Chapter 5

"He's innocent," Sylvia said.

Masamune had come out of the interrogation room and went through a whole "I-knew-it" spiel. He told Sylvia and me that they will convict Craig for the murder of Dawlkin before kicking us out of the building.

"Really?"

"Do you really think a man black-out drunk can sneak up on a Dante like that?"

"Let's get in the car, first."

We got in and Sylvia said, "We need evidence of Craig's innocence."

"That was the plan," I said. "I'm going to go back to HQ and look up what I can on the company Dawlkin interned for. I was going to ask you to head out to the Redevelopment District and get witnesses who could vouch for Craig."

"Drop me off at Queenvale Academy. I can work on my own from there."

I nodded and started the car. We didn't talk as we were left to our own thoughts. A vengeful ex who couldn't remember anything he did last night. A Dante killed by a mysterious killer. A detective who hated non-humans.

It was getting crazier by the hour.

We arrived at the gates of the academy, which drew eyes, of course. Before Sylvia could get out, I said, "Is it possible that we're overthinking this and it's just a killer who hates Dantes? Or Stregas?"

Sylvia paused at the door. Before she could answer, my phone rang. I got my phone out and saw it was Dirk. I accepted the call, "Yeah?"

"Kelly's attacked. Again."

"What?" I asked. "Where?"

"It was Bneuvere Park. She was with a friend of hers, a human named Veronica. They were attacked and Kelly held off the attackers while Veronica got help. When they came back, Kelly was bleeding out. She's now in Seidoukan Hospital and the headmaster is speaking to authorities herself."

"The Headmaster?" I asked. "Why?"

"Ask Claudia yourself," Dirk said. "She's expecting you."

He disconnected the call. Sylvia asked, "Another attack?"

"Yes. A repeat attack."

"The Seidoukan student? Kelly?" I nodded. Sylvia leaned back into the car, "Forget about Craig."

She hastily added, "For now. We need to see Kelly and the headmaster." Sylvia got into the car and rebuckled her seatbelt. Ignoring the glances at my vehicle, I stepped on the accelerator and sped off to Seidoukan.

The headmaster was waiting for us at the entrance of the hospital and I was surprised to see it was the Gryphs Festa victor Claudia Enfield.

I showed her my ID and she asked for my terminal identification. I stepped back, surprised, but she laughed and said, "I don't need to see it. Dirk told me you were coming. Will you come with me?"

I frowned at the unnecessary emphasis and Sylvia's eyes said, She's eccentric like that.

"Oh my, oh my, you didn't tell him my mind's black like burnt honey?" Claudia asked. "It's some of the darkest thoughts you'd find in this city."

She leaned in, "Darker than what your second head would see inside me, if you know what I mean."

"I think Sylvia and I had our fill of dark thoughts," I announced. "We heard some from a human detective this morning and don't need to hear more."

Claudia put her hand to her mouth, "Oh my, is that how it is?"

"Yes. Can we see Kelly now?"

"I'm afraid she's in no condition to talk. You can see her, but don't expect anything out of her."

I looked at Sylvia, deferring to her. She said, "We want to see her."

"Just know," Claudia sang, "if you want to see the injuries, he can't be in the room."

She turned on her heel and walked away. I raised an eyebrow, but Sylvia shrugged. As Claudia said, I wasn't allowed in the room while Sylvia and Claudia were shown Kelly's injuries. It was a bit outrageous, because I wanted to see the injuries for myself, but I wasn't sure if that was something worth fighting for.

It took over half an hour, so I grabbed myself some snacks and drinks. Sylvia eventually came out and said, "Come in."

I walked in with a paper bag of candy bars, chips, and drinks. Everyone in the room gave me a look. I said, "Figured you were hungry."

"Don't eat in here," the physician said. I finished the candy bar I had in my hand and stuffed the wrapper in my pocket. Sylvia handed me a drawing with Kelly's injuries clearly marked. It wasn't the real thing, but it'd suffice.

The physician left us in the room with Kelly and Claudia asked, "What's the motive?"

"We don't know yet. The obvious theory is someone targeting Dante and Strega in hate crimes."

"We're still trying to find a connection, if there is any," Sylvia added helpfully.

Claudia put her hand up to her chin, "You know, this reminds me of Silas Norman."

I snapped my fingers, "Yes. I remember him. He went after Dante and Strega to reduce competition in the Phoenix Festa."

"That's right. Covering up his attacks under the pretense of hate."

"Who?" Sylvia asked.

"Long story short, a student of Seidoukan attacked Dante and Strega so they could not compete in the Phoenix Festa."

"Is that what's happening?" Sylvia asked. "Competitors trying to disqualify other competitors?"

"Do you know who is participating in the Festas at the moment?" I asked Claudia.

"I can tell you that Kelly is not participating." Claudia opened her terminal and turned on screen-sharing so Sylvia and I could see her screen. "These are all the remaining competitors as of August."

I checked the list and checked the bracket before that. I asked, "Is Dawlkin Montif participating at all?"

A quick search gave me my answer. It was not related to the Festas at all. I said, "Thanks for checking."

"Not a problem," Claudia said. "Since you're here, are you interested in lunch?"

"We already ate," Sylvia said. I shook my head to decline.

"We've eaten and have a busy day ahead of us," I said. "She needs to prove someone's innocence and I need to see if there's a connection between Kelly and Dawlkin."

