As Drystan had suggested, they exchanged pleasantries for less than five minutes when Albrecht strolled through the door. As always, he was concealed from his boots to his head in dark gray. Instead of sitting, Albrecht chose to lean his shoulders against the wall after greeting everyone.
“We certainly do not want to keep Mister Draconis, so let’s get started. Before we begin with our questions, have you come up with any further information you think might help us solve this crime?” Alaric asked.
Wesley shook his head. “No, and I’ve relived that day in my head many times. Nothing new has come to my mind.”
Being able to detect lies was a useful trait, and Alaric hoped it worked to his advantage with Wesley. There was no dishonesty in his initial response, but that did nothing to prove his guilt or innocence. “As a matter of routine, we pulled the financial statements of the office staff once we were able to determine it had to be one of Their Majesties’ administrative hires. Yours were quite interesting. Not long before the poisoning, a great deal of money was withdrawn from your account.”
Wesley offered a sheepish smile. “I purchased a few pieces of art.”
“Out of the blue, you decided you needed to empty your bank account to put some pictures on the wall?” Conley demanded.
“It was overdue, actually. My apartment decor has largely been ignored. I spend so much time working, you know. With the scaled-back staff and schedule, I had time to contemplate my living space and found it dreadfully boring.”
“Do you mind if we go over to your place and check out this art?” Drystan asked.
“Go ahead.”
“Have you ever purchased a prepaid cell phone or anything similar in addition to your regular cell or landline?” Albrecht asked. His deep, smoky voice gave no clue as to how furious the Skeleton Seven were at their inability to arrest anyone. It was already over a week since Ellery found himself stuck as a dragon.
“I don’t need anything besides my regular cell.”
It wasn’t untrue, but it was also not an answer to Albrecht’s question. “Many people don’t need them, they simply prefer to have their phone calls untraceable,” Alaric countered.
“I’m not overly concerned with what other people do.”
“Have you had any contact with the Consilium Veneficus?” Conley demanded.
“Why would I contact them?”
Alaric understood how politically practiced Wesley was after being in Chrysander’s office for so long. If he didn’t want to respond, he was simply going to evade. “You might find it interesting to know that the Arch Lich was contacted by a Consilium wizard.”
“What does your mate’s mail have to do with me?”
“The wizard wrote that he supplied you with the potion ingested by His Majesty,” Albrecht stated without inflection.
“I’m not friends with any wizard in the Consilium, and I most certainly didn’t hand His Majesty a cup with poison in it.”
The Lich Sentinel noted the careful wording of Wesley’s response. He wouldn’t have to be friends with the wizard to get the potion. They knew from the letter that the wizard didn’t even appear to like Wesley. And it was poor Zane who’d unwittingly handed the mug to Ellery. As far as Alaric was concerned, this interview was pointless. To get anything out of Wesley, they were going to need evidence. That meant traveling to Europe and tracking down the author of Chander’s letter.
Leaning in slightly, Alaric stared intently at Wesley until the dragon shifted restlessly on his uncomfortable chair. “I want to thank you, Mister Draconis, for meeting with us. We have many more leads to follow, and we’re anxious to get to the bottom of this. I’d like you to know that neither sentinels nor fallen knights give up, and for this particular case, we will not even allow ourselves to rest adequately until we find the culprits. We were all resurrected to either protect or enforce safety, and we take it personally that someone poisoned our emperor. There is no place on this earth the people responsible for this can hide. I made a promise to solve this case, and Ineverbreak my word. If I find out you had any part of this, you won’t escape justice. I strongly urge you to come clean now. It may not help you, but it’ll certainly make it easier on you in the long run.”
“I have nothing to confess, Lich Sentinel.”
“Your choice, Mister Draconis,” Alaric retorted. Drystan opened the door and they filed out.
“Albrecht, I want the Skeleton Lords except for Gavrael and Gedeon ready to leave for Europe as soon as I pick up the teleportation stone from Dra’Kaedan and Idris. Gavrael and Gedeon must remain out of it so they are as impartial as possible when reviewing the case for punishment. I’d like to ask that we have two Juris Knights work with them when that time comes. I believe the Order of the Fallen Knights deserves their part in this. We’ve been grateful for your assistance throughout this entire investigation,” Alaric said.
“We couldn’t live with ourselves if we stayed out of it. We’re dragons too,” Conley replied. “JK Murphy and JK Brooks are our best. They’ll work with Gavrael and Gedeon when we’re finished.”
“Good. I have a wizard to find.”
“You better take a minute and kiss the Arch Lich before you take your little trip,” Conley warned as he strode away.
Alaric grinned. “I’ve been mated long enough to know my duties, Reverent Knight.”
“Just saying, I wouldn’t piss off a demonic necromancer.”
“He’s always got his tongue down Chander’s throat. I doubt he needs the reminder, Con,” Drystan teased his other half. “Albrecht, I’ll let Arvandus know you’re leaving.”
