Page 20 of The Vampire and the Case of the Hellacious Hag

‘None, other than the ones we’ve discussed,’ he said carefully. ‘The miners and the hag don’t get on, but other than that the mine is doing well. If that’s all your questions for now, we’ll go to the site of the murder.’

‘Sure,’ I responded easily. No doubt we’d have more questions once we’d assessed the crime scene.

‘Leif will meet us there.’ Thomas paused to meet our eyes. ‘I know I don’t have to caution you about the sticky nature of the dwarven culture in this regard. They aren’t going to release the body to the Nomo’s office, and I doubt we’ll be allowed to take samples from the deceased. If they say no, don’t push it. If we act respectfully theymayallow us to use magic on the body. That’s likely the only way that we’ll get anyanswers.’

Liv looked smug; she liked being essential. ‘Yes, I could raise the body if the soul remains, which seems likely given dwarven lore.’

I pursed my lips. ‘Won’t it be tricky to get information from a body with no mouth?’

‘That’s not the way it works,rodent.’

‘Can you justnot?’ Gunnar said to her through clenched teeth.

She blinked and some of her bullshit seemed to drain away. ‘Right,’ she said quietly.

Gunnar didn’t look at her as he went on, ‘Let’s see the body and the crime scene before you start raising the dead.’

‘You got it. I’ll follow your lead.’ Liv’s eyes were suddenly downcast. It made me nervous.

Since we were agreed on a course of action, Thomas led us out of the office to collect the safety gear then we went into the rickety lift and down into the mine. My now-familiar surge of anxiety rose as the chains clanked and we started to descend. I squared my shoulders. I had no choice this time: this was work. This was my duty and my fear wouldn’t stop me from doing it.

I braced myself.Once more unto the breach, dear friends,I thought as the darkness swallowed us whole.

Chapter 14

Thankfully this body wasn’t as far away as Helmud’s had been. We walked down a shaft from the main entrance and into a branch where a number of dwarves stood guard around the corpse. He was lying on the ground only a few steps from the entrance, facing the aperture as if he’d been trying to escape; he’d have been lying face down – if he’d had a face. The bloody stump of his neck stared at us and the scent of blood overwhelmed me for a moment.

My stomach gave a loud and audible growl. ‘Sorry,’ I said faintly, my face reddening.

‘Skipping meals and eating Connor instead?’ Liv sassed. ‘I approve.’

My face warmed further.

‘Okay, Bunny?’ Gunnar was studying me, making sure I wasn’t about to go into a blood frenzy.

I forced a smile. ‘Totally fine. I guess that slice of bread just didn’t cut it this morning.’ I stomped on myembarrassment and made myself think about business. I turned to my currently canine friend. ‘Fluffy, scent.’

He started to sniff the area as I squatted down to look at the corpse. The dead miner was dressed like all the other dwarves: coveralls, sturdy boots and gloves. His hard hat had been discarded nearby. A small pool of blood had soaked the dirt floor around him where his head should have been: it appeared he’d been killed in situ and the body hadn’t been moved. If that was true, this wasn’t a staged crime scene.

I took evidence bags from the black bag so I could collect a blood sample but before I could start, Leif appeared. He nodded to the other dwarves, but his gaze lit with fire as he turned towards us. ‘Don’t you dare!’ he snarled at me. He strode over and ripped the bag from my hand. ‘The body and all its fluid must remain intact!’

Thomas had said the dwarves had been difficult, but this was a murder. I stared at Leif. ‘I understand your culture dictates the entire body must be burned, but surely a drop of blood won’t make a difference? Without it, I can’t test for drugs or poisons.’

Leif continued glaring at me. ‘Alfgar didnottake drugs.’

‘Perhaps not willingly – that’s the point of the test. We need to determine if the murderer gave him something.’

He snorted. ‘She didn’t give him anything, she just cut off his head!’

‘She?’ Sidnee said quietly.

‘The hag!’ He waved his arms wildly. ‘I don’t know why you’re here! We know who did this! And now we can get rid of her for good, like we should have done when we first came here.’ He slid a reproachful gaze to one of the older dwarves who was standing by the body.

Gunnar kept his voice level. ‘There is nothing here to indicate that the murder was carried out by the hag.’

‘The head is missing!’ Leif roared. ‘She has taken so much from us! This will be the last time. Our dead deserve to rest!’ His chest was heaving.

‘Damn right,’ one of the other dwarves grunted.

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