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Pete chose a stylus from the same cup and played with it idly. The stylus was thick and shiny black with a red hourglass design on the side. “No, but since they were killed by having their dissolved insides sucked out through two large holes in their throats, I thought you might take a special interest.”
Lady Daphne’s eyebrows went up. “I take it you are aware of my race?”
Pete nodded but didn’t add anything. He placed the stylus back in the cup with the others, clearly waiting for Lady Daphne to say more.
“I would be interested to know where you came by this information.” Lady Daphne’s eyes narrowed, and her lips tightened.
Sergeant Giovanni murmured something under her breath the others didn’t hear. “I’d like to know that myself.” She leaned forward, put her elbows on Lady Daphne’s desk, and said at a normal conversational level, “It’s our job to be well-informed about the Others in this state.”
Lady Daphne smiled, a show of white teeth. She gestured to her tightly laced black velvet corset. “As you can see, I am most certainly not pregnant...”
Stella snickered.
Lady Daphne continued, her shark smile widening at the shared joke with her employee. “…so if you’re implying I killed these men because of the drives of my nature, you need to do your research a bit more thoroughly.”
Sergeant Giovanni smiled back at her, showing her own white teeth. “No one is accusing you. We only meant you had a stake in keeping your people’s reputation in the community free of allegations. Maybe you could look at those pictures again. Something might ring a bell.”
“I assure you none of my people are responsible for this, but I’m delighted to help the authorities in any way I can.” Lady Daphne glanced up at the tall, dark woman standing behind them. “Stella, love, do any of these men look familiar to you?” She held the pictures up across the desk.
The muscular woman, Stella, leaned over Sergeant Giovanni, placing a hand on her shoulder as she reached for the pictures.
The sergeant flinched. “Ow.”
“Sorry,” Stella said. “A drunk broke a bottle over my hand the other night. I haven’t gotten my engagement ring repaired yet. It tends to snag on things.” She showed Pete and Sergeant Giovanni the metal tine that stuck up next to the central stone on her ring.
“You’re engaged?” Pete said. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Stella favored him with a wide, bright grin.
“I don’t suppose you got engaged because you’re pregnant?” Pete asked.
Stella barked a laugh. “That would be quite a miracle, sir.”
Pete’s brows scrunched together for a moment, then widened as he put the pieces together. “Well, congratulations again then.”
“Thanks again,” she said with a grin.
Carefully, Stella looked at each of the pictures. “Huh. I’ve seen this guy here a few times. I remember him.” She handed the picture to Sergeant Giovanni.
The sergeant’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you remember him when Ms. Fairchilde doesn’t?”
“He hassles some of the young college girls when he gets drunk.” Stella shrugged. “I’ve had to call him an auto-cab a couple times.”
Sergeant Giovanni looked at the picture. “Corporal Araus, right.” She probably wasn’t even aware her lip made a slight sneer of disgust. “When was the last time you remember seeing him?”
“Some time last month, I think. He stuck his hand up the skirt of a girl barely old enough to get in the door.” Stella made a face. “You know the type, Sarge.”
The MP and the bar bouncer shared a wry expression. “A little too well, unfortunately,” Sergeant Giovanni said, then yawned. She shook her head and blinked repeatedly.
Stella leaned forward, placing her ringed hand on Sergeant Giovanni’s shoulder. The sergeant flinched again. “Are you all right, ma’am? You don’t look so good.”
“I…I feel a little…” The sergeant fell forward. Stella caught her before her head could hit the desk and eased her body back into the chair.
Pete jumped to his feet and pulled his gun from the holster under his synth-leather jacket. “Get away from her.” He pointed the gun at Stella.
Stella shook her head. “I don’t think you want to do that, sir. I gave her two doses of a strong sedative to knock her out quickly.” She showed him the hollow tube leading up her sleeve. Her hand with the sharp ring hovered just over Sergeant Giovanni’s throat. “Another dose could be fatal.”
While Pete’s attention was on Stella, Lady Daphne pulled her own gun from a holster mounted under her desk and pointed it at Pete. “Your friend won’t be harmed as long as you don’t do anything stupid. Place your gun on the desk.”
