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“That’s a good thing, Char,” she said with a wink. “That eliminates a huge population of possible suspects.”

“But there’s still the possibility it was a vampire, shifter, or fae,” I said, spinning a cookie as I thought.

“Doubtful it was a vampire,” Julian said once again as he sipped politely on his tea.

“You’re probably right,” Hazel agreed to my surprise. “How would it serve a vampire? That’s the question to ask when considering them as possible suspects.”

Julian did not react to her words, and I filed that information away for later.

“Okay, then how would a shifter fit through the vents?” I asked.

“Not a shifter either.” Hazel shook her head as Karma flew to her shoulder in raven form. “They look like crimes of passion, but they were clearly premeditated. Not shifter style. Plus, how would they get through the vent?”

“That leaves…fae,” I said with a gulp.

“Not likely,” Hazel said through a mouthful of cookie. “They keep to themselves, and if they don’t, they have no compunction about showing off and taking credit.”

“But…who else is there?” I asked, sitting up straight.

Hazel shrugged, dislodging Karma, who flew to land in front of me and cocked his head.

“Any of the above that don’t fit a stereotype,” Julian said, setting his cup down. “Thank you for your assistance.” He stood as though to leave.

“Or…” I stood as well, not to go, but with an idea taking form. “Or someone that’s none of the above.”

Both of my companions stared. Karma cawed.

“The Other sect,” I said, gesturing with excitement. “Surely something in that group could have managed it.”

“It’s possible,” Julian said, sitting again.

I joined him and cupped my warm tea in my palms. “Julian thinks it could be a sect leader,” I disclosed, to which Julian shot me a reproachful look. But my gut and Zoe’s feelings said Hazel was cool no matter his opinion.

“So, do you know Binx?” I asked Hazel, taking a sip of my tea.

“Oh yeah. Have you done him yet?”

I spit out my tea. “Excuse me?”

Hazel motioned, and a napkin floated over to me. “He’s good. You’re missing out.”

Julian growled low in his chest, but Hazel ignored him yet again.

“Doesn’t he feed off…that?” I asked, dabbing at my shirt.

She shrugged. “He deserves to get something out of it too.”

“I never thought of it like that.” Not that I was planning on testing it out.

“We should be going,” Julian said, superspeeding over to pull out my chair.

“But could he have done it?” I asked, standing.

“No,” Julian answered, steering me toward the door with a hand on my lower back. “He only exists corporeally in this realm at night, and the crimes happened in the daytime hours. But your theory is not a bad one. We should research supernatural creatures with those abilities.”

“Thanks for coming,” Hazel said, following us. She pointed at me, and I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. “I put my contact info in.”

I waved goodbye and followed Julian back to the vamp mobile as Karma flew out and circled above our heads.