Whispers on the Wind, page 9
Adrian furrowed his brow. "Who?"
"Victoria Scheffeld," Kitsune repeated slowly.
"I come across a lot of names on a daily basis," he said. "Is she a patient?"
"No," Kitsune said, "she was an artist. She was found dead on the shoreline."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of him. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said. There was no emotion in his tone, and I wasn't surprised. Both Lancasters were notoriously cold, Adrian more so than Alexander. "But I'm afraid I don't have any information on her. My focus is on the hospital and its patients."
"Understandable," Kitsune said. "But we're following up on any leads we can get. And we've found out that the hospital contributes to the art museum."
"Yes," he said.
"And the museum also hands out sponsorships to artists," Kitsune continued. "She happened to receive a sponsorship after getting approval from a council... which you happened to be on."
Adrian's expression remained unreadable, but I could sense a shift in the air around us. Kitusne had hit a nerve, and I was curious to see how this would play out.
"Yes, I remember," Adrian said. "But I wasn't the only one on that council, Kenji. There were others who approved her application."
"Of course," Kitsune said, "but you were the head of the council. And according to our sources, you were the one who advocated for her to receive the sponsorship."
"I saw potential in her work," Adrian said simply.
"Did you see anything else?" Kitsune asked.
"I'm not sure I understand."
"Did you know her personally?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly. "No, I didn't," he said. "I only knew her work."
"And here I thought you didn't know her at all," Kitsune said.
"I don't remember her," Adrian said. "There's a difference."
"Sure, sure." Kitsune cocked his head to the side. "What about her work did you like?"
"I'm sorry?"
"You approved her sponsorship," Kitsune repeated. "This isn't hard to follow, Adrian. As someone in charge of saving lives, you'd think you could keep up. What did you like about her artwork that caused you to approve of the sponsorship?"
Adrian's eyes flickered with annoyance, but he remained composed. "As I said before, I saw potential in her work. She had a unique style, and I believed that the sponsorship could help her expand her portfolio."
"And yet, she ended up dead on the shoreline," Kitsune said.
"That's unfortunate, but I fail to see how this is related to Seaside Haven Medical Center or its operations," Adrian said, his voice tight with impatience.
"You're right, it might not be," Kitsune said, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "But then again, you never know what kind of secrets people are hiding, do you? And with your reputation, I wouldn't be surprised if you had a few of your own."
Adrian's eyes narrowed to slits, and I could practically feel the tension in the room. There was an unspoken challenge in Kitsune's words, and Adrian was not one to back down from a challenge.
"What can I say, Kenji?" Adrian's lips tilted up as he leaned back in his chair. "You caught me. I have a love of art and helping those in need see their potential."
"Interesting," Kitsune said. "Especially considering that her death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head. You know, I've always found it curious that art can be so beautiful, yet it can also be deadly."
Adrian's expression didn't change, but I could sense the tension in the room. "I'm not sure what you're implying," he said.
"I'm not implying anything," Kitsune said smoothly. "I'm just trying to piece together the puzzle. And I can't help but wonder if there's a connection between Victoria's death and her artwork."
"That's a bold accusation, old man," Adrian said, his voice low and dangerous. "Perhaps there's more to the story about why you were removed from the force."
"I'm not accusing anyone," Kitsune said. "And I stepped down. But I could see how the details might escape you. You didn't remember Victoria Scheffeld either." From where I stood, I saw him crinkle his eyes and give Adrian a fake smile. "Thank you for your time. We'll be in touch if we have any more questions."
Adrian simply nodded.
Just as we made it to the door, Adrian called out my name.
"Oh, Piper."
I stopped, though I wouldn't look at him.
"I'll make sure to inform Alexander that you'll be staying in town more permanently," he said. "I'm sure he'd be pleased to hear it."
I couldn't help but shiver at the thought of running into Alexander again, even if it was just to inform him of my extended stay. But I knew deep down that there was more to Adrian's comment than what met the eye. He might have known Victoria, and he might know more than he was willing to admit.
I turned around slowly and studied Adrian's face carefully. He looked back at me with a knowing smile before turning his attention back to the paperwork spread across his desk. I stayed there for a few moments, trying to get a sense of what he was thinking or feeling, but eventually I realized that this was a battle of wills that I wasn't equipped to fight yet.
So I simply nodded once, then stepped through the door and let it close behind me. The conversation may not have been resolved today, but one thing was for sure: this wasn't over yet.
Chapter 14
"Well?"
Kitsune didn't even look at me as we pulled out of the parking lot.
"Kitsune?"
I crossed my arms over my chest tightly, bouncing my foot up and down. All the nervous energy I avoided during my confrontation with Adrian suddenly caught up to me, and I was a bundle of nerves, too frazzled to attempt to compose myself.
"Adrian knows something," he said. "In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if things between Victoria and Adrian were more than just artist and sponsor."
I gave myself a moment to let his words sink in. When they did, I blinked. "What?"
Finally, he shifted his eyes over to me before snapping them back ahead of him.
"You don't?" he asked. "He seemed much more interested in you than the case."
