Tasha called from across the room, “You don’t suppose someone was trying to, uh, fillet the victim and just did a bad job at it do you?”
Jake and Rick both shook their heads. “No,” Rick answered, “Not even an attempt was made. The victim was purposefully mutilated.”
“To look like a mauling,” Tasha was still trying to digest it. It just didn’t make any sense.
Dawson nodded and looked across the body at Jake before saying, “Unless the killer just wanted to throw the police off of his trail. By messing up the body so thoroughly, perhaps he was hoping the death would be blamed on an animal, thus leaving him in the clear.”
Jake smiled. “Yes, but did you smell the stainless steel? There’s just a hint, but it’s there. That and wet stone oil.”
Dawson bent over the body again. “It that what that is?” He looked at Tasha. “See, experience. I didn’t get that.”
“But you can’t use, er, scent as evidence,” Tasha reminded them.
“Ah, but it can lead us to evidence we can use,” Rick said.
Tasha nodded. “Okay, got it. Are we about done Jake? I’m feeling a little, weird.”
Jake glanced over to Tasha, his brow furrowing as he looked at her. He thought she looked a little weird. “Yes, we’re done,” he looked over to Rick, “aren’t we? Got anything else?”
Rick shook his head, “Nope, nothing. Are you going to check out the crime scene?”
“Yeah, just a quick once over. The cleaners have already been there and whatever scent that may have been left has surely been washed away by the rain by now.”
“Be careful, I heard that Hatchet Creek is running, and has flooded over Freedom Avenue.”
“Thanks, I’m in my truck, so I should be okay.”
Rick bowed formally to Tasha, “And it was a pleasure to finally meet you, Tasha.” He said before he gallantly lifted her hand to his lips, gently brushing her knuckles with them.
Tasha gave a girlish giggle and blushed, despite the fact that she was still feeling ill.
Jake spoke to the blond werewolf sternly, almost over protectively. “Okay, knock it off you.” He took Tasha by the elbow, a look of concern momentarily crossing his features as he took in her pale complexion. “C’mon, we gotta go.”
####
The rain was coming down harder than before, making the streets a hazard. By the time they had reached Freedom Park where the body had been found, the streets indiscernible from the sidewalks under the torrent of water that poured from the sky.
Jake parked his truck in what may have been a parking space and turned off the ignition.
“What do you hope to find here, tonight?” They were the first words that either of them had spoken the entire drive from the morgue.
Jake shook his head. “Don’t think I’ll find anything. I just wanted to get a feel for the place.”
Tasha nodded her head.
Jake squinted his eyes as he looked over at her in the dark. “You still don’t look very good. I’m sorry I took you in there. I thought you were ready.” He gently took her face between his thumb and forefinger and turned her head towards the inadequate light of the street lamps.
“I’m okay, really. I don’t know if I’d ever be ready for that. There’s just something about this whole mess that makes my stomach cinch up, you know?”
“Yeah, I know. Same here. Look, why don’t you stay in the truck and I’ll go look around.”
“No, I think I’d like to check it out as well.”
Jake reached behind his seat and took out an umbrella and handed it to Tasha before he stepped out into the rain, turning the collar up on his jacket. He didn’t seem to mind the rain at all.
Personally, she had never been much of a fan.
####
“He sure bled out a lot,” Tasha observed as she noticed an indicator left over from the police investigation.
“Yeah,” Jake noted as he looked up at the tree they were standing under. It helped to break up the rain somewhat.
Tasha looked around at their surroundings. “Well, besides the jogging path here, there’s an access road just over there,”
Jake nodded and headed over to the narrow road and growled a little. “Asphalt drive. This brush,” he tugged on an evergreen bush, “could have hidden a vehicle from the sight of the jogging path.”
Tasha followed the access road a few paces before she stooped over a stain. “Any way to tell if this is a new oil patch or an old one?”
