Stabenow, Dana - Powers Of Detection (Editor) Read online

  “Let him go, I said again. I saw terror in the boys gold eyes, but I had to play out the gameand hope.

  “Theres no law against murder. She pressed the blade against the boys neck hard enough to cut the skin. Blood trickled from the wound.

  “True. But its also not condoned when theres no reason.

  “Hes male. Thats reason enough. She pouted. “Youre female. You should be on my side.

  When the sun shines in Hell, bitch. “Let him go.

  “All right.

  She ripped the knife across the boys neck and throat. Blood sprayed the alley walls. Sprayed her. Sprayed me.

  I just stood there, frozen by the feel of warm blood on my face. We failed.

  “Why? Before I finished with her, I was going to get an answer. “Tell me why you killed those men, killed this boy.

  The alley was suddenly filled with hatred, with fury... and bitter hurt. That was the other thing Id sensed in that first room but couldnt quite recognize.

  I knew that feeling, too. Didnt matter. Not with that boys blood on me. “What happened, sugar? Did your lover walk away after taking all he could stomach from you?

  Her fury drowned out the bitter hurt. “He didnt walk far. She pouted. “But the males in the village were so angry about him dying like that, my aunt commanded that I stay in Amdarh for a while. They exiled me, a Queens niece, from my own village because of that bastard.

  “That doesnt explain killing the men here. Something wasnt right. Broken heart or not, something wasnt right.

  “Theyre all the same! she shouted. “They make you feel special until the contract ends, then they walk away.

  “The man you killed was a consort under contract? No wonder the men in the village were pissed off. If hed fulfilled his contract, a consort had the right to walk away without repercussions.

  “He was better than the other ones Ive had, and I wanted to renew the contract. But he refused. The bastard started packing his things the minute after the contract ended.

  “Guess he just didnt want to spend another year in bed with a snotty little bitch. I studied her. She wasnt nursing a bruised heart. A bruised ego, maybe, but not a bruised heart.

  That malicious gleam filled her eyes again. At that moment, I hated her with everything in me.

  “I can do anything I want with a male, she said. “No male is going to make me feel special, then walk away. Never again. And theres nothing you can do about it.

  “Now thats where youre wrong. I smiled. “As you pointed out, theres no law against murder.

  Before she even thought to run, I created a Gray shield bubble around her, trapping her.

  “Everything has a price, I said softly. “Im calling in the debt for the men you killed here in Amdarhand the boy. Especially the boy. “You like splattering the walls with blood and gore, sugar? Well, nows your chance.

  I gave her one moment to realize what was going to happen. Then I fed all of my own fury into my Gray Jewels as I unleashed their stored power and slammed it into her. Her body exploded, a storm of red mist and white bits of bone swirling in a Gray bubble. I thrust a rapier of Gray into the mind I could still sense in that mist, breaking her power, finishing the kill. There would be no ghost or demon-dead to haunt this alley.

  Then it was done. Debt paid. But the price for stopping that bitch was much, much too high.

  “Surreal.

  Grief tightened my throat, but I obeyed the command in that deep voice and walked to the mouth of the alley... where Daemon waited.

  “You played the game well, he said. “Why didnt you splatter her over the walls? You wanted to.

  “After what shed done, it didnt seem fair to have men spend a couple of days scrubbing her off the bricks.

  He looked into the alley. “Leave the bubble. Ill take care of it later.

  I nodded, feeling heartsick. “All of this because males are trained to serve, to please.

  “Hardly, Daemon replied dryly. “That was her excuse. Ive seen her kind too many times over the years. She liked inflicting pain, and she liked having control over the person while she did it. She didnt kill any of those men because they were trained to serve; she killed them because they had the right to walk away from someone who wanted to hurt them.

  He was right. I knew he was right, but... “I guess I should I looked down at my clothes.

  No blood.

  I turned and looked into the alley. No blood sprayed on the walls. No small body.

  “No one can create an illusion the way Jaenelle can, Daemon said softly.

  No small body in the alley. “When... ?

