Page 52 of Brimstone Bound
I smiled slightly, not with humour but with the recognition of two kindred spirits. ‘Okay, then. Nobody can know that we think Tony’s death involved foul play, so we have to proceed very carefully. I’ve been trying to get onto his computer to find out what he was working on. Now that he’s confirmed as,’ I swallowed, ‘deceased, IT support can help us bypass his password.’
‘We don’t need them. I know his password,’ Liza said. ‘His favourite sandwich filling.’
‘Roast beef?’ I blurted out.
A tiny crease marred her forehead. ‘Egg mayo.’
‘I don’t think it’s really his favourite,’ Fred said. ‘I think he just likes stinking out the office.’ He dropped his head. ‘Helikedstinking out the office. He won’t be doing it any more.’
I swallowed the lump in my throat. So much for the dedicated carnivore; Tony’s extravagant disgust of my vegetarianism had all been for show.
‘Egg mayo, it is. Get onto it and see what’s in his files.’
‘He didn’t use the computer very often,’ Liza warned. ‘There might not be much.’
‘We’ll take what we can get. Check his emails, his calendar, any notes he made, and look through his internet history.’ I glanced at Fred. ‘I need you to investigate Tony’s neighbour. I met him yesterday and, for reasons that make no sense to me, he had a spare key to Tony’s place. Without making a song and dance about it, can you find out more about him? He’s probably not aware that Tony is dead, but he knows that his flat was turned over.’
‘I’ll get right on it.’ He jumped up to his feet, grim focus in his eyes.
I gazed at them both. I wasn’t qualified yet, but this was what we did. It was what we’d signed up for. We did this to catch the bad guys and stop them hurting other people. This was what would keep us going. One for all.
The phone rang and we all jumped. Liza looked at it like it was a snake about to strike, then she walked over and picked it up.
‘Good morning.’ I’d never heard her sound so professional. ‘You have reached Supernatural Squad. How may we help you?’ She listened for a moment and held it out to me. ‘It’s for you.’
Suddenly nervous, I took it from her. ‘Hello?’
‘Emma, it’s Laura. I’m here in the morgue with your colleague, Anthony Brown. You should get down here.’
My mouth went dry. Was he…? Could he be…?
‘He’s not woken up. I estimate his time of death about thirty hours ago, give or take. He doesn’t have what you have.’ She hesitated. ‘Whatever that is.’
The momentary flash of hope died away. ‘Have you found something on his body? Is there any indication that he was murdered?’
Laura’s answer was brisk. ‘I wouldn’t have seen it if I’d not been warned to look. Whoever did this knew what they were about.’
‘What is it?’
‘It’s easiest if I show you in person.’
Cold rippled through me; that meant confronting Tony’s corpse yet again. ‘I’ll be there within the hour.’
I hung up the phone. ‘That was the pathologist,’ I said, in answer to Liza and Fred’s desperate, questioning glances. ‘I think she has something.’ I grabbed my coat. ‘I’m going to find out what.’
Fred cleared his throat pointedly.
‘What is it?’
‘I don’t mean to be rude, Emma, but—'
‘Go on.’
He waved a hand. ‘Is this it? I mean, you’re not a real detective yet. Tony is dead. Are we not going to get someone more qualified to help?’
It was a good question. ‘I don’t think so. Not yet, anyway. The politics between humans and supes are complicated, and there’s not enough proof that Tony was murdered, regardless of what I believe.’ I met his eyes. ‘We’re not entirely alone. Lord Horvath has been helping.’
Both their jaws dropped. ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Make of that what you will.’
