Castes Book 1: The Prestige by Ivan Turner

  Chapter VIII

  After that it was all business. Evelyn could put through Jessica’s license quickly enough. She would arrange for them to each have carry permits for firearms. They would have to buy their own guns.

  The news surrounding the shooting of Troy Van Walls was not good. As Evelyn had suggested, there were several different sides of the story. Travis Anton was being held up as a hero and vilified as a demon at the same time. At least the Elf Judiciary Board hadn’t made an official statement regarding his disposition. They had the authority to step in and mete out a sentence pre-trial, but had chosen not to do so. Anton would still get his trial but Owen couldn’t think of one case in history where the Board’s decision had been overturned. A lot of the radical dwarf groups were coming out with bits of Troy Van Walls’ history. He was a bad egg, that one, and the dwarves were attempting to use him to bring down elf integrity. What disturbed Owen was that not one of these groups was speaking out in Anton’s defense. In fact, no one was speaking out in Anton’s defense. Even the human groups that normally came to the aid of people wrongfully prosecuted were curiously quiet. Apparently, Evelyn wasn’t the only one who understood the volatility of this case.

  They were there until late. It was well past dinner time and Owen’s stomach was grumbling when Rupert Oleander came huffing and puffing into the office with news of the news.

  Evelyn tried to question him, but he couldn’t seem to get the story out. Finally, he just went over to her large screen television and switched it on. After fumbling with the channels (apparently, Evelyn liked to watch the cartoon station), he found a journalist reporting live from in front of the council building.

  “...where we’ve been informed that Councilwoman Evelyn Van Deign has been in conference with Officers Owen Keefe and Jessica Church all afternoon.” The reporter went on to describe Travis Anton’s case and Owen and Jessica’s connection to it. As a good journalist should, she tried to keep her voice neutral, but all four of the viewers in Evelyn’s office could detect a hint of bitterness creep in.

  “Sources say both Keefe and Church officially retired from the NYPD this afternoon, but there has been no word on why they have been summoned to the council building. We attempted to question Mrs. Van Deign’s assistant earlier, but he declined comment.”

  The three of them looked at Rupert, who smiled proudly. “As I’ve always said, ma’am, your business is not their business.”

  “You’re a darling, Rupert, however, we can’t very well keep this a secret forever.”

  Evelyn stood up and went to the mirror. She seemed to make a tube of lipstick magically appear out of nowhere and applied a very light shade. Elves generally shied away from heavy makeup. She fixed her long blonde hair, making sure it fell where it was supposed to and poofed where it didn’t fall. Rupert looked at her admiringly and it made Owen uncomfortable. Even Jessica was staring in awe. He supposed Evelyn was stunning in her own circles, but to a dwarf she was no more than a hideous elf. He would have to learn to look past that.

  “Are you going out to talk to them?” he asked her.

  She nodded. “Of course.”

  “Do you think that’s smart?”

  She laughed her tinkly elf laughed. “Owen, the publicity of our alliance is going to be just as powerful as the alliance itself.” She looked at Jessica. “Now that I think about it, you’re recruiting of Jessica was such a good idea. We now represent all three of the controlling species on the planet. Our ability to work together should act as a symbol of unity for everyone.”

  Owen thought of what dwarves like Caesar MacGregor would think of that. Still, he was smart enough to know that secrecy would only undermine them. If they weren’t up front about what they were doing, then the general public would think they were hatching some nefarious plot to take over the world.

  When he looked up again, Evelyn was gone. Five minutes later, the reporter, who had been replaced by the regular anchors, was back on screen.

  “This is Melody Haverford reporting live from in front of the council building in downtown Manhattan. I’m joined by Councilwoman Evelyn Van Deign, who has graciously agreed to speak with me.”

  The camera pulled out and Evelyn was suddenly included in the picture. Owen’s hands balled into tight fists. Jessica noticed it and looked at him.

  “Good evening, Melody,” Evelyn said as if she had known the reporter her whole life.

  “Good evening to you, Councilwoman. If I may get right to the matter, have you been meeting with Mr. Keefe and Ms. Church all afternoon?”

