Page 43 of Half Dead

“How did you find out?”

“Same as you. The crows. Josie was ready to break their necks. I went outside to intervene and heard Birdie’s voice.”

Please.

Another lump formed in my throat. That single word would haunt me until my dying day.

“I suppose you weren’t able to communicate with her?” Kane asked.

“No. I tried, but she was gone.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Kane,” the chief said.

“Not just my loss. Birdie’s death is a loss to the entire community.” He gazed at the crumbled, ashen walls. “This isn’t your jurisdiction anymore, Chief Garcia.”

“Lorelei and I have been discussing that…”

“There’s no discussion,” Kane interrupted. “Birdie is my responsibility.”

“Should we call a council meeting?” the chief asked. “If you’re right about Lucifer…” She winced. “I can’t believe I’m talking abouttheLucifer. Anyway, I feel like West and the others should be involved too.”

“If Lucifer is here, it’s because of me. And Birdie is dead because of me.” Kane clenched his hands into fists. “I won’t put anyone else’s life at risk.”

“I’m the chief of police. I’ll decide whether I put my life on the line.”

Kane seemed to realize he had inadvertently started a pissing contest. His hands unclenched.

“With all due respect, Chief Garcia, I would like to handle this,” the demon said in a soothing tone that could charm the skin off a snake. “The two of you are already dealing with an investigation.”

“Which may also be your territory.” The chief closed her eyes and released a frustrated groan. “I’m beginning to see why you wanted to keep us in the dark. Your work is nonstop.”

I would’ve laughed if I’d been physically capable of it, but Birdie’s death was too raw. The only emotion I could produce right now was complex grief.

The chief glanced over my shoulder. “The house iscleared for entry. If there’s anything you two think you can learn from a quick scout around, I’ll look the other way.”

I shot her a grateful look. “Thank you.”

Kane regarded the house. “The computers in the lab won’t be much use.”

“Steven might be able to retrieve information from them,” I said. Steven Pratt was handy when it came to anything technical. “The fire may have been started there on purpose, to destroy whatever information Birdie had recorded.”

“What kind of computer lab did she have?” Leo sounded intrigued.

“She was the eyes and ears of Fairhaven when it came to things beyond your ken,” Kane replied. “She also monitored the police scanner and passed along any information that seemed like it required my involvement.”

“She sounds awesome,” Leo said.

Kane took a long look at the house. “Birdie was one of the best. It was an honor and a privilege to have known her.”

CHAPTER SIX

After the pastcouple nights of activity, I was relieved to sleep soundly—so soundly, in fact, that I managed to miss not one, but two text messages from Otto Visconti. They weren’t urgent, but their tone and close proximity to each other gave me the sense that the cursed vampire was feeling lonely. My thoughts immediately conjured up an image of Birdie. I would never again enjoy a meal with the older woman. Guilt gnawed at my bones. I should’ve made definitive plans to have dinner with her. Maybe if I’d been there…

I forced the guilt into a box and slammed the lid shut. There was no point in wondering. I wasn’t there. Neither was Kane. We’d both have to learn to live with that.

I would, however, learn a valuable lesson and pay a visit to my friend Otto. Besides, the vampire was as knowledgeable as he was curmudgeonly; he’d be a good sounding board for the current issues.

As I ventured downstairs for breakfast, I heard a cacophony of chinks, clanks, and clacks, the source of which turned out to be Claude and Nana Pratt. The dynamic duowas in the process of rearranging my cupboards. The countertops were covered with bowls, plates, pans, and other types of kitchen paraphernalia.

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