Grave Witch, page 5
"Maybe she found love and asked to be changed, so she could be with her lover for centuries to come."
"No." Marrone shook his head, and Gilbert focused on Oscar.
"Do you know where Chaton is this morning?"
"No, we came here first. I figured we'd go to the garden to see if they're working."
Gilbert glanced at Marrone, then back at Oscar. "Rue might be working."
"Yeah, I know. Want to go ahead?"
Gilbert lowered the bag to the ground and grabbed one of the one-pound packs of green peas. "See you there." Then he moved at vampire speed.
* * * *
Chapter 6
Kage watched Gilbert speed off and looked at Oscar. "What was that about?"
"To warn Rue we're coming if he's there."
"Why would we want to warn Rue?" It made no sense. They wanted to catch people off guard, did they not?
"PTSD. He doesn't do well with people popping up without warning. Chaton doesn't either, but since we want to talk to him...They're better these days, but they still only speak with a select few."
Kage stared at him. There was more to Detective Christopherson than met the eye. He knew these people, and it was clear from the conversation they'd had with Gilbert that it was mutual.
Slowly, they walked along the road toward the garden. Gilbert's house was in the northern part, and the house with the garden was in the western part, but it only took a few minutes to walk.
"Why are you sure they didn't turn her?"
Kage pursed his lips. If he said she was an unregistered magic user, there would be so many questions he didn't want to answer. "She wouldn't want to become a vampire."
Christopherson gave him a funny look. "The blood slaves didn't have a say in what was done to them."
"True, but wouldn't they want her for her blood?" He was sure it was the reason they'd wanted her. "If they turned her, they wouldn't be able to feed from her."
"If it was love, like Gilbert said, they wouldn't care."
Kage snorted. "Vampires in love."
Christopherson stopped mid-step, and Kage didn't realize until he'd walked a couple farther. When he turned around, Christopherson was glaring at him. "You don't think vampires can be in love?" He'd seen Christopherson angry before, but this was a different kind of anger.
"I didn't mean they can't, but--"
"Oscar, dear."
Kage turned, and the gray-haired woman who'd been by the gate the other day came walking toward them.
"Clara." Christopherson smiled at her. "How are you?"
"Good, good. I was wondering, since you're out and about, do you know where I can get hold of a plum tree?"
"Eh..." Christopherson looked at Kage. "No sorry, have you checked online? I'm sure you can order one."
She grimaced. "You think they'd let me?"
"Find the one you like, and I'll order it for you. I can have it delivered to my address, so there is no problem."
She beamed, and Kage held his breath as more puzzle pieces fell into place. Christopherson not only knew these people, but he also acted as some sort of liaison between them and the outside world. They came to him for help.
"I'll ask Ty to help me." She patted his arm, then nodded at Kage and walked away.
"How many of the people here do you know?"
"There are ninety-six living here. I wouldn't say I know them all, but I know their names. Some don't like cops, which is understandable. They all have reason to stay away, but I became a cop to fight injustice, which means these are the people I'm fighting for."
Kage couldn't help but smile. Maybe he'd judged Christopherson prematurely. If he knew what Kage was, he'd fight for him. Most of their conflicts were because Christopherson believed he was human--and a snitch, which was true, but maybe Kage should make more of an effort to get on his good side.
Christopherson huffed. "Let's go find Chaton. Since Gilbert hasn't come back, I'm assuming he's in the garden."
They walked for another minute, and during that time, two women called out and waved at Oscar. Maybe he should start calling him Oscar too and see what the reaction would be.
When the garden came into view, Gilbert was standing underneath an arched trellis, talking to a blond man with golden skin who gestured at the growth. Gilbert nodded and looked so damn focused, Kage couldn't help but smile. Next to them was Asher, a dark-haired, slender vampire who was in constant motion.
"Chaton and Asher."
Kage remembered Asher. He'd been talking a mile a minute as they'd gone through his house and garage. He hadn't known it was Chaton's home too, though maybe he should've seen the signs of two people living there.
