Steele-Faced (Daggers & Steele Book 6) (28 page)

“Not really,” said Shay. “But we have a strong case against him. The motives all fit. He went after Ignatius after the man broke into Theo’s room and after he discovered his custom strongbox luggage in the hold. He targeted you and Verona after both of you proved yourselves to be serious competitors for the winnings. And he went after me when he thought I was aware of his getaway plan. The people he targeted via mind control all fit a certain…
racial profile,
much as I hate to admit it. Well, except for us, but those telepathy attempts weren’t successful. Less so with me than you, but hey—who’s keeping score? The only thing we’re really missing is proof Theo’s capable of the charges leveled against him, so we’ll need to bring in a forensics mage to administer tests. But if the mage determines he’s a psychic, we’ll be able to convict.”

I frowned. “I guess that’ll have to suffice. I hate it when the victims refuse to talk. Makes the conclusion of the case so much less satisfying.”

Shay shrugged. “So…what do you think is going to happen to Ghorza and Jimmy? And Vlad?”

“Well, the law’s a little slippery when it comes to cases like this,” I said. “If we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt Theo was behind it all, that would mostly exonerate Jimmy and Ghorza. Murder, after all, must be premeditated, and if neither of the two were aware of their actions, they can’t be held responsible, though either one might face lesser charges like manslaughter. There might also be civil suits. And while Vlad would go free, and while I’ll keep my promise not to file assault charges against him, he’s still facing numerous misdemeanor weapons charges for his knives—charges that might be elevated to felony charges given the use of one of those weapons in a murder. So it’s not exactly what I’d call a happy ending.”

A familiar crisp, light-hearted voice rang out. “Daggers! Steele! You’re back.”

I turned to find Rodgers and Quinto approaching.

“And looking snazzier than ever,” added Quinto in his deep rumble.

“Thanks,” I said. “Steele doesn’t look too shabby either.”

“I…” Quinto shook his head. “Never mind.”

“So how’d it go?” asked Rogers. “You catch your conman?”

“Eventually,” said Shay. “After being assaulted, drugged, or close enough, nearly dying of hypothermia, and having two people turn up dead along the way.”

Rodgers and Quinto exchanged glances.

“Okay…” said Quinto. “After a teaser like that, you
have
to tell us everything.”

“You sure? It’s getting late.” I glanced out the windows bordering the Captain’s office, where only the barest glimmer of light trickled over the edge of the horizon on in.

“Oh, we’re not missing this,” said Rodgers.

The pair gathered chairs and settled in. Before we started, Steck thanked us for our help and excused himself, ostensibly to take care of paperwork, but I couldn’t blame the guy if he headed straight home to bed.

From there, Shay and I regaled Quinto and Rodgers with our adventures. We spared no expense in the telling, except for the portion regarding our sexcapades—although I think our fellow detectives noticed when Shay’s and my stories mysteriously deviated following our rescue from the ocean that night. Eventually, after a fair amount of jaw exercise and two cups of coffee and tea Quinto was kind enough to fetch for Shay and me, we reached the conclusion of our tale.

“Wow,” said Rodgers, leaning back in his chair. “Mind-control?
Seriously?
And here I thought
our
case had been the goofy one.”

“Do tell,” I said.

“It’s not anywhere near as interesting as yours,” said Quinto. “A case of mistaken identities. Someone turned up dead, except it turned out not to be them. Instead it was their twin, except no one knew they had a twin, yadda yadda. I think Rodgers and I could’ve found more enjoyment in the investigation if not for the tough sledding we’ve faced with regards to the Captain’s absence.”

Shay glanced at the bulldog’s office which had darkened under the fading will of the sun. “Where is he, anyway?”

“Still stuck in meetings with the police chief and DA,” said Rodgers. “He’s been MIA for days. We barely see him, and when we do, it’s to sign a few warrants and mutter apologies. It’s…odd.”

“The absence?” I said.

“No, the apologies,” said Rodgers. “You’d think he’d be angry about the wasted time, but he’s almost the opposite. Resigned.”

I noticed movement at the front of the station. Someone walked in through the broad double doors. “Speak of the devil.”

