fun." For a young woman who worked in the morgue, Fern seemed almost happy-go-lucky.
Skye followed her to the receiving room. A City of Glendale crime-scene van had backed up to the main double-door entrance. One of the investigators was signing paperwork at the desk while five people stood around a white freezer with a police seal on it.
Fern said, "There's a body in there, isn't there?"
"Bingo," the investigator said without looking up from his paperwork.
"Amazing," Fern said. "What's the story?"
"Found by the housekeepers when they were cleaning out Kent Galion's place. We don't know for sure he killed her, but she's been missing more than a week. It's just a matter of putting together the evidence. If she was frozen right after death, the evidence should be well-preserved."
"Wow, I haven't had one of these before." Fern sounded excited. "Let's get the freezer weighed, then take it to the decomp room and let it thaw in a controlled environment. Hopefully we can autopsy in twenty-four."
Skye went over to the investigator and showed her badge. "Would you mind if I take a look at the file?" she asked.
"Help yourself," he said.
She flipped through the crime-scene notes, then turned to Fern. "Did you say earlier that Kent Galion was the name of the other body with the demon's mark?"
"I did; he's long buried."
"He attacked someone?"
"Galion was the owner of Velocity. Think that's the connection? Because the college kid died in the alley?"
"Nelson said Erickson was also at Velocity the night he died."
Skye jotted down the victim's and the suspect's addresses, trying to act nonchalant. She might have to risk ticking off Detective Nelson, because Skye needed Moira to check out the houses. One of them might lead to Fiona's coven.
Her phone vibrated. "Thanks," she said, handing the file back to the crime-scene investigator.
"Find what you were looking for?"
"Just curious," she said. She mouthed thank you to Fern, then stepped out of the building and answered her phone.
"McPherson."
"Skye. It's Anthony."
Her heart fluttered just a bit, enough to remind her that she already missed him. "Where are you?"
"New York. I have a few minutes before boarding. I wanted to hear your voice."
"I'm glad."
"What's going on in L.A.?"
"Three men have turned up dead, apparent heart attack, but with demon marks on their backs. Rafe and Moira are checking out the only connection between the three, a nightclub they were at immediately before they died."
"Where are you?"
"At the coroner's, waiting for Rod. I was just about to call Moira and give her some addresses to check out using her--" Skye was at a loss on how to describe Moira's ability to feel the presence of magic.
"Be careful, sweetheart."
"You, too." Quieter, she added, "I love you."
"I love you, too, Skye. And I'm worried. I wish I were there."
"Me, too, but more so we can have our house to ourselves. It's getting crowded."
"I've been trying to find Moira a place to stay, but--"
"Only Moira?"
"Rafe needs time to heal."
"Rafe is fine."
"Skye, the situation is complicated."
"I'm not obtuse, Anthony. I understand the complexities of the situation."
"Skye--"
"We'll talk about it when you come home."
"I'll call as soon as I land in Sicily. I need to board. Mi amore , please be careful."
She hung up the phone and rested it against her forehead. She didn't want to snap at him, especially now, but for the last two weeks Anthony had been pulling away from her. He didn't realize it, and she knew it had nothing to do with his love for her. His love was one of the few things in which she had complete confidence. It was more what he didn't say, the pressure St. Michael's had placed on him since Father Philip died. Struggling with Moira O'Donnell's presence. Several times when Anthony and Moira verbally sparred, Skye had the feeling Anthony wanted to slug her, yet Anthony wouldn't hit a woman. He believed in chivalry--in opening doors, in the small, sweet gestures that
Skye followed her to the receiving room. A City of Glendale crime-scene van had backed up to the main double-door entrance. One of the investigators was signing paperwork at the desk while five people stood around a white freezer with a police seal on it.
Fern said, "There's a body in there, isn't there?"
"Bingo," the investigator said without looking up from his paperwork.
"Amazing," Fern said. "What's the story?"
"Found by the housekeepers when they were cleaning out Kent Galion's place. We don't know for sure he killed her, but she's been missing more than a week. It's just a matter of putting together the evidence. If she was frozen right after death, the evidence should be well-preserved."
"Wow, I haven't had one of these before." Fern sounded excited. "Let's get the freezer weighed, then take it to the decomp room and let it thaw in a controlled environment. Hopefully we can autopsy in twenty-four."
Skye went over to the investigator and showed her badge. "Would you mind if I take a look at the file?" she asked.
"Help yourself," he said.
She flipped through the crime-scene notes, then turned to Fern. "Did you say earlier that Kent Galion was the name of the other body with the demon's mark?"
"I did; he's long buried."
"He attacked someone?"
"Galion was the owner of Velocity. Think that's the connection? Because the college kid died in the alley?"
"Nelson said Erickson was also at Velocity the night he died."
Skye jotted down the victim's and the suspect's addresses, trying to act nonchalant. She might have to risk ticking off Detective Nelson, because Skye needed Moira to check out the houses. One of them might lead to Fiona's coven.
Her phone vibrated. "Thanks," she said, handing the file back to the crime-scene investigator.
"Find what you were looking for?"
"Just curious," she said. She mouthed thank you to Fern, then stepped out of the building and answered her phone.
"McPherson."
"Skye. It's Anthony."
Her heart fluttered just a bit, enough to remind her that she already missed him. "Where are you?"
"New York. I have a few minutes before boarding. I wanted to hear your voice."
"I'm glad."
"What's going on in L.A.?"
"Three men have turned up dead, apparent heart attack, but with demon marks on their backs. Rafe and Moira are checking out the only connection between the three, a nightclub they were at immediately before they died."
"Where are you?"
"At the coroner's, waiting for Rod. I was just about to call Moira and give her some addresses to check out using her--" Skye was at a loss on how to describe Moira's ability to feel the presence of magic.
"Be careful, sweetheart."
"You, too." Quieter, she added, "I love you."
"I love you, too, Skye. And I'm worried. I wish I were there."
"Me, too, but more so we can have our house to ourselves. It's getting crowded."
"I've been trying to find Moira a place to stay, but--"
"Only Moira?"
"Rafe needs time to heal."
"Rafe is fine."
"Skye, the situation is complicated."
"I'm not obtuse, Anthony. I understand the complexities of the situation."
"Skye--"
"We'll talk about it when you come home."
"I'll call as soon as I land in Sicily. I need to board. Mi amore , please be careful."
She hung up the phone and rested it against her forehead. She didn't want to snap at him, especially now, but for the last two weeks Anthony had been pulling away from her. He didn't realize it, and she knew it had nothing to do with his love for her. His love was one of the few things in which she had complete confidence. It was more what he didn't say, the pressure St. Michael's had placed on him since Father Philip died. Struggling with Moira O'Donnell's presence. Several times when Anthony and Moira verbally sparred, Skye had the feeling Anthony wanted to slug her, yet Anthony wouldn't hit a woman. He believed in chivalry--in opening doors, in the small, sweet gestures that
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