Karen Chance - Inked

LUPE Valdez, the senior charge nurse in orthopedics, was around fifty and maybe twenty pounds overweight, with thin lips, an asymmetric nose, and a weak chin. Even in her shining youth, most people probably wouldnt have called her lovely.

But her hair was gloriousthick and black, worn long and pinned up. Her smile was warm, and she moved with the lightness of a dancer. To Rule, she undoubtedly was lovely.

Lily wondered if Lupe smelled lovely, too. Lupi were a lot more scent-oriented than humans. Ms. Valdez, I appreciate your willingness to talk with me. She held out a hand.

Lupe, the woman said, taking Lilys hand without hesitation and giving a brisk shake. Call me Lupe. Im glad if anything I can tell you helps Jason. You want some coffee?

They were in the crowded alcove that served as a break room. Lily glanced at the coffeepot, thought it looked reasonably fresh, and decided to take a chance. Sure. Thanks. Black, please.

While Lupe poured two cups, after making sure Rule didnt want anyhe didnt, coffee snob that he wasLily sat at a table slightly bigger than a handkerchief and took out her notebook and pen.

Lupe Valdez had a hint of an accent and more than a hint of a healing Gift. Lily would bet her patients recovered faster than the norm. If shed managed to find training for her Gift, some of her patients recovered more fully than their doctors expected, too. If shed found another sort of training, she could have tattooed that design around Steve Hilliards neck.

Rule parked himself against the wall, leaning there with arms crossed. Lily waited until the other woman was sitting across from her to begin. I understand you and Jason kept in touch after he left town.

Her smile was small and private. You could say that. He always stopped by to see me when he visited Stevesometimes here, sometimes at home.

But not on the night he was killed.

Unfortunately, no. He dropped by here that day, spoke with me awhile, but I didnt see him that night.

For the record, I need to know where you were the night of Tuesday, April twenty-eighth.

At home. My daughter was home, too, since it was a weeknight. Sarita has to be home by eight on weeknights.

No other company?

No. Well, one of Saritas friends was there until tenLoris got a license and her mother lets her use her car a lot. Im divorced, she added. I dont know if Rule told you or not, but Im divorced, so its just me and Sarita at home now that Annie is at college.

Annie? Is she your other daughter?

She nodded. Her full names Anna Maria after her grandmother, but shes gone by Annie since she started school. Shes at UCLA. Theyre on a quarter system there instead of semesters, did you know? She doesnt get to come home till the end of the spring quarter. Not till June.

You must miss her. How old is Sarita?

Sixteen. Shell take drivers ed this summer. She smiled wryly. Im not looking forward to that nearly as much as she is.

Ill bet. Did you know Steve Hilliard?

She shrugged. Slightly. Wed met a few times. I knew he and Jason were tight.

You knew they were both lupus.

Yes. I knew about Jason before hewell, before most people did. And Steve was open about his nature. She glanced at Rule. That is, he was after you made your big announcement. Thats been, whatfive years now?

Rule smiled. Six.

Lily jotted down the names and info Lupe had given her. You and Jason are good friends. She kept her head down so she didnt seem to be watching Lupe, but she was. She saw the glance Lupe gave Rule before she answered.

Good friends, she said firmly. He introduced me to another friend. Maybe you know her. Nettie Two-Horses.

Lily looked up, smiling. I do. Netties one of my favorite people. Did she help you with your Gift?

Lupe jerked back, frowning.

Maybe Rule didnt tell you. Im Gifted, too. Im a sensitive.

Oh. No, he didnt. He didnt mention that.

I kept it secret for years, but thats not working for me anymore. I dont use my Gift to out people, Lupe. You dont have to worry about that. Rule tells me you live close to Robert Friar.

Her upper lip lifted. That nacimiento pstumo .

I havent heard that one before.

It means afterbirth. Its from an old saying that I made up. When she smiled this time, a dimple winked mischievously in one cheek. Do you have pets, Agent Yu?

Uhyes. Though Dirty Harry probably saw things the other way around. A tomcat. Hes neutered now, but dont tell him.

You may not be aware that after giving birth, many animal mothers will eat the afterbirth to keep the den clean. What I say about Robert Friar is that his poor mother was confusedshe ate the baby and raised the afterbirth.

You really dont like the man.

Lupe leaned forward suddenly and grabbed Lilys hand. He is evil. Evil. He killed Steve, I am sure of it. You will find the evidence and arrest him, and Jason will go free. You must.

Softly Lily asked, Why are you sure Friar killed Steve Hilliard?

He hates lupi. Everyone knows he hates lupi and all the Gifted, anyone tainted by magic. Thats his word, tainted .

There must be more than that, for you to be so certain.

She snorted. Some of her intensity faded, but she didnt release Lilys hand. You ask him. Ask Robert Friar about his daughter, Mariah.

All right. What can you tell me about her?

She had a baby two months ago, a little boy. She claims hes Steves son.

IT was late in the afternoon in late April, the sun was shining, and Lily was almost too warm in her lightweight jacket.

That was as it should be. Why did cold weather, snow, and ice get such great press when it sucked? Of course, not everyone was lucky enough to live in San Diego.

Why so smug? Rule asked.

Did you know that the U.S. Weather Service calls San Diegos weather the most nearly perfect in the country? To be fair she added, Hawaiis supposed to be nice, too.

He laughed. Youre glad to be home.

Yeah. Even for a little while, and even if she wasnt exactly home. Maybe Rules condo was supposed to be home now, but it wasnt hers. She didnt pay for anything there except some of the groceries. Which reminded herThe lease comes due on my apartment next month.

Hmm.

She glanced at him. Youre not going to tell me how stupid it is for me to keep paying rent when were living together and your place is so much bigger?

Why would I tell you what you already know? Youll keep the apartment if you feel a need. If not, youll let it go.

She walked beside him for a few steps in silence. If I werent investigating, Id hold your hand right now.

Promptly he took hers.

Hey. But she didnt pull away. She told herself no one would noticethey were mostly blocked from view by the parked cars. Mariah Friars baby. He isnt Steves son, is he?

No. Its not uncommon for a woman to claim one of us as the father. Sometimes they believe it to be true. Sometimes they hope for support, emotional or financial or both. Sometimes they want the notoriety.

Hmm. She accepted Rules word as both honest and accurate. He would know. Lupi never had to play who s-the dad. When a lupus impregnated a woman, he was instantly aware of it.

Lily might not have believed that if she hadnt been almost present when it happened once. Cynna and Cullen had made love in the next room, not in front of herand thank God for thatbut there was no doubt in her mind that Cullen had known immediately that his seed had caught.

Any lupus blessed with a child notified his Rho ASAP. One as desperate for a child as Hilliard had been would have announced it to the entire clan. Certainly to his oldest friend. So, how exactly did you stalk Chief Daly?

I dont know why I thought you might forget to ask about that.

I dont, either.

He flashed her a grin. Smart-ass. All right. For about a month, I made sure good old Pete saw a lot of me. Sometimes two or three times a day. Wed run into each other at the post office or Joes Burgershe likes the chili burger with extra jalapeos. Sometimes Id skip a couple days. Doesnt do to be predictable.