Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Colletion_ Books 6-10 - Laurell K. Hamilton [596]
“Deductive reasoning,” Edward said. “I’m impressed.”
“Yeah, me and Sherlock Holmes. By the way, now that I’m persona non grata, where are you taking me?”
“To a restaurant. You said you hadn’t had lunch.”
I nodded. “Fine.” Then after a moment, I asked, “What was his name?”
“Who?”
“The Bromwells’ son, what was his first name?”
“Thad, Thaddeus Reginald Bromwell.”
“Thad,” I said softly to myself. Had he been forced to watch while his parents were skinned alive, mutilated? Or had they watched him die before they bled? “Where’s your body, Thad? And why did they want it?” There was no answer. I hadn’t expected one. Souls weren’t like ghosts. To my knowledge there was no way to communicate with them directly. But I would have answers and soon. It had to be soon. “Edward, I need to see the pictures from the other crime scenes. I need to see everything the Santa Fe PD have. You said only this last case was in Albuquerque, so screw them. I’ll start from the other end.”
Edward smiled. “I’ve got copies at my house.”
“Your house?” I sat up straighter and stared at him. “Since when do the police share files with bounty hunters?”
“I told you the Santa Fe police like Ted.”
“You said the Albuquerque police liked you, too,” I said.
“They do like me. It’s you they don’t like.” He had a point. I could still see the hatred in Marks’ eyes when he hissed at me, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Sweet Jesus. That was actually the first time I’d ever had that particular verse quoted at me. Though I suppose someone would have gotten around to it sooner or later, being who I am and what I do. I just didn’t expect it from a police lieutenant during a murder investigation. It lacked a certain professionalism.
“Marks won’t be able to solve this case,” I said.
“Without you, you mean?”
“It doesn’t have to be me, but someone with some expertise is going to be needed. We are not dealing with a human killer here. Normal police work is not going to do the job.”
“I agree,” Edward said.
“Marks needs to be replaced,” I said.
“I’ll work on it,” he said. Then he smiled. “Maybe with that nice Detective Ramirez that found you sooo fascinating.”
“Don’t go there, Edward.”
“He does have one thing over your other two boyfriends.”
“What?” I asked.
“He is human.”
I’d have liked to argue but couldn’t. “When you’re right, you’re right.”
“You’re agreeing with me?” He sounded surprised.
“Neither Jean-Claude nor Richard are human. As far as I can tell, Ramirez is human. What’s to argue about?”
“I was teasing you, and you go all serious on me.”
“You have no idea how refreshing it would be to be with a man that just wanted me for me, without any Machiavellian plots.”
“Are you saying that Richard has been plotting behind your back, just like the vampire?”
“Let’s just say I’m no longer sure who the good guys are, Edward. Richard has become something harder and more complex because his role as Ulfric, Wolf King, has demanded it of him. And God help me, partly I think because I demanded it of him. He was too soft for me, so he’s become harder.”
“And you don’t like it,” Edward said.
“No, I don’t like it, but since it’s partially my fault, it’s hard to bitch.”
“Then dump them both, and date some humans.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“It’s only hard if you make it hard, Anita.”
“Just dump the boys and start dating other men, just like that.”
“Why not?” he asked.
I opened my mouth sure I had an answer, but for the life of me couldn’t come up with one. Why not date other people? Because I loved two men already and that seemed one too many without adding anyone else. But what would it be like to be with someone who was human? Someone who wasn’t trying to use me to consolidate his power like Jean-Claude. Both Richard and Jean-Claude huddled around my humanity like it was the last fire at the end of the world and all the rest was icy darkness. Richard especially clung to me