All the World's an Undead Stage by Angel Martinez

Author:Angel Martinez [Martinez, Angel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Published: 2017-01-14T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

“Visitor for you, Carr,” Alex pointed back toward the front of the building as he made his way to his desk after lunch.

Puzzled, Carrington straightened from his customary crumple and spotted Dr. Hayes peering into the squad room. “Dr. Hayes? Is everything all right?”

“Oh, Carrington, there you are.” The smile appeared relieved, probably due to being saved from an awkward moment at a police station. “Yes, yes, fine. All’s well. I made the mistake of mentioning I would be down this way to your mother and she had the odd idea that I might be able to bully you into an answer where she’s failed.”

“What answer, sir?”

“You know how your mother is. She’s insisting that you and your librarian come to dinner on Thursday.” Dr. Hayes cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I know she can be…demanding, but you could return her calls, old sock, old bean.”

“I’m so sorry she’s involved you in our family power struggles.” Carrington rubbed at his forehead. It was far too early for a Mom-induced stress headache. “I’ll be sure to call her before we start patrols. I can’t apolo—”

Audacity skittered to a stop between them, dancing from one front paw to the other, staring up at Dr. Hayes, and making a one-kitten ruckus of herself.

“What’s the meaning of this, Cadet?” Carrington said as he picked her up.

Miiiiiiw, mmrrehh! Miiii-iiiireh!

“What in the—” Carrington realized she was waving a paw at Dr. Hayes’ tiepin. His silver tiepin, in fact, which happened to be in the shape of a skull. The very same skull he had recently picked up out of disturbed grave dirt. “Audacity, hush. I see it. This may sound odd, Dr. Hayes, but did you happen to have a set of cufflinks to match that tiepin?”

Dr. Hayes’ forehead crinkled and he lifted his tie to glance down at the fastening. “Ah. The little memento mori. I did have a set of cufflinks, but I’ve managed to lose one somewhere along the way. One cufflink does me no good at all, so the poor tiepin is now a solo piece.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Carrington tried for as light a tone as he could. The shock of seeing that particular skull on someone he’d known since he was small had made him lightheaded. “Do you have any idea when the cufflink wandered off?”

“Oh…” Dr. Hayes’ mouth turned down in an exaggerated way that indicated he was trying to dredge up some piece of information. “I don’t think I’ve seen it since last Halloween or so.”

Of course. Probably stolen for some specific properties of the metal. So that meant the necromancer was someone who knew Dr. Hayes, at least socially. “Truly a shame. It’s a beautifully detailed piece. I’ll keep an eye out just in case. And I promise to call Mother.”

“Yes, please.” Dr. Hayes’ distracted smile returned. “Oh, and one last item. I am sorry. Putting you on the spot like this. I may have suggested that you bring guests of your own. Simply to alleviate your mother’s single-minded focus on you, though I would never tell her that.

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