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“Thank you,” Thallia said thickly. Her bottom lip was still quivering even as she tried to get a hold of her emotions. Her face was bright red and her nose was running. “I just can’t believe she’s gone,” she murmured. Shaking her head, more tears poured down the fairy’s cheeks.
“I’m very sorry for your loss,” Wynona said softly. “But Thallia, we need to know why your friend was there to begin with.”
Thallia sniffed, wiped her nose and nodded. “I know... I just... I never expected her to be killed. I told her not to talk to you, but she hated that I was under suspicion for Dralo’s murder.” Her face crumpled. “Two of my friends. Gone. Why is all this happening?”
“How about we start with her name?” Chief Ligurio said. His tone was firm, but not unkind. There didn’t seem to be anything fake about the young woman’s emotions and every officer in the room seemed slightly uncomfortable with the hysterics.
“Edana Lycoris,” Thallia managed to get out between her sobs. “She was my best friend. Other than Dralo, of course.”
Wynona nodded. “And she was a vampire?”
Thallia’s eyebrows pulled together. “Yes. How did you know?”
“Her teeth were out,” Wynona explained.
“Oh.” Thallia nodded, still frowning.
“Thallia?” Wynona pressed. The fairy was thinking about something.
Thallia pursed her lips and shook her head. “Sorry. She just usually kept them hidden, like most vampires, so it seems odd that they were out.”
Most likely because she was fighting off her killer, Rascal supplied.
Wynona nodded. That was a very logical explanation. “Why was she at my shop, Thallia? This is very important.”
Thallia kept her head ducked, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. “I told you. She hated that I was being accused of murder and she had the ability to help.”
“Thallia,” Wynona snapped, growing frustrated. “What alibi did Edana supposedly have?”
Thalia sighed and turned away. The fact that she was barely out of her teenage years was becoming more and more prevalent. “I spent the night at Edana’s the night that Dralo was killed.”
“I don’t understand why that’s a big deal,” Wynona responded, leaning back in her seat.
Another long sigh escaped the fairy. “Because there’s this creature...a raccoon shifter whom I used to be friends with.” Thallia’s bottom lip quivered again. “But when he started getting...weird, I had to stop being his friend.”
“Interrogating my client, Chief Ligurio?” a man asked as he slipped into the room. The lawyer was in fairy form and was hovering above the ground, his wings creating a frenzy. He glanced around the room. “Elian Musgaver. The Pearlily family lawyer.”
“I’m not doing anything she hasn’t consented to,” Chief Ligurio growled back. “Would you put those wings away?”
The lawyer landed on the floor and wiped his hands down the front of his suit coat. “My client isn’t old enough to know the law.”
“She’s an adult,” Chief Ligurio said wryly. “Any judge will see it my way.”
“Oh, it’s okay,” Thallia said hurriedly. “I don’t have anything to hide.”
The lawyer’s face turned red and he marched over to sit next to her. “Everyone has something to hide, Ms. Pearlily, and it’s time you learned how to keep your mouth shut.” Facing the crowd, the lawyer stuck his nose in the air. “Moving forward, you are not to speak to her unless I am present. Is that clear?”
“Again,” Chief Ligurio said, one black eyebrow raised high. “She’s an adult. If she agrees to speak to us, she has the right to do so.”
“Her parents say otherwise.”
“If she was a minor, that would apply, but no dice.”
The fairy’s jaw clenched and he finally took his demand to Thallia. “Never again, Ms. Pearlily. Is that understood? You don’t talk to any of them without my presence.”
She shrugged. “What if you’re not available?”
Wynona bit her lips between her teeth to keep from laughing as the lawyer’s jaw dropped. I don’t think Thallia understands the seriousness of the situation.
Lucky for us, Rascal sent back, clearing his throat a couple of times.
“Ms. Pearlily,” the lawyer said in a strained, patient voice. “Please simply follow the suggestion. I can’t do my job otherwise.”
Thallia pouted. “Fine.” She folded her arms over her chest and looked back at Wynona. “Apparently, my lawyer is here. Should we continue?”
“No, we should not,” Mr. Muskgaver said curtly. “We need time to talk before this continues.”
Thallia’s lips pinched. “Syn has been stalking me,” she burst out.
Wynona’s eyes widened. “What?”
