What I didn’t know, though, was whether Hernández knew Kaknu was a shifter.Hernández was human and though she knew about Osso, Declan, and me, that didn’t mean she knew about any others.I wasn’t about to out anyone.
“Hey.Sorry,” I said.“When I’m working with glass, I can’t just stop.”
Hernández waved that away.“We’re infringing on your time, not the other way around.I wanted to introduce you to Special Agent Mutsun of the FBI.”
He offered his hand to shake mine, but I held up my gloved ones.Kaknu knew I didn’t shake, which told me that Hernández wasn’t aware Kaknu and I knew each other.
“Sorry; I don’t shake hands.It’s nice to meet you, though.”I gestured to the bench, inviting them to sit back down.I sat on the opposite bench, wishing I’d thought to grab something to drink.
Kaknu, or Special Agent Mutsun, wore the black suit of a fed, with his long hair in a braid down his back.He took off his mirrored sunglasses, slipping them into the breast pocket of his suit jacket.He took out his phone and looked at me.“May I record this conversation?”
I did not want to be in any FBI files but said, “I guess so,” anyway.
He tapped his screen.“Detectives Osso and Hernández tell me you’re the one who located the bodies at the summer camp.Is that correct?”
“Not exactly,” I explained.“My understanding was that a construction crew knocked down a cabin and found them.”
“Yes,” he said.“Thank you for that clarification.You found the others, though?”
“I indicated spots where I thought other bodies might be,” I replied.“I wasn’t there when they searched.”
Hernández put her hand up.“Sorry to interrupt.Arwyn, can I get you something to drink?Your face is really red.”
My fingers twitched at my side, unlocking the studio back door.“Thank you.I’d really appreciate that.Could you get me something from the fridge in the studio?”
“Of course.”Hernández stood and went in.
“Detective Hernández has gone to get the subject a drink,” Kaknu said into the recording app.“We interrupted her glass blowing.Arwyn Corey is an artist.She stopped working to speak with us.Here we are.Detective Hernández has returned with a grape soda for Ms.Corey.If we could resume?”
I cracked open the can and took a swig before nodding.
“Would you be surprised, Ms.Corey, to learn that everywhere you indicated there was a body, they did in fact find a body?”
I shrugged a shoulder as I took another sip.“Okay.”
“Could you explain to us how you knew where the bodies were?”he asked.
I blew out a breath.“I’m sure the lab has probably begun work on the remains, so I’m guessing you already know that some of them were killed before I was born.It certainly isn’t as though I knew from personal experience.”
Hernández gave me a long blink that amounted to a nod.That was apparently the right thing to say.
“As for how I knew,” I continued, “I’m sure there’s information on me at the police station.”
“Yes,” he said.“You’ve been involved in a number of high-profile cases, but there’s no record of the police department ever paying you for your assistance.Why is that?Oh, and if you could explain what it is that you do to assist Detectives Osso and Hernández, I’d appreciate it.”
“I’m a psychometrist.”I held up a gloved hand.“Meaning when I touch something, I can often see or hear who last touched it.Sometimes see the circumstances during which it was used.”
Cops had already seen me read bodies, so I’d have to confess to that.“If what they want me to read is a body, I can sometimes do that too.I often see the last moments of their lives, which gives the detectives more information for their investigation.”
“Have you ever testified in court?”he asked.
I took another sip and shook my head.“What I do, as far as I know, is not considered evidence.As I said, I pass on information and the detectives take that as they would any tips they might receive on a crime.The detectives are the ones responsible for investigating, not me.I help when I can and the police decide if what I’ve volunteered is useful.”
Hernández seemed to relax beside a very formal Kaknu.
“Back to payment,” he pushed.“Do you know why there is no record of the fees the police department has paid you?”
A strong wind kicked up and I lifted my hot face toward it.“There are no records because I’ve never taken a payment from the police department.”
