Page 55 of Secrets of the Forgotten Heir

Yanni appeared beside us. ‘Sorry to interrupt. Beatrix, you have remembered that we’re here on official business, right? Fraser, we need to speak to one of your employees, Pei.’

My cheeks warmed. Yanni thought I was flirting with Fraser. I wasn’t – not consciously anyway.

Fraser looked nonplussed for a moment. ‘Is everything alright?’

‘We need some information about someone who popped in here last night. We’ve had a missing person report filed and Pei came forward and said she’d seen him. We need to ask her a couple of questions.’

‘Of course. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting, Chief. I didn’t realise. I’ll get her for you now.’

As Fraser hurried off to find Pei, Yanni sidled up beside me. ‘I guess I know why young Ezra isn’t getting a look in now,’ she said with a wink.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Pei was a tall young woman around twenty years old. Judging from the shape of her ears and her delicate features, I assumed she was at least part fae but I wasn’t about to ask. Making a mistake about someone’s lineage could be highly offensive, and considering some fae-folk specialised in curses that wasn’t a risk I was in a hurry to take.

‘You said you saw Toby Brown last night?’ Yanni asked, gesturing for the girl to take a seat.

‘He came in for a drink after he’d been out hunting. He catches hares and things – though not as a shifter. He uses a bow and arrow.’ She sounded really impressed and her eyes went dreamy.

‘Yes, his mother told us the same.’

‘It’s a real skill,’ Pei cooed. ‘Incredibly impressive.’ There was something in her voice that made me think she was impressed by more than Toby’s hunting abilities.

‘Pei, do you know if Toby is seeing anybody?’ I asked. I didn’t know what line of questioning Yanni would take, and I wasn’t trying to derail her conversation, but I had a hunch my question might lead us somewhere useful. If Pei liked Toby so much, there was a good chance she paid close attention to the little things – and little things could mean a lot in our line of work. ‘Does he have a girlfriend?’

‘Not that I’m aware of.’ She blushed slightly. ‘Not since he broke up with his last girlfriend.’

‘And you and him?’ I prompted. ‘Are you friends or something more?’

‘No, we’re just friends,’ she said quickly, her blush deepening.

‘I’ve never met him myself but his mum seems lovely and I saw a photo of him. He’s a good-looking guy, a bit of a catch. I’m guessing you wouldn’t say no to it being more.’ I smiled coyly, trying to give the impression that this was nothing more than a girly chat so hopefully she’d feel comfortable opening up.

‘To be honest, he’s knocked me back a couple of times.’ Pei sighed. ‘And not just me. He even turned down a date with Ciara in the kitchen when she asked him out, and she’s part siren. The only people who can easily say no to a siren are either totally in love with someone else or have really strong magic.’

That was useful information.I tried not to look at Yanni and focused instead on finding out more. ‘You’re telling me Toby was in love with someone?’ I asked.

‘I don’t know,’ Pei replied. ‘There was Jennifer, the water shifter. They were together for years.’ Bitterness crept into her tone.

‘You weren’t a fan of hers?’

‘If you ask me, they were the oddest couple. For a start, she was five years older than him and her family has all this money, but she acted like she was one of us. Just an average Jo – Joanne. Whatever.’

‘She’s a nurse, isn’t she? I hear she’s very good at her job.’ I didn’t know why I felt the need to speak up for Jennifer because I didn’t know her, but I’d liked what I’d seen of her. And I knew what it was like when people assumed that you were rich or powerful because your parents were. From what I’d seen, Warren had made a concerted effort to raise children who stood on their own two feet and I admired that. Five years age difference was hardly a lot; no one would have batted an eyelid if Toby been the older one.

‘I assume you’re aware that Jennifer and Toby broke up several months ago,’ Yanni said. ‘Or at least their familiesbelievethey did.’

Pei shrugged. ‘They never came intogether after the incident with the mer-guy, so I guessed they’d split up.’

‘Have you seen him with anyone else?’ Yanni added.

‘No, but he was talking on his phone last night. He seemed pretty … I guess you’d say loved up. Lots of grinning and chuckling. He took his drink over to the corner while he chatted and he was still on the phone when he left.’

‘Did he mention meeting anyone?’ I asked.

‘Not that I heard, but he seemed really happy, the happiest he’s been in ages.’

‘And you think it was because of a woman?’

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