Raven, Red Read online

  "Right. Get in the car. Bird, if you're coming, get in and don't make a mess." Lance only said what he did for Nico's benefit—no way would that bird get in the car.

  Except he did, lifting off the car's roof and flapping to Nico's shoulder.

  "Damn," Ari breathed. "Nico, get in the car. We should go."

  "Go now," the bird insisted.

  "Right," Lance repeated and slid into the driver's seat.

  "I've hauled a lot of things in my car, but I don't think I've ever driven a raven across town," Detective Elliott shook his head as he stopped the car at a red light. Ari sat up front with him; Nico and the unnamed raven were in the backseat.

  "I've never seen a raven with red feathers under his chin," Ari sighed. "No idea about this one, or why he showed up now. Nico's been feeding him tamales behind the restaurant, but I've never seen a wild bird settle for riding in a car, even if it is with the guy who keeps him in Mexican food."

  "I can't figure that out, either, but then nothing about this case makes sense. Why not include a raven who likes tamales and can talk?"

  "Most people would freak out," Ari pointed out. "About a talking raven."

  "I think I'm past that now." Lance moved the car forward when the light turned green. "I can't wait to see what happens when we take the bird into the station."

  "I-umm right heere," the Raven squawked, making both jerk in their seats.

  Ari and Nico were led to Lance's office, where Lance offered them drinks and a place to sit. Ari watched as Lance considered his questions carefully.

  "Nico, I know this is hard, but can you tell me whether your parents have acted different lately—anything out of the ordinary?" Lance asked.

  Nico was seated on Lance's desk chair while the raven clung to its high back, hovering above Nico's right shoulder. The detective leaned casually against the desk to ask his questions, attempting to put Nico at ease while they talked.

  "No. Everything was the same," Nico denied. "School ended last Friday, so I was scheduled to work full evening shifts since then. I usually work weekends when I'm in school unless I have a project to finish and need the time."

  One of Nico's feet bounced beneath him, making his entire leg shake—a sign of anxiety. He was doing his best to hold it together, when he'd become an orphan in the time it took to blink. Ari understood his fear and confusion.

  Too well.

  "Have they taken any unusual trips? Been somewhere they wouldn't normally go?"

  "They took a trip to Spain last September. Ever since Mama had us take a family DNA test and she found out she had connections to Garcias in Spain, well, she wanted to go. Papa took her."

  "What part of Spain?" Lance scribbled on his yellow notepad.

  "Well, they went to Madrid, of course. Went to see lots of things. Ended up at Santiago de Compostela, before going back to Madrid and flying home. Mama had pictures on her phone. She sent me some of them."

  "Actual connections—as in relatives?" Lance lifted an eyebrow. He was following a trail Ari hadn't yet considered.

  "Distant cousins," Nico's shaking leg ramped up a notch. "They didn't meet any of them—Mama only wanted to see where our Spanish ancestors came from."

  "You're saying it was just a tourist trip, then?"

  "Yes. They had fun. Came back tired and full of stories." Nico choked on his words. Ari jerked her purse open to dig for tissues—she had some, somewhere. Nico drew his sleeve across his face, eliminating the need. The raven croaked softly and began preening Nico's hair.

  Nico sniffled and then chuckled at the attention he was getting.

  "Was there anything they brought home besides pictures? Did they have an itinerary—anything on a computer?" Lance asked as the raven inspected his work, then preened more hair, giving Nico a nice lift to his bangs.

  "If they did, it's on Papa's computer at home. Mama uses her phone. She hates the computer."

  "Nico, we can't get to that computer," Lance said.

  "Why not?" Nico raised reddened eyes to the detective.

  "I didn't want to break the news like this, but your house was destroyed not long ago. Looks like that call to the police last night should have been investigated better. Do you have anything we can use on your phone? By the way, you shouldn't answer it if anyone calls. We think someone may be looking for you, too."

  "Here's my phone," Nico pulled it from his pocket. "Why would anybody want to kill us? We didn't do anything."

  "That's what we're trying to find out. Is there anything on here that you don't want us to see? I'll have somebody look through those pictures your mother sent."