Chief Ligurio leaned over the desk. “If you’re being stalked, why haven’t I heard this before? And why is there no record of any complaints in your file?”
“Ms. Pearlily,” her lawyer warned.
“Because my parents don’t know,” Thallia snapped, glaring at Mr. Muskgaver. She turned to the chief. “He’s been in love with me for months, but I was with Dralo. Syn started saying weird things and was telling people things that weren’t true about us, so I finally had to break up with him.” She shrugged. “As friends, I mean. We never dated.”
“And you think he killed Ms. Lycoris?” Chief Ligurio clarified.
Mr. Muskgaver cleared his throat pointedly, but Thallia continued to ignore him. “Could be, but I don’t really know. He hated that I spent time with anyone else, and ever since I stopped talking to him, he’s been popping up in odd places.”
Chief Ligurio began typing on his computer. “I need a full rundown of what he’s done, Ms. Pearlily. Showing up in weird places isn’t enough.”
“Ms. Pearlily!”
Thallia once again ignored the lawyer, whose face was growing redder by the moment. “Sometimes he’ll be standing across the street when I come out of a shop,” she said. “Other friends have said he’s talked to them. Says I’m still his.” She shivered delicately. “A raccoon shifter. Can you imagine?”
Wynona listened carefully. Why hadn’t Thallia mentioned any of this before? “How would this shifter know that Edana was at the shop?”
The room quieted at the question and Thallia looked like a fairy caught in the headlights. She slowly shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe he followed her? I told you that he was jealous of the people I spent my time with.”
“And you say you were at Ms. Lycoris’s the night Dralo was killed?”
Thallia nodded, her eyes filling with tears once more.
Wynona tilted her head. “If..Syn...was in love with you, why was he upset you were at your friend’s house? Wouldn’t he be more upset if you were with Dralo?”
Thallia nodded. “Oh yeah, that drove him crazy. He once got in a shouting match with Dralo.”
“But why Edana?”
Thallia grew more pale and slightly more subdued. “Dralo and I...” She swallowed audibly. “We were having problems.”
“And?” Wynona pressed.
“Ms. Pearlily,” her lawyer tried to get in while things were quieter, but it still didn’t work.
“Edana was helping me come up with a way to make Dralo jealous.”
“Jealous,” Wynona clarified.
Thallia nodded and began twisting a piece of hair around her finger.
Wynona was starting to feel like she was in the middle of a teenage drama. Suddenly, she was very grateful she never went to public high school. “Was Dralo breaking up with you?”
“No!” Thallia shouted. “I loved him! He would never break up with me!” Her wings began to flutter and she rose a few inches off her chair.
“Ms. Pearlily!” Mr. Muskgaver shouted, holding up a hand to keep her wings from whacking him in the face. “If you please!”
“Thallia,” Wynona said tightly. “Sit down, please. We need to know what’s going on and we need all the details.”
Thallia thumped down and folded her arms again, pouting like a champ. “Dralo had mentioned he might be looking to move on,” she whined. “I didn’t want to leave the mansion yet, so I couldn’t go with him.”
“Why didn’t you want to leave?”
Thallia rolled her eyes. “Because as long as I live at home, Daddy pays for everything.”
Chief Ligurio frowned. “But you have a job.”
She straightened. “My father says it’s real world experience.” Her smile widened. “Plus, I’m working with Wynona Le Doux! Do you have any idea how the tabloids will pay for any stories?”
Wynona jerked back, not even recognizing Rascal’s growling as it reverberated through the room.
“Ms. Pearlily,” her lawyer whispered, eyeing the shifter warily. “I don’t think that’s a good plan.”
Thallia smiled at Wynona. “But you’re so sweet, I doubt I’ll even have anything to sell.”
She’s lost her mind, Wynona sent to Rascal. How can she not see how horrible that plan is?
When her dad said ‘real world’ experience, I think he meant it. Ms. Pearlily does NOT live in the real world at all.
“You do realize that Ms. Le Doux, the very one you want to sell gossip about, is the only person in this room who thinks you’re innocent?” Chief Ligurio said coldly.
Thallia’s jaw snapped shut.
“And I will let you know here and now,” Chief continued, his voice growing dark. “I will consider it a personal insult if anything...untoward...begins to show up in the rag columns.” He flashed a sharp smile. “Anything.”
