Nocturne | ONC 2024

Six: Interview

"Got my alibi sorted for me, have you?"

Aaron ignored the quip. His head hurt. He needed a cup of tea like he needed oxygen. He did not need to be interviewing a surly werewolf.

But Nikolai was negotiating their access to the Nocturne stronghold with Bill, and everyone else was busy clearing up the wreckage of the station garages, so no one else was here to do it.

"We need some questions answered nevertheless," Aaron sighed, returning to the table with his mug in hand. From the other side of a silver mesh, gold eyes glowered at him. The interrogation room was composed of two sides separated by silver link; Aaron sat with his back to the corridor, which he wasn't thrilled about after the Nocturnes' flying visit. The hungry look in Tana's eyes appeared behind his lids every time he blinked. "Sooner you can answer them, sooner I can release you."

"You don't even have any charges against me."

"Technically," Aaron said, with more patience than the situation deserved, "I can hold you here just on the grounds of unregistered territory. But I'll let you off on that, if you can help me out with this."

That shut the man up. Didn't stop him scowling, but Aaron was beyond caring.

"Your Kennel," he said. "What do they deal in?"

"You have that on file."

"Well, I'm asking you." He looked Brent between the eyes. "I want to be here about as much as you do, my friend. But whoever did do this has got hell coming for them, and if I can't work out who within the week, we're all going down too."

"I don't know anything." Brent's nostrils flared as he let out a wolf-like sigh. "Look, I want the Nocturnes turning the city inside out like I want my nuts kicked into the Thames, but I can't help you. We ain't got anything to do with this. We don't mess with vamp business."

"Unfortunately," Aaron said with gritted teeth. "While your alibi is crystal clear for this last murder, your fur was found on the scene of the first. If Nikolai Meier can find his way to you on those grounds, then the Nocturnes definitely can, whether you did anything or not."

The werewolf paled, hand flickering to the amulet at his throat. "I didn't do it, alright? I've only been bitten a year, I've not even made it off the bottom rank in my Kennel. How the hell do you think I could've taken out a Nocturne?"

Aaron also had his doubts about it. If they were dealing with a low-ranking vamp, it would be more plausible; but they weren't. Both murdered vampires had been in the upper echelons of the gang, which meant older and stronger and usually cleverer. Well out of the league of a new Werewolf.

But Brent's fur had been at the scene; Aaron had been there when Nikolai found it.

"What does your Kennel deal in, Mr Hudson?"

Brent growled, low in his chest, but seemed to sense the futility in obstructing things further. "We distribute for a sorcery ring. Amulets, charms, minor spells. That kind of thing."

"Anything else?"

Brent shrugged. "We have a small stake in the meat trade. Not much of one, though."

"Do any of your operations occur in this area of London?" Aaron pulled a map out of his file, on which he'd circled the location of the first murder.

Brent looked at them; to his credit, he gave it some considerable thought. "We have a drop point here." He pointed to an unmarked building two streets over from the scene. "We don't use that one as much anymore."

"Why not?"

"Bloodhounder took the neighbouring territory, and their leader likes to give us trouble even if we stay on our side of the boundary."