A Theft Most Fowl:: A Kingdom of Aves Mystery by Nicole Givens Kurtz

Author:Nicole Givens Kurtz [Kurtz, Nicole Givens]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mocha Memoirs Press

Chapter Nine

Prentice walked into one of the library’s study rooms to find Rook Renner bent over yellowed parchment, his pipe tight in his teeth.

“Hawk Tasifa,” he greeted her over his shoulder.

“I have a few questions,” Prentice said.

She took a seat across from him in the hard, wooden chair. Unlike the ones in her apartment, they didn’t have cushions.

“You heard about Killion.” Prentice didn’t ask it as a question. For one of his colleagues to be found dead in his office and in such a horrific manner, she expected more emotion, questions, something more than the apathy the rook presented.

“Yes, may the goddess embrace her.” Rook Renner’s thick fingers drifted across what Prentice could make out as a map.

She watched him. He held the same indifferent expression he always wore. Was it an apathy toward life itself or a greater love for research and the goddess? At court, some proclaimed that Rook Renner had the best bird brain in all of the kingdom. She didn’t know the rook well enough to know for sure. Rooks were social, but they enjoyed their academic cliques and groupings.

“Tell me about her. Do you know why she was in your office after hours?” Prentice asked, taking out her notepad and pencil and ready to begin the interview in earnest.

“Killion started out righteous, but she became a bit of a sinner.” Rook Renner stroked his beard.

“Meaning?” Prentice asked.

“She held Sebastian in her thrall, you know. It all started innocent enough, but here lately, she had come to pull his strings,” Renner said.

“You allowed that to continue?” Prentice sat up and met his gaze. It didn’t feel right. Why would he allow an unprofessional relationship to begin and then reject it?

The rook shrugged. “It made sense they could connect, colleagues do. It was a very secret relationship, and at first, I didn’t interfere. Lately Killion became predatory with him.”

Prentice fought to keep her face neutral. She’d eaten lunch with Killion, and she spied nothing of the kind. Perhaps she was different with Sebastian or in the workplace.

“What did you do?” Prentice looked back to her pad.

He sighed. “I talked to her. Coached her to sever her relationship with him.”

“What did she say?”

Had Sebastian killed Killion out of anger at being rejected?

“She agreed. She said it had gotten out of hand, and she ended it a few days before the theft.” Renner turned his attention to the map.

“Why was Killion in your office?” Prenticed asked again.

Rook Renner mumbled to himself and adjusted the antique map.

“I know you were there with her. Your residue remains,” Prentice bluffed.

The rook didn’t turn around. “Fire dissolves spiritual ether.”

“True, but we have other evidence.” Prentice pivoted.

His beady, dark eyes shifted to her.

“Bloody hawk. You’ll find out eventually. Killion and I were reviewing this year’s ledger and inventory. Dove Haq suspects embezzlement. The Order has sent their bookkeepers. They already have the previous five years’ ledger.”

Prentice sat back in the uncomfortable chair.

“Did Killion steal the crown?”

Rook Renner sighed. “I don’t know, but as I’ve said before, anyone could have done it with the proper motivation.

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