Page 37 of Tragic Ink
“Do you have proof of this? What do the police say?” Elsmedasked.
“No physical proof,” Rhys admitted. “But the energy signature was the same at both houses, and today, I saw a dead Havenwood Falls resident leaping from Gwen’s apartment window. He was glamoured and underneath I saw the markings of an Unseeliesoldier.”
“You saw him?” Elsmed said, much more interestednow.
“Yes. He escaped as Gwen and I entered, but I saw through his glamour, and he is definitely Unseeliefae.”
“Hmm. And this dead resident,” Elsmed said, glancing at me. “You knewhim?”
“I tattooed him a while back,” I said,nodding.
“So Gwen is at the center of this after all,” Elsmed said toRhys.
Rhys nodded with a grimace. The truth wasn’t exactly good news. “Aelwyn was killed moments before Gwen arrived. I don’t think that was acoincidence.”
“You think they wanted to torture her? Make sure she found Aelwyn as it happened?” Elsmedasked.
Rhys nodded. “And maybe pin it on her. That much was clear at Fred andBetsy’s.”
Elsmed frowned. “I wasn’t aware Gwen was present at the second scene. The police report didn’t mentionher.”
Rhys shot me a glance, but pretended not to notice the death stare I was giving him as he continued. “She left before the police showed up. I... thought it best until we can gather a list of viablesuspects.”
To my surprise, Elsmed nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “I can’t disagree. The sheriff seems to have tunnel visionhere.”
“He has his head up his ass,” Imuttered.
Elsmed’s gaze swung my way, and I wished I hadn’t let that slip. “What do you think this person wants from you,Gwen?”
That silenced me. I debated my answer—partly out of genuine speculation. And partly out of self-preservation.
When I didn’t answer, Elsmed nodded knowingly. “I realize you have no reason to trust me,” he said. “For what it’s worth, Aelwyn was a dear friend to me, though in recent years we kept our distance for... various reasons.” Something about the way he said that caught my attention. “Rhys has kept in close touch, letting me know how your family is doing and whether you need anything that I can provide. I want to help you, whether you can believe that or not, but in order to do that, you will have to be honest withme.”
“I... What reasons?” Idemanded.
Elsmedblinked.
“Trust goes both ways.” I lifted my chin. “What were the reasons that kept you fromAelwyn?”
“Gwen,” Rhyswarned.
Elsmed lifted a hand and waved him off. “Valid question and fair point.” He looked at me, studying. “You were the reason, Gwen. We wanted no contact or interference with fae for your own safety. So I kept my distance. We didn’t want someone using me to get to you. I’m too high profile in this town to ignore that possibility. And as I said before, I do want to helpyou.”
I chewed my lip, debating. Finally, I blew out a breath. “They want mymagic.”
Elsmed gave no visible reaction to that, which only made my anxiety worse. “Your fae magic?” heasked.
I nodded, swallowed hard, and then answered. “My tattoos,” I said, gesturing to the ink peeking out from the collar of my shirt. “They... I can make them come to life. Some people have used them for violence, so I don’t offer the service up anymore,but...”
“Someone has discovered your talent anyway,” he finished. I nodded. “And they are using it against you with thesemurders?”
Rhys shook his head. “Aelwyn’s death wasn’tmagical—”
“Except that they knew about the mistletoe and the cedar wood wards,” I pointedout.
“And Fred and Betsy?” Elsmedasked.
“A hellhound,” I said quietly. “I inked it a couple of yearsback.”
