Page 28 of Dead & Dating
"This is Dr. Martinez from the county medical examiner's office. I'm calling regarding Esme Dove's autopsy report. Normally, some of these tests would take up to a week or two but Esme was very loved by the community so I expedited some of the results."
Duske's attention snaps to the phone, his entire body going still.
"We've completed our examination, and I wanted to inform you that nothing came up on the report to conclude anythingother than an unfortunate accident. There was no evidence of being pushed, no drugs in her system, nothing to suggest foul play. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and neck, consistent with a fall down the stairs. I'm very sorry for your loss. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call. The report will be available for pickup tomorrow."
I hang up and then just stare at the phone. "Esme was so sure her sister killed her. Why would it not show up on any of the tests? Liora doesn't seem knowledgeable enough to have picked a drug that would break down fast enough to go undetected."
Duske leans back in his chair, his expression darkening as his brows furrow. "I have one other person to call, but fuck, he's going to chew my ass out."
I grin despite the situation. "You're calling Lucifer, aren't you?"
Duske shoots me a look. "I don't have a choice. We need information, and the moment we try to save Esme, it's going to be a shit show anyway."
He sighs, a sound full of resignation, and types a rather long number into his phone. Something nonhuman and only works if the caller has enough power to connect to hell itself. The dial tone rings once, twice, and then a smooth, amused voice answers.
"Duske! To what do I owe the pleasure? It's been, what, three years since you've bothered to call?"
Duske's jaw tightens. "Hello, Lucifer."
"Oh, don't be so formal. I'm sure you're calling for a favor. I heard your little miss died. Tragic, really. She seemed like she had potential."
I watch as Duske's hands clench into fists on the table. He hates that he ever told Lucifer about Esme, but maybe this will work in his favor now.
"Actually, I'm looking to see if any deals were conducted in the last week or so. Esme's death doesn't make any sense."
Lucifer hums thoughtfully. "I suspected something was wrong when her poor little soul wasn't hanging out here. I know you're making a face, Duske, and let's be real, she would have had more fun down here than up in heaven. They're so boring there."
Duske pinches the bridge of his nose. "Great, thanks. The deals?"
"Impatient as always," Lucifer says, but there's amusement in his tone. "Two came in, actually. One before and after Esme's death. No name, but it seems someone wanted in your pants."
Duske leans forward. "The deals always have a name."
"This was a newer demon who made the deal, which makes sense because he granted a wish of her getting you to fall in love with her. Amateur work, really. Love can't be forced, as we all know. I'm guessing you know who this is?"
"I have a hunch it's her sister."
Lucifer laughs, rich, delighted sound pissing us both off. The king of hell has always been rather annoying, however, I find him terrifying. He’ll smile one minute and then tear someone apart in the next. At least Duske is a permanent grump. Lucifer hums, his tone deepening as he speaks again. "Spicy. What do you need me for, then? I'm sure you could have found that information on your own."
"Esme is ours, and I need you to turn a blind eye to whatever happens to her sister, Liora."
"I'm guessing I'm going to be down one soul? Works for me. But make it quiet and make sure I get Liora sooner rather than later. I need a new plaything, and a sister killer sounds like the perfect person to make an example out of."
The line goes dead, and Duske looks up at me, his black eyes unreadable.
I shake my head. "I don't know how you don't shit your pants every time you talk to that man. Also, why was he okay with that shit?"
Duske sets his phone down, his shoulders falling in defeat. "Because she's no longer human. There's no rules against who we can mate with, but it makes it so much harder when they're human. We just have to figure out how to get rid of Liora, move Esme to another city, and attend her funeral."
"That's going to be awkward. Like, I'm still grieving a part of her even though I know we still have her."
And it's true. There's a grief there for the human life she lost, for the girl who used to laugh freely without knowing what we really were. Even though she's still here, still ours, something was taken from her. Something we can never give back.
But then I smile, an idea forming. "But let me take charge of the Liora thing. I have a few ideas, and it's been a very, very long time since I got to spread my chaos."
Duske's lips curve into a rare, genuine smile. "You mean aside from making the little gingerbread cookies dance? Sure, I wouldn't mind relaxing for a bit, holding our Omega and watching you destroy shit. Sounds like a good time."
Chapter 18
