"Where were you?"
"Hello, Jack, I'm fine. How are you?" Susan's brother said with an eye roll. "I was out talking to witnesses. Nothing concrete. Half of them swore they saw Bubba shoot him, half of them swore they saw Skeeter shoot him, and half of them think it's the troll come back to get revenge."
"That's too many halves," I said, fighting a yawn. "Also, the troll wasn't really a troll. He was a High Court Fae prince wearing a glamour."
Carlos shrugged. "I'm just telling you what they said. Any luck in here?"
"No. And I'm exhausted. I'm going to lock them both up and let them get some sleep, and we can start fresh in the morning," Susan said.
"Why are you here?" Carlos asked me. "I thought you two went home after you brought Hatfield in."
"Bubba wanted to confess to Tess," Jack said dryly. "Because he let her hold his snake."
There was a long beat of silence, and then Jack, Susan, and Carlos cracked up. I stood there tapping my foot and glaring at all three of them until they stopped.
"Why do you always get caught up in things, Tess? Why would he want to confess to you?" Carlos shook his head, still smiling. "Lawyer, I can see. Priest or pastor, sure. Even my lovely and deadly sister, the sheriff. But pawnshop owner?"
I threw my hands in the air. "How do I know what he's thinking?"
Carlos tilted his head and looked thoughtfully at his sister. "I know you won't like this suggestion, but it's all I've got. I can put them into a trance and ask them if they shot Cletus."
But Susan was shaking her head before he finished talking. "No. You're right, I don't like it. First, vampire entrancement is illegal without the subject's consent, and if you can hear Skeeter Hatfield yelling, you know he won't give it. Second, it would be inadmissible. Third, and most important, the trance can make peoplewantto say whatever they thinkyouwant to hear. Especially suggestible personalities. You'd have Bubba admitting he drove the Titanic into that iceberg."
"Okay. I need sleep," I said. "Call us tomorrow if you need us. Or even to let us know what's happening, okay?"
Susan nodded. "We're all exhausted. Let's get some sleep, and we'll take this up in the morning. Andy's fresh. He'll take watch here tonight."
"Should I keep the shop closed tomorrow, just in case Bubba has something material to say?"
"Probably a good idea," Jack said. "Not the Bubba part, but you could use a day off after this."
"I'm just home from vacation, and I need a vacation," I muttered.
"Tess?" Bubba called out plaintively.
"She's not going to hold your snake," Jack shouted. "Pipe down."
When the trio of dunderheads looked like they were going to start laughing again, I scowled at them and marched out of the building.
Jack and Carlos followed me, and I could hear them talking.
"We need to talk to you about Mikhail."
"Tonight? Or can it wait until tomorrow evening?"
Carlos didn't come out during the daytime.
"It can wait," I said. "I've had enough of today."
By the time we got home, I was so tired I just kicked off my shoes and climbed into bed in my clothes.
I was asleep in ten seconds, and I slept so hard that when I woke up, still fully dressed, I felt disoriented and muzzy.
Beside me, Jack tapped on my shoulder. "Ah, Tess."
"Yeah," I mumbled into the pillow.
"You might want to turn over and look up."