The bald, stone-faced ex-marine waltzed on in, heading toward his office. He shifted direction once he caught sight of us, coming to a stop in front of our desks. “Steele. Daggers. Good to have you back.”

“Good to be back, sir,” said Shay.

“Rodgers. Quinto.” The Captain gave them a nod, setting his jowls to quivering. “I know it’s late, but could you gather the troops? I have an announcement to make, and I think everyone who’s still here will want to hear it.”

Rodgers and Quinto gave each other curious looks.

“Uh…sure, Captain,” said Rodgers. “Just a sec.”

The pair exited, leaving us momentarily in the Captain’s lone company.

“What’s going on, Captain?” I asked.

“I’ll get to that in a minute,” he said. “First, I want to congratulate you. I heard about the case, and it sounds as if the two of you performed admirably under less than ideal circumstances. I don’t have all the details, but I take it you’ve apprehended the person or persons responsible?”

“We have,” said Shay, “although we’ll need the help of a forensics mage to confirm everything.”

I expected the old man to complain about the cost, but he didn’t. “Certainly. You’ll get it done, I’m sure. Now there’s one other thing I wanted to tell you. Apparently, the owners of the
Prodigious
are quite pleased with how you handled things. Despite two people being murdered, your swift actions not only kept their deaths quiet but allowed for the conclusion of the tournament. As far as they’re concerned, Miss Skeez won fair and square, and that’s the narrative they’ll present. They expect good business going forward, and as a thanks, they’ve donated a hefty sum to the police department coffers, with the stipulation that a chuck of it be given to the two of you in the way of bonuses.”

“Hefty?”
I said. “How hefty?”

“Don’t get any delusions,” said the Captain. “After making bets of twenty thousand crowns, it might not seem like much, but trust me, it’s the largest single check you’re liable to ever get unless the city completely overhauls its tax structure. I won’t let you know how much for fear of you spreading the news and having all of us get trampled by an angry mob in a few moments. Just promise me you won’t blow it all on booze and floozies.”

“See?” I told Shay. “That’s the universal male go to.”

“Oh, I never doubted it,” she said.

A few other detectives and beat cops joined us, and we went quiet. Within a minute or two, Rodgers and Quinto had rounded up everyone who remained in the precinct at the late hour—probably forty or fifty bodies. A low murmur ran though the assembly.

Someone in the back, maybe Ferndale by the sound of his voice, spoke up. “Hey, Captain, what’s going on? Is something afoot?”

The Captain eyed Quinto. “This everyone?”

“Far as I can tell,” he replied. “I didn’t hit the restrooms, though.”

“Good enough,” the Captain barked. “Alright, everyone, listen up. Everyone knows I’m a man of few words—”

“Though loudly spoken,” I heard someone mutter.

“—so I’ll keep this brief. As I’m sure you’ve all noticed by now, I’ve been away from my desk for the better part of the last few days. I’m sure you’ve all heard the rumors, too. That I’m in hot water. That I’m being investigated for my involvement with a gang of smugglers known as the Wyverns. That I’m about to be summarily dismissed from my post as the head of this precinct.”

Another murmur ran through the crowd.
Summarily dismissed?
What the heck had happened over the past few days? What sorts of rumors had I missed?

“Well, you shouldn’t listen to rumors, or spread them,” the Captain barked, silencing the masses. “You all should know better. I’m here to tell you that after extensive discussions with the DA and chief of police, I’m
not
being dismissed.”

I heard several individuals around me sigh, and a puff of breath forced its way from my own lips.

“However…I’ve decided to step down of my own volition.”

“What?”

“No!”

“Captain! You serious?”

“Quiet,” the Captain barked at the crowd. “Of course I’m serious. And both the DA and the chief of police are on my side. But the fact of the matter is once the Wyverns case goes to trial, my relationship to one of their members will become public knowledge. In the court of public opinion, it won’t matter what that relationship was, merely that I had it. It could cast a pall over this precinct, and I refuse to let that happen. You all deserve better. And so I’m stepping down.”

