Tricked

While the murder itself may have been committed by a single person, the dismemberment and mutilation of his body afterward was undoubtedly performed by a group of people wielding different bladed and blunt weapons.Mr. O’Sullivan was seen wearing a sword in Tempe by multiple witnesses before his death. Authorities from Tempe and Tuba City refused to speculate on a motive for the killing and denied that there was anything like a sword-based Fight Club organization.
    Granuaile laughed at that.
    › Well, of course they denied it, ‹ Oberon said. › The first rule of Sword Fight Club is don’t talk about Sword Fight Club. ‹
    Our food arrived as we shared a chuckle over the article. As plate after plate was set down, I kept scanning the newspaper.
    » Anything else? «
    » Nah, it just continues to imply that I must have done something naughty to deserve this. What’s really interesting is that it doesn’t mention the bodies of Týr or Vidar. Or any evidence of the Morrigan’s orgy. «
    » I beg your pardon? « Granuaile’s fork froze halfway to her mouth, and those green eyes, though still lit by the sun, carried a cool steel warning in them. I took heed.
    » As I was leaving, « I explained, » the Morrigan mentioned her desire for an orgy in the mud. I don’t know if she actually had one or not, but she certainly seemed intent on it. «
    » An orgy with whom ? «
    » She was hoping to attract the locals, « I said, leaving out the part where she originally hoped to attract me. » But now I’m wondering if she went through with it. She probably ate Týr and Vidar instead. She does that, you know, when she’s in crow form. She eats dead bodies. «
    Granuaile blanched. » Ew. Gross. « She looked down at all the sausage and bacon sides waiting on the table. » Kind of puts me off my appetite a bit. «
    › My appetite is like Sasquatch on a leash, and he’s ready to break loose! Feed me, Seymour! ‹
    Ah, right you are. Sorry, Oberon .
    I camouflaged a plate of meat and then pretended I was picking something up off the floor when I was really putting something down for Oberon. He’d find it by smell, no problem.
    » How could she put away two fully grown men, though? « Granuaile asked, in spite of herself.
    I shrugged. » I never stick around to watch, and I never asked. It’s a mystery. «
    After breakfast, it was errand time. We each rented a post-office box and then spent a tedious hour setting up bank accounts under our new identities, using what remaining cash we had. Armed with addresses and bank accounts, we each got new cell phones. Then I put in a call to the offices of Magnusson and Hauk, my attorneys. To get past the receptionist and actually talk to Hal, I had to identify myself as a » close friend of Atticus O’Sullivan « and stress that I was a new client who wished to put Mr. Hauk on retainer.
    » This is Hal Hauk, « he said, his voice distant and bored.
    » Mr. Hauk. My name is Reilly Collins. « Hal knew very well who I was. He was the one who’d given me my new driver’s license, birth certificate, and Social Security number. He knew I’d be calling at some point to set up a » new « relationship once I got settled. This entire charade was for the benefit of anyone who might be listening in. » I’d like to put you on retainer and meet with you for a consultation, if that’s possible. «
    » Where are you, Mr. Collins? «
    » Kayenta. I’d like to see you today. «
    » Impossible for me, unfortunately. However, I can send an associate to see you this afternoon with all the necessary paperwork to get started. «
    » Can we see this associate here well before sundown? «
    » Hmm. It’s something of a drive, so we could probably make mid-afternoon if we hurry. «
    » Please hurry, then, Mr. Hauk. I have an important engagement at sundown. «
    » All right. I’ll send Greta. « Greta was a member of Hal’s pack who seemed to get stuck with all of Hal’s odd jobs. She wasn’t a lawyer, but she was utterly trustworthy and utterly unimpressed with me. » Where shall she meet you? «
    » The sub place on the main highway. We’ll buy her a sandwich with extra meat and everything. «
    » That’s extremely kind of you, « Hal said drily. » She will be thrilled. «
    We made good-bye noises, I gave him my new number to pass on to Greta, and I snapped the phone closed with satisfaction. » That’s good. Once we give him power of attorney, he can start moving funds from my other