A group of classical musicians were performing on a small stage. I recognised the music as Wagner and glanced at Lukas. ‘I suppose these tunes are from your era?’
He snorted. ‘I’m not that old, D’Artagnan.’
I smiled and continued to look around. ‘Can you tell who’s wolf and who’s human?’
‘Here everyone is wolf,’ he told me.
A young woman walked towards us. She was wearing the uniform of service staff the world over: a plain black skirt and starched white shirt. Both were immaculate and, even from a distance, I could tell the material was expensive. I supposed it paid to be a supe.
‘Good evening.’ She inclined her head and flicked me a look of unashamed curiosity, even though most of her attention was on Lukas. ‘May I get you a drink?’
‘No,’ I said, at the exact same time as Lukas answered, ‘Whisky on the rocks.’
‘Very well. Please follow me.’
She led us towards an unmarked door at the rear on the opposite side to the musicians. I felt a tug of anxiety that we were leaving the safety of the crowded room and snuck a look at Lukas. His expression was bland, his smile disinterested. At least it was until a wiry man at one of the tables nearby got to his feet and swaggered over to us, his arms swinging by his sides like he was preparing for a fight. At that point, Lukas bared his teeth and displayed his fangs for all to see. The other man immediately thought better of his approach and faltered. Neither Lukas nor the woman missed a step.
We passed through the door and walked down a short hallway into another room that boasted even greater splendour. There were only three tables but the decor, from the lavish oil painting depicting a naval battle to the lit fireplace and the huge Chinese vases flanking it, suggested the owner had incredible wealth. Either that, I mused, or it was designed to advertise wealth and intimidate guests.
The waitress, if that’s what she was, gestured at the nearest table and left. I remained standing. ‘What’s this about, Lukas?’ I asked. ‘Nobody has asked us who we are or what we’re doing here. Why are we in this room?’
‘Just relax,’ he advised. ‘Everything will be fine. Although, if I can ask a favour, don’t call me that while we’re here.’
I blinked. ‘Don’t call you Lukas?’ Surely that was just his nickname? I stared at him. Had he given me his true name?
‘If you wouldn’t mind.’ He offered me a gentle smile. Taken aback, I nodded agreement.
He pulled out one of the chairs for me, an action that made me surprisingly uncomfortable. I sat down gingerly, my back straight and my feet flat on the carpeted floor. Lukas sat opposite, leaned back and rested his feet on one of the other spare seats. He stretched out his arms, linked his hands behind his head and yawned. Any second now, I thought, the man would be taking forty winks.
The door opened again. A man in his mid-thirties appeared with two others behind him. I stood up to greet him. Lukas remained exactly where he was.
‘Good evening. I am Lord Fairfax.’
He was so finely dressed that I almost curtseyed. Instead, I stuck out my hand. Habit told me to give him my real name; instinct told me otherwise. ‘You may call me D’Artagnan,’ I said. ‘I’m on temporary assignment with Supernatural Squad.’
Fairfax smiled. ‘What a lovely coat you’re wearing,’ he murmured, even though the puffy jacket swamped me and would have looked more appropriate on a mountain hiker than a city copper.
‘Thank you. What a lovely … cravat you’re wearing,’ I said, returning the compliment. Two could play at that game.
I waited for Lukas to introduce himself, or for Fairfax to speak to him. When that didn’t happen, I sat down again. Enough fannying around. I had questions that needed answers. ‘I appreciate you taking the time to meet with us,’ I said. ‘I’m afraid that I’m here on official business. A serious crime has taken place.’
Fairfax sat down, leaving his two colleagues standing. They took up positions on either side of the room, poised for action. I couldn’t imagine what they were expecting would happen.
‘A crime involving Supernatural Squad?’ Fairfax enquired with a disbelieving tilt of his head.
‘Unfortunately, yes.’ I watched his expression closely. ‘DC Anthony Brown has been murdered.’
Lord Fairfax didn’t flinch, but I was certain that I briefly registered shock in his eyes. Alas, I didn’t get chance to confirm it. There was a knock at the door and the woman entered again carrying a tray of drinks. She handed them round and moved to back of the room. We were now effectively surrounded by werewolves.
Fairfax sipped his drink. ‘I won’t pretend to be devastated by this news,’ he said. ‘Brown and I were never great friends and he owed me several favours, which he was in no hurry to pay back. However,’ he glanced at Lukas, ‘I’m not pleased either. This will have consequences for us all.’
‘Happy consequences?’ Lukas drawled, speaking for the first time since Fairfax had entered the room.