I shifted. "Yeah, well –"
"You dated his brother." A beat. "How long?"
"Why does it matter?"
"Just... answer the question, if you wouldn't mind."
"We dated in college," I said reluctantly. "A year, maybe? But it didn't work out."
"I see," Kitsune said. "Well, that certainly adds another layer to this already complicated case."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that there are a lot of tangled relationships at play here," Kitsune said. "And if Adrian did have a relationship with Victoria, that could give us a motive for her murder."
"But we don't know that for sure," I said. "And even if they had a relationship, that doesn't necessarily mean that he killed her."
"Of course not," Kitsune said. "But it's something we have to consider."
We drove in silence for a few minutes, the only sound in the car the hum of the engine. I couldn't help but let my mind wander, thinking about all the possible scenarios that could have led to Victoria's death. The more I thought about it, the more complicated the case seemed to become.
"I have a feeling that this case is going to get more complicated before it gets any easier," I said, breaking the silence.
Kitsune let out a low chuckle. "I wouldn't be in this line of work if I only took on easy cases," he said. "But there's something about this one that feels particularly challenging."
We continued driving in silence, lost in our own thoughts and speculations.
"When are we going to talk to George?" I asked after another moment.
"This is really bothering you, isn't it?"
"I don't understand why he wouldn't say anything," I said. "It doesn't make sense. That was his sister. And I don't get how he can be so emotionless about the whole situation."
"Emotionless?"
"He doesn't react," I said. "I saw him that night when he looked at the body. There wasn't a reaction."
"Mah, Rose, are you sure you really saw?" Kitsune asked in that monotone way he had.
"Are you doubting me?"
"Never," he replied. "But emotionless?"
"Trust me, Alexander was the definition," I said. "I know what I'm talking about."
We pulled into the Dogs Day Diner, and I sighed.
"What?" Kitsune asked.
"Let me guess," I said as I unbuckled my seatbelt. "You want to wash down our meeting with Adrian with a cheeseburger and fries."
"You know me well, Rose," he said. "I don't let people get close to me. Consider yourself lucky."
"Maybe people are avoiding you," I muttered as I stepped out of the car.
Kitsune chuckled again as he followed me out. "That's also a possibility," he said. "But luckily, I have you to keep me company. We need to keep our energy up if we're going to tackle this case, and what better way to do that than with some good old-fashioned comfort food?"
“Food is a stretch.” I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. It was hard not to like Kitsune, even if he had the tendency to be infuriatingly cryptic at times.
As we walked into the diner, the smell of frying food and coffee filled my nostrils. It was a small, cozy place, with a few regulars huddled around the counter and a couple of booths along the wall. We took a booth in the corner, and I watched as Kitsune scanned the menu with a critical eye.
"I think I'll have the cheeseburger," he finally said, setting the menu down. "With a side of onion rings." He locked eyes with me. "See? You were wrong about the fries."
"Like onion rings are so much better," I said. I smiled at the waitress. "Can I get a parfait please?"
"A what?" the waitress asked.
Kitsune pressed his lips together, probably to keep from laughing. "Yogurt and fruit, please," I said. "And granola, if you have it."
"Okay," she said doubtfully, scrawling it on her notepad. She glanced up at Kitsune and gave him a grin. "Glad to see you out and about, Kitsune. Then again, a young woman will do that to you, won't she?" She winked.
I blushed at the implication, but Kitsune didn't seem to care.
"She's not my type," he said, shrugging it off. "But she's friendly enough."
I raised an eyebrow at him. "Not your type?" I asked as the waitress walked away. I hoped he couldn't tell that there was a part of me that was genuinely offended by his casual dismissal of me. I shouldn't care, of course. But for some reason, something inside of me... did. "What's your type?"
This wasn't any of my business. In fact, there was a good chance by even asking, I had crossed some kind of line.
But I couldn't help my curiosity, and Kitsune seemed to be in a playful mood. Maybe I could take advantage of it and learn something about him.
He chuckled. "I don't have one," he said, grabbing a paper napkin and setting it on his lap. "I prefer to keep things professional."
I snorted, leaning against the booth's cracked seat. "You mean you don't have time for a personal life," I said.
"That too," he said, smiling at me. "But mostly, I think people complicate things too much. It's easier to just focus on work and not get caught up in anything else."
I nodded, thinking about my own messy love life. "I can see the appeal," I said. "But don't you ever get lonely?"
Kitsune's smile faded for a moment, and I wondered if I had touched on something sensitive. I Instantly remembered that picture on his desk, the one when he was an officer. The one with two other people, including a woman with brown hair and a bright smile. I wanted to ask him about them, about her, but I didn't.
But then he shook his head, and the smile was back.
"Sometimes," he said. "But I have friends, and I like spending time alone. It's not so bad."
"I suppose," I said, still watching him closely. "But you can't deny that having someone to share your life with has its benefits."
Kitsune's eyes flickered to mine, and I could see a hint of something in his expression. Regret, maybe? Or longing? But then it was gone, replaced by his usual mask of calm indifference.