Jake shook his head, “Not with this rain. If I were to guess, I’d say it’s fairly new. There’s still oily residue coming off with the rainwater. But it could have been left by a city vehicle, not necessarily the killer’s.”
“But it could have been the killers.”
Jake nodded thoughtfully rubbing the end of his chin with his finger tips.
“So, let’s pretend that this stain was not left by a city vehicle, but, in fact, the killer’s. The perpetrator sat here and waited for his victim? Does that mean he knew our vic I wonder?” Tasha absently rubbed her toe against the edge of the oil stain.
“No way to be sure, but it’s something to consider. Regardless of weather the victim knew his killer or not, I’m going to say that the killer waited for him, hunted him.”
“What makes you think that?”
“The body was discovered about nine in the morning. That’s kind of late don’t you think? I mean this park is used by many joggers and walkers.”
“Avery said the Medical Examiner put time of death at about four in the morning. No one would see it until after sunrise, which would be almost seven." Jake paced back to where the victim had been found, circled the area, mud splashing up on his pants leg and over his boots. “He was killed here on purpose, so no one would observe him being killed or that the body would be seen too quickly. So it wasn’t a crime of passion. It was definitely pre-meditated.” He kicked at a stone. “I’ve seen enough, you?”
“Yep,”
“Let’s get outta here. I think I hear my bed calling.”
Tasha, cold, wet and worn out, heartily agreed.
Chapter 14
Too many nights with too little sleep was what Tasha credited for the generally crappy way she felt as she clomped down the stairs from her apartment, opened the door to the street letting it slam shut behind her. She walked the few yards to the office’s front door. She glanced down the street to see the now all too familiar landscape van parked down the street in yet a different parking lot than it had been the day before. Her stomach seized, and her temper boiled, upsetting her more than she already was.
Jake met her at the door of his establishment, unlocking it for her and flipping the sign to say ‘open’. “You look like hell.”
“Thanks, I feel like hell.”
“Got the flu?”
“Nope, er, I don’t think so anyway. No fever, no congestion, no stomach pain. Well, that’s not true, I do have stomach pain, but it has everything to do with Mr. Roberts, nothing to do with a virus. His van is down the street. And that mess we saw last night. What a terrible fate for that poor victim.”
“Better pass on the coffee. I’ll make you some tea. Sit,” he motioned to the seating area they used to meet with clients. There where two comfortable yet contemporary sofas facing each other. She gave a weak smile of thanks as she sat. Tasha leaned her head back and closed her eyes, but she felt too anxious to sit quietly for long.
“And on top of all this, I missed a call from my mom last night.”
“So call her back,” Jake called from the kitchen.
“I’ve tried off and on all night, but no answer.”
“She leave a message?”
“Yeah, just wondering how I was. She’s got this knack of knowing when something is up and calls me. You know, I hadn’t realized that she hadn’t called when all that hellhound stuff went down. I’m surprised it’s taken her this long to try to reach me.”
&
nbsp; “Maybe you should have called her first,” he chided, good naturedly.
“I know I should have, but I didn’t think about it. You know, being all caught up in the moment and stuff. Besides, I don’t know if she’d be too keen on me being involved with a hellhound.” She smiled her thanks as Jake handed her a cup of steaming tea.
“Would she even believe you?”
“Probably. How do you think I know all about faeries and werewolves and goblins and stuff? My mom has told me about them since I was a child.”
“Does she know about me?” Jake asked.
“She does," Tasha answered hesitantly. "I know it’s supposed to be our little secret, but I had to tell my mother.”
“No, I get it. So, she’s okay with that?”
“Oh, absolutely not. She has always told me to stay away from werewolves, were-anything in fact.”
“Wonder why?”
“Eh, she’s all kinds of superstitious, so who knows.” She took a sip of her tea. “That helps,” she sighed, resting her head back on the sofa again.
“You look pale,” Jake observed and when Tasha opened her eyes she saw that he had leaned in for a closer look, causing her to start slightly. “What is up with your eyes?”
