Page 30 of The Hive Queen

Pen frowns down at the body. “You said the raccoon had the man’s dick?”

Flint and I both flinch, but Young just nods. “Didn’t want to give it up, either. Probably the nicest meal it’s had in a while.”

Pen’s frown deepens. “Was it intact?”

“Full and uncircumcised.” She points to an open case a yard from where she works. “Number fifty-three, if you want to take a look.”

Pen pulls gloves from her pocket as she steps away from the body.

Flint and I trail after her.

She squats next to the case and flips through the baggies inside until she finds the label she’s searching for and lifts it free.

Indeed, full and uncircumcised. And he must have been a popular prostitute by the size of it.

“Is this curiosity?” Strain fills Flint’s voice. “Or do you have an idea?”

Pen stands, the bag still in hand. “Look at it.”

“No, thank you.” Flint backs away. “No man should be put through that indignity, even a dead one.”

I take the bag from her and turn it over, then peer back at the victim. “Huh.”

“Et tu, Sharpe?” Flint shudders. “Show some respect for the poor man.”

I ignore him. “With a blast like that, there’s no way this should be in such good condition, unless…”

“It was removed before the blast, but then discarded,” Pen finishes. “Was a dick found at either of the other scenes?”

“No, there wasn’t.” I lift the bag, and the body part inside bounces slightly. “So the question is, what made this one different?”

ticking

- Marc -

The clinkof glasses and cheers fill the bar, making my head pound, along with an extreme lack of water, or anything hydrating.

I’ve had too many pints to count. Beer sloshes around in a stomach offered nothing but a bowl of peanuts and a handful of pretzels in the last several hours.

After the successful handoff this morning, Trent and his team convinced me to go out for a celebration before I returned to Clearhelm. We started with brunch but never got around to ordering dinner, just another round followed by several more after that. The quick celebration had turned into an all-day affair, and I missed my scheduled take-off time to return home tonight.

The next available flight won’t land until after three in the afternoon, which means I should be home in time for dinner. I’m glad now that I hadn’t told the others to expect me, and maybe that had been unconsciously intentional on my side. I want to be home, but when I’m there, I want to leave, and the mixed feelings mess with my head.

Not nearly as much, though, as this current bullshit.

Red-faced and halfway to passing out, Elizabeth snuggles under Savannah’s muscular arm while the other woman tosses back shots. Trent sits next to them, retelling our trip through the danguri’s hoard, the adventure growing more elaborate with every iteration until it sounds like it belongs in a high fantasy movie in theaters.

Trent’s team works hard to play hard, but all-day partying isn’t my idea of a good way to wind down after a case. I’d far rather be home in front of the fire, with Pen curled up next to me and Flint bouncing around the room, still full of energy.

Hell, I’d even take playing the ogre inSave the Princessover this kind of loud, drunken celebration.

I’ve hit my limit, and homesickness now outweighs the desire to escape from the people I love.

Slamming back the dredges of my beer, I stand to leave.

“Where are you rushing off to, cowboy?” Savannah tips her head back to stare up at me. “Elizabeth and I were just talking about moving the party uptown.”

Elizabeth giggles drunkenly against her side. “Stop. You know he wants to go home.”

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