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Dr Singh dipped his hand into the pocket of his lab coat and withdrew a small golden box with delicate filigree etching.

He flipped the lid, revealed a collection of multi-coloured pastilles and held it out.

‘Here. One will be more than enough to prevent queasiness and dull any unpleasant smells. They are an important tool of our trade. The effects last for up to seven days. They’re created by Mystical Forces,’ he told us, name checking one of the larger witchery stores in Coldstream.

Quentin Hightower almost snapped off the pathologist’s hand. He darted forward, took one of the tiny tablets, threw it into his mouth and swallowed. Adrienne shrugged but also took one. Thane shook his head.

‘Ms McCafferty?’ Dr Singh enquired. ‘I know you don’t need one but you’re welcome to take a pastille if you wish.’

‘No, thank you.’ I stared at the small box and its contents. ‘When you say they’re an important tool of your trade, are they only used by pathologists?’

‘Not at all,’ he replied cheerfully. ‘Some doctors use them. And some undertakers.’

I licked my lips. ‘What about the Redcaps?’

Dr Singh chuckled. ‘I’ve never met a single Redcap who doesn’t pop one of these beauties at least once a week.

Their job can be quite gruesome. At least we have some warning about what condition bodies will be in before we see them, but the Redcaps never know what they’ll find when they’re called out. ’

I frowned then turned to the clipboard and its collection of signed sheets. The only people who could see the bodies without noting their names were the mortuary staff and, presumably, the Redcaps. They could come and go as they pleased without question.

Thane was watching my face carefully. ‘What is it, Kit? ’

Probably nothing, but I felt twitchy. ‘You said that you’ve been very busy here,’ I said slowly. ‘Is that the same for every mortuary in Coldstream at the moment?’

Dr Singh pursed his lips. ‘I couldn’t say.’

‘Simon Campbell’s body was brought here by the Redcaps even though other mortuaries are closer to where he died,’ I persisted.

‘It was an unusual situation. I believe the Redcaps who serve this establishment happened to be the first to attend the call for Mr Campbell. They probably brought his body here because this is where they work from.’

‘Specific Redcaps are assigned to specific mortuaries?’ I hadn’t been aware of that.

‘Yes. They are an independent organisation who assign groups to particular areas of the city. Each mortuary receives its own cohort of Redcaps – it’s easier when we all know each other. It’s not a perfect system but it mostly works.’

‘Who’s in charge of the Redcaps for this mortuary?’

‘Each group has a team leader. Ours is an affable fellow called Fitz Williams.’

Fitz was the Redcap I’d met at the Tweed. He hadn’t been affable in the slightest.

‘And it would have been his call to bring Simon Campbell here?’

‘I believe so.’

That wasn’t what Williams had told me; he’d said that they had been ordered to bring Campbell’s corpse here. ‘Even though you were already very busy with other bodies?’

‘I wasn’t on duty at the time, Ms McCafferty. And anyway, the Redcaps are responsible for body retrieval and removal to mortuaries. We don’t interfere with their work and they don’t interfere with ours.’

Thane’s clever eyes continued to watch me. ‘Three victims,’ he said quietly. ‘All friends but all from different parts of Coldstream, yet they all end up in this mortuary.’

Each body had been brought here by the Redcaps; not only that, but Fitz had used a nosegay. Why would a Redcap need something to disguise the scent of death when they already had access to the magical pills that Dr Singh had offered around?

I thought of something else and turned to Hightower. ‘Why did you think a vampire was involved in the murders?’

He blinked rapidly. ‘Each person was killed in a different way. Whoever did this to Adrienne’s poor friends understands death. Vampires are the very definition of death – they are the undead. It stands to reason that one of their bloodied ilk is involved.’

‘There’s nothing to indicate vampire,’ Thane said, glancing at Dr Singh. ‘Right?’

‘Nothing on any of the bodies,’ the pathologist agreed.

No, but vampires weren’t the only Preternaturals who understood death.

Pathologists understood death; necromancers understood death; assassins understood death – and so did Redcaps.

I thought of Trilby and their repeated comment that I didn’t ask the right questions. I’d fallen into that trap yet again.

‘I’d like to talk to Fitz Williams,’ I said quietly.

Adrienne had wrapped her arms around her body. Her face was pale and she looked deeply unhappy. ‘Why are we talking about fucking Redcaps?’ she muttered. ‘We’re here so I can see my friends.’

My eyes met Thane’s. ‘It’s only circumstantial evidence,’ he said.

Yep.

‘We’ve been wrong before.’

Also yep.

‘But something about this doesn’t add up. ’

Definitely yep.

‘I’ll track down Fitz Williams,’ I said. ‘You two stay here with Adrienne. Keep her safe.’

Hightower scowled. ‘Who will keep you safe?’

‘I’ll be fine.’

He shook his head. ‘No. I cannot let you leave this place on your own.’ He turned his head and glanced at the rows of gleaming body lockers.

Even with Dr Singh’s magic pill, he didn’t want to look at an array of corpses.

If I left him here, he might cause problems and distract Adrienne from her own grim purpose.

I looked at Thane again and he nodded. ‘I’ll stay with Adrienne,’ he said. ‘You take Quentin. Find this Redcap and see what he has to say for himself.’

Lucky old me.

Hightower straightened his shoulders. ‘Tell you what,’ he said, as if Thane hadn’t spoken at all. ‘I’ll speak to this Redcap. Kitty, you can come with me. The wolf can stay and protect Adrienne here. He’s up to the job.’

I gritted my teeth. ‘Sure,’ I said, dredging up every ounce of remaining patience I could find. ‘That’s a good idea.’

He was already heading for the door. ‘Come on then!’

‘Don’t kill Quentin Hightower, Kit,’ Thane advised quietly, a faint gleam of amusement in his eyes. ‘You’ll only regret it later.’

I wasn’t so sure about that.