“What do you mean? They blood shot? I hardly slept at all last night.”
“No, not that. I noticed last night that they looked lighter than your normal stormy gray. This morning they’re even lighter than that.”
Tasha shrugged. “Stress maybe?”
“Maybe.” Jake didn’t say more, but continued to scrutinize her. He took her jaw between his fingers and moved her head first one way, and then the other. “Got any swelling?”
“No, but all my joints feel stiff. I couldn’t get comfortable last night. Movement felt better. Bet I paced a groove in my floor.”
“Hmm,” he muttered as he dropped his fingers to her carotid artery. “Pulse is too fast. How’s your breathing?”
“You know, it’s funny that you mention it. I feel like I’ve been exercising. Not panting, but,”
He began probing at the glands under her neck. “Any other pain?”
“No, other than the stomach, the joints and the general feeling of unease. I’m starting to get twitchy too.”
“Twitchy?”
“Muscle spasms, tremors, whatever,” she snapped before she closed her eyes and apologized.
Jake’s jaw muscles began to flex, as he clenched and unclenched his teeth.
“I wonder if you’ve gotten an infection from where the hellhound got a hold of you?”
Tasha shook her head. “The nurse at the hospital said they shouldn’t get infected. She said they weren’t very bad.”
“Well that’s not right,”
“What do you mean?”
“Tasha, I saw those marks. They were bad.”
“Huh, you know, I’ve not really paid much attention since then. Been a little sore, but no big deal. Maybe that salve of Avery’s had some mage magic in it?”
“I don’t think so. His stuff is all herbs and what not that just aids in swelling and keeps infection out. He doesn’t put magic anything in it. Turn around and lift your blouse.”
“Why?”
“I want to see your back.”
Tasha complied.
“Huh,” Jake managed. “Tasha, you are quite the healer. Only the faintest of marks is left. No bruising, nothing.” He pressed his fingers gently to her skin. “Any pain? Soreness?”
“No, none.”
“Not right at all.”
“So?”
“So, you should not heal that fast,” Jake said a little tersely as he pulled her blouse down.
“Turn back around and open your mouth.”
“Should I say aw?”
“Just open smart ass.”
She did.
Jake stood up suddenly, a look of alarm crossing his face. “Shit, c’mon, get your things.” He slid his cell phone out of his jean’s pocket and quickly dialed. He did not waste time on pleasantries. “I’m bringin’ Tasha in. Something’s happening. Yes sir, we’re leaving now.” He disconnected and replaced the phone.
“What’s wrong? Jake, please talk to me. What did you see?”
“Tasha, damn it, now would be a really good time to let me know just exactly what you are.”
“What are you talking about? What do you mean by that?”
“What are you? If you are human, I’m a monkey’s uncle.”
Tasha stared in disbelief. She shook her head, and stammered. “I, Jake, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She would have thought he was joking but for the seriousness she saw in his eyes, his entire posture rigid.
Jake shook his head and closed his eyes. He knew that she was telling the truth, or, at least, the truth as she knew it. “Look, Tash, I probably should have told you my suspicions a long time ago. Now, aw, never mind.”
“Told me what Jake?”
Jake shook his head, irritated with himself. “Never mind that now, I’ll explain later. Let’s just say for now, that if you are human, you’ve got something exceptionally wrong with you. There is nothing to be done now but get you some help, so let’s go.”
That brought Tasha up short, alarm spreading through her already tense body. “Help? What kind of help? Jake, what are you not telling me?”
“Your teeth, have they always been, pointy?”
“No, why?” she ran her tongue along the bottom edge of her teeth to find that her teeth where indeed, sharper than usual, the incisors protruding down a fraction longer than the others “Jake?”
“Come on, we have got to go. And keep trying to get a hold of your mother. I’ll bet she’s got the answers to certain questions that I’ve had for a while now, and I’m thinking that we are going to need her before this is all over with.”
