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Julian set a hand on the small of my back as he steered us into the elevator beside the general.

Despite being semi-prepared, the crowded scene in the basement turned my stomach. Dr. Orpheus leaned over the worst of the evidence, but Lauren’s long legs sprawled out in front of me. Unlike Michelle’s body, there was no blood—quite the opposite since she’d been exsanguinated by a vampire. And it appeared she was naked, which caused me to force a flashback of the night before deep down for later.

“Was she…” My throat clogged, and I became unable to finish the thought.

Daphne’s hand found my shoulder and squeezed. “No sign of sexual assault.”

I released a breath.

“I’d like the body to be moved to Dr. Devaux’s lab for examination,” Julian said, approaching the corpse.

“That won’t be necessary,” the general said, stopping him in his tracks. “You’re off the case, Lieutenant.”

I spun around so fast I almost got whiplash. “What?”

The general ignored me. “And under house arrest pending further investigation. If you ignore orders, I’ll add a court martial to that list. Understood?”

Julian’s eyes flashed scarlet, but it was so quick I wondered if the general noticed. He nodded slowly in response, jaw locked shut.

“He didn’t do this,” I blurted out, and the activity in the room came to a halt. All eyes were on me. Daphne shook her head almost imperceptibly and I swallowed.

“Enlighten us, Doctor,” the general barked.

Drawing in a deep breath, I steadied myself. “There is strong evidence that the real killer is a shapeshifter that can take on the form of other people.”

“Do you have proof of this?” the general asked.

“I… Not exactly,” I said, thinking fast. “But I have an eyewitness that places this victim with a being like that. And it explains how they got through the vents and then killed Michelle.”

“So, conjecture. Do you have anything useful to add?” The general’s flippant response was likely meant to shut me down, but he didn’t know me very well if that was the case. I took it as a challenge.

“Quite a bit, actually.” I raised my eyebrow, and he grunted his permission to continue. “Julian couldn’t fit through the vents above the elevator. And what would be his motive?” I challenged.

“Fascinating,” the general said. “Are you aware that psychic visions can be manipulated by glamour?”

The floor fell out from under me—at least that’s what it felt like as I clutched my chest where my anti-glamour charm rested beneath my shirt. I actually stumbled. “I—he didn’t. He couldn’t—”

The general nodded to two of the petty officers who hung in the background, standing guard. “You are under house arrest for suspicion of murder, Lieutenant. You will be escorted to your home where wards will be erected to prevent anyone going in or out without my express consent. Make my day and struggle.”

The two men approached Julian, faces pale but determined as they flanked the vampire.

“On what grounds?” I said, grabbing the general’s sleeve like a child demanding attention.

He glared at my hand like it was an offensive bug he wanted to smack, and I withdrew it. But he answered. “What you don’t know, Doctor, is that there is evidence at the scene that linked the Lieutenant. Dr. Orpheus?”

The strawberry-haired man held up a torn and bloody bit of cloth that I recognized. It had come from the black shirt Julian had worn last night. My stomach sank. He’d lost it in the fight with Sam. It could’ve been anywhere between Sam’s cabin and my house, and anyone could’ve picked it up and planted it.

That was hardly evidence.

I was about to point it all out when Julian caught my eye and shook his head. He didn’t want me to fight for him? Furrowing my brow in question, I tilted my head slightly. He flared his nostrils in response, darting his gaze to the man on his left.

Daphne put an arm around me and squeezed as I worked through his silent communication in my mind. What was he trying to tell me?

“Do what you think is right,” she said, staring at the general. “But know that the board will hear about it if you act rashly.”

Damn straight. I was going to find real evidence, then the whole godsforsaken island was going to learn to listen to me.

Chapter 13