“Anything else you can do for us?”
“Not really. From the pattern of the bloodstains, I don’t think the victim had time to struggle much. Which suggests that most if not all the mutilations took place after death.”
“Cause of death?” said Fisher.
Jaeger shrugged. “Take your pick. Any one of those injuries would have been enough to kill him.”
Hawk gestured for the Guard Constable to come over and join them. He was a dark, heavy-set man in his mid-forties, with a twenty-year star on his uniform. He had the calm, resigned look of the seasoned Guard who’d seen it all before and hadn’t been impressed then, either. He glanced briefly at the body as he came to stand beside it, but nothing showed in his face.
“Constable Roberts at your service, Captain Hawk, Captain Fisher.”
“Who found the body?” said Hawk.
“Couple of kids coming back from a party. Merchant families. Took a shortcut through the Northside on a dare, and found a bit more than they bargained for. They’re in the house opposite with my partner, having a cup of tea. It’s good for shock, tea.”
“They see anything, apart from the body?”
“Apparently not, Captain.”
“We’d better have a word with them, anyway. See if you can move that crowd along. The forensic sorcerer should be here soon, and he hates working in front of an audience.”
The Constable nodded, and Hawk and Fisher headed for the house he’d indicated, stepping around the bloodstains where they could.
“You know,” said Fisher quietly, “it’s times like this I seriously think about getting out of this job. You think you’ve seen every nasty sight and spectacle the Northside can throw at you, and then something like this happens. How can one human being do that to another?”
Hawk felt like shrugging, but didn’t. It had been a serious question. “Drugs. Passion. Possession. Maybe just plain crazy. There are all sorts in the Northside, on their way up or on their way down. If a man’s got any darkness in his soul, the Northside will bring it out. Don’t take it so personally, Isobel. We’ve seen worse. Just concentrate on finding the clues that will help us nail the bastard.”
The young couple who’d found the body were still in the house where they’d been left, too shocked and disorientated even to think about making a fuss about leaving. They were clearly merchant-class by their dress, lower-middle by the look of them, and looked distinctly out of place in the dim smoky kitchen, being fussed over by a motherly washerwoman. Another Guard Constable was sitting comfortably by the fire, keeping an eye on them. He wore a ten-year star, but looked like he’d spent most of those years indoors. He nodded pleasantly to Hawk and Fisher, but made no move to get up. The merchant boy looked to be in his late teens, the girl a year or two younger. Hawk drew up a chair opposite them, and concentrated his questions on the boy. The girl was half asleep in her chair, worn out by shock and emotional exhaustion.
“I’m Captain Hawk, of the city Guard. This is my partner, Captain Fisher. What’s your name, lad?”
“Fairfax, sir. Calvin Fairfax.”
“All right, Calvin, tell us about finding the body.”
Fairfax swallowed once, and nodded stiffly. “We were walking down Wool Street, Belinda and I, when we heard something. Footsteps, like someone running away. Then Belinda saw spots of blood on the ground, leading into the next street. She didn’t want to get involved, but I thought we should at least take a look, in case someone was injured and needed help. We walked a little way down the street ... and that’s when we saw the body.”
“Did you see anyone else in Silver Street?” said Fisher.
“No. There was no one else there. Belinda screamed, but no one came to help. A few people looked out their windows at us, but they didn’t want to get involved. Finally the Guard Constables heard her, and came to see what was happening.”
Fisher nodded understandingly. “What time was this?”
“About three o’clock. I heard the tower bell sound the hour not long before. The Constables took over once they saw the body. We’ve been waiting here ever since. Can we go now, please? We’re very late. Our parents will be worned.”
“In a while,” said Hawk. “The forensic sorcerer will want to see you, when he finally gets here, but after that you’re free to go. You’ll have to make a statement for the Coroner’s Court, but you can do that any time. And in future, stay out of the Northside. This isn’t a safe place to be walking about, especially early in the morning.”
