Grave Witch

Gilbert looked at Oscar and Marrone; they looked sweaty and worn. Should he offer them something to drink? He wasn’t sure about Marrone. Had it been Oscar and Gertrude coming by, he would have, but Marrone looked pissed off, and he wasn’t sure he wanted an angry detective in his house. “Eh… I spoke to Rue—”

“Is Rue here?” Marrone’s voice was clipped, and Gilbert snapped his mouth shut. Shit, they weren’t supposed to be talking about Rue. He wasn’t registered. Every record of him said he was human.

“Peas and other cold-hardy crops.” He focused on Gertrude and hoped she’d save the situation.

“Great! Peas will be most welcome come winter. You can make the split pea soup Chaton gave everyone for Christmas. Loads of protein.”

Gilbert nodded. Yeah, maybe he should fill all the beds with peas. Shifters needed a lot of protein, and with the meat deliveries no longer coming from Oakmouth, he should prioritize legumes. “Yeah, maybe I should focus on peas.”

“Are you growing for yourself, or are you trying to get out of guard duty?” Gertrude smiled, but there was something off about it. Was she trying to distract Marrone, so he wouldn’t ask about Rue again?

“First, we have to see if I can grow anything. I have my tomatoes—” He gestured at the porch. “—and figured…” Shrugging, he gestured at the bare soil. “If there are a lot of peas, I’ll give them to… Asher.” Asher was a safe name. Gertrude had mentioned Chaton, but were they allowed to talk about Chaton? He wasn’t sure anymore. At first, no one was allowed to go near the blood slaves. Now they were the core of the community, and he wasn’t sure what was safe to share with strangers and what wasn’t. He met Oscar’s gaze and got a nod in reply. Good enough.

“Sounds good.” Gertrude smiled, but it was strained. “The police decided to renege on their word.”

Cold slithered through him. He would not go to the station. He sought Oscar’s gaze again and was met with what could only be described as an apologetic expression. Fuck.

“Interrogations weren’t enough. Now they want to go through your things.” The edge in Gertrude’s voice would’ve made him smile if it hadn’t involved him.

“My things?” Gilbert slid his gaze over Oscar and Marrone. Oscar looked exasperated, and Marrone was a mix between angry and embarrassed.

“They’re searching for the motorcycle.” Gertrude crossed her arms over her chest, and Dov snorted from behind Gilbert.

“Within the walls?” Gilbert was confused. There were no vehicles within the walls. If someone had anything run by an engine, it was in the garage outside the gate.

“Yes.”

“But that’s stupid.” Gilbert looked between Oscar and Marrone.

“I know.” Oscar nodded at him. “Can we check inside your house and your garage?”

Gilbert gestured at the garage first. All he had in there were a few spades, a rake, and a few baskets. During winter, he stored his porch furniture and pots there, but now they were on the porch.

Everyone, including Dov, walked into the garage. Marrone looked around with a look of disbelief, and Oscar smiled. “Thank you. And now the house.”

Dov went back to measuring the walkways through the garden beds, and Gilbert walked ahead toward the house. He had some dirty dishes in the sink, and there was a stack of laundry on his living room table he had yet to put away. He guessed he should be happy it was clean and not a basket of dirty clothes.

They walked through the one-story house. It was small. A kitchen, a living room, a bedroom, and a bathroom with a washing machine and a dryer. He didn’t need more. The garden was big, which he liked, and he lived alone and rarely had people over.

Oscar hummed approvingly at the living room. “Cozy.”

Gilbert looked at the dark blue walls, the bookshelves, the couch, and the coffee table. He might not have much, but he liked what he had. Apart from the laundry basket on the table. “Thanks.”

They checked the kitchen, the bedroom, and lastly, Oscar gestured for Marrone to check the bathroom. He and Gertrude stayed where they were, hovering between the hallway and the living room. Gilbert stayed too. There wasn’t anything to see in the bathroom.