Read Online Demon's Revenge (High Demon Series #5) by Connie Suttle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Connie Suttle
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Bel's bags were still sitting on the rack, looking as if he'd sorted through them to find something to wear. He hadn't intended to leave anytime soon, I saw that right away. The ASD had sent a small team in to do perfunctory work, checking for blood, fingerprints and such. They'd found plenty of fingerprints, most Bel's, a few belonging to the cleaning crew. No blood. His comp-vid, weapons and a few other items were missing. They'd tried to triangulate on the comp-vid, but got nothing. That could mean it had been destroyed or reprogrammed, somehow. And since it was ASD issue, reprogramming would have been very tricky. They were designed to emit a locating beacon if someone tampered with it. Nothing had been sent.
Carefully, Ry and I went through all of Bel's belongings. I sorted through his shirts, pants and other clothing, feeling certain that if I held the shirts to my nose I still might catch a faint whiff of my old friend. I hoped he was alive somewhere, although my fears in that direction were rising. He would have sent mindspeech if he were able. Now, Ry and I were trailing down a path gone cold, with little hope of finding anything at the end of it.
"There's nothing here." Ry had used his warlock talent to search while I'd done the physical part of it. Bel had slept here and very little else. We had his records—what he'd turned in, anyway. We'd found a reprimand or two in his files that said he wasn't the most prompt person to file reports. I knew that; Bel hated what he termed paperwork. I'd done it for him long ago when I'd first met him on Mandil. Now, Mandil had buckled and joined the Campiaan Alliance.
"It's a little late in the day to show up at those two businesses," I said. "But we can make appointments for tomorrow." One was a legal firm, the other a small electronics manufacturing concern. Hauling out my comp-vid, I called the legal firm first.
"We've already spoken with someone from the ASD," the receptionist was bordering on rudeness.
"And we're still investigating. Do you want answers or not?"
"Yes. But we wanted them a month ago."
"I understand that, and we'll do our best for you now," I said.
"Be here at ten bells tomorrow morning," she tapped the appointment into her scheduling-comp.
"Thank you," I nodded and terminated the communication. "Now, for the electronics plant." I figured this one survived because they made small household appliances—nothing that Dantel Schuul wanted to dirty his fingers with. He'd bought most of the competition long ago. I was more than grateful that I didn't have to deald vhave to with him or any of his employees. It would just be too awkward.
"Pripps Electronics," the face appeared on my comp-vid, mouthing the words at me. I wondered how often the young man said the same words every day.
"Hello, I am Reah Nilvas with the ASD," I held up my badge so the red-haired and freckled youth could examine it. "I need to make an appointment to ask questions about the murders at your business."
"Sure. We were wondering if the ASD had forgotten us. That attack wiped out most of our day crew," he said. "My name is Nirif, and my father was killed on that crew."
"Nirif, I am very sorry for your loss. May I make an appointment to come in and talk with someone about it? We're still trying to determine a cause for this."
"Sure. I wouldn't have pegged Jaske as a murderer, but he was." Nirif sounded angry. I would be, too. "You can come in tomorrow afternoon if you'd like, around third bell, if that's acceptable."
"That's good," I agreed. "We'll see you then." I tapped the comp-vid to end the call.
"How do we hedge around asking them about the information Bel got, without saying he's missing?" Ry asked. We sat inside a restaurant near our hotel, having sandwiches made with shaved ox-roast.
"I think I'll ask if they recorded the questioning," I said. "Just as a review, so we won't go over too much of the same ground."
"Good idea. Let's hope they thought to do it."
"I
Bel's bags were still sitting on the rack, looking as if he'd sorted through them to find something to wear. He hadn't intended to leave anytime soon, I saw that right away. The ASD had sent a small team in to do perfunctory work, checking for blood, fingerprints and such. They'd found plenty of fingerprints, most Bel's, a few belonging to the cleaning crew. No blood. His comp-vid, weapons and a few other items were missing. They'd tried to triangulate on the comp-vid, but got nothing. That could mean it had been destroyed or reprogrammed, somehow. And since it was ASD issue, reprogramming would have been very tricky. They were designed to emit a locating beacon if someone tampered with it. Nothing had been sent.
Carefully, Ry and I went through all of Bel's belongings. I sorted through his shirts, pants and other clothing, feeling certain that if I held the shirts to my nose I still might catch a faint whiff of my old friend. I hoped he was alive somewhere, although my fears in that direction were rising. He would have sent mindspeech if he were able. Now, Ry and I were trailing down a path gone cold, with little hope of finding anything at the end of it.
"There's nothing here." Ry had used his warlock talent to search while I'd done the physical part of it. Bel had slept here and very little else. We had his records—what he'd turned in, anyway. We'd found a reprimand or two in his files that said he wasn't the most prompt person to file reports. I knew that; Bel hated what he termed paperwork. I'd done it for him long ago when I'd first met him on Mandil. Now, Mandil had buckled and joined the Campiaan Alliance.
"It's a little late in the day to show up at those two businesses," I said. "But we can make appointments for tomorrow." One was a legal firm, the other a small electronics manufacturing concern. Hauling out my comp-vid, I called the legal firm first.
"We've already spoken with someone from the ASD," the receptionist was bordering on rudeness.
"And we're still investigating. Do you want answers or not?"
"Yes. But we wanted them a month ago."
"I understand that, and we'll do our best for you now," I said.
"Be here at ten bells tomorrow morning," she tapped the appointment into her scheduling-comp.
"Thank you," I nodded and terminated the communication. "Now, for the electronics plant." I figured this one survived because they made small household appliances—nothing that Dantel Schuul wanted to dirty his fingers with. He'd bought most of the competition long ago. I was more than grateful that I didn't have to deald vhave to with him or any of his employees. It would just be too awkward.
"Pripps Electronics," the face appeared on my comp-vid, mouthing the words at me. I wondered how often the young man said the same words every day.
"Hello, I am Reah Nilvas with the ASD," I held up my badge so the red-haired and freckled youth could examine it. "I need to make an appointment to ask questions about the murders at your business."
"Sure. We were wondering if the ASD had forgotten us. That attack wiped out most of our day crew," he said. "My name is Nirif, and my father was killed on that crew."
"Nirif, I am very sorry for your loss. May I make an appointment to come in and talk with someone about it? We're still trying to determine a cause for this."
"Sure. I wouldn't have pegged Jaske as a murderer, but he was." Nirif sounded angry. I would be, too. "You can come in tomorrow afternoon if you'd like, around third bell, if that's acceptable."
"That's good," I agreed. "We'll see you then." I tapped the comp-vid to end the call.
"How do we hedge around asking them about the information Bel got, without saying he's missing?" Ry asked. We sat inside a restaurant near our hotel, having sandwiches made with shaved ox-roast.
"I think I'll ask if they recorded the questioning," I said. "Just as a review, so we won't go over too much of the same ground."
"Good idea. Let's hope they thought to do it."
"I
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