Deadman Chapter 50: Wrinkles

When I arrived at Nicos there were still so lights on. Hers was one of the few houses that hadnt been painted or decorated in any way, which ironically made it much more noticeable. I went to knock on the door, but she opened it before my fist could hit it. She had a cigarette hanging out of her mouth, and a bowl of so kind of soup in her hand. She gave a quick gesture with her head to invite in, so I walked through the door. Her place was spartan, aside from so stacks of books and a few old pieces of art shed looted from a museum that were hanging crooked on the walls.

Glad to see youre still here in Potts, guess they decided not to exile you.

I shook my head. Not exactly. I was pleading my case, answering questions, but we got interrupted. Theres been a murder.

The cigarette in Nicos mouth drooped. A murder? Id have expected that kind of thing out in so regular human settlent, but not here. Who died?

A woman nad Lydia. She was ripped to shreds, partially eaten.

An animal?

I shook my head. Teeth marks were distinctly those of a deadman.

She nodded, understanding without needing to elaborate. They put you on the case or did you do that yourself?

A bit of both.

You broken anyones bones during your investigation yet?

I sighed. No. As a matter of fact Ive just had a few interviews. I dont need to use violence as much in a place like this.

Despite the fact that youd want to.

I opened my mouth for a harsh response, but shut it. I had been tempted to use a bit more force. It had certainly made things easier in all my other investigations, but this wasnt the place. Especially if I wanted to keep working for the good of deadn and Potts in particular. I opened my mouth to speak, but this ti had a more asured thing to say. Got any more soup?

She nodded, and pointed to the kitchen where I saw a small pot letting off steam. I approached it, and dumped the sliced pig heart Id received from Pete into the pot. I stirred it for a few minutes, letting it all heat, then poured so into a bowl. I didnt bother getting a spoon, instead I just drank it straight from the bowl.

Nico raised an eyebrow as I did. Mama would be furious if she saw you eating like that.

I dont know about that. Mamas pretty on my side lately.

Did she side with you at your eting with the Honored Dead?

Yes, very strongly. I think I had three of them firmly on my team by the end of it.

Nico let out a breath, and I saw so of the tension in her face ease. Good. You belong at Potts as much as I do. thods aside.

I nodded, deciding to hold my disagreent back. Sure I wanted to support Potts and its people, but the idea that I belonged there as much as Nico was just wrong to . Though I appreciated what she was trying to say.

I stood up from her couch and looked around at her stacks of books. Still nothing remotely interesting. For so reason she liked to collect books that were heavily about the old world, or were considered classics of it. Id given a few of the things in her collection a try in the past and had found all of it incredibly dry and uninteresting. There was one I almost enjoyed about a man hunting a whale, but even that was a bore in comparison to what I preferred to read. I didnt understand reading about people and their normal old world problems, when I could read about a Lich King slaying a dragon, or a mad bowhunter blessed by a snake god. Still, I looked anyway. Just seeing piles of books was pleasant. It reminded of my own setup on my boat, though with fewer maps. Nico didnt write a lot down like I did, preferred to keep it all in her head.

When we were done eating, she rolled out an old military cot I was fairly certain she only kept for when I was in Potts. She tossed a blanket Mama had sewn, and went to her own room to sleep. I laid down and closed my eyes. It took quite so ti to fall asleep, the murder, the discussion with the Honored Dead, and my own recent bloody experiences all played in my mind dozens of tis in every order I could think of. In spite of that though, eventually I was granted a rcifully dreamless sleep, oddly free of my usual nightmares.

I woke up just as the sun was peeking through the colored glass of Nicos windows. I sat up in the cot and did a quick ntal check of everything on my person. It wasnt like I expected anything to be gone, it was just a force of habit at this point. Even when I slept in safe places, I couldnt ever fully turn off the idea that danger and violence could happen at any ti.

I stood up, went to the restroom, then got so water. I didnt bother waiting for Nico to wake up to say goodbye. I was certain she didnt get as much sleep in her house as she wanted. She was a Postman, so only spent maybe a week every few months here, but she made that ti a priority. I had asked her why she even bothered having a house here if she didnt spend much ti in Potts, and I rember the question had made her sad. Like I shouldve already had the answer.

I pushed those thoughts out of my mind and slung my pack over my shoulder before making my way out onto the street. It was already busy, with multiple deadn out and about. I exchanged nods with a few as I walked, they were being polite, but it felt even more forced than usual. Things were tense. Potts wasnt used to murder, and everyone was being forced to deal with a break in their illusion of safety.

I made my way to the citys center where The Last al was located. My long stride carried there quickly. The restaurant was painted slate gray, and given a false texture to make it look like rock. The nas of frequent custors were carved into the outside walls as if it was a massive gravestone.The restaurant was closed, but I could see several people starting the process of preparing food, and getting it ready for people. There was no money in Potts, so I couldnt call the people that ate there custors, but multiple restaurants still competed for deadn to eat at them. Pride and bragging rights were all the motivation they needed to do so.

I went to the front door and gave it a knock. I saw a few people looking at the door confused, before one of them, a younger man in an apron and small hat, ca to the door.

Sorry man, were closed.

I know. Im Donovan, Im investigating Lydias death.

His eyes widened. Do-Donovan, the marshall?

I gave a slight nod.

Co in. He opened the door, and I stepped through it.

Whose in charge? I asked.

Thatll be l. Ill grab him.

I nodded, and the boy ran toward the sounds and slls of the kitchen. I waited for a few monts, looking around. The place was clean, and seed as orderly as everywhere else in Potts. I was surprised to find myself missing the gri of the watering holes Id encountered in the wastes. I wistfully ran a finger across the nearest table and let out a sigh when not even a bit of dust ca off on it.

Marshall Donovan?

I turned toward the new voice and saw a portly deadman, with a surprisingly full beard standing in front of , the boy who let in stood just a few feet behind him. You run this place? I asked.

Uh, yeah. Im l.

I nodded. I have so questions, l.

Well, Were in the middle of prep-

Now.

He nodded. Alrighty then. He gestured to the nearest two seat table and we sat across from one another.

We sat in silence for a few monts and I just looked at him and sized him up. He seed nervous, and uncomfortable. That didnt necessarily an anything, but I took note of it, and decided on an approach. Id wait for him to speak.

He squird a bit. This is about Lydia?

Yes. Unless theres sothing else I should know about.

He shook his head. No sir. Uh, what do you need to know?

Tell about her.

He swallowed. Well, um, she was a good worker. She knew her way around both the people that ca in, and the kitchen.

She get along well with everyone?

Yeah, yeah, I an, you might even say she got along with everyone a little too well.

I started tapping the table with my fingers. What do you an by that?

Well, um, she just had a lot offriends. Thats all.

I tilted my head. I t Delilah, are you saying she was seeing soone else?

He let out a nervous laugh. Well not just one person. I-I dont want to speak ill of her.

I stopped drumming on the table. She doesnt care. Shes dead. And if she did care, Im sure shed want whoever killed her to be taken care of.

Uh well there was Percy and Jean. Though those were all I know of.

And she was seeing them both at the sa ti? Along with Deliliah?

He nodded. From what I could tell, yes sir.

I picked at my teeth. That was a fresh layer. I let l get back to work after getting all the details on the rest of them. Then I interviewed everyone else one by one. I didnt get any more information than what hed told , but it was best to be thorough. When I was done I left and made my way to the Mausoleum, and headed for the Undertakers section. I was done going from person to person, it was ti to start rounding people up.