Page 92 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

Daniel didn’t answer.

“Were you?”

The witcher raised his palms. “Mate, I know how it looks, but you’ve got to believe me when I s—”

“I asked if you were there?”

Daniel sighed. “Yes. But only because someone called me over to fix a door that had fallen off its hinges. I couldn’t even find it, so I didn’t fix squat. I think they did it on purpose to frame me…”

“So, you’re a handyman now, too?” Zacharia crossed his arms over his chest. “When did you get the call?”

“I don’t know. Maybe around five, or half past in the afternoon.”

The vampire had been killed an hour later.

“Who was on the phone?”

“Don’t know. A hidden number. I didn’t recognise the voice. I thought at the time it was someone working on the floor.”

“Right. And what’s your relationship with Mary’s roommate, Dara?”

The witcher replied without hesitation. “Mary introduced us. We’re not that close. Sometimes…” His eyes darted across the room as if to make sure he wasn’t overheard. “Sometimes I feel like she’s in love with me.”

Zacharia raised his eyebrows. “She said you two are close.”

Daniel huffed. “We’ve never been close. I’m telling you, mate, she was jealous of our relationship. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one who killed Mary!”

He seemed desperate to lay the blame on someone else. Question was, was he doing it to save his own ass or someone else’s?

Zacharia smiled. “Danny, you’re a witcher. You know anything about portals?”

He nodded, visibly relieved by the change of subject. “Of course. I know all about them.”

“Open one lately?”

Daniel’s mouth gaped open and he held a palm up. “God forbid! No! Never in my life!”

“Why? I’ve heard that you can go anywhere with a portal. Carry anything with you…”

“Yeah, but the price is so high, and you’ll be paying it off over five lifetimes!”

“So, you wouldn’t dare?”

The witcher shook his head. “No. And even if I wanted to, I can’t open portals. It’s a special and very rare gift.”

“Have you heard Mary talk about the money she was making on the side?”

“Oh, yeah. She did make some more the past few weeks,” Daniel responded in a hostile tone.

“How?”

The witcher crossed his arms. “Why don’t you go and ask your boss?”

His retort sparked Zacharia’s curiosity but he schooled his expression to remain neutral. “And what exactly do you suggest I ask him?”

“Mary was working for that manticore.”

“Everyone in this hospital works for him.” Zacharia’s enthusiasm died down as he realised he wasn’t learning anything new.

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