When asked what sort of justice the killer would receive, Wise confirmed it would be‘the permanent kind.’
Let us remember that prejudice and fear serve only those who would see us broken and divided. As a community, we are only as strong as our weakest member.If we turn on each other,then we are truly lost.
Reported by The Mystic Informer, standing for unity across all races and realms.’
I looked up at Beeks’s red face. ‘That’s a nice touch, isn’t it? Their sign off?’
‘Weak-willed, pathetic bullshit,’ he snarled. ‘The Other realm is dog-eat-dog, and if you forget it, you deserve to get eaten.’
‘Like you ate Drummond?’
‘I didn’t eat him!’
‘No? Do you reserve that treat for Angela Kerr?’
He didn’t like that, and his fists clenched. ‘I had nothing to do with Drummond’s death. I was with the Kerrs at the time.’
I smiled. ‘We both know that’s not true.’
His nostrils flared. ‘I want my damn lawyer.’
‘I bet you do. Interview terminated until such time as Mr Beeks has legal representation.’
Channing switched off the recording equipment.
‘You’re free to go, Mr Beeks. Present yourself, and counsel, tomorrow at 9am. DC Channing, escort Mr Beeks out of the building.’
Beeks stood, shoved away from the table and stormed out, rage licking his guts. I watched him go with satisfaction.
Anger induces people to make mistakes.
I would be ready to take full advantage of it when Beeks fucked up. And he would. I was counting on it.
Chapter Twenty-One
As I watched Channing escort Beeks through the office, I rang Elvira. ‘He’s coming out to you.’
A beat later she replied, ‘We’ve got him.’ Humour laced her tone. ‘He’s fuming. What did you say to him?’
‘Read himThe Mystic Informer’sarticle. He didn’t love it.’
‘And this time, the article was real.’ She chuckled.
‘Don’t lose him,’ I ordered. ‘Make sure you or McCaffrey are on him at all times.’
‘Not my first rodeo,’ she replied. ‘We got it, boss.’
She hung up and I pocketed my phone.
Channing returned. ‘Beeks is hiding something.’
‘He is,’ I agreed with a smile. ‘He might not have done it, but he definitely knows who did. Yet he has the rage, the anger … he’s still on the list. High on the list. He could have done it. He considers himself superior to others. He’d like to be what we are:judge, jury, and executioner. It burns his arse that a girl has that role over him.’ I flipped to the next file. ‘Send in Bruce Hunter. Let’s see what he has to say for himself.’
Hunter was quiet and contained. I ran through the same line I’d taken with Beeks, but I didn’t get a rise. He was ice to Beeks’s fire. But that iciness moved him right up my suspect list as it had taken ice to break into a Symposium member’s house, tie Marlow to a chair and gut him.
‘Help me find who killed your friend,’ I entreated.
He snorted. ‘Drummond was no friend of mine. You think I’m stupid? You’ll pin it on the first ex-soldier you find. You lot love an easy target.’