  “She made the switch the first time the boy came back into the coffee shop for instructions. She needed him on the street just long enough to hone the details in the illusion.

  Jaenelle would pay attention to the detailsright down to a loose button on a jacket. Which meant Id watched an illusion for most of those two hours and never known the difference.

  Relief made me dizzy, weak. Daemon put his arm around my shoulders and led me to the coffee shop. Rainier entered the shop just behind us.

  The little Warlord sat on a chair at the back of the shop. He looked shaken, but he was safe. Whole. Alive.

  “Hmm, Jaenelle said as she gently probed the boys neck. “Swallow now. Does that feel sore?

  “A little, the boy replied.

  Caught by those sapphire eyes, he didnt look shaken anymore. A bit dazzled, but not shaken. Jaenelle had that effect on males.

  “Hmm, Jaenelle said again. “Theres no damage, no injury. But I think a bit of medicinal care is still required.

  The boys eyes widened. “Medicine?

  I guess bravery only goes so far.

  “Mm. A dish of flavored ice twice a day for the next three days will take care of the soreness. Jaenelles eyes sparkled with laughter. “Can you handle that?

  The boy grinned. “Yes, Lady. He bounced off the chair and came over to stand next to Rainier and me.

  “Now, Daemon said, slipping a hand around Jaenelles arm to coax her to her feet. “Since everything is settled, my Lady and I will take care of our shopping and resume our honeymoon.

  “Daemon is going to teach me how to cook, Jaenelle said, smiling at him.

  “Oh, how brave of Daemon “nice, I replied.

  Everything has a price. I wasnt sure who was paying whom with the kiss that followed, but it was certainly a demonstration.

  After watching for a few seconds, the boy tugged on Rainiers sleeve. “Am I going to learn how to do that?

  Rainier grinned. I closed my eyes.

  Daemon broke the kiss and chuckled as he led his Lady out of the coffee shop.

  Within a few minutes, the boy and his instructor were gone as well.

  “Well, Rainier said. “Its been interesting, Lady Surreal.

  “That it has, Prince Rainier.

  He hesitated. “What are you doing this evening?

  Soaking in a deep tub of hot water. Sleeping. “Why?

  “Would you like to go dancing?

  We would never be lovers. Just then, that was a point in his favor since I wasnt ready to spend time with a man who wanted to be a lover. But maybe we could have some fun together as friends.

  I smiled at him. “Yes, I said, “Id love to go dancing.

  Fairy Dust

  CHARLAINE HARRIS

  I hate it when fairies come into the bar. They dont tip you worth a tootnot because theyre stingy, but because they just forget. Take Claudine, the fairy who was walking in the door. Six feet tall, long black hair, gorgeous; Claudine seemed to have no shortage of cash or clothing (and she entranced men the way a watermelon draws flies). But Claudine hardly ever remembered to leave you even a dollar. And if its lunchtime, you have to take the bowl of lemon slices off the table. Fairies are allergic to lemons and limes, like vamps are allergic to silver and garlic.

  That spring night when Claudine came in I was in a bad mood already. I was angry with my ex-boyfriend, Bill Compton, a.k.a.
Vampire Bill; my brother Jason had once again postponed helping me shift an armoire; and Id gotten my property tax notice in the mail.

  So when Claudine sat at one of my tables, I stalked over to her with no very happy feelings.

  “No vamps around? she asked straight away. “Even Bill?

  Vamps like fairies the way dogs like bones: great toys, good food. “Not tonight, I said. “Bills down in New Orleans. Im picking up his mail for him. Just call me sucker.

  Claudine relaxed. “Dearest Sookie, she said.

  “You want what?

  “Oh, one of those nasty beers, I guess, she said, making a face. Claudine didnt really like to drink, though she did like bars. Like most fairies, she loved attention and admiration: My boss Sam said that was a fairy characteristic.

  I brought her the beer. “You got a minute? she asked. I frowned. Claudine didnt look as cheerful as usual.

  “Just. The table by the door was hooting and hollering at me.

  “I have a job for you.

