Phoenix Rising Read Free

gay men because of some slight, real or
imagined? Except they all appeared to have died peacefully.
No trauma, so it couldn’t be revenge, could it?” He stared
hard at his picture of the tattoo, as if it might whisper
something to him. “What do you know about Phoenix
Rising?”
“Played all over Europe before coming here—did you see
that asshole cut me off? I oughta give him a ticket.” She laid
on the horn. “He wouldn’t have done that if we’d been in a
squad car.”
“Phoenix Rising,” he reminded her, hiding a smile.
Rachel was all about road rage. He shouldn’t let her drive,
but he enjoyed the frequent adrenaline rushes it provided
him.
“Yeah. They’re huge right now, very popular. Lead singer
is hot as hell.”
“Do you really have tickets to their concert, or were you
bullshitting Creed?”
“I really have tickets.” She shot him a suspicious look.
“Why?”
“When is it?”
“Saturday night.”
It was Thursday. “I suppose you have a date.” “I suppose I do,” she said, eyes narrowing. “Don’t you
dare.”
“What?”
“Don’t give me that innocent look. You want me to dump
him and take you.”
“I think I should experience them firsthand, considering
they’re on the periphery of our cases.”
“That is such shit.” She raced through an intersection
on yellow. “A couple of bodies have bird tats and right away
you’re making a connection? I would guess that general
design is in demand right now, given how popular the band
is, and exclusive flash or not, plenty of shops are offering
something like it. And let me remind you, the second victim
didn’t have one. I am so not dumping Steve in favor of you.” Artemis grinned. “Where is this band staying? Let’s
check them out.”
“How the hell are you going to justify that?”
“Call it a hunch, and I’m a detective doing legwork for a
series of murders. They won’t say no.”
Grumbling, she called the number Creed had provided,
introduced herself, spoke briefly, and hung up. “That was
too easy. The guy was über cooperative. They’re at the
Waldorf Towers. Do you know how much that place costs? It
costs a goddamn fortune.”
“I guess they have one, then.” He tapped fingers on his
knee. “It’s on our way. Let’s stop by and welcome them to the
neighborhood.”
“It’s not on our way, and you are not getting Steve’s
ticket.” But she obediently turned right at the next light,
headed for the Waldorf-Astoria.

Chapter Three Talis
    Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden…
—Phaedrus
T
ALIS K EHK was still abed, though awake, when his
    personal assistant, Ammon, knocked on the bedroom door and entered. Unmoving but for his lips, Talis asked, “What?” “Two police detectives wish to speak with you. They are waiting downstairs.” The PA was, as always, impeccably dressed in clean white linen, a style of dress he had taken with him when he’d left Egypt some years before.
    Talis turned his head, his striking amethyst-colored eyes meeting Ammon’s warm brown ones. “Did they say what it’s about?”
    “Murder.” Ammon said the word as if it soiled his mouth.
Laughing softly, he pushed the covers aside and slid out of bed. He was naked, as he always slept nude, no matter what the temperature or season. Ammon was accustomed to his employer’s habits and took no notice. “I’ll shower and dress while you invite them upstairs.”
“Breakfast?”
“Yes, I’ll have my usual, but wait to order until they arrive. Perhaps they’d like something as well.”
Ammon inclined his head and left, closing the door behind him.
The rest of his group was elsewhere in the Towers, and this two-bedroom luxury suite was occupied by only Talis and Ammon. Talis required privacy, and he could afford to pay for it.
He showered quickly, towel-dried thick hair that most often looked blond but in some lights showed subtle