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This wasn’t the time for blithe remarks so I simply nodded and looked out of theDiall’s place was nice

We got out of the car and walked up to the couple standing at the entrance – one policeman and one witch This was murder; there was no chance that the Order could avoid involving the coppers, but I had a feeling that the red robes were going to take the lead

The witch bobbed her head at Winter and murmured his name to the policeman It was clear fronised h to keep her ossip or pointless questions

My foot was barely over the threshold when I sht I knehat death smelled like, I’d been sorelyand still the reek was overpowering The sewer had been a rose garden compared to the sour, faeces-ridden stench that now confronted me

There were Arcane Branch witches all over the place They acknowledged Winter and ignored me That was fine We weren’t even in the sa up Holding a conversation with anyone, even just saying h my mouth I could do this; I didn’t want Winter to think I was a complete wuss – even if I was

We were directed into the kitchen It was a cook’s delight, with ain a neat row and a view out towards the sunny garden It would have been a beautiful roo askew on the tiled floor Winter walked over to hied over to join hi and wrapped my arms round e kitchen knife protruding froiveaway There was an incredible amount of blood splattered over the pristine kitchen cabinets as well as pooling underneath the body Diall’s hands lay by his side; he was not clutching the knife as I ht have expected His head lay to the side but I could still see the screaulped and took a step back Focus on Winter, I told myself He’s the expert here

I watched as he examined Diall He didn’t touch the body but his eyes roved over every aspect of it He paused as he looked at the les He also took his ti the corpse to open its

‘I don’t suppose you know necroly

Half the witches in the rooot asked that a lot Yes, necro memory had been able tonecroet it right Ironically, I was fairly certain that the ability was described at length in the Cypher Manuscripts Not in the runted He stood up and circled the body a few ti sure he didn’t tread on any vital piece of evidence When he was done, he beckoned the police officer ‘The murder weapon,’ he said ‘Is it from here?’

The officer nodded ‘As far as we can tell There’s aknife from the block on the counter’

So we could assume that this wasn’t a premeditated murder; it had been the result of circumstance – unless the killer knew Diall’s kitchen well and had planned to use one of Diall’s own knives against him

‘Was he married?’ My voice eak and thready, barely audible to anyone but Winter I cleared ain ‘Adeptus Diall,’ I said ‘Was he married? Did he have a partner?’ Most murders were com the circumstances, it was unlikely that a jealous spouse had done this to hi

The police officer shook his head ‘Divorced We checked on his ex-wife She’s been living in Spain for the past three years We’re sending the local police round to her villa but we think we can rule her out’ He glanced at me ‘She’s not one of yours’ Probably not a witch then That was unusual but not necessarily suspect

‘Have we uncovered anything?’ Winter asked, addressing the other witches

The nearest one shook his head ‘Unsurprisingly Adeptus Exe wards in place No spell we can use ork here’

Typical Bloody Order witches and their desire for security It seeerprints except for those of Mr Diall and his housekeeper,’ the policerowled

I rolled my eyes Even now, he remained a stickler for Order protocol While the policeap ‘Has anyone found any, um, papers?’