Chapter 15
Tasha was on the verge of panic as they headed out of town. The longer it took for him to make his was through town only heightened Tasha’s agitation. Jake took time to make sure that Richard Roberts was not following them, by doubling back, and then doubling back again. The prolonging of their departure from the city proper wore on Tasha’s already ragged nerves. Only when he was sure that the landscape van was not behind them did he proceed on his way, heading away from the city limits.
“Tasha, I should have told you, but Henry thought it better to let nature take its course.”
“What are you talking about, Jake?”
“I’m talking about the fact, that, well hell Tasha, I don’t know how to say this any other way: You are not human, no matter what you say.”
Tasha sat silently, waiting for the punch line. It never came. “I, don’t understand.”
“Look Tash, you know how you not only can see the fae runes, but you can also read them? See, there have always been humans that can see certain things, like runes, or see certain elements that they shouldn’t be able to, but it ends there. No human has been able to read the runes without tutoring.”
“I’ve not been taught,” she said quietly.
“Correct. It was instinctual.”
“Instinctual,” Tasha parroted. “I don’t even know how you know that. I sure don’t.”
“How did you first learn of the position I had available?”
“I saw the flyer that you posted up on Franklin’s bulletin board.”
“Correct. But that was just an advertisement for private detective services as far as human eyes go.”
“But I saw the ‘help wanted’ portion you had printed on that flyer.” Tasha protested. “Werewolf requires office assistant.”
“Correct again. But that portion was written in the fae language in a fae ink that only a supernatural being would be able to read.
“Now, when you first showed up, I knew you were, uh, different. Something in my gut said it was so. I waited for you to tell me what you were. I figured you would tell me when you were ready. But y
ou never did. You also didn’t have the stink of deception about you either. So, since I didn’t know what to think about you, I consulted my Alpha.”
“I remember when I first met Henry. He said he was just dropping by to visit. Am I the actual reason he came in? To check me out?” she asked as she remembered not only the peculiar way she had felt in the man’s presence but also the way he had scrutinized her so thoroughly. By the time the Alpha had left, she’d honestly felt like she had been cross-examined.
“Also correct. He and I both could tell that you were not a human. You smell like a human, you look like a human,” Jake hesitated.
“But?”
“But you are, uh, too human I guess would be the best way to put it. It’s like you are covered in a human fragrance that saturates you so thoroughly that I can’t smell beneath. You’ve got no depth. ”
“I’m sure that makes perfect sense to someone,” Tasha grumped.
“No one but a were-something would be able to tell, on account of our senses. Lady Maven may have a hint that you are more than you appear, but only because of experience.”
“Well, that answers why Mother never wanted me to hang around with werewolves.” Tasha mused. “Okay, so what does that make me?” Tasha felt almost ready to cry from frustration. She grit her teeth until her jaw hurt.
“I don’t know,” Jake said quietly.
“Super-duper!” Tasha exclaimed with fake enthusiasm.
“It’s on account of whatever is masking your smell, your real smell, neither I nor Henry can detect your true nature.”
“And that’s why we need my mother,” Tasha sighed as she picked up her phone and tried to call her again, with no answer on the other end. “Oh Momma, where are you?”
They drove in silence for a few moments, Jake trying to remain calm, for Tasha’s sake, and Tasha trying to be calm for sanity’s sake.
“Where are we going?” Tasha asked as it dawned on her that she’d never been out this particular direction before.
“Henry’s place. It’s, ah, safe there.”
“Safe for whom?” Tasha said quietly.
“For you and whoever you’re around,” Jake said with an apologetic smile. “We still don’t know what you are, remember?”
“Super-duper,” she intoned again, this time with much less enthusiasm.
Chapter 16
After an hour, the wild countryside gave way to a more manicured landscape; acre upon acre of mowed grass, bordered by hedges to indicate the end of one property and the beginning of another. Trees filled these properties that were dotted sparsely with large, sprawling homes.