Page 3 of Veiled Justice
I gave a one-shouldered shrug. I’d found the caladrius at another crime scene where Ed had assisted me. The talking bird had helped me find the killer and for some reason he’d stuck around after that. Loki was a total pain in the arse but I had yet to work out how to stop him from following me around. He was needy as fuck. And he was fast, too.
‘More like he kept me,’ I admitted.
‘Pigdog,’ Loki said as he flew to my shoulder and settled like a piratical parrot.
Ed snickered. ‘I really like him, Stacy.’
‘Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,’ I groused.
A peacock strutted into our part of the garden and promptly fanned out his feathers like he was getting his best flirt on. Loki made a derisory sound. ‘Slut.’
‘Just because he’s dressed nice, doesn’t mean he wants it.’ Ed wagged his finger at Loki. ‘No means no, bird.’ He looked from my diminutive bird to the far larger peacock. ‘Plus, there’s a size issue with you two guys.’
‘Dick issue, too,’ Loki snorted.
‘Hey!’ Ed said sharply. ‘Two guys can rub dicks together if they want.’
I studied Ed. ‘You know that’s not how two guys have sex, right?’
‘Well, that’s not the only way.’ Ed winked. ‘Nothing wrong with a bit of frottage.’
I blew out a breath; we’d got derailed. ‘I don’t quite know how we got here but let’s focus on the dead girl, shall we? I’ve called the ME – Dr Potter is inbound.’
Dr Kate Potter was my favourite medical examiner and, like me and Ed, she was an Other specialist. She attended Other crime scenes to verify cause of death and she would perform an autopsy if it were required. A lot of Other deaths required autopsies; there were just too many ways we could die that weren’t obvious on a visual inspection.
Dr Potter, Ed and I worked together to keep the magical Other realm hidden from the Common realm. Some days it was easier than others; today, despite the number of guests at the ball, it would be easier. Since everyone here was Other, I didn’t have to bend over backwards to hide the existence of magic.
Ed nodded. ‘Great. Kate’s one of the best around.’
Next to me, Loki looked over the body and ruffled his wings in agitation. ‘She is not fit as a flute,’ he said sadly.
‘Fit as a fiddle,’ I corrected before sighing. ‘No. She’s not.’ I turned back to Ed. ‘We’ll leave you to it. Dr Potter should be here soon.’
He gave me a mock salute. ‘Inspector Wise.’
I turned to the other pressing issue: my brother. Pale and visibly upset, Rupert was lurking in the shadows of the garden. He had a protective arm wrapped around his date, Ava Grey, who looked no less shaken.
If I didn’t get this case wrapped up, there was a very real chance my brother would go the same way as Helga and end up dead.
Because the Connection didn’t let their scapegoats live.
Chapter 2
My youngest brother had the same warm skin tone as mine, but he kept his brown hair far shorter and neater. Right now, though, his complexion was wan and his hair was mussed. As I watched, he dragged an agitated hand through it once again.
‘Thanks for calling me,’ I said softly as I approached him and Ava. I didn’t ask if they were okay; they’d found a young woman stabbed to death so of course they weren’t okay. Something would be wrong with you if you were – either that or you worked in law enforcement.
Rupert was a civil lawyer and, as far as I could tell, Ava was just a lady that lunched. Her father was rich as hell and he doted on his only daughter. Neither she nor my brother was used to murder. ‘How are you two doing?’ I asked quietly.
Rupert grimaced. ‘Honestly? This wasn’t quite what I had in mind for this evening.’
‘I doubt this is what Helga Jónson wanted either,’ I chided gently.
‘No.’ He sighed. ‘Far worse for her.’ He avoided looking at the body.
‘It’s just awful,’ Ava breathed, her voice catching as she spoke. Her big blue eyes were round with horror.
I’d only met my baby brother’s girlfriend once before when she’d beenwayoverdressed for dinner. She was even more elaborately kitted out now in a bright-pink princess ball gown and a matching pink-feather mask. Her platinum hair was piled on her head in an elaborate array of plaits and her lips were painted the perfect shade of fuchsia to complement her dress. She was wearing enough jewellery to ransom a small country. Of the two of them, there was no need to ask who had bought the tickets to this exclusive social event.
