Free Mortal Sins by Eileen Wilks Page A

possessor. Most of those with a slight dose of Fire learned to control it fairly easily. A few never even knew it was there.
    “Of course. I gather the sheriff told you I’m a sensitive?”
    Kessenblaum shot the sheriff an aggravated glance. Maybe there was some history between the two of them; maybe Kessenblaum was always aggravated, annoyed, or otherwise aggrieved. “Yes, and I want to go on record that nothing you learn about my client through touch is admissible.”
    Why did everyone feel obliged to point that out? “So noted. Sheriff, have you heard from the DA?”
    “Yeah, yeah. Twice. First time to say she was meeting you here. Second time to say she was running late. Her youngest came down with a stomach bug. Mark usually takes the kids to day care, but he’s got the heaves, too, so she had to drop ’em off on her way here.”
    “How many children does she have?” Lily was newly interested in such things, in how women balanced careers and kids. Not that finding someone to pitch in when she and Rule had to be away would be a problem, not with his father right there at Clanhome and about a hundred other potential sitters standing by. Lupi were kind of communal about child care.
    Not that she knew exactly what her place was in Toby’s life. She wasn’t a stepmom, wasn’t sure she wanted to be one, but . . . but something ached inside her at the thought. Something she didn’t understand.
    “Three—two girls and a boy.” Deacon shoved his chair back and stood. “We might as well head on down. Marcia will meet us there.”
    Kessenblaum headed out the door without another word. Lily started to follow. The sheriff’s hand on her arm stopped her. “Listen, Agent Yu, I, uh . . .” He grimaced. “I had it coming. That’s all I want to say.”
    Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Good enough.”
     
     
    THE jail occupied the basement and most of the first floor. Deacon took them to the admissions area, where he gave instructions for Meacham to be brought to a small interview room. He’d just finished when Marcia Farquhar arrived, slightly breathless. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
    “No problem,” Lily said, holding out her hand. “The sheriff explained.”
    The DA looked like a mother. Not Lily’s mother, heaven knows—Marcia Farquhar was plump and pink, with a drawl like raw honey—but someone’s. Her hair was prematurely silver, worn long and pulled back in an old-fashioned bun from a soft, round face. She wore a good suit, dusky rose, with a crisp white shirt. Her handshake was brisk and business-like.
    No magic in Marcia Farquhar.
    “You’re messing with my case, Agent Yu.”
    Lily nodded. “You had every reason to believe this one was solid. Turns out it isn’t. The arraignment’s this afternoon, I understand. I’d like to discuss that, if you have a few minutes after the interview with Meacham. You delayed the arraignment the maximum allowed.”
    “We lacked bodies—which you have now provided, along with some complications. But that won’t affect the arraignment.”
    It damned sure ought to. “We’ll talk,” Lily repeated.
    Kessenblaum’s eyes had been darting between the two of them. “You have information that affects my client, Agent Yu?”
    “Nothing admissible.” Lily took petty satisfaction in saying that.
    “If you’re planning to bring additional charges against Mr. Meacham—”
    “I don’t bring charges. I conduct investigations. Your client is a witness in an investigation into the use of magic in a multiple homicide.”
    “You won’t learn anything here. Mr. Meacham is not competent to answer questions.”
    “He’s competent enough to insist on your presence at all interviews.”
    “I’m glad he remembered to do that, but it doesn’t indicate competency. More that he knows who to trust and who not to trust. He ought to be in a medical facility, not jail.” The look she shot Marcia Farquhar sizzled with some prior argument.
    “Crystal,” Farquhar