“No, he always kept that very quiet,” Bellatrix said with a small smile. “But Rudoldir was a better elf than any of us could have possibly imagined. I really can’t believe anyone would kill him, and I do hope you find the paranormal who did it. I swear on Titania, the Queen of the Fairies, that I didn’t kill him. I’d never have brought harm on a man who did so much good for me.”
“I believe you,” I said, and as the words came out of my mouth, I realized they were true. I did believe Bellatrix, and I very badly wanted her to not be the killer I was after.
Raoul was back on the top of my suspect list.
“Thank you for sharing your story. That really helps. Listen, I’m wondering if you ever saw this shifter around?” I asked, opening the photo of him on my phone once more and handing it to Bellatrix. She looked at it carefully, frowning.
“No, I’m pretty sure I haven’t,” she replied. “Is he from here?”
“No, from Arizona.”
Bellatrix shook her head. “Then no, I’m afraid I can’t say I’ve ever seen him. He certainly hasn’t come into the office.”
“Ok, thanks. How about the night Rudoldir was killed? Where were you? From say, ten to midnight?”
“I watched TV until around eleven, and then I went to sleep.”
“Can anyone confirm that?”
“Sorry,” Bellatrix said, worry filling her face. “I live by myself. Does that mean I’m still a suspect?”
“Well, an airtight alibi would certainly have helped. But for what it’s worth, I don’t think you killed Rudoldir.”
“Thanks,” Bellatrix replied. “I appreciate it. I really didn’t. He was a great elf. I guess the only thing I can tell you are some of the questions and answers on Mageopardy from the night of the murder. A vampire from New Fang became the new champion after a Final Mageopardy question about a flower festival in an African paranormal city. I didn’t get it right.”
I grinned. “Don’t worry, I never get those right.”
“Would you like to ask the others about whether or not they’ve seen that shifter in here? I like to think I have a memory for faces, but it’s possible I’ve forgotten or he came in when I wasn’t here.”
“Sure,” I replied. But as I passed the photo around to the others, no one recognized Raoul Lupo. They did, however, thank me for the donuts. Apparently, he hadn’t been here.
Fjordir was still working from his own desk even though it had been made official that he had taken over for Rudoldir.
“It will take some time before I feel comfortable taking over his office,” Fjordir explained to me when I asked him about it. “Rudoldir was a friend of mine, but he was also my boss. I will always think of him as my boss even though I am now in charge of this office. I had never expected to be put into this position, and it is uncomfortable for me. I’ve been allowed to remain at my desk for a transition period while I get used to the idea of Rudoldir no longer being here. Perhaps his funeral in a couple of days will help.”
I nodded. “I hope so.”
Fjordir gave me a sad smile. “Thank you for the donuts. Do you think the shifter you’re looking for is the one who killed Rudoldir?”
“It’s looking that way,” I admitted. “If you see him, will you let me know?”
“Of course. I have your card. I will text you immediately.”
“Thanks.”
I was starting to wonder if the shifter guarding the portal had been mistaken and he’d never even been in town at all. The shifter was like a ghost.
Chapter 19
The idea that the portal guard had been mistaken and that Raoul Lupo had never been here at all kept niggling at me, so I decided to see if anyone in town recognized him. My first stop was at The Magic Brewmstick since I figured even murderous shifters were probably going to need a caffeine hit once in a while.
Starr raised her eyebrows at me when she saw me once more. “Big day, huh?”
“You don’t have the slightest idea,” I said with a laugh. “I’m actually here for information, but since you’ve got me, I might as well pick up another donut. An apple fritter, please.”
“Sure,” Starr said. “Not time for another coffee yet?”
“Seeing as this would be my third in about three hours, I don’t think it’s the best idea,” I replied. I pulled out my phone and showed her the picture.
“Oh yeah, that guy,” Starr said immediately, nodding. “He was here a couple days ago. He had no idea what a matcha latte was, which is why I remember him. I explained to him that it was full of antioxidants, and he just decided to get a drip coffee instead.”
“You’re one hundred percent sure it was him?” I asked. “I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t important.”
“Yeah, it was definitely him,” Starr said, nodding as she handed me my donut. “I guarantee it.”
“Did he say anything else? Maybe mentioned where he was staying?”
“No,” Starr said, shaking her head, but then she frowned. “But you know, I don’t think he was staying too far from here.”
“Oh? Why do you say that?”
“He was here the morning before Rudoldir was killed, you know when it was pouring down rain?”
I nodded. It had rained pretty heavily that day up until the early afternoon.
“Anyway, he didn’t have an umbrella and was just wearing a light jacket, and I remember thinking he was incredibly underdressed for the weather, but he wasn’t soaking wet or anything. So he couldn’t have come from far away. A few blocks, tops.”
“That’s incredibly helpful. Thanks, Starr,” I told her, and the fairy smiled.
“No problem. Glad to be of service.”
I said goodbye to her and then headed back out onto the street, looking around. If Raoul was staying somewhere in the few blocks on either side of the coffee shop,
