Page 53 of The Elementalist
“Well, I used to... up to a few days ago. I figured if a cub wound up on that boat, a mama bear would have gone after it… but, knowing what I know now…”
“Right.”
“Any idea who killed him or why?”
“I have my suspicions.”
“Care to share them?”
“I figure vampires allied with the Anworth family killed him. It’ll never be proven though. No one’s looking for the truth. Few people would believe the truth if it came out, and there isn’t a single person involved who’d want it out in the open.”
“What makes you think the Anworths did it?”
She lay there in silence for a while.
“That bad, huh? Okay. I won’t push.”
Crystal sighed. “It’s a bit sensitive, but I’ve already told you about me, so I’ll trust you with one more secret. But, you must give me your word you won’t speak of it to anyone.”
I stared down the length of her perfect body, pressed to my side like one of those artsy nude photos that didn’t show any naughty bits. Not that I could’ve moved if I wanted to, but of anywhere on Earth I could’ve been, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. “Keeping secrets is what I do for a living.”
“Isn’t it your job toexposesecrets?”
“True, but secrets I’ve been asked to keep are another thing.”
“All right.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “My pseudo-father was having an affair with Brittany Anworth.”
“And her husband wanted revenge?”
“No. She’s not married. The woman’s only a year older than me.”
I winced. “So he was seeing a girl young enough to be his daughter?”
“Yes, but that isn’t what caused the problem. The Bradburysand Anworths have been at each other’s throats for 200 years. We’ve hated each other for so long I don’t think anyone remembers what started it. Before this part of the country had a well-developed police force, random murders and even small armed skirmishes between groups of twenty or so men per side happened all the time. It’s the only time I can ever say anything good about chauvinism.”
“No killing women or children?”
“Basically.”
“Sounds like your old man got over the feud… as did that girl... Brittany.”
“He’s not really my father. But, I suspect they fell in love. Somehow, the rest of her family found out and wanted to put a stop to it.”
My arm finally decided to listen to me again, so I reached up and rested it on her back. “So you don’t think the attack on Dana had anything to do with the Anworth situation?”
“No. The Farringtons wouldn’t have cared at all who Sterling Bradbury slept with. I’m sure Nigel had his vampires target Dana in hopes I’d return to Shadow Pines for the funeral… which I did.”
“Wait. You live here in Ironside.”
“I do.”
“Then why are we in a hotel?”
She laughed. “Well, you were driving and you got the wild idea. My place is tiny, and a mess, and at the time I hadn’t planned on us winding up in bed together. We can relocate in the morning if you like.”
“Hmm. I’d prefer getting Nigel off your back first. How do you feel about returning to Shadow Pines once the sun’s up? Maybe you can go invisible and snoop around Justine’s office. She might have information she hasn’t shared. While you’re doing that, I’ll rattle a few other trees and see what I can find.”
“All right. Sounds like a reasonable plan. Oh darn. I left my car by the quarry. Think it will still be there in the morning?”
