hesitated only a moment before heading out the door. She knew the chief was right. Thallia needed something to help calm her, but would Amaris be willing to answer Wynona’s questions? She hadn’t spoken to Wynona for several weeks. “Amaris?” Wynona asked softly, coming up to the front desk from behind.
Amaris spun, her mouth gaping open. She pulled back visibly before stopping and stiffening her body. “Can I help you, Ms. Le Doux?”
Wynona felt the sting of tears at the back of her eyes, but she fought them off. They wouldn’t help.
I told you...she’s an idiot, Rascal growled.
Stop, Wynona gently scolded. She’s scared. There’s a difference.
He huffed, but didn’t say more.
“I’m looking for a few ingredients for a tea,” Wynona continued. “Do you happen to have any mint, chamomile, lavender or rose?”
Amaris took a moment to respond, but she finally jerked open her desk and presented Wynona with a box of mint tea packets.
“Thank you,” Wynona added, very slowly picking up a single envelope. “I really appreciate it.” She turned and began to walk away, hating the fact that it felt like she was walking away from any chance of ever being friends with the creature again, but Wynona knew that she couldn’t force anything. Amaris would have to choose to be friends or not. Fear didn’t just dissipate because a person said they weren’t dangerous.
It took her another five minutes of walking around the office before she found the other ingredients, but eventually Wynona was able to make it back to the interrogation room. Thallia had calmed enough to speak to, though her answers were still difficult to understand.
“He’s really just a big teddy bear,” Thallia blubbered, wiping at her eyes, her hands as fluttery as her wings. “All he wanted was a place to belong.”
“And were your parents willing to give him that?” Chief Ligurio asked. He gave Wynona a nod of acknowledgement when she brought the steaming mug to the table.
“Here,” Wynona said softly, sliding it Thallia’s way. “This will help.”
Thallia nodded, her bottom lip still trembling. Her long fingers were shaking as she took the mug and swallowed a healthy gulp. “Hot.” The young woman gasped.
Wynona held back an eye roll. “It has to be to steep the leaves,” she explained as kindly as she could.
Thallia shrugged and took another deep sip. “Thank you,” she said softly. Already the herbs were helping.
Daemon came up behind Wynona. “I can see purple in the steam,” he whispered.
Wynona stiffened, then looked over her shoulder. “I didn’t try to add anything.”
Daemon widened his eyes and shook his head. “Just saying.”
We can talk about it later, Rascal ordered. Right now we need to get all the details out of her before talking to her parents.
Wynona nodded, though she felt uneasy. She hadn’t meant to use any magic and yet Daemon noted it was leaking into her work. Her plan to learn to control her magic shifted a little. She not only needed to learn to control large amounts of it, but apparently tiny amounts as well. It wasn’t polite to use magic on creatures without their consent, and Wynona would never do it on purpose.
“Are you ready to talk, Ms. Pearlily?” Chief Ligurio asked, bringing Wynona’s attention back to the matter at hand.
The young fairy nodded. “I’ve already told you everything, though,” she said with a sniff. “After work, we met up for dinner, but then he had a meeting. We parted ways at about eight-thirty. I went home and stayed in my room. No one saw me, my parents were busy with other things. Dralo rode off on his motorcycle.” She sniffed. “I’m not sure where his meeting was, but I’m sure it couldn't have been at the tea shop.” Her wide, teary eyes turned to Wynona. “The first time he’d been at the shop was yesterday when you told us no seeing each other at work. I had to give him directions because he’d never heard of it before.” She took another pull of the tea.
“How do your parents feel about your dating a dark elf?” Chief Ligurio pressed again.
Thallia’s eyes stayed on her mug and she shrugged. “No one is good enough for my father,” she whispered.
Wynona exchanged a look with Rascal. It kept coming back to the father. But why would the father be the one at the office? If he wanted to meet with Dralo, why wouldn’t he have called him to the house or something?
Rascal shook his head subtly. I don’t know. Motive wise, the father makes sense. Execution wise... His voice trailed off. No one had a good answer for that one.
“Was your boyfriend involved in any...questionable...activities, Ms. Pearlily?” Chief Ligurio continued.
“Questionable? Like what?”
“You said he rode a motorcycle,” Chief Ligurio stated, leaning forward. “What did he do for work?”
“He’s a bagger at Haven Grocers.”
Wynona’s eyebrows went up. “How could he afford that bike?” she blurted before she could think better of it. She pressed her lips together after the words were out and shot Chief Ligurio an apologetic look.
Thallia’s eyes fell again. “Uh...well...Dralo was doing the best he could, but...sometimes he struggled to make ends meet.”
“What are you implying?” Rascal asked, folding his impressive arms over his chest.
Thallia swallowed hard. “I might have loaned him money once in a while...” She jerked straighter in her seat as if to defend her actions. “My father doesn’t know! And if he did, I’d be in so much trouble, but Dra just needed a chance to get on his feet, you know? He needed someone to believe in him!”
“You gave him enough money to buy a Parasuki?” Chief Ligurio said slowly. “How much of his lifestyle did you fund, Ms. Pearlily?”
The fairy shrugged and looked away. “Does it matter?”
“It does.”
Thallia scowled. “Why?” She was becoming brave enough to turn her anger on the chief. “He’s dead. How much money I gave him in the past is just that...the past.”
Chief Ligurio folded his long white fingers together and leaned over the desk. “It matters,” he said in a low tone. “Because I need to figure out whether or not you grew tired of funding his lifestyle and tried to break it off.” He tilted his head to the side as Thallia’s eyes slowly widened in understanding. “And if he refused to let you break it off, just how far were you willing to go to get out of your little...arrangement, Ms. Pearlily?”
“I didn’t kill him,” she rasped.
“He was killed at your place of work where there was an altercation earlier in the day. You gave him unknown amounts of money, your parents didn’t approve of him and you have no witness as to your whereabouts last night.” Chief Ligurio leaned back, a smug smile tugging on his lips. “If I were you, Ms. Pearlily, I would find myself a very good lawyer...and fast.”