Page 65 of A Seer and Present Danger

He took a drink of coffee. “I didn’t know. I didn’t see that coming. No, I didn’t kill him. Why would I?”

“You deal in antiques, right, Detective Vandre? Kenny had a pawn shop and it’s possible he wasn’t just selling old teddy bears.”

“That’s…teddy bears? Tell me what you know about Kenny. What else was he selling?”

“Are you interrogating me? Should I get a lawyer?”

“Nothing official. This is off the record. But if you think the two crimes are connected, I’d like to know the proof you’ve gathered.”

“What makes you think I’ve gathered anything?”

“You’re very smart, Piper. And you care about your people—everyone who comes through here is your family, even if only for one meal. Of course, you’re going to look for answers.”

“You’re very observant,” I said. “Were you still here at the diner, maybe outside, the night Hugo died with something he stole that Kenny wanted?”

“Yes.”

Oh. Well, that was straight to the point.

“You haven’t told the police?”

“I am the police, Piper.”

“What do you think he stole?”

He took another drink of coffee. “How well do you know Aggie?”

That came right out of left field.

“We get along. How well do you know her?”

“That’s a change of tone. Has she talked about me?”

I didn’t want to throw Aggie under the bus, but I didn’t want him to think that she didn’t have anyone at her back either.

“She worked for you.”

“That’s…true. We handled an antique shop for a year or so.”

“You’re stalking her.”

He blinked, then frowned, eyebrows knitting. “I didn’t know she worked here. I am not stalking her.”

“So, you being here is just a coincidence?”

“I don’t believe in coincidence,” he said.

“Neither do I.”

“I do believe in magic, though,” he said. “And fate. And other random gods and creatures who like to meddle.”

“Such as demigods?”

“Worst meddlers on the block.” He raised his cup in a small toast.

I grinned. Yes, he was a demigod, yes, he’d said he was looking for stolen goods, and yes, Aggie had said she didn’t like him, but I was finding it hard not to.

“You didn’t tell me what you think Hugo stole,” I said.