Page 4 of Forensics of a Fable

Bel froze, her stomach cramping, and she tried to keep her face neutral. She’d been without a partner ever since she found Garett Cassidy’s heartless body handcuffed to the holding cell, and she dreaded the day her boss hired his replacement. No one could replace Garrett, not for her, and she hated that another man planned to step into his shoes. Griffin had told her little of the newcomer, only that they had significantly less experience with homicide cases than she and they had just moved from South Carolina, and neither boded well for Bel’s opinion of him.

“Come on. You’ll like Gold.” Griffin placed a palm on her shoulder with fatherly encouragement and led her to his office. Bel’s heart raced as they walked, and she wished Cerberus was there. His comfort always reduced her anxiety, and she didn’t want to meet the man that would replace Garrett. He had been her friend, perhaps even something more, but above all, he was a good person. He treated her with respect and graciousness, and she worried this new officer would be without his kindness and understanding.

“Detective Gold, I would like to introduce you to your partner, Detective Isobel Emerson,” Griffin said as he shut thedoor behind them, and Bel froze when she saw who sat at the desk. “Emerson, this is Olivia Gold.”

“Hi, I’m so excited to meet you. I’ve heard great things about you.” Olivia stood up, her blonde hair pale compared to Bel’s chestnut locks. She was significantly shorter than Bel, her subtle southern accent as sweet as her golden ponytail, and her light brown eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. She appeared the same age as Bel, but the innocence in her eyes told her this woman hadn’t seen the brutality of death Bel called her constant companion.

“I read about your last case,” Olivia continued, extending a hand. “It was shocking, but the fact you survived was impressive. I know I’ll love working with you.”

“Thank you.” Bel shook Gold’s hand and threw Griffin a look. He smirked at her, seemingly pleased with himself, and she had to admit Olivia Gold was both the last thing she expected and exactly what she needed.

“I hope to learn a lot from you, and I’m excited both detectives in this town are women,” Olivia continued, speaking more in this first minute than Bel sometimes spoke all day.

“I look forward to it.” Bel offered her new partner a smile, and the woman’s grin practically split her face in half. She was an adorable sort, southern and kind and soft around the edges. Bel hoped she wouldn’t corrupt Gold with her demons.

“I think you two will make a great team, but we have a few things to finalize before I hand Gold over to you,” Griffin said, sensing Bel needed a minute to collect herself. Their gazes met, and she saw her own emotions playing in his eyes. The department had lost three officers. Three cops the sheriff had to hire replacements for, and it seemed he dreaded letting go of their friends’ memories as much as she did.

“I’ll leave you to it.” Bel nodded and moved for the door. “Nice to meet you, Olivia.”

“You too,” Gold said.

Bel ducked out of the office and forced herself not to run as she aimed for the bathroom. Her tears exploded the second she locked herself inside, and she leaned over the sink as the sobs wracked her body.

“I’m sorry, Garrett,” she whispered to his memory. “My new partner seems nice, though. Did you send her to me? I hope you did, because I hate doing this job without you.”

The day passed uneventfully,and Bel wasn’t sure if that made her happy or miserable. She had mentally prepared herself for a man to step into Garrett’s shoes and obliterate his memory, so she didn’t know how to handle another female detective, especially one she could see herself becoming friends with. On one hand, it seemed Garrett had sent someone to bring her peace, but on the other, liking Gold felt like a betrayal. Guilt consumed her for experiencing excitement over her new partner when he was cold in the ground, his heart ripped from his chest because he’d gotten between Bel and a killer.

“Detective Emerson?” Olivia Gold’s voice interrupted her spiraling thoughts, and Bel glanced up as the woman gathered her belongings for the evening.

“Do you mind if I call you Isobel when we’re off duty?” Olivia asked.

“Only my father calls me that when he’s being serious,” Bel laughed, her memory instantly recalling the way Eamon always used Isobel, her full name pure seduction on his lips. “Dad called me Bel for short as a kid, and it stuck.”

“Oh, okay, as long as you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.”

Olivia grinned, her weight shifting as if she wanted something else, and Bel smiled softly to encourage her.

“I don’t know anyone in town, so I was thinking we could go for drinks?” she asked. “Get to know each other.”

Bel looked at the clock. It was earlier, but still, Cerberus was home waiting for her.

“It’s fine if you’re busy,” Olivia sensed her hesitation. “Another time, then. Have a good night.” She turned, walking toward the exit.

“A drink sounds great,” Bel said, catching up with her. She needed to make friends if she was going to build a life in Bajka, and as much as she wanted to spend all her time with Cerberus and a book, she needed human interaction. Human interaction that didn’t come from Eamon Stone, either. If she spent too much time with that man, he would consume her soul, and she was already wary of how intensely her emotions had threaded together with his, creating something new and terrifying inside her.

“I have a dog,” she explained as they walked down the street to the bar. “I just need to keep an eye on the clock so I don’t leave him too long.”

“What kind?” Olivia brightened. “Maybe once I’m settled, I’ll adopt a dog. The hiking trails here in Bajka are gorgeous. We could take our dogs.” She froze with a blush. “Sorry, you just met me, and I’m planning our puppy playdates.”

“Cerberus is a pitbull, and you’re fine. I have five sisters, so I’m used to it.”

“Five?” Olivia’s eyes widened. “I was an only child. I don’t have cousins either. I’m jealous.”

“It was a lot for my poor dad, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.” Bel smiled and pulled her phone from her pocket. “Do you mind if I invite someone else? She works nearby, and I think you’ll like her.”

Twenty minutes later, Bel, Olivia, and Violet sat around a table. Violet and Olivia had ordered martinis, but Bel had opted for a hard cider and a basket of fries. Ever since her attack, she didn’t like losing control. Too many things could happen in the blink of an eye. She no longer dreamed of Eamon’s teeth carving her open, but other nightmares occupied her waking hours now. The reality of magic and monsters, and the evil who never let her stray far from his sight. Bel unconsciously scanned the bar for him, wondering if he stood watch from the room’s shadows. But she could tell by the lack of electricity singeing her skin that he hadn’t followed her here.

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