He shook his head. “No. Val wasdifferent.” He ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. “Val wasn’tsupposedto be a fling, she’s the whole reason I started seeing a therapist in the first place. We got to talking one night when I went over to mother’s for dinner. We had a few drinks, she opened up about problems with her girlfriend, and I talked about Sheree.” He explained to Avery, “Sheree was my wife.” Then continued, “That night with Val was the first time I felt like I really let someone in. Weconnected. At least, I thought we did.”
“When was this?” asked Saga.
“Started about a month before my mother passed. Val didn’t get out much, because she had to be close to my mother pretty much all the time, but we were able to take a long weekend. Flew her to the South of France.” He smiled at Saga, but the sadness never left his eyes. “Have you ever been?”
Saga shook her head.
“It’s beautiful.” It was said simply, honestly. “You should really see it sometime.” His smile faltered. “We got back Monday night. Mom died on Thursday.” He tried to force his smile back but it vanished completely.
Avery noted his eyes appeared watery, even a little bloodshot. “Did that change things for you?”
“No. I mean,yes, but not in regards to Val—not for me anyway.” He shook his head. “Unlike Sheree and Matthew, I was prepared for Mum. It doesn’t make it better, but at least… She had a wonderful life, and I thought with Val…” He dropped his hands into his lap. “I thought I’d have someone to lean on.”
“She didn’t feel the same?” Saga prodded. Her voice was gentle, and encouraging.
“I don’t know. She moved out, which I get, and weweretexting a little, but it became less every day…” He shook her head. “Then she just ghosted me.”
That sounded like a confession to Avery. “That’s why you killed her?”
Elis balked. “What? Killed her?” His complexion worsened. He was sweating. “Wait, Val is dead?”
“Murdered. Found not far from here in her car.” Avery turned questioningly to Saga. “Am I missing something? He just told us he knew she had passed on.”
Elis stood, panicked. “Holy shit, what?” His breathing was ragged. “No, no, no, I did not do that!”
“Ghosted means you just stop talking to someone,” said Saga quickly. “Without warning, you just vanish—likea ghost.”
Oh. Well, that was a tad embarrassing. She cleared her throat. Yet the question wasn’t entirely off base; Valentina haddiednear his apartment.“Then why was her body found less than a mile from here at three a.m.? Where was she going if not here?”
“She did come over a lot during that month, I won’t deny that.” Elis paused, gaining his bearings. He seemed woozy. “She hadn’t talked to me in a few days.Maybeshe was coming here that night, but I didn’t invite her, and I certainly didn’t kill her!” His eyes were wild as he frantically glanced from Avery to Saga. “Is that why you’re here? Is that the reason why you’re here?”
“We’re just trying to figure out what happened to Valentina, Elis,” Avery leveled her tone. Soft. Firm. Calm.
“I don’t know. I would neverhurther. I wanted toprotecther. I even gave her a special amulet,” there was a slight slur to his speech now.
“What amulet?” continued Avery.
“For protection!” Elis rubbed his face, frustrated. He stumbled, falling back into his chair. “Hawthorns, they protect. They…keep you safe. Shecouldn’thave been murdered, I gave her… Was she wearing it?”
“Where did you get that amulet, Elis?” Avery asked, trying to focus the magic in her voice.
Saga stood, her brow furrowed but her tone calm and clinical. “Avery, something’s wrong.”
“Family heirloom, I gave her—” Elis bent forward toward her, gripping at his abdomen. A fit of coughing overtook him, and Saga moved to him to keep him from collapsing.
Avery’s brow furrowed as she leaned around to peer over Saga’s shoulder. Elis was sweating and jaundiced. “Elis?”
“Oh gods. Avery, call 999.” Saga pulled back, the front of her dress covered in blood spatter. “Tell them we need an ambulancenow. I think his liver is shutting down.”
Blood dripped from Elis’s lips. “I wouldn’t hurt her. You can ask her. I wouldn’t…”
Saga’s training kicked in and she helped him sit down and get more comfortable. “I know, I know…”
Avery pulled out the phone she was given, dialing the numbers asinstructed as she moved quickly back toward the elevator, pressing the call button urgently.
“Emergency Services, how can I—”
The door opened, and the liftman’s smile dropped as he caught sight of Avery.
