Page 18 of Cold Curses

The bodies lay about twenty feet inside the door. Either the video hadn’t fully captured the bruising or more had appeared since we’d seen it. The wounds on their backs, on the other hand, looked just as bad in real life as they had on-screen.

The magic was undeniable; the air was sharp with it, and theacrid fumes made the eyes water. There was blood on the ground, but the lingering magic and scent of demon eliminated any vampire interest. Even monster stayed quiet, except to remind me how helpful it could be.

“Who are they?” Theo asked.

“Jake Durante and Ernesto País. They worked for Buckley Trade Partners, which owns this building. They’ve been dead about eight hours.”

“Afternoon,” Theo said. “During daylight.”

“During business hours, I bet.” I looked at Gwen. “Is the warehouse open at night?”

“Closes down at nine p.m. Well, normally,” she said, noting the open doors and onlookers.

I crouched and reached fingers toward the trail of smoke.

“Don’t touch the body,” Hansen snapped out.

“Throttle back, Hansen,” Gwen said. “It’s not her first night on the job. Also, she’s not an idiot.”

My fingers tingled as they touched the substance, and I pulled them back. I’d found the oily grit I’d been expecting. I rose, showed my hand to Theo and Gwen.

“Demon smut,” I said. “I’m not sure how the mark was made, but a demon made it.”

Gwen pulled an evidence bag from a nearby forensic kit and held it out to me. “Can you get more?”

I nodded, held the bag to the dark wisp, and then sealed it. The bag felt heavier in hand than it ought to, and I was relieved when I handed it back to her.

“Why would a demon who’s necessarily new to Chicago, being the gates were locked, kill two humans?” Theo asked.

“The plant demon was doing it for fun,” I said. “But this doesn’t look like that.”

“Isn’t that what they do?” Hansen asked. “Be evil?”

“So do plenty of humans,” Gwen said, “as you’re aware. Use your brain, or I’ll kick you off my crime scene.”

“It’s not your crime scene,” he said stiffly. “It’s mine.”

“It’s theirs,” Theo said, pointing to the deceased, the words cold and sharp and not allowing any argument.

“Maybe demons snuck in on a ship,” Hansen said. “These guys challenged them, and the demons took them out.”

“And nicely placed them here in the heat of the fight, lined up like this?” I shook my head. “This is a display.”

“Agreed,” Gwen said. “The forensic folks have gotten photos, so help me turn them, Hansen. I want to check their torsos.”

He grunted but slipped on gloves. He and Gwen carefully positioned themselves to avoid unnecessary contact, then carefully turned the first man. His face bore no marks of violence. But the wounds to his back weren’t the only violations. And killing two humans apparently hadn’t been enough for the perpetrator.

Tick.

“Shit,” Theo said, the word an exhalation of adrenaline and fear. “Is that a bomb?”

“Shit,” Hansen said.

Tick.

The man had been placed atop a small black box attached by colored wires to a block of gray putty.

And the timer read,53 seconds.