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Turned out, the man who sold my body from the hospital morgue here in Tallahassee hadn’t been in the birthing room when Ansin gave the command to dispose of me. And yes, the man had recognized me. And then proceeded to piss himself. I had risen from the dead.
When he finally took a break from whimpering, he explained how he’d sold me that same day to some cadaver broker and told the staff I’d gone to the crematorium.
So that solved that mystery, but then, on my way out, he begged my forgiveness for selling my body. Next, he swore up and down that he’d taken proper care of my daughter.
“What daughter?” I’d asked.
“The one who died in the delivery room with you. But I swear, mister, I swear I sent her to the funeral home like I was told.”
“You must be mistaken,” I’d said. “The child born that day was my son, and he is alive.”
“Oh, uh. Yeah. Yeah.” He’d nodded frantically. “I musta gotten confused.”
Those were his words, but I could tell he did not mean them. He was simply too afraid and did not wish to argue.
So why did he believe Draco had been born a girl who died?
I added the question to the list of other lies and omissions I’d observed since my return, beginning with the tablet.
Jeni had mentioned how she and Ansin had attempted to bring me back a few days ago, using a tablet stolen from me by my previous chauffeur, Niko Spiros.
Only one problem: I’d never heard of the Tablet of Saint Peter. And if anyone would know of its existence, it would be me. I’d spent thousands of years hunting down such powerful items, but I’d certainly never come across it, let alone owned it.
So why had Ansin or Niko lied about the tablet being from my collection?
Next, only adding to my questions, Jeni said they’d used the tablet to bring me back. She claimed I had entered Niko’s body for a moment.
Impossible.
Sage’s tattoos were notoriously effective, which meant her collar had brought me back within twenty-four hours after Ansin slit my throat. It also meant that I’d spent the last six months repeatedly returning to life and being refrozen. No wonder I felt so cold.
In short, it was now time to visit Jeni’s father and take one more step toward getting to the bottom of these lies. And more importantly, locating Draco.
I rang the doorbell, and Jeni’s father greeted me with a dishtowel in hand. He looked to be in good health and had let his sandy blond hair grow out.
“King?” His face turned white. “You’re alive?”
“Unfortunately, yes—a nasty side effect of being me. But do not be alarmed, Mr. Arnold,” I said, using my voice to calm him. “May I come in?”
“Ye-yes. Of course.” He stepped aside and allowed me to enter, shutting the door behind me. “Have you seen Jeni? Does she know you’re…back?”
“She is aware.”
“Did she tell you about Draco?”
“Yes, it is why I am here. I would like to ask some questions in hopes I might locate him.”
“Sure. Sure. Anything you need.” He pointed to the living room. “Take a seat.”
I went over and sat on the dark green sofa, relieved to see the place clean and free of whisky bottles. The first time I’d come to this home with Jeni, her father had been self-medicating after a very severe traffic accident. I’d used a trick of mine to fix him up like new. Basically, I’d snapped his neck and brought him back to life with a special ring I owned. Jeni had eventually told her father all about it. The point was, he knew who and what I was—the likely reason he was taking my return so well.
Mr. Arnold took a seat across from me on the armchair. “What can I do for you?”
“I need to know if you recall Jeni being in contact with anyone since Draco’s birth? Any friends, old colleagues, or babysitters?”
“No, I don’t remember anyone. And Jeni would never let a stranger take care of him. Jeni was too afraid of the Seers coming for him.”
“Do you recall her taking any out-of-town trips?”
He shook his head. “She hardly left the house. She even had her groceries delivered.”
So he recalled nothing useful. This was not good. “You were there the day he went missing. Correct?”
“Yes. I’d just driven in to stay with Draco while Jeni went on a job interview.”
“Do you recall seeing anyone outside the home or lurking nearby?” I asked.
“No.”
“And what were you doing when he disappeared?” I asked.
“I put him in his playpen. I left the room for a few minutes. I came back, and he was gone.”
“And no one else was in the house, not even Ansin?” I had to wonder.
He scratched his head. “I don’t remember.”
“You don’t remember seeing Ansin or if anyone else was in the house?”
