Free half-lich 02 - void weaver by katerina martinez Page A

was true, then Nyx would have been in complete control of that body and would have been able to say or do anything in a believable way. Alice had fallen for the act moments before Helena bashed her cheek in with her own camera.
    “She just hasn’t come to work since that night,” Cameron said. “Maybe she blames herself for what happened? Or maybe she got fired?”
    “If I could interject,” said a voice which was far closer than either Alice or Cameron would have liked to admit. Standing next to their booth was the man in the dark coveralls. It had the words “Ashwood Waste Management” embroidered above the left breast. “My name’s Douglas M. Church, an’ I think I can be of some assistance.”
    Alice looked up at his wide eyes, receding hairline, and bulbous nose, studying his features to try and get a taste of his aura, but she couldn’t reach it. The aura was there, she knew, as was her ability to sense its presence, but her power wasn’t strong enough to get to it. Maybe Trapper really was a vital part of her supernatural ability—more so than she had thought. But then, back at the house, she hadn’t been able to sense anything at all, so maybe all she had to do was exercise the muscle again.
    She nodded at Cameron, who then stood and gestured toward the booth. “Please,” he said, “Take a seat.”
    Doug nodded, smiled, and slid into the booth with a grunt and a little wiggling. For a garbage man, he didn’t smell. “Sorry,” Doug said, heartily patting his gut. “Not quite as slim as I used to be.”
    Cameron slid in next to Alice.
    Alice smiled politely and nodded. “I didn’t realize that we were talking loud enough to be overheard,” she said.
    “It’s not you,” Doug said, “I got ears like a bat. These babies hear everything. I really didn’t mean to intrude, I just thought—seeing as you’re a P.I. working a case—that you could use a little help from a concerned citizen.”
    “I appreciate it,” Alice said, putting on her best cop Alice expression. “Any help you can provide would be great.”
    “Alright, well, what’d you like to know?”
    “Ideally, anything you could tell us about Raegan.”
    “I didn’t know Raegan a whole lot, but I saw her that night a week ago. She was closing up shop, and I came in to grab a cup of coffee before my rounds—much like tonight.”
    “What time was this?”
    “Oh, around midnight. Poor girl had to get home quick, but she kept the place open to let me have a cup of my favorite brew before the long night of stink and diesel I had ahead of me.”
    “And was there a blonde woman here at that time?”
    “I’m afraid there wasn’t. No, Raegan and I were the only two people in here. She served me a cup of joe an’ then I took her home in my truck, seeing as she was probably too late to catch the last subway train on account of me. Didn’t want her to risk being stranded in the middle of the city late at night.”
    They left together , she thought. Could that be verified? Sure it could. So could Helena walking into the diner, because she must have at some point. CCTV Cameras supposedly operated all over town at all hours of the day and night. Whether or not they worked was a different story.
    “Did you see her lock the diner door on the way out?” Cameron asked.
    “Come to think of it, no I didn’t,” he said. “I wasn’t paying a lot of attention. It’s possible she could have left without locking the place up. Might have been how the thieves got in.”
    “And the woman,” Alice asked, “The blonde. You didn’t pass her on the road or anything?”
    Doug shook his head. “It was late. I’d have seen a pretty blonde girl walking along the sidewalk if we’d crossed paths.”
    Alice nodded. “What about Raegan,” she asked. “Have you seen her since?”
    “Not since that night. Heard she gave a statement to the police, but she hasn’t shown up around here. Probably blames herself for what happened. Poor girl. A