Page 23 of The Temptation of Roan Island

Inspector Ricin enters the room, looks at the two chairs by the bed, and sits gingerly on the edge of the furthest one. Ruby perches on the side of my bed opposite the inspector.

“Lucy, take notes,” Inspector Ricin barks without looking at Lucy. “State your names for the record.”

Lucy sits in the other chair, her notebook flipped open and her pen to the page.

“Pippa Willoughby,” I say.

He turns his attention to Ruby. “And you?”

Ruby lifts her chin with a proud look in her eyes. “Ruby Roan.”

Lucy’s mouth drops open. “Roan?” she silently mouths.

Ruby smiles coyly at her friend. Clearly, these two have a lot to catch up on. It’s easy to guess why Ruby’s been remiss on her correspondence. From what I understand, newly mated Mavarri experience a period of… insatiable hunger. She and Noah have only surfaced for occasional meals, and even then they’re always touching each other. I once caught her feeding from him in the hall outside the library. They were so engrossed they didn’t even notice I was there, despite the fact that I was singing as I came down the hall before spotting them. I quickly backed away and went in the opposite direction, undetected.

“I believe you know why we’re here,” Ricin says, somehow able to look down his nose despite his diminutive size. “Tell me about the death of Hammish Roan.”

“He died,” Ruby states simply.

Inspector Ricin sighs. “The circumstances, Mrs. Roan. Where were you?”

“It was a few weeks after Solstice. We were at breakfast.”

“And Hammish Roan? Where was he?”

“He came to breakfast late.”

“He was very pale,” I add. “I remember that.”

Ruby nods. “He was. I thought maybe he was coming down with a cold.”

“So you were all in the…”

“Breakfast room,” Ruby supplies.

“Are you getting this?” Ricin asks Lucy, the derision clear in his tone.

“Yes, inspector.”

“What happened next?” he asks.

“I was standing near the breakfast buffet. I’d just added some honey to my warm oats when Noah shouted.”

“What did he shout?”

Ruby pauses for a moment, her eyes unfocused as if seeing back into the past. “He called his father’s name.” Her voice is quiet with emotion. She clears her throat. “I remember spinning around and rushing to Noah’s side. His father was on the floor.”

“Your back was to him?”

“Yes. I saw him enter, then returned to the buffet.”

“And you?” The inspector trains his small, beady eyes on me.

“I was sitting at the table.” I shake my head with feigned sadness. “Hammish walked into the room, and he stopped at his chair. He was standing one moment, made a gasping noise as he grabbed his chest, then collapsed.”

The inspector nods, glancing at Lucy. “Let me see those.” He snatches the notes out of her hands and reads over them. “You need to work on your shorthand Ms. Thaddox.” He flicks the notebook out without looking at her, the book dangling from his hand with disinterest.

Lucy presses her teeth together, her jaw tightening as she grabs it from him.