Fire Within

She paid little attention to the initial questions, allowing her gaze to wander around the room, as Ryan asked about Shale’s background and counseling experience prior to Riverdale. She heard Shale mention California, but her mind was still on that moment outside the door. “What was the argument about?” she popped in at the first pause in the conversation. “The one our arrival broke up.”

“I hardly think that concerns you.” When she frowned, Shale softened his response. “Our differences over office policy can’t be of much interest to you or your investigation.”

“I’m surprised you allow employee dissent. I mean, this is your agency. Doesn’t that mean your policies?” She was sure he was lying.

“We work as a team. Are we done?” He started to get up.

“Is this office locked when you’re not here?” she asked.

Shale’s frown was puzzled. “My personal office? Of course. There are confidential files in my cabinets.”

“Who has keys?”

His frown lines deepened. “Counselors, secretaries. I guess the janitorial staff. Why do you ask?”

Ari smiled. “Thanks.” She and Shale stared at one another for a moment.

“My appointment is waiting,” he finally said. “Ms. Binderman can help you with anything further.”

Ari got to her feet. Shale didn’t like them being there, or maybe it was just her, but she wasn’t picking up anything more disturbing. Excellent blocking or wrong suspect?

As she and Ryan stepped out of the agency’s front door, the early afternoon heat blasted their AC-chilled skin. Instant perspiration popped out and Ari blinked in the sun’s glare. “Wow. How high is the humidity?”

Ryan shed his jacket and slung it over one shoulder. “You want to tell me what happened outside Shale’s office?”

“Demon energy. I’m sure of it. But I don’t know which one.”

“Let’s arrest all four.”

Appalled, Ari spun to face him. “Good goddess, Ryan, you can’t arrest a demon. It would kill us and everything else in its path. We can’t make a move until we figure out how to contain it. I thought you understood that part.”

“When this is over, I’m demanding a transfer,” he growled. “I’m sick of this mystical shit.”

“Oh, yeah, and I’m going to take up knitting. It’ll get better, as soon as we figure out the magic.”

“What’s next?” he asked, still sounding gruff.

“Back to the research. Maybe I’ll catch a short nap first. I’m running low…” Ari stopped as Sarah Young exited the building and hurried toward them. Ari tensed, wary of a potential demon attack. Her witch blood stirred in response to her concern.

The counselor walked straight to Ari. “I wanted to apologize for breaking down like that,” Sarah said, her voice loud, shrill, as she grasped Ari’s hand in both of hers. Ari felt something small, a folded paper perhaps, thrust against her palm as Sarah continued. “We need for this to be over soon. Well, ah, thanks for understanding.” Sarah turned abruptly and ran back into the building without waiting for a response.

“That was strange,” Ryan said.

“Not at all,” Ari murmured, closing her fingers over the object and turning toward his car. “Let’s take a ride.”

He gave her an odd look but unlocked the cruiser. She slid in.

Once he pulled away from the curb, Ari opened her hand and unfolded the paper. West fountain—20 minutes.

“You asked what was next? A stroll in the park.”

* * *

Anyone who lived in or around Olde Town knew Goshen Park’s west fountain. Surrounded by stone benches and well-tended flower gardens, the stone swan stretched her neck toward the sky from a watery lily pad. It was a favorite place for locals. Ironically, it also had been where the third body was found. Ari wondered if Sarah knew that. She would for sure, if she were the killer-demon.

Sarah arrived looking hot and flustered, and yet there was a definite change in her manner since the interview. She was back in control, as she sank onto one of the stone benches. Whatever had caused her earlier breakdown, she was passed it now. Or it had been faked for their benefit, which meant that Sarah might be the demon.

Ari kept her distance, declining the seat beside Sarah. Until she knew more, Ari wanted space to use her magic, including witch fire, if Sarah proved to be dangerous. Ryan stood next to the bench, his jacket still slung over his shoulder. Too hot for formalities.

“I don’t have long,” Sarah began. She clasped her hands tightly in her lap. “The others can’t know I’m talking to you, but this is eating me up inside.” She took a deep breath and focused on her hands. “I knew Vanessa. She and I were…more than friends.” Sarah gave Ryan a direct look, almost defiant now. “We were lovers. For almost two years. We met through the vampire shelter when I was doing an internship for school.” She moved her attention to Ryan. “I know how you cops think. You’re wondering if our relationship soured, if I killed her. I couldn’t hurt anyone, but especially not Vani. We were in love.”

