Linn, if you could stay and get me a toxicology report, take tomorrow off. Claire, go home. We’ll need to be up early for interviews,” he said finally. “If you’re right and somebody hid the cause of death, his family will be our best chance to figure out why.”


    I don’t need much rest,” Claire told him. “It’s important for tracers to be able to finish their work before an imprint fades.”


    Is there anything you need to trace, Caster James?”


    If I can find the murder site...?”


    Can you? Tonight? Do you have a plan on where to start looking or how you’ll recognize a magical trace you can’t identify?”


    No sir.”


    And how long do you think you’ll be able to sense it for?”


    Depends on the location. It will last longer if there’s no magical pollution drowning it out, especially if there’s a lot of organic material or glass to absorb it.”


    But at worst?” Dryden pressed.


    I’d say a month and a half.”


    Go home and get some rest, James. I expect everyone here at 5 AM tomorrow.”


    I killed the last man who gave me orders, burned him without warning in front of my whole team,’ she wanted to say, unsure if she would have meant it as a warning or a defense, proof she wasn’t a mindless pawn.


    Yes Detective Dryden. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”


    <hr>


    </a>


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    You’re back in my morgue,” MIller said, eyebrows raised. She was still wearing the clothes from last night and there were deep shadows under her eyes.


    I’m sorry to intrude. I wanted to avoid the reporters.”


    This isn’t a mudroom. Learn to deal with the reporters or don’t come in.”


    Understood.”


    Detective James, I was going to have pastries yesterday, but I wasn’t sure you’d want them, but I think I was overthinking it, so...” Campbell held out a tray, “pastries! I made them, so I hope they’re alright...”


    Thank you, Cam. I’m sure they’re excellent,” Dryden cut in, taking a raspberry danish off the tray. “I assume you finished your report on the Handfellows before you started baking?”


    The Handfellows moved here from Ives and started in the grain industry. They’ve done well for themselves. They have a modest farm to the south, but it has high yields and they’ve invested well.”


    Licensed, correct?” Dryden asked.


    Yes. The original license belonged to the maternal grandfather forty-six years ago, but they’ve passed the national inspection every year since the Handfellows took over.”


    Licensed?” Claire cut in. It was embarrassing not to know, but it was worse to make bad judgments because she’d been too proud to ask. “Why does a farm need a license?”


    Most jobs have them. Don’t you have a license?” Campbell asked, looking worried.


    Yes, because I am a detective. Most who cast for a living are tested to make sure our abilities are up to par. But not farms.”


    Oh, that makes sense. You don’t need a license. Most subsistence farms, farms where they’re only growing what they need, don’t get one, but otherwise, it’s a huge risk not to have one.” Claire could see Campbell relaxing with every sentance, clearly in his element. He really was adorable, in a bumbling puppy sort of way. “A licensed farm is held to certain standards in quality, worker treatment, and pays a percentage of profits into the farm fund. That fund pays for the farm inspections, but most of it is relief money. If a region is hit by a disaster, the difference between their usual yield and that year’s yield is paid out, so most farms feel the protection is worth it. It saved a lot of families here a few years ago when the lowlands flooded. Products from licensed farmers also sell for a much higher price since merchants can trust the quality without worrying about conducting their own inspection.”


    Caspian graduated from the boarding school in Ives. He’s been apprenticing with a cartographer. Decent grades, no arrest record. His father, Ulysses, is the third son of a clothing manufacturer. His sister, Flora, is in school as well, and recently secured an engagement to a glass caster who specializes in voice imprinting. Their relationship has been approved by the church as well.”


    And nothing else notable for the family?” Claire asked.


    Well… it’s a bit odd,” Campbell said carefully, “but nobody wrote in that he was missing. He was still living at home, but nobody noticed he hadn’t come home the night before last. The police report said his family seemed shocked.”


    It isn’t strange for a boy that age to be out a lot,” Dryden said, “but that’s still good to know. If he’s out at night, we might be able to find out where he goes and what he does.”


    Did he have a lover?” Claire asked.


    A lover? Nobody under forty has ‘a lover’.”


    And he doesn’t, at least not publicly,” Dryden said, tapping his ear.


    Our most likely case is ruled out,” Dryden said. “Linn finished the toxicology. Most of our murders happen in the heat of the moment, usually when people are mentally compromised, but our boy’s clean. If he’s out at night, he isn’t partying. It doesn’t look like he ever had more than the occasional drink, and not even that recently. Besides that, he had no defensive wounds. She also noted he had a few new calluses on his feet. He may have been trying new shoes, but he also may have been taking up some new activity.”


    Today, James will be coming to speak to the family with me. Abigail, I want you to help Cam with whatever he needs. James, I know you may have some experience here, but I’d like you to let me take the lead,” Dryden continued. “Hopefully, his family can give us a clearer picture of our victim. I imagine we won’t be particularly welcome, so please keep your temper, even if they’re rude. Remember they are grieving parents.”


    Of course,” Claire said, keeping any trace of offense out of her voice.


    You go wade through reporters,” she said. “Cam and I will solve the case back here.”