  Evelyn laughed. “I have. In fact, they are in my office right now.”

  “Of course, this must have something to do with the murder of Troy Van Walls,” Melody said with a tight smile.

  Evelyn’s face darkened noticeably. Owen was surprised by it. Even when she had shut down the charm after he had refused her offer, he had not seen her like this.

  “I don’t believe murder is the proper term to apply here, Ms. Haverford,” she said. Owen noticed how she’d switch from using the reporter’s first name to using her last. This was clearly revealing itself to be an Evelyn Van Deign tactic.

  The reporter cleared her throat, but Evelyn continued. “As tragic as Troy Van Walls’ death was, all three officers involved are of the highest caliber that our police department has to offer. Detective Anton’s records in both New York and Austin were decorated with citation after citation. Ms. Church has a reputation throughout the department as thorough and meticulous. Her percentage of cases solved and criminals brought to justice is one of the highest in the city.”

  “And Mr. Keefe?”

  Evelyn paused, and Owen found himself holding his breath. “Mr. Keefe has an unblemished record. He has performed admirably for the department, outscoring most of his peers in both reviews and examinations for promotion. He came with the highest praise from his captain.”

  “Mrs. Van Deign, clearly you hold these officers in the highest regard, but that still doesn’t explain why it is you’ve enlisted them.”

  Evelyn nodded, as if finally having been asked the question for which she’d been waiting. “Officers Keefe and Church have retired from the police force and started a private detective agency. I have enlisted their services for a case.”

  “Can you give us more information about this case?”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  “Pardon me for asking, but doesn’t it seem suspicious that this agency is comprised of two of the officers who were involved in last night’s shooting.”

  “You are not pardoned,” Evelyn said, curtly. “I chose these officers because of their competence. Why they were so suddenly available is, perhaps, something the New York City Police Department should be asking itself.”

  Melody Haverford looked decidedly uncomfortable on the camera. She cleared her throat and said, “If I may ask you just one more...”

  “You may not. When our case comes to a close, I should be happy to answer all of the questions you like. In the meantime, I will not jeopardize its integrity by discussing it on television. Good evening.”

  With that, she walked off camera, leaving a stunned Haverford to wrap it up on her own. It was interesting to watch a human try to close an interview that did not go well with an elf. She certainly couldn’t blame Evelyn on camera without destroying her career. As it was, she had probably been too pointed with her questions and was going to catch hell from her boss.

  Evelyn had not come back up the stairs yet when Owen’s phone rang. He didn’t plan on answering it until he saw that it was Esmerelda. Though she was, at that moment, the very last person with whom he wanted to speak, he felt it prudent to answer just the same.

  “And now the neighbors know,” she said to him without so much as a hello.

  “It was bound to come out anyway.”

  “Well, then, you’d better get your arse home because I think there’s going to be trouble.?
??

  Owen dropped his voice. “What kind of trouble?”

  “Augie’s already out of his house, going from door to door. I like Augie well enough. He’s got a good head on his shoulders. But he’s a drama queen if ever one existed.”

  Owen didn’t think Esmerelda’s description of his neighbor was entirely accurate and it certainly wasn’t at all flattering. Augie Foreman, though, did appreciate a bit of gossip and he liked to form juries.

  “I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

  When he put the phone away, Jessica was looking at him.

  “I think my neighbors are unhappy.”

  Jessica nodded. She knew a thing or two about dwarves. Beyond her own experiences as a child, she’d answered the calls to a few domestic disturbances in dwarf homes in her time. It was rare that they got called in. Dwarves liked to settle things among themselves. If it reached the point where the police had to be called in, it was usually well past the point of the worst of the human domestic disturbances.

  “I can drive you,” she said. “It will take less time to get back to the precinct and pick up my car than it would for you to get home by train and bus.”

  “Maybe that’s not such a good idea,” Owen said. “This might get violent.”

  Jessica pulled a face. “I can handle myself.”

  “Still...”

  “Owen, we’re going to be partners. Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass you.”

  Grudgingly, he agreed, never admitting that that was exactly what he was worried about.