Free Stealing the Elf-King's Roses: The Author's Cut by Diane Duane

its own in court these days, but it stands a whole lot taller with physical evidence to support it.”
    “Well, we’ll stay on it,” Telinu said, turning his attention back to the strand of silk. “This one’s gonna take a lot of figuring out.”
    “Not that we mind,” Stella said. “It’s certainly interesting enough. Been a while since I’ve dealt with an Alfen murder.”
    Lee nodded…and then stopped. “Really?” she said. “A long while?”
    Stella nodded. Telinu stopped a moment, thinking. “Yeah,” he said. “There was that case, what, three years ago? That rape and murder. But nothing since.”
    Mikki looked over at him. “Not that you see them as perps all that often either,” he said. “But they usually seem to be on the other side of the gun, or knife, or whatever.”
    Lee stood still and frowned at that for a moment. “Mikki,” Lee said, “seemings aside…exactly how often  are  Elves murdered? It’s statistics I’d be interested in. Worldswide, if possible.”
    Mikki looked at her with a somewhat bemused expression. “Lee,” he said, “is it possible that you notice any news story in which you’re  not  mentioned?”
    “Self promotion is nine-tenths of a career,” Gelert said. “You heard it here first.”
    Lee gave Mikki a look, though she knew he was teasing. “This is a poor moment to descend into personalities,” she said.
    “I’m not kidding,” Mikki said. “All right, maybe I am, you’ve been busy. But the FiveInterpol interspecies crime study is finally, finally about to be made public. After five, maybe six postponements. It was beginning to stink to high heaven; I think they just couldn’t find any way to postpone it anymore after the UN&ME started breathing down their necks. I would have thought you’d heard. It’s been all over the news.”
    “The case we just finished really has been taking a lot of my time,” Lee said, “and I’ve had less time for the news than usual.  Mea culpa.  So can you get me a copy?”
    “Not the slightest chance,” Mikki said. And winked.
    Lee had little time for the winking. “Mikki, are you trying to suggest that the report suggests the distribution of such crimes is  not  standard statistical distribution for a population in a given universe? Maybe not even Monte Carlo! Is that what you’re trying to tell me?”
    “I couldn’t say,” Mikki said, acquiring an expression of unusual innocence, even for him.
    “That look of naked greed suggests that he could if the price was right,” Gelert said. “But he’s trying to maintain some poor semblance of innocence. He’s going to take it out of you in cookies, Lee.”
    Mikki gave Gelert an annoyed look. “If word gets out,” he said, “nobody will feed me this stuff anymore, Lee. That would be unfortunate. It’s occasionally useful to be able to pick up bits and pieces of information this way…”
    “It’s the gingerbread you’re after, isn’t it,” Lee said, resigned. “All right. Two dozen.”
    “Three. With the gilding.”
    “Don’t ask me for cute shapes.”
    “I wasn’t going to. But service has to be paid for in kind, Lee, you know that. Especially when you think it’s going to make a difference to your case.”
    She let out a breath. “Mikki, I’d be lying if I said I knew  how  it was going to make a difference. But I have a feeling it’s going to matter. If it’s too much trouble, forget it.”
    “Not at all,” Mikki said. “Three dozen, gilt, no cute designs. I’ll have a word with my source.” He cracked his knuckles and looked at his screen again, where the code continued to pour by.
    “When will you be done with the findings on dil’Sorden?” Gelert said.
    “At this rate,” Stella said, “no sooner than the day after tomorrow. We’ll call if anything surprising comes up.”
    Lee and Gelert said their goodbyes and made their way downstairs again. “You having another of your famous hunches?” Gelert said, as they came