Stormwind (The Storm Chronicles Book 3) (15 page)

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. “Where any sensible being would be at that hour.”

Levac leaned on the counter and pulled out his notebook. “Do you have any witnesses to that fact?”

“Of course not. I’m not married and didn’t bring home any company. Unless you’re going to interrogate my book I think we’re both out of luck,” Diarmait replied.

Raven asked, “Do you have a security system that can confirm what time you arrived at your home? Or perhaps you live in an apartment complex with cameras and a doorman?”

Diarmait shook his head again. “My building is key access and, as far as I know the security system hasn’t worked since I moved in a few weeks ago. Detective, am I under suspicion of something?”

“We’re just trying to rule you out as a suspect,” Levac said in a reassuring tone. “You did, after all, point out Mr. DiFronzo. Did you have any ulterior motive for suggesting him to us?”

Diarmait bristled and put his cigar out. “Of course not, Detective! Unless you are charging me with something I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Raven glowered at Diarmait, her vampiric senses kicking her hindbrain, but she couldn’t put her finger on what was bothering her. She was getting tired of loose threads tugging on her subconscious.

“All right, Mr. Diarmait,” she said. “Just remember I’ve got two bodies in the morgue and I’m fresh out of suspects.”

WHEN THEY EXITED THE HUMIDOR, Raven looked for the man who had caught her eye on the way in. A young woman now sat in his place. She filed it away with the other weird things going on and followed her partner toward the doors.

Back outside Levac leaned close. “Why didn’t we take him in?”

“I have a feeling he may be more valuable free and clear. We’ll put surveillance on him and see what we get,” Raven replied. “Maybe we scared him enough to do something stupid.”

“Then what?” Levac asked.

“Then we pay a visit to his apartment while he’s at work,” Raven replied.

Levac sighed. “We don’t have a warrant, Ray.”

“I know. I don’t care. I’ve got two dead innocents, two dead rookies and no suspects I can sink my teeth into,” Raven replied. “Maybe there is something at his apartment that will shed some light on this case and open up some leads.”

The two detectives returned to the Shelby and drove across town to the address listed on Diarmait’s DMV file. As he’d said it was a smaller building at the edge of Bronzeville. It was made from aged brick with beige concrete facings and trim. The front doors were glass and locked by a single key lock. Beyond was a lobby containing mailboxes, a single elevator and a door that was marked ‘stairs.’

Raven tripped lightly up the stairs and crouched to look at the lock. She pulled a set of lock picks from her jacket and attacked the lock, opening it within seconds. Levac held the door while she ducked through then let it close behind them. Raven checked the mailboxes until she found Diarmait’s. The freshly printed sticker indicated he was in apartment 4B.

The elevator had seen better days. The brass hadn’t seen a hint of polish in at least a decade and the once papered walls were now peeling so bad they looked like a nineties grunge painting.

They stepped out on the fourth floor. Faded rose wallpaper covered the walls and a threadbare white and rose carpet covered the floor with torn patches showing dark hardwood beneath. The hallway smelled of sweat, cigar smoke and a hint of peyote. Raven frowned at the mixture of scents and walked down the corridor to apartment 4B. She picked this lock as well and pushed through into an old but spacious apartment. To the left was a small galley kitchen with clean, serviceable appliances circa 1955. To the right was a closet and Levac rifled through it, pulling out a pair of white jumpsuits wrapped in clear plastic complete with boots and gloves. Raven took a photo with her phone and continued deeper into the apartment. The short hallway opened into an oblong sitting area with a bay window that looked north toward the heart of the city and showed the blood moon hanging in the distance. A futon, beanbag chair and television were the only furniture.

Raven turned away and moved down another corridor that ended in a single door. She turned the knob, paused and then pushed it open with her toe. Beyond was the apartment’s single bedroom. A king-sized bed, two night tables and two antique lamps were placed against the far wall. A matching dresser was next to the entry door while a gun safe sat next to what looked like the door to the master bath. The entire room smelled like cigar smoke with undertones of blood.

She picked up a book from the side table and read the title;
Der Werwolf Buch.
She’d never read it, but she knew what it was. It was the Lycan equivalent of the Totentanz. There was a copy in the library at home. She flipped through a few pages and found a torn piece of paper placed as a bookmark. Her German was rusty, but the chapter was named
Das Blut Mond
.

She put the book down and moved toward the gun safe, pulling on a pair of gloves as she approached. She found the safe to be locked and gave it a pass for the moment. Behind her, Levac had also donned gloves and was searching through the dresser drawers. She glanced at him when he pulled out a pair of leopard print boxers and held them up for size. She shook her head and he grinned sheepishly before sliding them back into the drawer.

Raven laughed at Levac’s attempt to lighten the mood and walked into the bathroom. It showed signs of recent use including something red around the ring of the tub as well as a dark trail around the rim of the sink. Raven photographed both and silently wished she had a warrant. Tentatively she dipped a finger in the red ring in the sink drain and raised it to her nose. It was unmistakably paint. Blood red paint.

What the hell was he painting?
she wondered.
And how is he involved?

She exited the bathroom to find Levac holding a piece of red stone. It was circular and about the size of his hand. Sharp points extended from the rim, each one slightly different in size and the surface was covered in runes Raven didn’t recognize, but suspected were native American.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I’ve no idea,” Levac said. “It was in the bottom drawer under a bunch of camouflage clothing.”

Levac put the disk in an evidence bag, sealed it and put it in his pocket. “Did you find anything?”