“Don’t worry,” said Fairfax earnestly, “I never want to see this place again for the rest of my life. We wouldn’t have come this way anyway if Luther hadn’t dared us to walk past the Bode house.”
Hawk’s ears pricked up. The Bode house. The name rang a faint but very definite bell. “What’s so special about the Bode house?”
Fairfax shrugged. “It’s supposed to be haunted. People have seen things, heard things. We thought it would be a lark.” His mouth twisted sourly. “We thought it would be fun....”
Hawk talked reassuringly with him for a while, and then he and Fisher left the house and walked back down Silver Street. The cold morning air seemed even harsher after the comfortable warmth of the kitchen.
“Bode house ...” Hawk frowned thoughtfully. “I know that name from somewhere.”
“You should do,” said Fisher. “It’s been mentioned in our briefings for the past three nights. There are some indications the place may be haunted. Neighbours have complained of strange lights and sounds, and no one’s seen the occupant for days. Since Bode is an alchemist and a sorcerer, no one’s taking it too seriously yet, but there’s no doubt it’s got the neighbours rattled.”
“Beats me how you can take in all that stuff,” said Hawk. “It’s all I can do to keep my eyes open at the beginning of the shift. I don’t really wake up till I’ve been on the streets an hour.”
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed,” said Fisher.
“Where is this Bode house?”
“Just down the street and round the corner.”
Hawk stopped and looked at her. “Coincidence?”
“Could be.”
“I don’t believe in coincidence. I think we’d better take a look, just to be sure.”
“Might be a good idea to have a word with Constable Roberts first,” said Fisher. “This is his particular territory; he might know something useful.”
Hawk looked at her approvingly. “You’re on the ball today, lass.”
Fisher grinned. “One of us has to be.”
As it turned out, Constable Roberts wasn’t much help.
“Can’t tell you anything definite about the house, Captains. I’ve heard a few things, but there are always rumors with a sorcerer’s house. Bode’s a quiet enough fellow; lives alone and keeps himself to himself. No one’s seen him for a while, but that’s not unusual. He often goes off on journeys. Since no one’s been actually hurt or threatened, I’ve just let the place be. Bode wouldn’t thank me for sticking my nose into his business, and I’m not getting a sorcerer mad at me for no good reason.”
Hawk’s mouth tightened, and for a moment he almost said something, but in the end he let it go. Looking out for Number One was standard practice in Haven, even amongst the Guard. Especially amongst the Guard. “Fair enough, Constable. I think we’ll take a look anyway. You stay here until the forensic sorcerer arrives. And keep your eyes open. The killer could still be around here somewhere.”
He got exact directions from Roberts, and then he and Fisher pushed their way through the thinning crowd and set off down the street. It wasn’t far. The sorcerer’s house was set on the end of a row of fairly well-preserved tenements. Not too impressive, but not bad for the area. The window shutters were all firmly closed, and there was no sign of any light. Hawk tried to feel any uneasy atmosphere that might be hanging about the place, but either there wasn’t one or he was so cold by now he couldn’t feel it. He took off his right glove and slipped his hand inside his shirt. Hanging around his neck on a silver chain was a carved bone amulet. Standard issue for all Guards, the amulet could detect the presence of magic anywhere nearby. He held the amulet firmly in his hand, but the small piece of bone was still and quiet. As far as it was concerned, there was no magic at all in the vicinity. Which was unusual, to say the least. A sorcerer’s house should be crawling with defensive spells. He took his hand away and quickly pulled his glove back on, flexing his numbed fingers to drive out the cold.
“Have you got the suppressor stone?” he asked quietly.
“I thought you’d get round to that,” said Fisher. “You’ve been dying to try the thing out, haven’t you?”
Hawk shrugged innocently. The suppressor stone was the latest bright idea from the Council’s circle of sorcerers. They weren’t standard issue yet, but a number of Guards had volunteered to try them out. Working the streets of Haven, a Guard needed every helpful device he could get his hands on. Theoretically, the suppressor stone was capable of cancelling out all magic within its area of influence. In practice, the range was very limited; it misfired as often as it worked, and they still weren’t sure about side effects. Hawk couldn’t wait to try it out. He loved new gadgets.