They walked closer, and Asher grinned. "Marshals. A lovely day, isn't it?"
Kage sighed, but Christopherson only grinned. "Morning, Asher. Have you ever heard of a woman named Pomona?"
Asher's brow creased. "Can't say I have, but I suck at names."
"I know." The exasperation in Christopherson's voice made Kage believe there was a story there.
"Maybe Noah knows, or Jasper. Is it someone we've met?"
"From The Virgin Drop."
Every muscle in Asher's body tensed. "Better ask Jasper then, or..." He gestured at Gilbert.
"It was before Gertrude bought it."
"Ah...no, I never visited, sorry."
"And you've never heard anyone speak about the blood slaves?" Kage took a step closer, only to recoil when Asher flashed fangs. Fuck.
Asher moved to stand in front of Chaton, who'd gone stiff and pale. Kage winced. Way to go, Marrone. "I meant..." He looked between Asher and Chaton. Yeah, he might have fucked up here.
Christopherson put a hand on Kage's arm, and he wanted to shake it off, but blew out a breath instead. "What Marrone is trying to say is we're looking for a woman named Pomona Felicia October, and the trail led to The Virgin Drop, but before Gertrude took over." Christopherson looked at Chaton. "Have you ever heard the name?"
He shook his head, then grimaced. "I...eh...There was talk about someone named Felicia."
"Felicia, not Pomona?" Zeeve had recognized Pomona, hadn't he? Kage couldn't remember.
"Felicia. Sweet blood reserved for private parties. But I never met her. It was before I arrived." He reached out, and Asher took his hand. Judging by the paleness, Kage was pretty sure they'd fucked up Chaton's day.
"Did you hear anything about what became of her?" Christopherson spoke in a low, calm tone.
Chaton shook his head. "No...I...no."
"Say whatever you were thinking."
Chaton scrunched his nose. "Most of my time there is a blur, and I couldn't tell you when this was, but there was a group who wanted Felicia. The boss gave them us instead, saying Rue was about the same." He shrugged. "I don't know if he meant Rue was small and helpless or..." He looked into Christopherson's eyes, ignoring Kage. Asher wound an arm around his middle.
* * * *
Gilbert didn't know if he should leave or not. Chaton had shown him the peas he'd grown from the same kind of bag Oscar had given him, and they grew tall. He needed trellises. Cattle panel would've been best, but he didn't know how to get any. Few companies wanted to deliver to the community.
Maybe it was best to go hunt for branches and build A-frame trellises instead of investing money this first year. Maybe he sucked at growing things. He didn't want to waste money.
He met Marrone's gaze, then looked at Chaton and Oscar. Were they looking for a magic user?
He didn't think there was a point in looking for a missing blood slave, especially not someone who'd been gone for so long. She was most likely dead.
"Thank you." Marrone nodded at Chaton, then focused on Gilbert. His heart sped up, which was silly. He was only looking at him.
They said goodbye to Chaton and Asher and walked out from under the trellis and out on the road. Right as Gilbert was about to say goodbye, Gertrude called from Namir's garden.
"Chief, can I have a word?"
Oscar looked at Marrone and him. "Walk back to Gilbert's. I'll catch up."
Ugh, did it mean Marrone was his responsibility? Letting a detective walk around unsupervised might be a bad idea. "Come on." He gestured in the direction they were to go. "I need to figure out trellises."
Marrone studied him for a moment. "You won't have Oscar fix some for you?" The way he emphasized Oscar's name made Gilbert hesitate.
"Nah, he's done enough."
"How long have you known him?"
Gilbert shrugged. "I don't know him. He's close to Gertrude and her closest people. I'm not her closest people."
"Why?"
"Why am I not close to Gertrude?"
He nodded. "Yeah, why aren't you?"
Gilbert breathed in deeply. "I like Gertrude. She's fair, and she does the best she can, but I like peace. I want to be left alone, and being close to Gertrude means hanging around Asher and Noah, Oscar and Jasper, Ylva and Orsa, sometimes Dov and Julian, Ty and Jagger, Jinx and Namir, Arnou and Esme, and I...I like quiet."
