Page 62 of Deadly Lineage
“Did Detective Harrison find out anything from where Linus worked?”
Franklin wiped his mouth before reaching for a third piece. “Not as much as we’d hoped. However, she did discover that Remington had a friend at work he was partial to. I see that look on your face. Harrison didn’t get the feeling it wasthatkind of partiality. More friendly than romantic. Anyway, the guy was at another jobsite about fifty miles away. Harrison didn’t have time to run out and question him today. When I left, she was still waiting on a response to her inquiry. Hopefully, he’ll agree to meet with her and maybe we’ll get lucky this time.”
I nibbled the corner of my crust. “When’s the coroner’s report expected?”
Franklin grunted. “God only knows. No doubt when it does come in the cause of death will be listed as heart failure. I don’t know why I’m getting so pissy with McCallister. The doc’s right. If that’s the cause of death, then that’s what he has to notate. I just wish he could give us something more to go on.”
I cringed when I remembered Dr. McCallister’s reaction to the latest crime scene. “Is he okay? He didn’t look so good when we took off.” I should have inquired about his health earlier. In my defense, I’d been in a high-speed car chase, shot at, thrown into a ditch, my house assaulted, and… Yeah, things had been a little rough recently.
“I haven’t visited the man, but Harrison says he got his shit together well enough to do his job. Not sure what the blowback will be.” Franklin cringed when I winced. “Sorry, poor choice of words considering the topic. What I meant is that McCallister’s physical attributes haven’t done him any favors over the years. If you ask me, that’s more on him than the rest of the force.”
“How do you mean?” I asked between bites of cheesy goodness.
Franklin took a drink of his soda before answering. “McCallister takes offense to words and phrases that aren’t meant the way he perceives them. My guess is he wasn’t popular growing up and he’s carried that weight into adulthood. It colors his perceptions, and he sees personal digs where there are none. I’m not a psychiatrist. That’s just my take on things.”
Considering Franklin O’Hare was a damn good detective and it was his job to read people and ferret out information, I figured histake on thingswas believable. Given my species, I could certainly relate regarding the not fitting in and meeting society’s ever-shifting standards.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I didn’t know Dr. McCallister well—only in passing, really—but my heart went out to the guy. Cruelty was a beast no generation or species seemed capable of taming. Cruelty would always be a feral creature lurking in the shadows, ready to devour good nature.
Franklin leaned back, his hunger finally sated. “And I’m sorry to say it. Looking back, I probably had it pretty easy. I wasn’t the most popular kid, but I wasn’t sitting at the lunchtable all alone either. I was comfortably somewhere in the dismissive middle. I skated by and got the hell out of high school with decent grades and my dignity intact. I count that as a win.”
I grinned. “I think everyone who’s managed to make it through their teenage years would agree.”
“And what about your high school days?” Franklin asked, the question so sweetly naïve.
“I, uh…” I fingered my paper towel, twisting it back and forth. “I didn’t go to high school. I mean, I graduated, but I was homeschooled. Momma tried enrolling me in elementary, but they weren’t comfortable with ‘one of my kind’ mingling with ‘normal’ kids.” I used the appropriate air quotes. “The state said homeschooling was equivalent, and Momma couldn’t do much about it. To be honest, I don’t think she wanted to try. Pops threw a fit and I have vague memories of them standing in Momma’s living room arguing.” My chest warmed at the memory. “Momma held her ground, bless her human heart. You haven’t met Pops, but he’s a stereotypical warlock in every physical way. Pops is tall, broad, and intimidating. His voice is deep and when he’s angry”—I whistled—“it’s deathly cold. Pops is used to others cowering before him, but not Momma. If you ask me, that’s what attracted him to her in the first place.”
Franklin’s expression turned from thunderous to curiously affectionate. “Was it a love match? Sorry, that’s probably too personal.”
It was, but I didn’t mind answering. “I’m not sure it was love. Affection for certain, and Momma and Pops are adamant that I’m a child born of love. They do love each other, but not romantically. Momma isn’t Pops’s one and only and Momma…” I shrugged, unsure. “She’s dated some since Pops, but to be truthful, I think she’s just as happy being alone.”
Franklin nodded like maybe he understood. “My parents loved each other. My dad was nearly paralyzed when my mom died. I’m not sure we would have survived without Nana.”
I reached across the table and squeezed Franklin’s hand. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It was a long time ago,” he answered. “I won’t say that I don’t miss her, or maybe it’s her memory I miss. Regardless, my parents made a good team.”
“Kind of like us.” The words slipped through my lips before I could pull them back. I started to yank my hand away, but Franklin wouldn’t let me. He interlocked our fingers and grinned.
“Exactly,” Franklin answered before bending over and peppering my knuckles with kisses.
Heat flushed my neck, racing into my cheeks. My heart twittered like a hummingbird, making me lightheaded.
“Human mating rituals are interesting.”
My forehead hit the table and I bounced it there a couple of times before I muttered, “Your timing is shit, Aurelia.”
“Aurelia? She’s here? Where?” When I glanced up, Franklin’s gaze swept my kitchen, searching desperately. Evidently Aurelia hadn’t seen fit to show herself to everyone.
I waved a hand to my right. Unfortunately, it was the same hand Franklin had released when I’d said Aurelia’s name. “She’s over here. Aurelia, do you mind?”
Thankfully, she decided not to be too obtuse and, if Franklin’s stuttered, “F-fucking hell” was anything to go by, revealed herself.
Aurelia sniffed and leaned over the table. “Is this pizza?” She poked a finger at the nearest crust. “One of my previous masters was very fond of this particular food. One of his wishes was for an endless supply.” Aurelia grinned and her eyes glowed briefly.“I buried him in pizza. He suffocated and died. That was the end of that master.”
“I think I’m gonna be sick,” I muttered while rubbing my stomach. When I glanced Franklin’s way, he didn’t look much better. It was easy to forget what Aurelia was capable of when she was being so accommodating.
“I believe he died happy,” Aurelia said, sounding disappointed. “I did not consider that at the time. Then again, he was not the worst master I’ve had. Perhaps it was fine that his death wasn’t more gruesome.”
