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I laid it out for her The only thing I didn't mention was that Salina appeared to be the murderous elemental in question and that Kincaid wanted to hire me to kill her I wanted to talk to Owen about Salina - and a lot of other things - before I dropped the dime on that

While Bria took notes on a small pad, Xavier crouched down next to the body, pulled up the tablecloth, and peered underneath

The giant let out a lohistle "That is one nasty mess Did you say a water elemental did this?"

So in his voice made me frown "Yeah Why?"

Xavier waved his hand at Bria "Come take a look at this "

My sister ain so she could see Antonio's body Bria's face tightened, and she nodded at the giant

"It looks exactly the same as our other victim," she said

My eyes narrowed "What other victim?"

"Katarina Arkadi," Bria replied "I'm sure you know the name "

Oh, I knew the naht Katarina Arkadi was another one of the underworldto consolidate her power base of late If the rumors were to be believed, Arkadi had actually proposed so could be divided up between all the folks who had a seat at the table

I glanced at Kincaid Another rumor that Finn had told me about linked Arkadi with the casino boss in some hush-hush deal I'd heard Arkadi had been found dead, but I'd been so preoccupied with Owen and Salina, and now Kincaid, that I hadn't really paid tooher untimely demise

"Arkadi's been dead how long now?" I asked, working through the timeline in my mind "A week?"

"Four days," Bria correctedand found her in bed Coroner said it looked like she'd died of sudden, extreme dehydration, like all the water had somehow been pulled out of her body She was a iant is "

I looked at her "You don't believe in coincidences any more than I do "

She gave rim smile "Not in the least Not in Ashland "