"So it's not that you wouldn't be trusted with a higher position, you chose not to?"
Gilbert frowned. "There are no positions. Gertrude is the leader. Everyone does guard duty apart from the humans and blood slaves, or Zeeve does, but the others tend the garden, arrange crate day, or breed chickens. If something needs to be dealt with, Gertrude picks the ones best suited."
Marrone nodded. "How many blood slaves are there?"
Gilbert didn't answer for several seconds. Was it a trick question? "Four. There were more when Gertrude freed them, but the humans were dealt with by the human authorities."
"Rue."
Fuck, he'd known there was a trap in there. "Didn't have anywhere to go." He took a deep breath and looked around the trees. They didn't have much in the way of forest within the walls, but he loved walking past what little they had. In most parts of the community, people were milling around, but not here. Here, the birds twittered, and it was calm. A creak ran through the forested area, and you could walk in here and forget you were inside the walls. There was no one around to listen to what you said.
"The girl you're looking for, she's a magic user?"
Marrone stilled, then, before Gilbert could comprehend what was happening, he was aiming a gun at him.
Gilbert dropped the peas and raised his hands in the air. He could try to pluck the gun from Marrone's hands but didn't think it would end well. He'd most likely pull the trigger if he moved. Though if he were to die here, it wouldn't be good either.
"What do you know, blood sucker?" He stepped closer and nudged the soft area underneath Gilbert's jaw with the barrel. The metal was cold against his skin. Gilbert's mind blanked, the ice spreading in his veins.
"I asked you a question."
Gilbert closed his eyes and waited for his head to be blown off. Would he feel it, or would everything disappear in the blink of an eye? He hoped he wouldn't feel it.
"Drop the gun!"
Gilbert's eyes popped open at Oscar's voice. He too had his gun trained in Gilbert's direction.
"Marrone, drop the gun."
"Fucker knows something." Marrone pressed the barrel harder against his skin, and Gilbert winced at the pain.
"Put the gun down." Oscar was closer now, his voice sharp but controlled. "If you pull the trigger, you won't make it out of here. There will be nothing I can do to save you."
Marrone moved the gun and scraped the underside of Gilbert's jaw with the front sight. The scent of blood spread in the air. The skin had broken. It couldn't be more than a small scratch, but Gilbert's mind reeled, his body vibrated.
"He knows something."
Oscar stepped closer still, and Gilbert's head spun as he was assaulted with the scent of blood, cologne, and lemon.
"Let's take him to the station."
Ice overtook Gilbert's lungs at Marrone's words, and when he lowered his gun, Gilbert ran. He ran as fast as he could, not caring if it looked as if he was guilty of something. He would not go to the station.
* * * *
Chapter 7
Kage stared at where Gilbert had been seconds ago. Damn, he was fast.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" There was a flush on Christopherson's cheeks, and his eyes were burning with anger.
"What?"
"I leave you alone for two minutes, and you draw a gun on Gilbert. Gilbert!" He waved a hand in the direction Gilbert had disappeared.
Kage glared at him. "He knows something."
"You don't aim guns at people in the community. Be glad you're here." Christopherson gestured around the trees. "Had you pulled that shit when there were people around, you'd be dead." He shook his head. "Which, frankly, I wouldn't mind right now. What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"He knows--"
"How often do you draw a gun on someone you suspect knows something?" Christopherson gestured at the bag of peas on the ground. "He was going about his day. For fuck's sake! He was sitting on his porch having a cup of coffee when we arrived. As non-threatening as they come--"
"He's a vampire. They're always a threat."
Christopherson snapped his mouth shut. "Have you requested a transfer yet?"
Kage didn't speak for a long time. "No." He'd believed they were doing better. He hadn't told Hamilton anything yesterday, and he believed he and Christopherson could work together. He was a good guy. Their methods might differ a little, but they had the same goal, he was sure they could make a good team.