  "No." Nico shrugged helplessly. "I'll give you my password so you won't have to break into it."

  "Lance, a word?" Ari's head jerked around as someone appeared in the doorway.

  "I'll be right back," Lance said, straightening and walking swiftly from the office.

  "Norm's dead." Belwether didn't waste any time giving Lance the bad news. "Went to ask questions at a business across the alley from the restaurant. He was killed inside, along with both store employees. Their security system was ripped out and stolen. I've got uniforms all over the place, and forensics checking for evidence."

  "We need to look at the recordings Ari Leone sent to my phone," Lance growled. "Damn. Norm wasn't a friend by any stretch, but this really pisses me off."

  "We've blocked off half the street, and that won't go well with tourists and visitors in Deep Ellum tonight."

  "Maybe it's for the best—we don't need a crowd getting killed if these assholes are still around."

  "I was hoping they'd died in the restaurant. Unless there are two teams, they hit the house after the restaurant."

  "Yeah, or maybe they planted those bombs at the house last night and detonated remotely."

  "I think the Plano cops are getting questioned about their visit to the house last night," Belwether grimaced. "If there were any evidence to find, it's probably obliterated by now. Bomb squad is investigating. I asked for cooperation from the Plano PD. They couldn't say yes fast enough. Get Mona on those security recordings ASAP," Belwether added. "I want to know who or what went into that restaurant and killed thirty-four people."

  "How high will the death toll climb?" Lance asked, after wincing at the updated number.

  "Restaurant had a max capacity of ninety-five, plus staff and owners. I doubt it was full, but it could be close."

  "I think I want to have a conversation with the Plano officers who went to Nico's house last night."

  "So do I. We can have a sit-down later. How's the kid?"

  "Not the best. Still in shock, but that could crack any minute. He doesn't have any family in the States and doesn't want to go anywhere without Ms. Leone."

  "Is she willing to stay with him—at least temporarily?"

  "That's the feeling I get. There's something else, too."

  "What's that?"

  "A talking raven, who refuses to leave the kid's side."

  "This isn't the time for jokes, Lance."

  "I'm not joking. Didn't you notice the bird on the back of my chair when you pulled me away?"

  "Wasn't looking for one. Damn, must be slipping," Belwether mumbled.

  "Come back with me. See for yourself."

  "I think I will."

  Belwether followed Lance back to his office. Just as he'd said, the raven perched on the back of Lance's chair while Nico, arms crossed tightly over his chest and head down, studied his shoes.

  Work shoes, Lance realized. Black leather athletic shoes, suitable for employment in a restaurant. The rest of Nico's clothing was black, too, with the Blue Taco emblem on the left shoulder of his black polo.

  Everything else the kid owned had been blown apart. All he had was his phone and a backpack he'd carried to the gallery before going to work.

  "I'll be damned," Belwether whispered, jerking Lance away from his thoughts. Belwether was looking at the bird instead of the kid. "Does he have a name?" Belwether stepped
into Lance's office to ask Nico. Lance, wearing a frown, followed him in.

  "I don't know." Nico's arms tightened around himself.

  "Mac," the raven croaked.

  "Your name is Mac?" Belwether sounded incredulous.

  "Cor-mac. Flynn. Call. Me. Mac." There was a frown in the raven's croak, since his beak couldn't transform to convey the message.

  "Fucking hell," Belwether swore softly.

  "I think you should ask your questions later," Ari stood abruptly. "Nico's had enough for the day."

  "What. She. Said," the raven agreed.

  "We can put Nico in a safe house with guards," Lance suggested.

  "He can come home with me, Detective." Lance understood that Ari didn't like Belwether's intrusion nor his words. She was right, though. Nico looked as if he were barely hanging on.

  "Take them to her place," Belwether snapped at Lance. "Ms. Leone, don't leave town. I'll have a unit outside for your protection tonight. Tomorrow, Detective Elliott will call and set up another interview."

  "Thanks for all the warmth and hospitality," Ari's eyes and voice had gone so cold Lance wanted to shiver. "We'll be fine."

