Gods of the Empire by JD Byrne

Author:JD Byrne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: empire, quest, mystery, gods, aliens, tyrany, steampunk
Publisher: JD Byrne
Published: 2019-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Cotber’s office was more organized than the last time Belwyn had been here. It was still overstuffed and looked worked in, like an actual person came in and out doing important things every day. She supposed that Cotber, or his underlings, took it slightly more seriously this time when Hagan made her appointment. Two things hadn’t changed, however. The worn folder was still on the corner of the table under the window. In addition, she was still sitting here, waiting on him.

“Lady, I must apologize,” Cotber said, bursting through the door. He steadied himself and gave her a shallow bow. “One of the truths of police work, I’m afraid, is that keeping a set schedule is very difficult. Crime knows no timetable.”

“I’m certain that’s true, Inspector,” she said, standing to greet him. “Apology accepted.”

Cotber made his way to his desk. “If you’re here seeking more details on the explosion that occurred a few weeks ago, I’m sorry to say I don’t have anything more to report. Still an ongoing investigation, you see.”

“I understand, Inspector,” Belwyn said. “Although I hope, someday, to learn more about that explosion, it’s not why I’m here.”

“Oh?” Cotber perked up as he offered her a seat while settling into his own chair. “More questions about the Cye Strangler, then, Lady?”

“Not questions,” she said, sitting. “A proposal.”

His mouth opened, like he was ready to speak before he actually heard what she said, but he had no words. Finally, he said, “Lady?”

“I remember the last time we talked how we came to a kind of understanding,” she said. “You have an unresolved matter in your past, Inspector. The Cye Strangler case isn’t just the city’s most notorious unsolved crime, it’s your personal millstone. You’ve been dragging it around with you for years.”

He smiled nervously. “No one wants to see the Strangler case solved more than I do, Lady, but I’ve reconciled myself to the fact that it may never happen. The investigation is officially inactive. That was not my decision.”

“Officially,” she said. “But not unofficially.” She got up and walked to the table, picking up the beaten folder from the corner. She handed it to Cotber. “Those are your notes about the Strangler case, aren’t they?”

He took the folder, shock evident on his face. “How did you know?”

“If you don’t want your business inspected, Inspector, don’t keep guests waiting in your office.” She paused. “I only looked at the first page last time I was here. But I’m right, aren’t I?”

He nodded slowly.

“Not only are those your notes, they’re of recent vintage. You still work on the case, don’t you?”

He either deflated a bit or just relaxed, Belwyn couldn’t tell which.

“Sometimes we learn things, scraps of information, in the cases we handle day to day,” he explained. “People out there, in the criminal world, know the Cye Strangler was never caught, think there might be some currency for them in information about the case. If I hear about something like that, I write it down here.” He thumped the folder with his fingers.

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