  Though it called for dealing with Claudine, whom I liked but didnt trust, I was interested. I sure needed some cash. “What do you need me to do?

  “I need you to come listen to some humans.

  “Are these humans willing?

  Claudine gave me innocent eyes. “What do you mean, Precious?

  I hated this song and dance. “Do they want to be, ah, listened to?

  “Theyre guests of my brother, Claude.

  I hadnt known Claudine had a brother. I dont know much about fairies; Claudine was the only one Id met. If she was typical, I wasnt sure how the race had survived eradication. I wouldnt have thought northern Louisiana was very hospitable toward beings of the fairy persuasion, anyway. This part of the state is largely rural, very Bible Belt. My small town of Bon Temps, barely big enough to have its own Walmart, didnt even see a vampire for two years after theyd announced their existence and their intention to live peaceably amongst us. Maybe that delay was good, since local folks had had a chance to get used to the idea by the time Bill showed up.

  But I had a feeling that this PC vamp tolerance would vanish if my fellow townsfolk knew about Weres, and shifters, and fairies. And who knows what all else.

  “Okay, Claudine, when? The rowdy table was hooting, “Crazy Sookie! Crazy Sookie! People only did that when theyd had too much to drink. I was used to it, but it still hurt.

  “When do you get off tonight?

  We fixed it that Claudine would pick me up at my house fifteen minutes after I got off work. She left without finishing her beer. Or tipping.

  My boss, Sam Merlotte, nodded a head toward the door shed just exited. “Whatd the fairy want? Sams a shifter, himself.

  “She needs me to do a job for her.

  “Where?

  “Wherever she lives, I guess. She has a brother, did you know?

  “Want me to come with you? Sam is a friend, the kind of friend you sometimes have fantasies about. X-rated.

  “Thanks, but I think I can handle Claudine.

  “You havent met the brother.

  “Ill be okay.

  Im used to being up at night, not only because Im a barmaid, but also because I had dated Bill for a long time. When Claudine picked me up at my old house in the woods, Id had time to change from my Merlottes outfit into some black jeans and a sage green twin set (JC Penneys on sale), since the night was chilly. Id let my hair down from its ponytail.

  “You should wear blue instead of green, Claudine said, “to go with your eyes.

  “Thanks for the fashion tip.

  “Youre welcome. Claudine sounded happy to share her style sense with me. But her smile, usually so radiant, seemed tinged with sadness.

  “What do you want me to find out from these people? I asked.

  “Well talk about it when we get there, she said, and after that she wouldnt tell me anything else as we drove east. Ordinarily Claudine babbles. I was beginning to feel it wasnt smart of me to have accepted this job.

  Claudine and her brother lived in a big ranch-style house in suburban Monroe, a town that not only had a Walmart, but a whole mall. She knocked on the front door in a pattern. After a minute, the door opened. My eyes widened. Claudine hadnt mentioned that her brother was her twin.

  If Claude had put on his sisters clothes, he could have passed for her; it was eerie. His hair was shorter, but not by a lot; he had it pulled back to the nape of his neck, but his ears were covered. His shoulders were broader, but I couldnt see a trace of a beard, even this late at night. Maybe male fairies dont have body hair? Claude looked like a Calvin Klein underwear model; in fact, if the designer had been there, hed have signed the twins on the spot, and thered have been drool all over the contract.

  He stepped back to let us enter. “This is the one? he said to Claudine.

  She nodded. “Sookie, my brother Claude.

  “A pleasure, I said. I extended my hand. With some surprise, he took it and shook. He looked at his sister. “Shes a trusting one.

  “Humans, Claudine said, and shrugged.

  Claude led me through a very conventional living room, down a paneled hall to the family room. A man was sitting in a chair, because he had no choice. He was tied to it with what looked like nylon cord. He was a small man, buff, blond, and brown-eyed. He looked about my age, twenty-six.

  “Hey, I said, not liking the squeak in my voice, “why is that man tied?

  “Otherwise, hed run away, Claude said, surprised.

