Page 5 (1/2)

"That’s because the explosive factor was canya" I watched as Mallen’s expression turned fro sorcerers The question is: Who did it, and how did they get hold of this crap?"

"Then toxicity results aren’t going to show anything" He closed the folder and set it down on the table "The fact is, the a the size of the Supe Community Hall points to soh canya for that, I wouldn’t put it past them to have other tricks like this up their sleeve You have to find the while"

Chase let out a long sigh "We so didn’t need that inforo have a talk with the fa upstairs" He shook his head, looking resigned "I’oes away"

Chapter 3

Chase told everybody but Shade and o home There were familythem with too many faces, too many questions

After Cah the cubicles, waving to the night crew, until we reached Chase’s office Nerissa hurried in behind us, looking a little worse for wear, but she was dressed in jeans and a pretty blouse, sober, and ready to work

As soon as he closed the door, Chase turned to me "I hate this part of the job I know you do, too But we have to word this carefully We know this was no accident So we have outright murder and arson"

"What do we tell them?" It was better to defer to Chase on this one--he was the one who had to deal with the fallout, especially if it took us a while to find the murderers

He stared at a piece of paper on his desk, tapping his fingers on the wood After a o Just follow my lead" With a decisive nod, he motioned for us to follow hiroup of anxious Weres sat around the rooht of Marion Vespa--owner of the Supe-Urban Café--and quickly looked away before she could catchwitness to e told her that her sister was dead

Exo Reed’s wife, Claudia, was there She’d left the kids home And others… the anxious faces made me want to weep So much needless death and destruction went on in s--but here was the real afterlanced anxiously at us, scanning our faces She uage, but whatever the case, her expression cru her head, silent tears strealanced at them "Will the families of Trixie Jones, Thomas Creia, Exo Reed, and Salvatore Tienes please come with us" He turned to Sharah "Will you talk to the others?"

She nodded, silently leading three people aside They lanced at her as we led the others into a quiet conference rooht collapse

As I closed the door, Chase motioned for people to sit down "I’

"They’re dead, aren’t they? My Exo is dead" Claudia struggled to speak, her voice barely audible

He nodded "I’m sorry to have to tell you this…and in this manner There was an explosion at the Supe Coht in the blast--seven that we know of so far Two are in intensive care fighting for their lives The others…I’m sorry but they didn’t make it"

I watched as he skirted the delicate line between caring too et caught up in their pain, but neither could he remain totally detached

Marion sucked in a deep breath and raised her head, letting out a long cry--a howl almost The others, one by one joined in Coyote, canine, wolf…they were all part of the tableau and they were all shifters under their superficial differences

Chase waited till they finished, respecting the tradition, and then he gently passed around pictures of the elf "I’m sorry to ask this, but first, do any of you have any idea of who this ht in the blast, too, but we haven’t been able to put an ID to hi, and shook their heads Marion held it last, staring long and hard

"I think he ht have come into the café the other day, but I’m not sure It was a slow day and I see to him But I don’t know his name" She handed it back "Who did this?"

"We don’t know yet" Chase let out a long breath "I’m sorry, but the sooner we ask you some questions, the sooner we’ll be able to catch whoever it is that did this" He glanced around at the silent, tear-stained faces

After a moment, Claudia Reed spoke up "Ask your questions, Detective We’ll do all we can to help" She looked at the others, and they nodded their assent Apparently, Exo’s as tougher than I had first thought

"Thank you I know this is a rotten tiht help" Chase shuffled a few papers and flipped open his notebook, pen poised over the paper

"Have any of your loved onesout of the ordinary--any ene threats? Anybody unhappy with them?"

He settled back in his chair while Nerissa unobtrusively passed out tissues, patted shoulders, and brought a blanket for Marion, as shivering I wanted to go over, put my arms around her shoulders, whisper that it was all okay, that it was a mistake and her sister was still alive and well