Free Under the Bridge by Autumn Dawn

brownies—she’d been
noticing more of them here in the Flower Pot. As soon as she’d
noticed the little brown fae, she’d started leaving gifts of milk
and honey for them.
    Normally nocturnal, the creatures had
responded by keeping aphids down, making certain all the plants
were watered, and feeding her when she forgot her lunch. She rarely
saw them come and go, but suddenly a warm plate of food would be
there at the counter, or a cup of juice with a sandwich and a
handful of berries.
    She saw Eyrnie’s old truck pull into the lot
through the break room window. Figuring he’d come to demand why she
wasn’t in class, she finished her lunch. Sticking her head out the
“Employees Only” door, she motioned him inside. Might as well get
it over with.
    As he got closer, she took in the expression
on his face and stilled. “Something is wrong.”
    His face was a terrible mixture of old man
and carefully controlled anger. “Carrie is dead.”
    Billy’s hand tightened on the doorframe as
her blood flooded down to her feet. Ah. She wouldn’t have expected
pain, not for Carrie.
    Sucking in a deep breath, she let him in and
collapsed on a chair. “Dead?” she croaked. “How?”
    He took a seat opposite, watching her
carefully. “It was messy. Her body was found by the lake early this
morning. There’s a were in the police department. He smelled fae at
the scene and made some calls. Her mom identified some jewelry
she’d loaned to Carrie. That’s how we know.”
    She breathed deeply, trying to clear the
shock thundering in her head. “The troll. Ash.” She’d never really
thought he’d do it. It had felt as if…well, she’d been wrong.
    Eyrnie hesitated. “I don’t know. Carrie
wasn’t well liked, but it looks bad.” He started to say something
else and stiffened. He stood up and looked out the window, his body
tensed for fast action.
    Through her fog, Billy managed to look up.
Eyrnie wasn’t her only visitor.
    Eyrnie intercepted Ash before he could enter
the break room, blocking the doorway with his body.
    Ash laughed softly. “Ponyboy. No need. I
didn’t kill her.”
    Billy drew a sharp breath. She couldn’t see
much through Eyrnie’s body. There didn’t seem to be enough starch
in her knees to get up, though.
    “Why should I buy that?” Eyrnie said with
deadly calm. “It looks bad for you.”
    The troll shrugged. “You’ve seen a troll
kill, Pony. We don’t leave bodies.” He snapped his teeth in
illustration.
    “What would?” Billy said softly, and Ash
looked her way. He took in her state carefully before he spoke to
Eyrnie. “Will you move, or will I move you?”
    They stared at each other. Like stone dogs,
neither willing to concede dominance.
    That got Billy moving. Growling softly
with the emotional pain, she yanked back on Eyrnie’s arm, weaker
than normal, though. She just couldn’t find her strength. He
shifted, and she got between them and pushed, one hand on each of
them. It felt like shifting the pyramid and the sphinx, and she
knew they were humoring her.
    Once outside, she ran a hand through her hair
and paced two steps. Stopped. Faced Ash. “You didn’t kill her?” It
was a demand, and she searched his face carefully.
    He didn’t seem upset. “No.”
    She studied him before resuming her jerky
pacing. The wildness needed an outlet. “Who was it?”
    Ash sighed. “I haven’t been to the crime
scene. I found out when the were policeman came to campus to
question me. He spent most of the time keeping her hysterical
mother from charging me.” His mouth twisted in a cynical smile,
which faded as he looked at Billy. “I’d actually thought you might
have tired of the girl.” He cocked his head, curious.
    Billy paled. “I didn’t do it!”
    Ash ignored Billy’s growl. “So I see.
Disappointing, but it leaves an interesting mystery. I assume
you’ll want to solve it.”
    Eyrnie’s aggressive step forward was abruptly
checked as a familiar black BMW roared into the