Stormwind by Skye Knizley

Author:Skye Knizley [Knizley, Skye]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vamptasy Publishing
Published: 2015-01-05T00:00:00+00:00

FIVE HOURS LATER, THE CITY was bathed in gray overcast twilight. Rain clouds hung low over the city and the west wind had turned cold, making the city seem dark and unforgiving.

Raven parked the Shelby on the street down the block from Club Black. She’d taken the time to get cleaned up and change into a fresh pair of leather pants, layered tank and her treasured black leather jacket. She’d added an electric green scarf that matched her eyes and let her fury-red hair spill down her back in a waterfall of color.

She’d also been forced, under much protest, to get a check-up and fill out a full report on the Scorched Earth incident. SWAT had found sixteen kilos of Thirst along with several bottles of animal sedative and a dart rifle of the kind used by zoos and nature preserves to subdue wild animals. The Thirst alone was enough, in Raven’s mind, to warrant Stein and his crew’s decimation, but the captain and IA didn’t quite see things that way. Raven had a feeling, though, that there was more to that story than they knew. It was nagging at her like something caught in a tooth. What had they needed a tranq rifle for and what had Stein meant about a contract?

She and Levac entered Club Black and headed into the bar. An odd scent made Raven turn her head; a well-dressed man in a black suit and turtleneck, black hair slicked away from his temples and a hint of five-o‘clock shadow was watching her, his sapphire eyes locked on hers. He raised a glass of scotch in Raven’s direction, a gesture that made her even more curious. She nodded back and continued toward the walk-in humidor.

As before, the room smelled of expensive tobacco and leather. A handful of men in suits were selecting cigars from the cases with the assistance of Josef Diarmait, who was wearing a dark suit minus the jacket, his grey shirt-sleeves held in place with red garters. He smiled at Raven and Levac, but continued to assist his customers. Raven and Levac browsed the shelves while they waited, taking turns watching Diarmait. When the last of the men had left, Raven approached the counter while Levac locked the door.

“That was ominous, Detective,” Diarmait said.

“We just don’t want to be disturbed,” Raven replied. “I have a few more questions about the Franks case for you.”

Diarmait pulled a cigar from beneath the counter and lit it with a wooden match. He let the match flare in his fingers for a moment before tossing it into the brass waste can at his side.

“Of course, Detective,” he said when he was done. “I understand you have young Mr. DiFronzo in custody.”

“I cannot confirm or deny anything you may have read in the paper,” Raven replied. “This is an ongoing investigation.”

“Of course, Detective Storm,” Diarmait said. “How can I assist you further?”

“Where were you between midnight and dawn last night?” Raven asked.

“I was at home, in bed reading,” Diarmait said.

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