Page 31 of The Satyr's Guilt
“He was in too much pain to notice. Anyway,we are still working countless hours and will not give up.”
Alarik leaned back in his seat, not cheeredby the progress of the group, but these get-togethers to shareinformation were necessary. “Right now, our most promising lead,aside from the laborious task of searching hospitals, labs, anddoctor’s records for humans with witch and warlock DNA markers, isto findCustodes Templiiso we may access their records. Ifthey exist and if they have genealogies. Thanks all.”
Chapter Eight
Ram frowned as Galena rushedin arm-in-arm with Denim.
“She agreed to join us.” The Amazon gave hima suck-it-up grin. “Hey, Thorn.”
The shifter nodded.
“I’m a damn good agent, Ram. You won’t besorry.”
Hehmphedas he opened the door intothe morgue, slamming it against the wall hard enough to dentsheetrock. “Hey, Doc. We hear you have news.”
The autopsy lab was all shiny steel, hightech monitors, wicked probes, and sharp instruments. Four bodieswere lined up on steel tables in the sterile, cold room. Must bethe refrigerated corpse drawers acting like air conditioning.
A female wearing a white lab coat wasleaning over one corpse. “I’m not a doctor. Just a witch who is thedirector’s medical examiner. You may call me Lacasta.” She moved tostand near the subject they came to see.
“Lacasta.” Ram winked. A little harmlessflirting usually helped get more information.
“I do have news. Remarkably interestingresults.” She drew back the sheet covering the incubus, revealinghis mutilated body and unattached parts.
Ram studied the mangled cadaver bits withinterest.
He glanced up at Denim to see how the humanwas handling the gruesome sight. Surprise. She was bending close.No sign of revulsion on her face. No indication she might barf onthe evidence.
Denim caught his stare. “Blood and gutsdon’t bother me. Besides, I saw him on the street.”
“Given the injuries the body suffered, Ihadn’t thought of sedatives. Glad you suggested the possibility.”Lacasta shoved her hands into her lab coat’s pockets.
Everyone looked at Ram.
“It was an outside chance. The demon Hannyawho was attacked in New Orleans complained about being sleepy. Ididn’t think it was anything, but … there you go. Sometimes youhave to follow your gut.”
“Good organ to heed,” said the examiner.“So, the results of the test. Knives and mutilation were not causeof death. He died from heavy doses of a sedative delivered inbullets. Afterward, they cut him into pieces.”
“Sedatives? You’re sure?” Denim puzzled herbrows.
“Ram asked me to check for tranquilizers.When I found them in the body. I called Alarik’s science wizards.They investigated the site where the incubus was killed, findingevidence of sedative-laced bullets. Our male here had a shitload ofthe stuff in his system. Gorilla biscuits. Enough to take out aquesting beast or sand leech. No question he died from an overdose.Hard to kill one of us that way, but this stuff’s chemicalconstruct is powerful. The locations where your demon was hit alsoshowed evidence of tranqs.”
“What is the shit? Is there an antidote?”Thorn crossed his arms over his chest.
“None I know of, but I gave the chemicalmakeup to Alarik’s lab techs. They’ll concoct an antidote.”
“This stuff can kill us?” Galena frowned,her gaze fastened on Locasta.
“Enough of it can. I’d be careful outthere.”
“Here’s a question.” Ram cocked his head tothe side. “Why was the incubus shot with tranqs rather than regularbullets?”
Denim shrugged. “If we were talking aboutlions or hippos, I’d say someone wanted a capture, not a kill.”
“Yeah. Maybe they just used too much.”Galena smoothed a hand down her straight black, shoulder-lengthhair.
Thorn scuffed a boot on the floor. “Curious,though. Did the shooters know this male wasn’t human? And if theydid, how did they know about him or the portal?”
A smirk curled Ram’s lip. “Okay. We have alink between the attack on the young demons and the murder of theincubus. Since Tyr and I chased humans at the scene, let’s assumethey’re responsible for both incidents. Also means Earthers know oftwo portal locations in New Orleans. Is the crack Alliance agentglad she joined us now? If these tranqs took out an incubus, whatdo you think they could do to you?”
