Gryphon Precinct by Keith R.A. DeCandido

Author:Keith R.A. DeCandido [DeCandido, Keith R.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Keith R.A. DeCandido, Precinct, Dragon Precinct, Unicorn Precinct, Goblin Precinct, fantasy, police procedural
Publisher: eSpec Books
Published: 2018-06-20T04:00:00+00:00

“I’m sorry?”

Danthres blinked. “Er, the Inanimate Residue Spell. We call it a ‘peel-back.’”

“I can’t imagine why, that’s not what it’s called.”

After a brief hesitation, Danthres soldiered on. “In any case, when we went to Boneen’s workspace in the basement, it was cleared out. Captain Grovis informed us that he’d been dismissed. And we wanted him to cast the, ah, the Inanimate Residue Spell on your late husband’s sitting room. But that option was taken away from us.”

Lady Meerka pursed her lips. “Strictly speaking, of course, my son’s actions were completely within his purview. As he reminded me when I last called you into my office, the Castle Guard is under his control, not mine. I’m afraid I cannot censure him for this action directly. It is very peculiar, and quite damaging, though. I do wonder what his reasoning was.”

It took all of Danthres’s will power to keep from snarling. Especially now, the lady of the demesne was too valuable an ally to risk her alienating.

As soon as Danthres had that thought, she was utterly appalled with herself. I’m starting to think politically. True, it was only with regard to Lady Meerka—the rest of the nobility could go hang as far as she was concerned—but it was still an odd feeling.

“Is there anything else, Lieutenant?”

“We questioned several of the sirs and madams here in the castle, but they weren’t particularly helpful. We’re still talking to them, though, so something may come up. Also, Sir Rommett did mention that he was having a meeting with Lord Albin the day he died—but Sir Rommett had no idea what it was about. You wouldn’t happen to know, would you?”

“Oh goodness, no. I long ago stopped attempting to keep track of my husband’s meetings. I’m sorry, I don’t know a thing about that. And my son has dismissed his father’s secretary, but perhaps you can find her.”

“I’m afraid not.” Danthres quickly explained that Lord Albin’s former secretary was on a boat somewhere in the Garamin and unreachable.

She also realized that she had only one card left to play, but it was a risky one, as it would put her word against that of Lord Blayk.

“My lady,” she said hesitantly, “there is one other aspect of this case that I feel needs to be mentioned.”

“Oh? What is that, Lieutenant?”

“After you tasked me and Lieutenant Kellan with investigating your husband’s death, Lord Blayk took me aside and told me it was a fool’s errand. He asked that I only do a perfunctory investigation, just enough to satisfy you.”

“Why would he do that?”

“He believes that Lord Albin died of an illness.”

Meerka rolled her eyes. “Why should we be bound by what he believes? The point of the investigation is to find out the truth. Perhaps he did die of an illness—I’m the first to admit that the word of a house faerie is hardly conclusive—but it is, at the very least, the basis of trying to determine the reality of what happened. Blayk has always been more interested in what might be and what he believes than in the evidence of his own eyes.

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