Achira's eyes creased with thought then widened. “I did hear something! I heard my brother speaking to someone. I didn't think much of it, with his profession it happens a lot, but he might have been conversing with his killer.”
“What did he say?”
“I couldn't hear the words,” she said regretfully. “But I heard someone respond to him.”
“And you didn't think that wasn't odd?”
“No; Daha will channel spirits and they speak with his voice but sometimes they sound different. I thought it was that. I never considered that someone could be physically in the room with him.”
“I don't suppose you recognized the voice?” I asked without much hope.
“No, but it was definitely male; very low in tone.”
“That helps.” I took her hand and squeezed it. “We now know the killer is a man.”
“How do we know that?” Slate demanded as he came into the room.
“Achira heard him,” I explained.
Slate's stare went sharp and sliced to the Nagini. “You heard the killer?”
“She didn't recognize the voice,” I hurried to answer for her. “She only knows it was male.”
“What did this man say?” Slate asked.
“I couldn't hear that either,” Achira whispered.
Slate sighed. “Very well. Thank you, Achira. I know this is hard for you, and I appreciate your help. We'll leave you to mourn your brother but we'll keep you informed about the investigation. I promise you that I will do my best to find the man who murdered Daha.”
“Thank you, Zone Lord.” Achira bowed respectfully.
I hugged her and whispered, “We will find whoever did this.”
Achira nodded and drew away. Binx immediately replaced me.
“Come on, babe,” Binx said gruffly as he escorted her back to the couch. “Sit down. I'll get you a drink.”
“Thank you,” she murmured and crumpled into his arms.
I left the room with Slate and Aaro, Daha's other dying declaration wedged against my breast.
Chapter Twenty
Slate started snapping orders as soon as Achira's bedroom door closed behind us.
“I want the lockdown reinstated and patrols in every neighborhood.”
Aaro nodded.
“Garrick!” Slate shouted at one of the Gargoyles guarding the front door. “Get photos of the scratches outside Daha's window. I want them analyzed. There must be a way to compare them to claw marks from different races. If we have to get a sample from every race in the Zone, so be it.”
“Yes, Sir!” Garrick ran upstairs.
“Once we have it narrowed down to a race, we can start interrogations,” Slate said to his brother.
“Slate, we can't just bring in people and start—”
“We can and we will!” Slate growled in Aaro's face. “Now go set the lockdown.”
Aaro stormed away, out of the front door ahead of us. Slate grabbed my hand and dragged me after him and over to his car. He opened the door for me but kept staring at Aaro, who was getting into a Jeep parallel-parked next to us. Slate narrowed his eyes at his brother. I got into the car silently. He slammed my door and strode around to the driver's side. Got in. Grasped the wheel. Glowered.
“Slate?” I asked hesitantly.
“I'm fine, Elaria.”
“I don't think you are.”
Slate rolled his neck, grimacing through the pops and cracks. Aaro sped past. He glared after him. Then he started the car.
My hands were shaking. I didn't know what to do or say to calm him down. I didn't even know if calming was what he needed. If Slate was still infected, he'd need more of Darc's blood but how would I get him to take it? He wouldn't agree to it, and I had no reason to bring Darc back to the Zone. We'd have to gang up on him again. A fucking intervention.
If that's what this was.
I glanced at Slate as he sped through the Zone. His expression had shut down and his body was strung tight enough to snap. He'd taken a lot of hits recently and every win seemed to come with a setback. Perhaps there was nothing wrong with him beyond that; a frustrated and furious man trying to work with the hand he'd been dealt. The paper dug into my tender skin as if in rebuke.
Perhaps you should leave the Zone, my love, Kyanite said gently in my mind.
Leave Slate? I countered in horror.
Yeah, leave Slate! RS backed up Ky for once. He's giving me the willies. This ain't normal, girl! Get the fuck out of Dodge! You can come back later with a Shining One army.
Slate won't hurt me, I insisted. Not even under the control of Gargo's blood.
We don't know what this is, my love, Kyanite argued. Darc's blood seemed to free Slate, that's true. This could be as you hypothesized; a reaction to strain. Or it could be something else. As you said; Daha told you that many things were happening here. But regardless of what has caused this behavior, Slate is not himself. He just locked down the Zone again, and I fear that he'll seal the wards so that even you can't get out.
I'm not abandoning him. Nor am I frightened by him. If it came down to a fight between us, I would win.
Yeah? RS asked snidely. How'd you do the last time Slate was against you? I seem to remember you locked in a cell.
I'm not wearing a collar anymore.
Slate pulled into the Gargoyle compound and parked before the main barracks, also known as Headquarters. I started to unbuckle my seat belt but he put a hand out to stop me.
“I just need to grab something; wait here.”
He left me gaping after him.
Read the letter! RS urged.
I waited a moment for Slate to go inside then yanked the paper out of my bra. I flipped it open and scanned the message:
Elaria Tanager, Do not blame yourself for my death. I chose the easiest option; the least painful. I could have fought it but that would only have led to a more gruesome fate. I accept this end gratefully. He
