Page 14 of Deadly Avarice
“Exactly.”
“I understand, and we’ll do what we always do. We’ll figure it out along the way. Chances are this Huxley guy has ulterior motives.” I grunted. “I’ve yet to meet someone in a position like that who doesn’t. It’s par for the course. The important thing is that we realize Huxley’s most likely got something up his sleeve and that we vigilantly watch for it.”
“He hasn’t asked me for anything yet. I think that’s what bothers me the most. Nothing’s free, Franklin.”
“Don’t I know it.” I got it. I really did. This would all be a lot easier and more settling if Huxleyhadasked Boone for something. If we knew the price for his aid up front and center. That was what was so unsettling, not knowing the cost. It wasworse than signing papers on a house and being told the cost after you’d signed the very last one.
We lay there as the night wore on. I spent a lot of time on Boone’s couch. The TV was rarely on. We liked each other’s company well enough not to need outside entertainment. Boone listened while I told him as much about my day as I could and I listened as Boone told me about his neighbor, Mrs. Hart and her diminutive dog, Miss Pattycakes’s latest antics. It was peaceful and calm. Relaxing with Boone settled something deep in my soul. He was it for me. There would be no one else.
I had no idea what necromancer bonding looked like. Most likely, Boone didn’t either. If I had to guess, necromancers probably didn’t have any mating traditions. I hoped Boone wasn’t averse to the human kind because I really, really wanted to put a ring on his finger.
Chapter
Five
Erasmus
Franklin came through on the name search a lot quicker than expected. Captain Cicely gave Officer Ebony Becks permission to help. I could do some checking from home as well now that I had names of the necromancers. I was on my fourth name. The first three were already deceased. One died not long after birth. The other two made it into their teens. One died due to suicide and the other was inconclusive. His death was deemed either accident or suicide. The ME wasn’t certain.
The fourth name was more promising. Leander Dun. I couldn’t find a death certificate on Leander, and it did look like he graduated from high school. The last known address was a little way outside Montgomery, Alabama. I had no idea if he was still there or not. I also couldn’t find a death certificate for his mother, one Roberta Dun. I’d found a social media site with Roberta’s information. Her public page had a fair number of photos, but none of them were of a man Leander’s age. Assuming he was still alive, Leander should be twenty-eight. I was so giddy I was damn near bouncing on my seat.
Unable to resist, I called Franklin.
“I think I’ve got one,” I shouted before Franklin could form a greeting.
“I need a little context, honey.”
Franklin had started with the infrequent endearments. I’d never considered if I was the kind of guy that wanted to be called sweet nicknames. I think if anyone else had tried, I would have smacked them upside the head. Franklin was different.
“A necromancer. One that might still be alive.”
I could hear the increased attention in Franklin’s voice when he asked, “Who?”
I rattled off Leander’s name as well as his mother’s. “Of course, we don’t know who his father is.” According to Pops, the Warlock Council didn’t keep track of that information, only thedefectivehuman mothers who gave birth to necromancers.
“What else have you got?”
I gave Franklin the high school where Leander graduated along with his last known address that I could find. “I have no idea if he’s still there or not. That information is six years old.”
“I’ll see if Becks has time to run it down for us. She’s got more resources than you do.”
“True. You sure she doesn’t mind?”
“Positive.” Franklin chuckled and the sound did funny, fizzy things to my insides. “She’d probably tell you we’re doing her a favor. Becks loves doing deep-dive shit like this.”
My grin hurt my cheeks. “Okay, as long as you’re sure.”
“Like I said, I’m positive.”
I blew out a relieved breath. “We might have one. And if we talk to Leander, maybe he knows others.” It was a long shot, but I couldn’t help holding out hope.
“Maybe.” I heard Franklin’s doubt and couldn’t really blame him for it. “Sorry, but I need to get going. The autopsy report is back on one of my cases and Dr. Stowe wants to speak to me personally.”
“Okay.” I didn’t tell Franklin I was sorry to bother him. I knew better than that and it would only make Franklin feel bad. “I probably need to get going too. I’ve got a client at two.”
“Don’t forget your candy and let me know when you’re done and on your way home. Try not to piss anybody off.”
It was my turn to chuckle. “It’s not me that makes them mad. It’s the soul that doesn’t tell them what they want to hear.” I was just a sort of messenger. Considering the soul they were truly upset with was already dead…I bore the brunt of the redirected anger.