I felt an ache in my chest.
The Captain was leaving?
On some level, I’d expected it, especially after what he’d told me following the end of the Wyverns case, but that didn’t mean I’d really been prepared for it.

The murmur started back up, but the Captain spoke over it. “After speaking with the DA and the chief of police, they’ve agreed to vet, nominate, and name a successor to my post in short order. Probably within a week or two, which considering the bureaucracy involved would be a minor miracle. I wish I could have a say in the matter, but if I did, my successor could be viewed as a pawn and might be dogged by the same accusations of corruption that might be aimed toward me if I’d chosen to stay. However, I have been granted the ability to name an
interim
captain, subject to certain provisions, to hold down this fort until new blood arrives.”

Was it my imagination, or did the Captain give me a look as he said that?

“Now, let me reiterate this is an interim position
only.
My successor will be here shortly. In the meantime, I expect all of you to treat the interim captain with honor and respect, and to aid them in the day to day operation of our precinct. It’ll be overwhelming at first, especially given none of you have been adequately prepared for the responsibility.”

I was sure of it now. The Captain
had
glanced at me. Good gods, I couldn’t believe it! Interim or not, being named a precinct captain was an enormous honor. A stepping stone for future career advancement.

“The person I’ve chosen is hard working, brilliant, and attentive to detail.”

That was me!

“Their commitment to justice is unparalleled.”

Also me!

“They’re incorruptible—”

I was incorruptible!

“—and, as made very clear to me by my superiors, their relative inexperience means they have no ties to the old regime or organized crime that could be used against them.”

Once again me! Except I wouldn’t call a dozen years on the force ‘relative inexperience,’ and my ex-partner Griggs had been implicated in the Wyvern smuggling scandal, but still!

“Detective—”

My heart swelled with pride.

“—Shay Steele.”

Silence reigned before being replaced with a smattering of applause. My jaw refused to work. It kept flopping open.

“Alright, that’s it,” said the Captain. “It’s late, so go home, have a beer, and get some rest. And don’t shed any tears over me. I get to keep my pension.”

The crowd started to disperse, but a cloud hung over us all. Then again, maybe it was just me.

The Captain grabbed my arm, leaned in, and spoke softly in my ear. “Daggers, listen to me. I know about you two. Maybe you thought I didn’t, but I know. This wasn’t the best decision. It was the
only
decision. So do the right thing. Help her. She needs you. Now, and in the future. Don’t screw this up.”

The bulldog gave me a firm glance and a nod of his head before releasing my arm, then about-faced and headed toward the door.

I turned toward Steele. She stood there with a terrified expression on her face. Rodgers and Quinto hovered at her sides, congratulating her, but she couldn’t find the words to respond.

I just stood there with my mouth open.

Captain Steele?
No way.

TO BE CONTINUED…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hi. I’m Alex P. Berg, a mystery, fantasy, and science fiction writer and the author of
Steele-Faced
. If you enjoyed this Daggers & Steele mystery, be sure to check out the next novel in the series,
Steele of the Night
, where music and murder mix with malicious intent.

Want
more
exciting adventures, head-scratching mysteries, and snarky dialogue? Check out two of my other series:

*
The Tau Ceti Transmutation
(Rich Weed #1): Follow private detective Rich Weed and his trusty android sidekick Carl in this pulp-inspired science fiction mystery set in the year 3330.

*
The Black Mast Murder
(Driftwood #1): Mystery and intrigue rule the high seas in this
Pirates of the Caribbean
-style adventure featuring constable John “Driftwood” Malarkey and his supernaturally-gifted wife, Gwen.

***

Want to make sure you don’t miss any of Daggers’ and Steele’s adventures?
Sign up here
for my new release mailing list. You will only be contacted when new books come out, when I have BIG news, or when I’m doing free promos and giveaways (you like those, right?). Your address will never be shared, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

***

Word of mouth is
critical
to my success. If you enjoyed this novel, please consider
leaving a positive review on Amazon
. Even if it’s only a line or two, it would be a
huge
help. Thanks!

***

Want to connect? Visit me at
www.alexpberg.com
. You can also follow me on
Twitter
, interact with me on
Facebook
, or e-mail me at
[email protected]
.