"Then I'll quit."
Quit, not transfer? "You can't quit."
"Quitting is an option. I can't work like this, and Myrfolk is my home. I'm not moving."
As far as Kage was aware, Christopherson had moved here a couple of years ago.
"Let's get out of here while we can." Christopherson holstered his gun.
"No, I'm taking Gilbert in for--"
"You're doing no such thing. Don't you remember you have no authority here? You can't bring anyone in. You aimed a gun at a community member. Do you want to die?"
"He knows--"
Christopherson snarled. "What? What makes you think he knows something?"
"He asked if she was a magic user."
Christopherson stared at him for so long Kage wanted to squirm. When he spoke, it was with deadly calm. "You threatened a person with a gun because he asked if the blood slave you've spent the entire morning asking people about was a magic user?"
Shit, he couldn't tell Christopherson why Gilbert's question was important without letting him know. "She was an unregistered one, which is why I don't think she was turned."
Christopherson raised his hands only to drop them along his sides. "So?"
"He asked, which means he knows."
"Or something someone said made him come to that conclusion." Christopherson huffed and shook his head. "You're so far up your ass, you don't see what's right in front of you."
Kage wanted to argue but something niggled in his mind. "What could've made him draw that conclusion?"
Another headshake, and Kage realized Christopherson wasn't surprised by the conclusion Gilbert had drawn. Fuck. What was he missing?
"You know what made him think she was a magic user." He pointed an accusing finger at him.
Christopherson didn't admit or deny the statement. All he did was look into Kage's eyes for several long seconds. "You're not safe."
"I don't think they'll do anything to--"
"No, I meant you're not safe for them." He gestured around. "I won't tell you shit, and after the stunt you pulled, they won't either. I can't believe you made detective. What did you do? Bribe your way into this position?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're looking for an unregistered magic user who was taken by vampires and kept as a blood slave. You have vampires and blood slaves here, and the woman who bought the establishment and freed all the slaves. She was there when they took them out of the cages. There could've been answers here, but you prove time and time again they can't trust you."
His words shouldn't matter, but Kage winced.
"Go back to the car. I'll see if I can find Gilbert and smooth things over." He bent and grabbed the bag of peas.
"No, I'm coming with you."
"I don't think--" Christopherson didn't have time to finish the sentence before they were surrounded.
"You made one of my people bleed." Gertrude walked toward them, her eyes shifted to her animal. Word around the station was that she was a tiger, and right now, Kage believed it to be true. Her teeth didn't fit her mouth right.
Christopherson's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, Gertrude."
Gertrude didn't look at him, her gaze was fixed on Kage. "What's going on?"
Kage straightened his back and looked her straight in the eye. "I believe Gilbert knows more than he lets on. I want to take him to the station to interview him."
Gertrude huffed a laugh. "I think you've overstepped, and I want to keep you in a cell to make sure you won't do it again."
Did they have cells here? Would Hamilton send a patrol to come get him, if they kept him here?
Asher frowned at him. "Knows more about the missing girl?"
"Yes." Kage clung to his words. If he could make them understand Gilbert was withholding information, they would see--
Asher barked a laugh. "Gilbert?"
Someone shook their head, the sugar snap guy. Kage didn't remember his name, but Christopherson was moving closer to him.
"Yes, Gilbert."
"Gilbert never talks to anyone. He doesn't know shit about some blood slave."
Why didn't they want to see it? "He does. He asked me a question that revealed he did."
Christopherson growled. "This is stupid! You're stupid." Everyone looked at him. "Gilbert doesn't know anything--"
"He does!"
"The reason you think he knows something is because this woman, Pomona Felicia October--" Christopherson scanned the small crowd. Kage did too. There was no recognition. "--was an unregistered magic user, and you didn't tell us. The reason Gilbert asked if she was a magic user is because Chaton said The Red Thirst vampires gave Rue to people who asked for her because Rue is also an unregistered magic user." Then he focused on Kage. "And if you breathe so much as one word about it, I'll kill you myself."