  I covered my face with my hands for a second. “Listen, you two, I dont mind looking at this guy if hes done something wrong, or if you want to eliminate him as a suspect in a crime committed against you. But if you just want to find out if he really loves you, or something silly like that.... Whats your purpose?

  “We think he killed our triplet, Claudia.

  I almost said, “There were three of you? then realized that wasnt the most important part of the sentence.

  “You think he murdered your sister.

  Claudine and Claude nodded in unison. “Tonight, Claude said.

  “Okey-dokey, I muttered, and bent over the blond. “Im taking the gag off.

  They looked unhappy, but I slid the handkerchief down to his neck. The young man said, “I didnt do it.

  “Good. Do you know what I am?

  “No. Youre not a thing like them, are you?

  I dont know what he thought Claude and Claudine were, what little otherworldly attribute theyd sprung on him. I lifted my hair to show him that my ears were round, not pointed, but he still looked dissatisfied.

  “Not a vamp? he asked.

  Showed him my teeth. The canines only extend when vamps are excited by blood, battle, or sex, but theyre noticeably sharp even when theyre retracted. My canines are quite normal.

  “Im just a regular human, I said. “Well, thats not quite true. I can read your thoughts.

  He looked terrified.

  “What are you scared for? If you didnt kill anybody, you have nothing to fear. I made my voice warm, like butter melting on corn on the cob.

  “What will they do to me? What if you make a mistake and tell them I did it, what are they gonna do?

  Good question. I looked up at the two.

  “Well kill him and eat him, Claudine said, with a ravishing smile. When the blond man looked from her to Claude, his eyes wide with terror, she winked at me.

  For all I knew, Claudine might be serious. I couldnt remember if Id ever seen her eat or not. We were treading on dangerous ground. I try to support my own race when I can. Or at least get em out of situations alive.

  I should have accepted Sams offer.

  “Is this man the only suspect? I asked the twins. (Should I call them twins? I wondered. It was more accurate to think of them as two-thirds of triplets. Nah. Too complicated.)

  “No, we have another man in the kitchen, Claude said.

  “And a woman in the pantry.

  Under other circumstances, I wouldve smiled. “Why are you sure Cl
audia is dead?

  “She came to us in spirit form and told us so. Claude looked surprised. “This is a death ritual for our race.

  I sat back on my heels, trying to think of intelligent questions. “When this happens, does the spirit let you know any of the circumstances of the death?

  “No, Claudine said, shaking her head so her long black hair switched. “Its more like a final farewell.

  “Have you found the body?

  They looked disgusted. “We fade, Claude explained, in a haughty way.

  So much for examining the corpse.

  “Can you tell me where Claudia was when she, ah, faded? I asked. “The more I know, the better questions I can ask. Mind reading is not so simple. Asking the right questions is the key to eliciting the correct thought. The mouth can say anything. The head never lies. But if you dont ask the right question, the right thought wont pop up.

  “Claudia and Claude are exotic dancers at Hooligans, Claudine said proudly, as if she was announcing they were on an Olympic team.

  Id never met strippers before, male or female. I found myself more than a little interested in seeing Claude strip, but I made myself focus on the deceased Claudia.

  “So, Claudia worked last night?

  “She was scheduled to take the money at the door. It was ladies night at Hooligans.

  “Oh. Okay. So you were, ah, performing, I said to Claude.

  “Yes. We do two shows on ladies night. I was the Pirate.

  I tried to suppress that mental image.

  “And this man? I tilted my head toward the blond, who was being very good about not pleading and begging.

  “Im a stripper, too, he said. “I was the Cop.

  Okay. Just stuff that imagination in a box and sit on it.

  “Your name is?

  “Barry Barber is my stage name. My real name is Ben Simpson.

  “Barry Barber? I was puzzled.

  “I like to shave people.

  I had a blank moment, then felt a red flush creep across my cheeks as I realized he didnt mean whiskery cheeks. Well, not facial cheeks. “And the other two people are? I asked the twins.

  “The woman in the pantry is Rita Child. She owns Hooligans, Claudine said. “And the man in the kitchen is Jeff Puckett. Hes the bouncer.