Shadows of Old Ghosts by Stephanie Zayatz

Author:Stephanie Zayatz [Zayatz, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2016-11-12T00:00:00+00:00

***

“This makes no sense whatsoever,” Aviira said.

Jirel sighed in agreement and leaned back in the couch cushions, poking his fingers into his eyes until stars appeared behind the lids. Aviira was sitting on the kitchen island, obsessively braiding and re-braiding her hair. The afternoon had gone overcast while they remained at the scene, angry clouds the color of wet concrete building up over the western sky and turning it dark even though it was only six o’clock.

“Loretta framing her husband for murder makes a little sense, she’s pissed that he’s divorcing her and already picked up a new younger woman. She has plenty of motive there.” Aviira stared out the back door of the cabin and eventually shook her head. “But that woman had been attacked within a minute or two of us getting there.”

“And there was no sign anyone had gone in or out of that place,” Jirel said.

“Exactly. I mean, let’s be real here, you don’t maul someone to death like that and get out without at least leaving some footprints or dripping everywhere. Shit, look at me, I just stood there and held her hand and I still got blood all over me.”

“Which rules out the possibility of an animal.”

Aviira scoffed. “No, no way. A human being trying to get out of there without being seen would have left behind tracks. An animal would have made an even bigger mess. And there was no place in there that looked like an animal could have gotten in or out.”

“Good enough for the official report though.”

She nodded, and they sat there in the silence for a few minutes. The wind was picking up outside, blowing the trees angrily. Jirel sat up finally and leaned his elbows on his knees.

“What about suicide?” he said.

Aviira glanced at him, thought about it for a second, and shook her head slowly. “There was no weapon,” she said absently as she thought it over again. “I mean unless she threw it across the room and we never noticed it. But those gashes were pretty deep, and at weird angles. I don’t think she could have done that to herself. Plus—”

She paused abruptly, and Jirel looked up at her. She swallowed.

“What?”

Aviira shook her head, trying to make an expression that said it was no big deal. “Nothing. Just the look in her eyes. She was scared.”

Jirel heard the way her throat closed up around the word scared. It was the first time he’d seen any kind of serious emotion out of her. Aviira took in a deep breath and sighed it out, then came off the island and went to the screen door, turning her back to him and looking out while she composed herself. He gave her a moment.

“Never had someone die on me,” she said softly after a minute.

“Sucks, doesn’t it?” Jirel said.

She turned around and looked at him. She’d almost forgotten that the reason they were here together was that he’d inadvertently gotten someone killed on assignment.

“What happened?” she asked.

He raised his eyes to her, considered the question for a second.

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