"I suppose you're right," he said. "But for now, I'm content with my books and my solitude."
I didn't push the subject any further, sensing that he didn't want to talk about it anymore. Instead, we fell into a comfortable silence, watching as the waitress brought over our food. My parfait was delicious, and I couldn't help but reach out and grab an onion ring.
"Ah, I see how the mighty have fallen the second an onion ring is placed directly in front of them," he teased. "You bite that, you're fired."
"Fire me then," I said. "What are you going to do without me?"
"If you recall, I was perfectly fine before you," he pointed out.
I shrugged. "I still think you'd miss me."
"You're right," he said. "I'd miss the nagging about my food choices and my dirty car. I'd miss rearranging the office. I'd miss your incessant questions."
"See?" I indulged in a few bites of Kitsune's onion rings. "You're already picturing how impossible life without me would be."
Kitsune shook his head, but a small smile played at the corners of his lips. "I suppose life would be dull without you," he admitted. Before he could say anything more, Kitsune's phone rang, and he answered it with a curt "Kitsune speaking."
I couldn't hear the other end of the conversation, but Kitsune's expression grew serious as he listened. "I see," he said. "We'll be there soon." He hung up, and I frowned.
Judging by the way his brow furrowed, I could tell something was up.
"That was Richmond," he said.
I lifted my brow.
"Come on," he said. "We have to pick him up at Sunset Spirits."
"What's that?" I asked.
"A dive bar on the outskirts of town." He stood up and dropped a couple of crinkled twenties.
"Why would he be there?" I asked.
"I don't know," Kitsune murmured. "But it can't be good."
The drive to Sunset Spirits was an adventure. Leaving behind the cobblestone streets and charming cottages of Cherry Blossom Bay, the road meandered through dense clusters of tall, swaying pines that whispered secrets to one another in the cool breeze.
The scent of pine needles filled the air, mixing with the unmistakable tang of the sea, a reminder that we were never too far from the coast. The road stretched out ahead, an endless ribbon of asphalt that wound through the dense forest, occasionally revealing tantalizing glimpses of the shimmering ocean beyond.
As we ventured deeper into the woods, the daylight filtered through the trees, dappling the road with patches of dappled sunlight. The atmosphere shifted, taking on a more rustic and mysterious quality, as if we were traveling to a hidden sanctuary known only to those in the know.
Finally, the outline of the dive bar came into view, its neon sign flickering to life as the day's light began to wane. Sunset Spirits stood as a weathered and welcoming oasis on the edge of the forest, beckoning travelers to leave their cares at the door and step into a world where time seemed to slow down.
The gravel parking lot crunched beneath our tires as we pulled in, and the sound of laughter and clinking glasses spilled out from within. Sunset Spirits had an unmistakable charm of its own, a place where locals gathered to unwind, share stories, and create memories that often blurred the line between truth and tall tale.
"What's George doing here?" I asked, leaning forward, trying to figure it out.
And there, leaning against the hood of his car, was George. Considering his messy hair, the blood running down his cheek, and a bruise under his right eye, I could tell he wasn't happy.
Chapter 15
George stood before us, and the first thing that caught my attention were the bruises on his face. They marred his features, like dark shadows etched across a canvas of determination. It was clear he wasn't in the best of moods, and the tension in the parking lot seemed to thicken in his presence. His jaw was set firmly, as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.
His eyes held a hint of weariness beneath their steely gaze. They spoke of a person who had weathered storms and emerged on the other side, albeit not without scars.
Though George's demeanor was far from welcoming, his presence was undeniable. There was an intensity about him, a sense that he had a story to tell, and he wasn't about to let anyone stand in his way.
As we exchanged glances and prepared to speak with him, I couldn't help but wonder about the circumstances that had led to those bruises on his face. George was a complex figure, and unraveling the mystery surrounding him would be no easy task.
"You brought the kid?" he asked Kitsune.
I was ready to tell him I wasn't a kid when Kitsune placed a hand over my own and gave it a gentle squeeze. My eyes widened at the feel of it only because I knew he wasn't the type to indulge in physicality if he could help it. In fact, for the most part, he went out of his way to avoid it altogether. This was a big deal, and one I knew he wouldn't have done unless it was important to him I remain silent.
So, I did.
I bit my lip and looked back at George.
"I trust her," Kitsune said, releasing his hold on my hand. I tried to ignore the flare of disappointment. "And you should too. You know she saw you that night with Victoria. When you argued."
George shifted his gaze to me, not bothering to hide how surprised he looked.
"She hasn't said anything to anyone except for me," Kitsune continued. "I hear you haven't done yourself any favors. No one besides Agatha knows who Scheffeld is to you."
George said nothing but tension rolled off of him in waves. I could tell that George was trying to keep his emotions in check, but his body language betrayed him. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his eyes flickered with a cold, hard anger.
He looked away from us, staring off into the distance as if he were lost in thought. I could sense his struggle, his desire to keep his secrets close, but also his need to unburden himself to someone he trusted. Whether he would choose to confide in us, I couldn't be sure.
