Page 13 of The Vampire and the Case of the Baleful Banshee

‘Well, it isn’t us. Good chat.’ Aoife stood up to leave but her mother grasped her arm, yanked her back down and shot her a quelling glance.

Norah sighed softly. ‘Forgive my daughter. The banshees are a small group and we’ve experienced our fair share of bigotry. She’s a little sensitive.’

Her pale eyes steely, Aoife scowled at her; she looked about as sensitive as a brick in the face. ‘This has nothing to do with being a banshee and everything to do with the Fanged Flopsy here being wrong.’

I didn’t know a whole lot about banshees and I wondered how many were in town. Was white-blonde hair specific to the Sullivan women, or was it a banshee trait? If it was, that opened up the suspect pool still further – though Fluffy had indicated he’d smelt one of the women at the scene. Was it possible that he’d picked up a banshee scent rather than a specific person’s smell? At times it was very inconvenient that my dog couldn’t speak.

I kept my tone mild. ‘As I said, you’re not under arrest.’ Yet. ‘I’ll record this interview for posterity,’ I said lightly. I clicked on the camera, casually read them their rights then dived straight in. ‘Where were you yesterday between the hours of eight in the morning until five at night?’

Nora answered first. ‘I was at work at the fish plant. I’m sure my supervisor can vouch for me.’

I looked at Aoife. ‘And you?’

She slumped lower in her seat and didn’t look at me. ‘I was at school.’

‘Where do you go to school?’

She huffed and folded her arms. ‘I’m taking college extension classes at the high school.’

I glanced down at the information I had on her; she was nineteen, only four years younger than me. It felt like centuries. ‘Who runs the program?’ I asked.

She shrugged. ‘It’s mostly online but we meet twice a week for a regular school day. It’s through the University of Alaska.’

I jotted down a note, more for their benefit than mine. ‘Do you know Kostas Spencer?’ They both shook their heads. ‘Please answer verbally for the recording.’

‘No.’

‘No.’

‘Thank you. Have you ever attended his property?’

‘No,’ Nora confirmed.

‘I don’t go to strangers’ houses.’ Aoife gave me a bratty, insincere smile.

I made a mental note to ask Kostas if he knew either woman. ‘How do you feel about the barrier?’ I asked, directing the question to Nora.

She gave me a flat stare. ‘I was there protesting about it. You know how I feel about it.’

I raised an eyebrow. ‘Tell me why.’

‘Why? It is nothing but a con!’ She slammed a fist on a table. ‘A con by the witches to make hard-working folks pay through the nose for their supposed “protection”. It’s an absurdity. We are all supernats here, we don’t need their protection!’

‘There are some humans in Portlock,’ I pointed out.

She waved that away. ‘They are few and far between. The barrier is a waste of time, energy and my money.’

I looked at Aoife; she was silent, admiring her nails, expression bored. My radar hummed. If Nora was the thief, she’d probably have the sense to keep her vitriol about the barrier quiet, so she wasn’t an obvious suspect in its sabotage. But staying quiet, like Aoife was doing right now…?

‘What about you?’ I asked her pointedly. ‘How do you feel about the barrier?’

She slid a glance at her mum. ‘Whatever,’ she muttered. ‘I don’t care. I don’t think Mum cares all that much either, she just wants to get into Ezra’s pants.’

‘Aoife! Show some respect,’ her mum barked, aghast. She also flushed red. Aoife wasn’t wrong about the pants’ thing.

‘Sorry,’ Aoife drawled. She wasn’t sorry. ‘You want to get into Mr Taylor’s pants.’

Nora glared at her and I quickly interceded. I cleared my throat. ‘Right. That’s all. We’ll be in touch. Thanks for your time, ladies.’ I was aiming for casual, but something in me was sure that one of them was the thief. Unfortunately I had no hard evidence, only a visual match on a hair that may or may not have DNA evidence on it. I’d need more than a hair to get this case moving and until I got it, I wanted them to think this was all routine.

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