Ryan didn’t respond right away. Ari could almost hear the mental wheels turning as he processed the information and decided what line he wanted to take. Ari moved closer, feeling nothing from Sarah but a reasonable amount of psi energy and grief.

“If you loved her, then help us,” Ari said. “Help us find this killer.”

“Of course. I want to, but how? What can I do? I don’t have any idea who it is.”

“You can start by telling us why you kept quiet so long,” Ryan said.

“I wanted to tell you right away. Really, I did. I just couldn’t decide what to do. We kept our relationship secret so I could keep my job. My credibility as a counselor would be destroyed if anyone knew I was involved with a female prostitute.” Ari heard the bitterness. “I’m sure they’d claim conflict of interest when they fired me, because she was an Otherworlder, a potential client, but that wouldn’t be the real reason. The agency is very conservative. If they knew how Vani made a living…you can imagine.”

Sarah’s face asked for understanding, but she wasn’t apologizing for anything in her life. Ari dropped onto the bench next to her. Sarah continued without wavering. “You know, it was just a job to Vani. Something she was good at. But she’d decided to give it up, so we could change our lives. Eventually, when I had enough experience, we wanted to move, live somewhere more openly.” Her words took on an angry edge. “I’m only a first year counselor, and I needed this job, so we stayed hidden.” She frowned, as if collecting her thoughts. “When Vani died, I needed my work more than ever. It was all I had left. Then you started asking questions, and I began to wonder.”

“Wonder what?” Ryan prompted.

“If someone I knew had murdered her. Someone at the agency. I’ve watched you, and that’s what you think, isn’t it?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “I’d die if I thought she was killed because of me. It’s been driving me crazy.” Sarah stopped, her face demanding answers. She’d finally run out of words, regurgitated all her fears.

“We think there’s a tie to the agency,” Ari said. “But we don’t know what the tie is or who’s involved. Do you suspect anyone?”

“No.” Sarah shook her head. “I’ve thought about it. Watched for a hint, a strange look, but nothing. I can’t imagine. I thought they were all good people. Some a little odd, maybe, but no one who could commit murder.”

“Did you share your secret with anyone at all? In or out of the agency?” When Sarah shook her head, Ari added, “Could someone have seen you together?”

“I don’t think so. We were careful and rarely out in public together. She came to the office a few times, when I was working late. I let her in the back door after everyone else was gone. The night girl at the front desk can’t see back there. No one saw us. Or at least I didn’t think so. Now, I can’t be sure.” Sarah looked at Ari, anguish written across her face. “Vani left my office at 5:00 the morning she died.”

* * *

On the drive to Ari’s apartment, she and Ryan discussed Sarah’s story. If she was telling the truth, the two women had parted at the center’s rear door within an hour of Vanessa’s death. The demon must have attacked her in the alley or followed her from there to a more secluded spot. In either case, he had been outside the building, waiting for her or simply because he belonged there. It was more proof to Ari that the demon was one of the people in the agency. She called Gillian and asked her to check the back alley and other likely spots nearby. Maybe they’d find physical evidence if she located the primary crime scene.

Ryan pulled to a stop in front of Ari’s apartment. “Why’d you ask about Shale’s keys?”

“Sorry, I almost forgot. His collection. All those ceremonial knives and swords, and no locks on the cases. The killer wouldn’t have had to use a demon sword, it could have been one of those. And, there’s another possible weapon in plain sight. Binderman has a letter opener that’s a realistic replica. Small but sharp. In a demon’s hands, it might work.” Ari shook her head. “Before you get excited, you won’t find Vanessa’s blood. It would disintegrate, and fingerprints on a demon? Nuh-uh. I wish we had a way to identify the weapon. I could use it in scrying for the creature.”

Ryan’s fist tapped the steering wheel. “Why do Otherworlders have to be so strange? Just one solid piece of evidence would be nice. Instead, what we have is all this mumbo jumbo.” He stared determinedly out the window. “I’m still getting a warrant and putting those weapons out of reach.”

* * *

Ari dug into the research, hoping to find something that would translate Ryan’s mumbo jumbo into a solution. She stacked the discarded books on the floor and relocated operations to the kitchen table for additional space to spread out her notes. She also hoped the harder chair would keep her awake. She didn’t dare doze off now, and the couch was way too cozy. Sarah’s confession had been interesting, but the candidates for demon still numbered six, maybe four, if confined to those in Shale’s office, or even three, excluding Sarah. Binderman, Shale, Stanley. Ryan and his officers were making steady progress on the backgrounds and alibis. Identification could happen at any moment. Ari had to figure out what to do when that time arrived.