“But what if I didn’t do it?” Thallia squeaked.
“You’ll still be the first person I come to.”
What little blood that was left in Thallia’s head drained and she swayed a little from side to side.
“Come, Ms. Pearlily,” her lawyer said wearily. “I think it’s time we retired.” The fairy paused. “Unless you’re charging her with something?”
“Not tonight,” Chief Ligurio said pleasantly. “But you’ll be hearing from us soon.”
Thallia followed numbly behind her lawyer, pausing at the door. “You know I adore you, right, Wynona? I’ve wanted in with the presidential family for so long!”
Wynona didn’t answer, simply watched. She felt bad for the young woman. She had absolutely no concept of how her actions affected others. Her spoiled, rich world had been a curse rather than a blessing and Wynona had seen it all before. If Wynona had been born with her magic, she might very well have been in the same position.
Your parents would have used and abused you, but even Celia knows more than Thallia.
Wynona nodded gently, not realizing Thallia would take it as an answer.
Thallia relaxed and blew out a breath. “Oh, good. I was worried for a moment that I wouldn’t be able to keep working for you.” Her hand fluttered to her chest. “I mean...it is kind of awkward that my friend and boyfriend were killed there, after all.”
“We’re leaving,” Mr. Muskgaver said sharply, taking Thallia’s upper arm and pulling her out into the hallway.
The room sat in stunned silence for several long heartbeats after the two fairies disappeared.
“I’m starting to think we need a psych eval.” Chief Ligurio groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Wynona barely glanced at him before being hit with an answer. “Blood and ginger root,” she said automatically.
Chief Ligurio gave her a look.
Wynona shrugged. “Sorry. When I’m upset my magic is close to the surface.”
“And what does it tell you about Ms. Pearlily?”
Wynona slumped in her seat. “I still believe she’s innocent. But I’m starting to truly feel sorry for her. Her father is more than just a bully. He’s crippled her for life.”
“Maybe that was her mother?” Rascal offered. “Did she work too hard to protect her baby?”
Wynona shrugged. “Possible. But somehow I doubt dear old Dad let Mom get away with much. If Thallia’s using Daddy’s money, then it doesn’t sound like she’s hiding behind her mother.”
Chief Ligurio sighed and leaned back in his seat. “My money is still on Thallia.”
“I think we need to check out this Syn guy,” Wynona argued. She held up a hand to stave off the argument. “I know. It looks terrible. And Thallia has shown us that she’s a little unhinged. But being naive and a product of a digital age isn’t a crime. Half the teenagers we meet on the street are the same way.”
Chief Ligurio snorted and Rascal huffed.
“But we have an alibi now.”
“That can’t be corroborated,” Chief Ligurio pointed out. “How do we know Ms. Pearlily didn’t set up the meeting, then kill Ms. Lycoris to keep her from spilling the truth?”
“The truth being?”
“That Ms. Pearlily has no alibi because she was the one at the shop,” Rascal finished.
Wynona looked over her shoulder at him. “You’re right,” she admitted. “It all looks horrible. But I still don’t think she’s a killer. I think she needs help. I still just don’t think she’d kill to get her way. That thought doesn’t feel right.”
“Someone did. Twice.”
“Do we know it’s the same person?” Wynona pressed. “And Thallia has given us another person of interest. Shouldn’t we, out of duty to the public, check the shifter out before pinning it all on Thallia’s shoulders?”
Chief Ligurio shook his head, gathering his computer and papers. “You and Strongclaw take care of it. I need sleep if I’m going to deal with this circus.”
Wynona stood and walked with Rascal back the way they had come. They went straight to his truck, where he bundled her in and pulled onto a nearly empty street.
“You’re still sure she’s innocent?” Rascal asked.
Wynona nodded. “Yes.”
“And you’re still willing to investigate?”
“Yes,” she responded again.
“Okay.” Rascal nodded curtly. “I’ll pick you up at nine.”
Wynona smiled. “I love you,” she whispered, knowing he’d easily hear it.
Rascal’s gold eyes flashed her way before going back to the road. “I know,” he teased, though it wasn’t as playful as normal.
Still...it was a start and Wynona was grateful for it. Even with their argument and her unpopular opinion, Rascal was by her side, right where he was supposed to be.