“The bathroom has red paint all over the place and smells like cheap cigars. The paint is too watered down for me to get a good scent and determine where it came from,” Raven said. “There is also a gun safe I didn’t mess with.”

Levac looked at the safe. “Can you crack it? Maybe those bone tools are inside.”

“Probably not,” Raven replied. “I can open it, but someone will definitely know we were here. Unless we get a warrant nothing here is admissible and I don’t want to risk a conviction on an unlawful search charge. Taking that disk thing is probably bad enough.”

Levac frowned. He opened his mouth to say something when Raven’s phone started ringing. She pulled it from her pocket, glanced at the number and slid a thumb across the screen.

“Hey Dominique, what’s up?” she asked.

“Ravenel, you are needed right away,” Dominique replied, her voice sounding high-pitched and anxious.

Raven turned for the door. Levac followed without a word, wiping down the doors with his handkerchief as they exited.

“What’s going on?” Raven asked. “Is Mom okay?”

“Lady Evangelina has arrived quite distraught,” Dominique said. “Her familiar, Karina, disappeared while she was taking her daily rest. There are signs of a struggle and she is blaming Valentina.”

Moments later Raven slid behind the wheel of her Shelby and turned the key. The engine rumbled to life and Levac slammed the passenger door, pulling the strange object from his pocket.

“That doesn’t make any sense, Mom was resting too, you know that,” Raven said.

“She is blaming your mother’s policies and claiming she is weak and unable to protect the city,” Dominique replied.

“Marvelous.  Tell Mom I am on my way.”

Raven punched the gas and one thousand horses responded, accelerating the Shelby to breakneck speed. Next to Raven, Levac muttered ‘to hell with protocol’ and switched on the car’s lights and sirens. Raven nodded her thanks and guided the car through evening traffic, drifting around corners and narrowly avoiding other cars in her haste to return home. In just minutes they were on the highway and heading out of the city.

THE SHELBY PULLED DOWN THE manor’s driveway in record time, gravel flying as it drifted around the corner. The curved driveway held half a dozen cars Raven recognized as belonging to Evangelina’s followers. She parked behind them and climbed out of the Shelby. She paused to gather several fresh magazines for her Automag and then headed up the front stairs followed closely by Levac. Raven stopped at the door and looked at Levac. “I don’t want to treat you like a mushroom. This is family stuff. Are you sure you want to go? You can wait out here.”

“I’ve got your back, Ray,” Levac replied. “Someone is threatening your family. That’s a police matter.”

“Thanks, Rupe,” Raven said.

She pushed open the door and stepped through to find two of Evangelina’s followers standing guard inside. Both wore leather vests that revealed muscular chests and Evangelina’s personal double snake crest, leather pants and carried swords. The shorter of the two stepped forward to block Raven’s path.

“Lady Evangelina ordered that she and Lady Tempeste were not to be disturbed by anyone.”

Raven’s Automag spoke once, blowing a hole in the vampire’s foot. He screamed in pain and tried to grab his wounded toes, ending up on his rear. The vampire next to him started to draw his sword and found Levac’s Mp5 pressed against his throat.

“You seem to be carrying a blade longer than three inches,” Levac said. “I’m assuming you don’t have a permit for such a weapon, a misdemeanor within city limits. That means you’re under arrest.”

The vampire licked his fangs. “Stupid vertraut. We are above human laws. You should know that. No cell can hold us.”

“Whatever. What are you two idiots doing blocking the door to my house?” Raven asked.

“Lady Evangelina ordered it,” the injured vampire replied.

“I repeat, this is my house. You seriously thought she had the right to keep me out?” Raven asked.

“The Totentanz…”

“…is a bunch of antique bullshit,” Raven finished. “You two get out of here and don’t come back. Ever.”

She stepped over the first vampire and headed toward the ballroom. She kicked open the doors and stepped through. Evangelina stood with a dagger to Valentina’s throat. Valentina was seated and still calmly holding a glass of claret. Five other vampires, three men and two women all dressed in leather and armed with pistols and swords were spread out in the room. Evangelina looked up and snarled, her fangs extended.

“The Mistress’ pet Fürstin. Where is my Karina?” Evangelina screamed.

“I have no idea,” Raven replied. “And I won’t be answering anymore questions or helping you until you put that blade down and surrender.”

“I am going to kill the Mistress and take her place!” Evangelina replied. “Then I will find out where my precious jewel is!”

“Take my place?” Valentina asked. “Evangelina, you are an Embraced and a weak one at that. You cannot take my place. Do as my daughter asks before this gets uglier than it need be. You are distraught. Let us help you.”

“You’re a pathetic Mistress and you kidnapped my Karina to stop me from denying your authority,” Evangelina said.

“They have no need to kidnap anyone, Evangelina and I would never allow it,” Levac said. “I’m a police officer. If you will just put the weapon down we can talk this out and try to determine who kidnapped Karina before it’s too late.”

“Police officer. A poor choice for a vertraut, Fürstin Ravenel,” Evangelina said.

“He’s the best partner I ever had,” Raven said, stepping sideways away from Levac. “And right now his cool head is keeping you alive, so you might want to be a little nicer. I’d rather just blow your fool head off. Put the blade down!”

“Do as my daughter says, Lina, and you will not be harmed,” Valentina said. “I will do all I can to return Karina to you.”

“All you can do?” Evangelina scoffed. “You’re useless!”

Valentina was a blur of movement. One moment she was seated, the next she was standing with Evangelina held by the throat at arm’s length. Evangelina dropped the knife and gurgled, making ‘help me’ motions at her companions.