Crowbones

CHAPTER 22

Ilya

Thaisday, Novembros 1

Ilya listened and wondered if human females actually enjoyed some of these mating activities as much as this male seemed to think. Eventually he stopped trying to hide his distaste and asked about Fred Cornley’s employment—where he worked, who he knew, what connections he had to any of the other guests. If he knew anything about spooky Crowgard folklore or had talked about such with other guests.

“We’d heard this place was a quiet getaway. Discreet because, well, the service is nothing to write home about.” Cornley tried huffy attitude. “We didn’t expect this.”

“And didn’t anticipate having your name show up in an official police report?” Ilya asked mildly. “It would be awkward for you if your mate found out what you’ve been doing for the past couple of days, would it not?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ilya caught the whiff of fear that confirmed a guess. “Ms. DeVine gives people the benefit of the doubt. The Sanguinati do not.” That wasn’t quite true. Victoria had serious trust issues, especially when it came to men. Discovering that The Jumble had been used for illicit mating would be difficult for her since her ex-husband had been unfaithful many times. “Be assured that if any of us hear so much as an unkind whisper about Ms. DeVine or The Jumble, your name—your real name—will appear in more than just a police report.” He smiled, showing a hint of fang. “I see no reason why you can’t leave—unless Chief Grimshaw uncovers a connection between you and the human’s death that occurred here last night.”

“Death? What kind of death?”

“The gruesome kind.”

Having finished with Fred Cornley, Ilya found the guest register and read the information the humans had provided, then decided to check on the Sanguinati youngsters.

Lara was in the library with a human female and one of the males who was staying in the lake cabins.

“Mr. Stern is an author,” Lara said excitedly.

“I don’t write anything as exciting as the Wolf Team books,” Stern said.

Something about the way the man met his eyes made Ilya wonder if Stern might be more interesting than he’d anticipated. Stern had listed Ravendell as his place of residence. Since he wasn’t one of the Simple Life folk, that meant he was probably Intuit.

“Mr. Stern writes thrillers under his own name and also writes under a pseudonym,” Jenna McKay said. “We’ve been trying to guess the genre of his other work. So far, Michael hasn’t admitted to writing any of the books on the shelves here.”

“Ilya?” Lara smiled at him but hesitated. The way she hugged the Wolf Team book, he had a good idea what she wanted to ask.

“I don’t believe the bookstore will be open today. However, if Natasha is still in the village, I will ask her about purchasing some books from Mr. Farrow.”

“Are you taking orders?” Jenna McKay asked.

He wasn’t a clerk; he was the leader of Silence Lodge. Then he realized he owed these humans some consideration because their presence in the library wasn’t just about selecting a book to read; they’d been keeping an eye on Lara and engaging her in a discussion about books—a safe and carefully chosen topic.

“I’ll see what I can do,” he said.

“Mr. Sanguinati?” Stern said. “If I could have a word?”

“In a few minutes.”

Ilya stepped out of the library and closed the door. Then he removed his mobile phone from his briefcase and called Natasha, who handed him to Julian.

“Vicki already asked for more of the Wolf Team books for The Jumble’s library, and Natasha purchased a full set of the books for Silence Lodge,” Julian said. “I have some of Michael Stern’s books. Do you want Margaret Shaw as well?”

“Why would I want this Shaw female?”

“Michael’s pseudonym. He writes romances with a touch of the strange. Enchanted objects or haunted houses.”

“He is an Intuit?” Ilya didn’t wait for Julian to confirm what he’d already guessed, since it wasn’t likely that Julian would confirm that about a fellow Intuit. “Would he participate in a prank for research?”

“No.” A hesitation. “I have family in Ravendell. Michael, Ian, and I knew each other when we were young. Anything Michael passively observes would be research for his books, but he wouldn’t have participated in what happened last night.”

Ilya doubted that whoever had planned that prank had intended for someone to die. “How does The Jumble feel?”

“Unsettled but not threatening.” Another hesitation. “But not without threat.”

If he understood the words, the unknown hunter wasn’t currently in The Jumble but was close enough to touch the boundaries and could attack again at any time.

“I realize it is inconvenient for you not to open your store today, but purchasing books would be a distraction for Victoria’s guests since it may be a while yet before Chief Grimshaw allows them to leave.”

“I’ll pack up a couple of boxes of books for Vicki’s guests to peruse; then Ms. Sanguinati and I will head to The Jumble,” Julian said.

“Very well.” Ilya disconnected, slipped the phone back in his briefcase, and headed for the TV room to check on the other three youngsters.

He paused in the doorway, studying the arrangement of people in the room.

Ben Malacki and David Shuman, the academics who were staying in the main house’s second suite, were sitting in chairs. Viktor and Karol were perched on the arms of the couch, poised to attack. Kira was sitting on the couch with Ian Stern, the other male who was staying in the lake cabins. One of his arms rested on the back of the couch, and his body was turned toward Kira. Not . . . suggestive. Cautious. Wary. Protective.

Ilya studied Kira, who looked intimidated by the presence of two of the human males and in need of rescuing. With two other Sanguinati in the room, that look struck him as wrong, as false.

Was Ian Stern being manipulated into believing that Kira needed protecting? If that was the case, Stern was the one in need of protection.

“How many Sanguinati live around Lake Silence?” Malacki asked.

“Enough of us,” Viktor replied.

“Is it a family clan? Like, an extended family supporting a dominant pair?”

“Enough to do what?” Shuman asked.

“That’s a question that should be directed to one of the adults, don’t you think?” Ian Stern said quietly. “Attempting to extract information from young people is unseemly.”

“I agree,” Ilya said, stepping into the room.

Malacki gave Ilya a smile that was in no way sincere. “Well, it’s not often we get to converse with the Sanguinati.”

“I have had many conversations with humans. They don’t sound like police interrogations, even when the people are asking questions to find some common ground.” Ilya set his briefcase next to the sofa, then turned to the youngsters. “Mr. Farrow is bringing books that you may purchase. Why don’t you ask Victoria where he can set up his stock and assist her in getting things ready?”

Karol, Kira, and Viktor hurried toward the door. Then Kira stopped and looked back. “We enjoyed conversing with you, Mr. Stern.”

A look in Viktor’s eyes as he closed the door.

Ilya wondered if Malacki and Shuman understood they had been condemned by seven words and a look.

The alarm he saw in Stern’s eyes before the Intuit looked away told him that one human understood what had happened in that room.

Nothing fatal. Thanks to Stern’s presence and interference, Malacki and Shuman hadn’t crossed a line to that extent. But word would go out to all the Sanguinati who lived in the Northeast Region, with emphasis to any and all who lived around the college where these men taught.

They would be watched. Perhaps even hunted. Supplying the Sanguinati with a meal would be educational and increase their understanding of one kind of terra indigene.

Ilya removed a pad of paper and a pen from his briefcase. He smiled, showing a hint of fang. “Since you enjoy questions and answers so much, you can talk to me. I have questions, gentlemen. I hope, for your sake, that you have satisfactory answers.”