Page 23 of Dead & Breakfast
“Didn’t quite catch that.”
“I was practicing using my powers.”
“Your…powers…” McMartin raised an eyebrow.
“Control of nocturnal animals, to be precise.”
“And can anyone corroborate that?”
“The family of raccoons that’s been ransacking the dumpster on Fourth Street.”
“I’m sorry, I should have specified.” The sheriff rolled his eyes. “Can anyonehumancorroborate that?”
Arthur flinched and glanced at Lore, whose face was pulled into a tight grimace as well.
He knew what the sheriff meant, but that didn’t make it sting any less. Humanity was so often bandied about like a universal concept, but whether intended or not, it excluded an awful lot of people. Folks like elves and fae simply weren’t human by definition, and there was much debate about the undead. Even werewolves, who were basically human but for the one day each month, weredenied legal protections. Maybe the sheriff meant it in the universal way, but Arthur thought it more likely McMartin would only trust the word of someone just like him.
“No, but the trash should be undisturbed, thanks to me. You’re welcome, by the way.” Salvatore tucked his chin and smirked, entirely too pleased with himself.
McMartin rolled his eyes. “Great. I’ll just have my deputy pop down to Fourth Street to get a statement from a dumpster.”
Salvatore crossed his arms, staring daggers at the sheriff. “Why aren’t you asking anyone else to supply an alibi, huh?”
“Because you’re the one who ditched your appointment right in the window when the murder was committed.” Sheriff McMartin returned his steely gaze.
“But I’m not the only one unaccounted for during that time.” Salvatore arched his eyebrows dramatically. “I don’t see you asking Dr.Young about his whereabouts.”
The sheriff spluttered. “Are you joking?You’rethe one who failed to show up for your appointment, and you thinkheshould be investigated for it?”
“Well, last I checked, failing to appear for a dentist appointment isn’t a legal faux pas, just a social one.” A smile bit into Sal’s expression. “If you mean to accuse me of the latter, I’ll admit guilt. My manners are not above critique.”
The sheriff nearly hit Arthur as he flung his hands out. “I don’t give a damn about your manners. I give a damn that you’re clearly the monster who killed the mayor!”
“You say that, but if you’d ever had a root canal, you’d know who the real monster is.” Sal’s pout returned, lips curling around his fangs. “I’m just saying, there’s a double standard here.”
“Salvatore, don’t make this more difficult,” Arthur murmuredin a soothing tone. The last thing they needed was to antagonize the sheriff further. “Dr.Young has been nothing but accommodating. Accusing him of murder is hardly a way to repay his kindness.”
Sal simply let out a few low notes on his harmonica, heralding the start of his one-man pity party.
Lore stepped forward, as though sensing the anger in the air. “This is fascinating stuff, guys, but I’ve got a body to see to.”
“Right, right. Thank you for stopping by, Ms.…Lore,” McMartin grunted, determinedly not looking at her. “I’ll call you if we need anything more.”
Lore made a face. “No, no,I’llcallyou.”
“I’m the sheriff here, ma’am.” McMartin looked up, cheeks and throat flushed.
“Whatever. I gotta go, dude.” Lore gave Arthur a significant look before straightening her files and making for the door.
“I should go as well.” Arthur flexed his hands, which had balled into fists during McMartin and Salvatore’s exchange. He didn’t trust himself to stick around—unsure whom he wanted to berate more. “I’ll return,” he promised Salvatore, who nodded and played a singular shaky note on his harmonica.
As Arthur and Nora left, trailing after Lore, a mournful tune marked their exit.
“Oh, shut up,” the sheriff grumbled. “You sound like a dying heifer.”
Outside the sun was still shining brightly enough to make Arthur doubly glad he had his umbrella. In the distance, Lore ambled ahead, casually looking over her shoulder to check that they were following.
When they’d all walked far enough away from the police station, Lore stopped, pulled out her phone, and waited for them.