Which was why Fisher carried the stone.
“Great big overgrown kid,” she muttered under her breath.
Hawk smiled, walked up to the front door and studied it warily. It looked ordinary enough. There was a fancy brass door-knocker, but Hawk didn’t try it. Probably booby-trapped. Sorcerers were a suspicious lot. He knelt down suddenly as something caught his eye. Someone had used the iron boot-scraper recently. There was mud and slush and a few traces of blood. Hawk smiled, and straightened up. Sooner or later, they always made a mistake. You just had to be sharp enough to spot it. He looked at Fisher, and she nodded to show she’d seen it too. They both drew their weapons. Hawk hammered on the door twice with the butt of his axe. The loud, flat sound echoed on the quiet. There was no response.
“All right,” said Hawk. “When in doubt, be direct.” He lifted his axe to strike at the door, but Fisher stopped him.
“Hold it, Hawk. We could be wrong. If by some chance the sorcerer has come home, and is just a slow answerer, he’s not going to look too kindly on us if we break his door down. And if that isn’t him in there, why warn him we’re coming? I’ve got a better way.”
She reached into a hidden pocket and pulled out a set of lock-picks. She bent over the door lock, fiddled expertly for a few seconds, and then pushed the door quietly ajar. Hawk looked impressed.
“You’ve been practicing.”
Fisher grinned. “Never know when it might come in handy.”
Hawk pushed the door open, revealing a dark, empty hall. He and Fisher stood where they were, weapons at the ready, studying the hallway.
“There’s bound to be some kind of security spell, to keep strangers out,” said Fisher. “That’s standard with all magic-users.”
“So we’ll use the stone,” said Hawk. “That’s what it’s for.”
“Not so fast. If I was a sorcerer, I’d put a rider on my security spell, designed to go off if anybody messed with it. ”
Hawk frowned thoughtfully. “According to the Constable, Bode’s a fairly low-level sorcerer. Something like that would need more sophisticated magic.”
“Try the amulet again.”
Hawk held the carved bone firmly in his hand, but it was still quiescent. As far as it was concerned, there wasn’t any magic in the area. Hawk shook his head impatiently. “We’re wasting time. We’re going in there. Now.”
“Fair enough.”
“After you.”
“My hero.”
They walked slowly into the dim hallway, side by side. They paused just inside the doorway, but nothing happened. Hawk found a lamp in a niche on the wall, and lit it. The pale golden glow revealed a long narrow hallway, open but not particularly inviting. The walls were bare, the floorboards dull and unpolished. There was a door to their right, closed, and a stairway straight ahead at the end of the hall. Fisher moved silently over to the door, listened a moment, and then eased it open. Hawk braced himself, axe at the ready. Fisher pushed the door open with the toe of her boot and stepped quickly into the room, sword held out before her. Hawk moved quickly forward, holding up the lamp to light the room. There was no one there. Everything looked perfectly normal. Furniture, carpet, paintings and tapestries on the walls. Nothing expensive, but comfortable. The two Guards went back into the hall, shutting the door quietly behind them. They headed for the stairs.
“Something wrong here,” said Hawk softly. “According to the amulet there’s still no sign of any magic, but this house should be saturated with it. At the very least, there should be defensive spells all over the place. Industrial espionage is rife among magic-users. There’s always someone trying to steal your secrets.”
They made their way up the stairs, the steps occasionally creaking under their weight. The sounds seemed very loud on the quiet. The lamplight bobbed around them, unable to make much impression on the darkness. The landing at the top of the stairs led off onto a narrow hallway. There were three doors, all firmly closed. Hawk and Fisher stood together, listening, but there was only the quiet, and the sound of their own breathing. Hawk sniffed at the air.