  Nico was up and out of the chair fast. Mac flapped to his shoulder and held on. Ari swept out of the office first, followed by Nico.

  "What. She. Said," the raven repeated on the way out.

  Ari fumed while Lance drove her and Nico to her house in North Dallas. She knew Lance kept looking her way, hoping to find a way to apologize for the Captain's gaffe, but she refused to allow an opening.

  Besides, it didn't take a genius—just someone with sensitive hearing—to know Nico was holding back tears while he stroked Mac's feathers in the back seat. The occasional sniff let her know exactly how things were.

  "I'll call tomorrow," Lance said as he saw them to Ari's back door. He waited while she unlocked it and turned off the alarm.

  "Thank you, Detective," Ari said before shutting the door in his face. She was grateful to be stronger than she looked as Nico fell into her arms and sobbed. Mac hopped to a nearby kitchen counter and spoke soft mumblings only a raven might understand.

  Chapter Two

  "Mac, are you hungry?" Ari, feeling bone-weary, stared at the raven, who now stood on her kitchen table. Nico slept in her extra bedroom after crying himself out. Ari had glanced briefly at the microwave clock—it showed one-seventeen AM.

  "Yes," Mac answered.

  "I'm really tired; can you eat an omelet or something easy?"

  "Yes. Water?" There was a question in his voice.

  "I'm so sorry. Let me get you some." Ari stood and went to the sink, where she pulled two glasses from an upper cabinet. "Ice? No ice?"

  "Ice."

  "Good choice." After getting ice for both glasses from the fridge, she filled them with filtered water and brought them to the table. "If I weren't so worried, I'd be breaking into the Scotch bottle over the fridge," she confessed, setting a glass in front of Mac.

  "Thanks." Mac dipped his beak in the glass and lifted his head to swallow.

  Ari sipped her water while watching Mac drink, then rose to put an omelet together. One large omelet should do for both of them. In less than twenty minutes, she set a plate covered by a generous omelet on the table.

  "How much do you want?" Ari held a knife and an extra plate in her hands.

  "Third?" Mac sounded hopeful.

  "A third it is," she said, cutting his portion and pushing it onto the extra plate. "If you want more, I can make another."

  "This fine." He fluffed his feathers and began picking at the omelet, tearing off chunks to eat. She'd filled it with ham, cheese, tomatoes, peppers and onions, all of which Mac appeared to enjoy.

  "Nico may wake up starving," Ari sighed. "I don't know when he ate last."

  "He ex-aww-stedd," Mac croaked. "He eat later."

  "You uh, have some egg on your beak," Ari tapped the left side of her mouth. "Here." She pushed an extra paper towel in his direction. Mac dutifully cleaned his beak, wiping it back and forth on the makeshift napkin, then went back to eating.

  Unfailingly polite, for a bird. Ari watched him finish his omelet. "You need a perch or a nest or something to sleep?"

  "Perch fine. Nest fine, too."

  "Well, it's either the back of a chair or a blanket, which do you want?"

  "Chair." His pale, nictitating membranes covered his eyes briefly. Ari watched in fascination, as it was his way of blinking.

  "Then I'll let you pick the chair. I'm going to bed." Ari rose from her seat, lifted the plates from the table and placed them in the dishwasher.

  She froze at the swishing sound outside. "Did that sound like running to you?" she whirled to look at Mac.

  "I wake Nico," Mac flapped away from the table toward Nico's bedroom.

  "Damn," Ari swore as she pulled her shirt over her head and undid her bra, then shucked her pants and shoes.

  The swishing noise came again, this time heading straight for the back door.

  "Keep Nico safe," she shouted at Mac, before turning. The door burst open, revealing a foul-smelling human with unkempt hair and an unholy light in his eyes. Ari was ready for him and, spitting and snarling, leapt before the invader could recoil or run.

  "I thought you'd be doing your job," Ari snapped at the officer who'd arrived to take charge of the body lying on her kitchen floor. "Instead, I had to fight him off with a knife."