‘Certainly not. As you well know.’ Fairfax swirled the clear liquid in his glass and placed it on the table. ‘Have you apprehended a suspect?’
‘No.’
‘Do you have a suspect?’
I chose my words carefully. ‘There is no specific suspect as yet. However, there’s evidence to suggest DC Brown’s killer was a werewolf.’
Fairfax’s reaction was instantaneous: he stiffened, his entire body went rigid and his cheeks suffused with red. ‘That is not possible.’
‘It is perfectly possible,’ Lukas said. ‘As you well know.’
I stared at Fairfax. The flesh on his hands was twisting, his fingers curling and growing long claws in front of my eyes. Wiry dark hairs were springing out along his jawline. I’d assumed that someone of his stature and bearing would be in full control of his wolf, but I’d assumed wrongly.
The door opened yet again. This time, it wasn’t a member of staff on the threshold, it was Lady Sullivan. Her icy gaze swept over all of us. ‘Well, well, well,’ she murmured. ‘Isn’t this cosy?’
I was confused. If this was a Fairfax club, what was she doing here? I watched as she glided in and stopped in front of an empty chair. Then she waited. Lord Fairfax rolled his eyes and nodded at the wolf standing nearby who sprang forward and pulled out the chair. Lady Sullivan didn’t acknowledge the gesture; she merely shook out her long heavy skirt and sat down. ‘Tea,’ she said to no one in particular. ‘Darjeeling.’
The waitress looked at Fairfax. He sighed. ‘Fetch Lady Sullivan a cup of tea,’ he said. ‘And you might as well arrange for an Appletini and a beer while you’re at it. I don’t expect the others will be far behind.’
Sullivan examined her fingernails. ‘It was a rather conspicuous entry.’
I glanced at Lukas. He hadn’t moved an inch. My eyes narrowed at him; it was our entry that Lady Sullivan was referring to. He must have known this would happen: four birds with one stone. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing – although I’d have appreciated a warning first.
I realised that Lady Sullivan had looked up from her manicure and was staring at me with an openly speculative and rather suspicious expression. I folded my arms across my chest and stared back at her. She allowed herself a tiny smile then blinked, and broke contact.
We didn’t have long to wait. Within minutes, the door opened and another couple appeared – a burly male with heavy jowls and a broad chest, and a slender woman who was his complete opposite. She looked like she might snap in a strong breeze. She gulped at the beer that was placed in front of her, while the man curled his squat fingers round the delicate Appletini glass and lapped at the drink with his tongue like a cat. I goggled at them both.
‘Lady Carr,’ Fairfax said by way of introduction. ‘And Lord McGuigan. This is … D’Artagnan, the latest addition to Supernatural Squad.’
Neither of them raised an eyebrow; either the two clan heads already knew of my arrival or they didn’t care.
Lord Fairfax drained his glass, smacked his lips and looked at me. ‘Perhaps you should start from the beginning.’
An unbidden image of my own corpse engulfed in flames rose up in my mind, but I quashed it. Not that beginning. ‘I am here,’ I said baldly, ‘because I believe my mentor, Detective Constable Anthony Brown, has been murdered. His body was discovered a few hours ago at the DeVane Hotel. There is evidence outside his room that a werewolf was involved.’
All four werewolf leaders looked at Lukas. He leaned forward, picked up his whisky and took a drink.
‘What evidence exactly?’ Sullivan inquired.
‘His fourth-floor room was accessed via the window,’ Lukas said. ‘There are claw marks in the stone work outside. Wolf claw marks.’
McGuigan started to splutter. ‘Preposterous! This is obviously some ploy on the vampires’ part to make us look bad. None of us wanted Brown dead. Quite the opposite, in fact!’
Lukas finally removed his feet from the chair and sat up straight. ‘I can assure you that no vampire wished for anything other than for Brown to continue in his position. If you doubt that it was a werewolf who killed him, then you’re more than welcome to visit the crime scene yourselves.’
Lady Carr wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. ‘How did Brown die?’
‘The cause of death has not yet been determined,’ I said. ‘His body is only just being transported to the morgue.’
Her nose wrinkled. ‘Yes, yes, but you must have some indication about what happened. Was his throat torn out? Was it a head wound? Blood loss? What?’
‘His body,’ Lukas said, ‘was made to appear as if he’d hanged himself.’
I breathed out. I was both surprised and grateful that Lukas had chosen not to reveal all the salient details. I might not have known Tony well but the least he deserved was some scrap of dignity in his death.