“Oh, and I noticed you talking to Veda. We might want to invite her as a buffer. She watches August sometimes. She’s always been able to wrangle him.”
“My mother hired her as Antaris’s tutor,” Hiram says. “Didn’t know you two were friends.”
“Occupational and situational friends. Veda seems cold and tough, but she’s dealing with a lot of shit. More since yesterday.”
“Peter mentioned something but wasn’t specific. Care to enlighten me?”
Gabriel looks around, making sure no one is in earshot, then lowers his voice. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about. Do you have time to talk in private?”
Privatemeans a small breakfast shop down the road called the Leaning Cactus.
The staff and patrons know Gabriel by name. They confirm his order of medium-well steak and eggs with cheese and clear his table on sight. In contrast, Hiram’s presence draws whispers, stares, and disdainful glares. He can only imagine the rumors. He wonders how they’ll have a private conversation amid the chaos, but when they sit, the noise dulls to a hum.
Gabriel opens his hand to reveal a vibrating crystal. The only sound is the friction between the crystal and the air, heightened by magic. No one outside the blocking stone’s radius will hear them, and vice versa.
“I didn’t know Washington legalized these for public use,” Hiram remarks.
Gabriel pockets the stone. “They haven’t, but no one will know unless you tell them.”
When the waitress arrives with coffee, Hiram orders something simple: eggs and toast. While pouring himself a cup and adding creamer, he watches Gabriel drown his in sugar.
“Why a private conversation?”
“You looked in Veda’s file the day you were in my office.”
“I did,” Hiram says, unfazed.
“That’s illegal.”
“I know.”
“I could have you brought in.”
“Okay.”
“Veda gave me an earful about it.”
“Of course she did.”
“Right.” Gabriel chuckles. “Then I’ll cut to the chase. I shouldn’t tell you this, but there was another murder in the Botanist case yesterday. Lucinda Hampton.”
“One of the Oracle Council members?”
“How did you know that?”
“Peter mentioned something.” Hiram recalls the town hall meeting to an enrapt Gabriel. Lucinda’s face remains a blur. “I bet they’re up in arms, probably accusing me of being the killer.”
“Actually, it’s been crickets.”
It’s his turn to listen in silence as Gabriel shares details about the latest murder. A twinge of guilt surfaces when he thinks back to his earlier interaction with Veda.
“That’s not all,” Gabriel adds. “I’m taking a shot in the dark here. She got a note with a series of numbers from the school vet, Dr. Simpson. Have you gotten anything like that?”
“Not numbers, but I did get a note that said,BeeyardS rain.”
“What?” Gabriel looks as confused as Hiram feels. “Do you have it?”
“No, it’s at home. I figured it was a mistake ...” He shrugs.