  The man's throat had certainly been slashed—deep enough that he'd died quickly. His blood was all over the floor and nearby, a large, bloody kitchen knife lay where Ari dropped it.

  "This had better be good," Ari heard Detective Elliott's voice outside the door. "I had to get out of bed for this. Ah," was all he said as he strode into the kitchen and nearly stepped in a pool of blood.

  "Where the hell was our surveillance team?" Lance demanded of Officer Gray.

  "Not here," Gray shook his head. "Haven't located them or the car."

  "They were here when I left three hours ago."

  "Not here when we arrived. Ms. Leone dialed nine-one-one."

  "And that left this asshole free to kick down her door," Lance shook his head. "I'm glad you were able to protect yourself," he glanced at Ari.

  "That makes two of us, detective." Ari's tone conveyed her aggravation.

  "The kid safe?"

  "He's okay, just shook up. He and Mac are in the back bedroom, if you want to see for yourself."

  "We'll have to move you now," Lance sighed. "I'm sorry about that, but they managed to find Nico again. You're lucky to be alive. I'll have a word with the kid."

  "Yeah." Ari stiffened as Lance brushed past her, being careful not to disturb the blood or the body on the floor.

  "Is there a uh, reason for the bra in the sink?" The officer turned his attention elsewhere for a moment.

  "I wasn't exactly dressed for company when this asshole broke down my door," Ari said truthfully. "I barely had time to put the rest of my clothes on before you got here."

  "Understandable," the cop agreed and wrote notes on his small notebook. "We'll have to bag the knife as evidence," he added. "And I'll have to ask for the clothes you're wearing—for blood spatter and that kind of thing."

  "No problem. I don't need any of it back—if you return it, it'll go in the trash."

  "I'd do the same thing."

  "Does anybody have to be with me while I undress?"

  "This looks pretty clear-cut, if you ask me. Go change and bring me what you're wearing."

  "All right." Ari turned and walked toward her bedroom. Once there, she disrobed quickly, shimmied into sweats and a T-shirt, then grabbed what she'd removed and carried them back to Officer Gray.

  "It was past my bedtime and I wasn't wearing any—well, if you find blood spatter, it'll be on the inside of those clothes," Ari warned Gray as she handed the clothing to him. "Just to let you know."

  "I'll make a note of it." He scribbled more notes on his pad. "If we have more questions, De
tective Elliott will let you know. You can leave the kitchen, now, and talk to him and Nico while he decides where to take you from here. We'll get the body off the floor and out of the way. I think we have everything we need."

  "Thank you." Ari turned and walked to the back of the house; she could hear Nico's voice as the detective asked questions.

  "I only heard Ari yell for Mac to keep me safe," Nico said as Ari walked into the room. "I was asleep until Mac flew in and started squawking."

  "So neither of you saw the guy?" Lance asked, causing Ari to frown.

  "We. Did. Not," Mac insisted.

  "I need this to come from Nico. I don't know how to put a raven as a witness in an official report."

  "I didn't see anything. All I heard was Ari yelling for Mac to keep me safe, a loud noise that sounded like a missile hitting the back door, a lot of racket, and then Ari yelling that the man was dead."

  "And that's why my back door is hanging on one hinge," Ari said, crossing arms defensively over her chest. "One other thing—that man smelled terrible. Like he'd been rolling in roadkill before breaking into my house."

  "We'll get an ID on him," Lance said. "We'll see if he matches anybody in the area or going past your business yesterday."

  "You think he was staking out the restaurant?" Nico quavered.

  "We don't know anything, yet," Lance told him. "But we have to check every angle of this, you understand. Now, I have to get you someplace safe while we investigate this mess."

  "Where will that be?" Ari asked.

  "I have a cousin who owns a ranch west of Fort Worth," Lance replied. "I can check in with him—you'd be safe enough there, I'm pretty sure."

  "For how long? I can't shut down my business forever, Detective."

  "It may only be for a day or two—until we get a handle on all this," Lance attempted to soothe Ari's growing anger. "I'll have somebody check on it several times a day, if that will make things better."

  "Good. I need information, and I'll have to replace the broken glass in the front of the gallery."