Ceremony by Paul Austin Ardoin

Author:Paul Austin Ardoin [Ardoin, Paul Austin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781949082340
Publisher: Pax Ardsen

In the back of a neon green Kia Soul—one of the messiest Uber cars she’d ever seen—Bernadette looked over at Kep. Why had he disappeared that morning? Where had he gone, and why hadn’t he allowed his case analyst to go with him? She wanted to discuss strategy once the two of them got to the lab, but Kep’s eyes were closed as he leaned back in the seat, his glasses almost halfway down his nose. Clearly, he didn’t want to talk.

They arrived at the Freshie a little before three o’clock, and Kep exited quickly, then breathed in dramatic fashion.

“What’s the plan here?” Bernadette asked. “Usually, I talk strategy on the way so I know what I’m getting myself into.”

“I apologize,” Kep said. “That car was rank. Fusarium—Cladosporium—the smells were so bad I couldn’t think. I was in no condition to review tactics.” The Kia drove off, and Kep turned to it. “Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon.”

Bernadette sighed. “Okay, we haven’t gone in yet. Do you want to seek out Annika first, or do you want to have another conversation with Lightman and ask him where he was this morning? See if he knows anything about Eddie Taysatch getting shot?”

Kep blinked. “Do you have any reason to suspect the professor?”

“No. But the question will surprise him. It might make him more likely to tell the truth about things he might otherwise keep hidden. Affairs. Skimming off the top. Stuff like that.” Bernadette folded her arms. “We could divide and conquer, but personally—despite the fact that you clearly hate working with me—I think you and I have enough complementary skill sets that it makes sense to be together when we question Lightman and Nakrivo.”

Kep pulled his winter hat further down on his head. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Who do you want to start with?”

“My preference is to interview Miss Nakrivo first. I would like to get more information about her visit from the reverend Monday night.”

“Which she doesn’t want to talk about.”

“I’d like to press her on her reticence. Perhaps the work environment will force her to reveal more information to try to end the interview in haste.”

“It’s possible.” Bernadette pressed her lips together. “But someone who doesn’t even cry about her boyfriend dying might be too smart for that.”

Kep stared at the ground.

“What is it, Kep?”

“I suspect Miss Nakrivo is lying about the nature of her relationship with Thompson.”

“You don’t think they were really boyfriend and girlfriend?”

“I’m not sure,” Kep muttered.

“But something smells rotten in Denmark?”

Kep glanced at Bernadette, who grinned melodramatically and raised and lowered her eyebrows quickly. He chuckled.

They walked in through the lab’s front entrance, entered the elevator, and pushed the “2” button. The loud grinding of the elevator’s mechanisms echoed the grinding of the gears in Bernadette’s head. Something was still missing. There were plenty of suspects, plenty of lies, plenty of misdirection. But all the lies and misdirection might not add up to murder. Means, motive, and opportunity—Professor Lightman, Nakrivo, Taysatch, and the reverend too.

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