I looked at the resting Strega, "If there's no connection, I'll need to start looking through the criminal database and start seeing if anyone was recently released from prison that would hold a grudge against Dantes-or Stregas."

"Prana-users," Sylvia added helpfully. I nodded.

"Have you considered using yourself as bait?" Claudia asked.

"I wish," I said. "I'm just a Genestella, so they won't care."

"Until you get close to the truth."

"Or that," I admitted. "Now if you excuse us, we have a murder to solve."

"If you need my help, you can always call."

I looked at Sylvia then Claudia before saying, "Two things. One, call us if Kelly ever wakes up. I want to know how she's connected to Dawlkin."

"And the other?"

"Get me everything you can find about Kelly. Academic records, academic profile, and see if you can find out where she works."

It was nighttime and Sylvia hadn't reported back yet. I dropped her off at Queenvale and we went our separate ways. She headed to the Redevelopment District to gather evidence of Craig's innocence while I spoke with Dirk to see if Dawlkin's extracurriculars were the reason for his death.

Sylvia got the profession wrong. Heldigras Solutions Group was an investigation service, but not in the way one would think.

Dawlkin didn't lend his investigative skills for a price, he worked with groups trying to bag anyone who owned endangered animals illegally.

Which made things even more confusing. If his job was tied to his death, what did he see that would make someone desperate enough to kill him? I laid in bed looking up at the ceiling, wondering what the hell was going on.

A Dante whose job is to find endangered species is killed and his killer hates Dantes?

Moreover, the Dante's girlfriend's ex-boyfriend has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He claims to be innocent, of course.

Finally, Kelly Natoi was attacked for the second time. This time, her assailants were successful and left her comatose.

The two attacks were not random hits, even if they looked that way. Craig was just a bitter ex who was caught in the crossfire. Maybe it was a way to throw people off the trail. And that damned human detective happily went along.

I looked at the Grimalkin phone and powered on the screen to check for messages. I didn't see any.

I shut my eyes only to hear my phone ring-my terminal phone. I powered on the terminal and saw it was a call from an unknown number, "Hello?"

"Is this Ethan Talhik?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"Captain Jackson," he said. His voice was soft as if trying not to be overheard. "I'm pulling some overtime. Mind coming down to the station for a talk?"

"Not over the terminal?"

"No."

I understood it was something important in his brief response. "I'll be there in twenty."

He hung up and I got out of bed to get dressed. I wondered what was so urgent, that he wanted to see me in-person. It must be related to the case.

I was parking my car after a twenty minute drive. Jackson was already waiting for me at the doors. I hurried over. He opened the door for me saying, "Glad you could make it."

"What's this about?"

"Figured you'd like a word with Craig yourself."

I nodded, "Of course."

"Take all the time you need. Masamune won't be back until morning."

Craig was wide awake in a holding cell. He said, "You're the investigator the detective didn't like."

"Yup," I said. "We can make this quick and I'll let you sleep."

"Can't sleep in here," Craig grumbled. "Not comfortable or warm enough to sleep."

"Then let's make this quick so I can get out of your way."

He chuckled, "I'd rather you take your time so you can get me out of here."

I sat on the floor, "We can do that too."

He stared at me then said, "I didn't kill that man."

I nodded. He looked upset at my silence, "Penelope betrayed me. I'd love nothing more than to see her suffer, but I wouldn't kill a man over it."

"You didn't tell the detective that?"

"You'd think he'd listen?" Craig had a point. I said nothing, though. "I don't know what else to tell you other than I wasn't there. I drank at Gracious Gourd and went home. Maybe I was drunk and couldn't find my way home until three in the morning, but I didn't kill anyone."

"Where's the Gracious Gourd?"

"Somewhere on 5th Street in the Redev District," he said. "I promise I didn't kill no one."

"Thanks," I said. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Fuck you," he spat.

"A few more questions, if you don't mind?"

"What?"

"Do you know anyone else who dated Penelope? Maybe hate her enough to kill Dawlkin?"

"No. I was her boyfriend through most of Queenvale Academy," he sneered. "Maybe she got another dick to ride after she broke up with me."

"Would she cheat?"

He paused, "I don't know."

"Is she the type of person who would cheat?"

"She . . . never cheated on me," he said reluctantly. "Maybe because she's a whore, she started cheating after breaking up with me. Then that guy found out what a bitch she is and killed the Dante in revenge."

"Do you know what she did with Dawlkin?"

"No. Why the fuck would I care?"

"I meant outside of school? Anything that would be illegal?"

"No. She's always been the good student. When I was seeing her, she wouldn't even go to my place if it meant she missed curfew." I kept that in mind.

"Do you know who Penelope worked for or any job she accepted while in university?" He shook his head.

I was starting to believe that Sylvia was right. Craig was innocent. "You'll be out soon. My partner and I will prove your innocence. Hopefully we'll get the killer soon."

"Fuck the killer. Tell him I said thanks for making Penelope's life miserable."

I decided I wouldn't be doing that and looked for Jackson. I found him at his desk. "Thanks for the help."

"No problem. Just stick around and pretend we're chatting. Put on a show for the cameras."

I nodded and we decided to shoot the shit for a bit, get to know each other since we had the time.

It was half an hour past ten when my Grimalkin phone rang. I answered, "Hello?"

It was Sylvia.