Inspector Telly crouched opposite me, watching as I started undoing the suit so I could see more of who was inside.
"You know," he said amiably. "Normally that's the guard's job. To destroy evidence, I mean."
"I don't have time to wait," I said, equally amiably. "I'm happy to destroy it myself."
"What's the rush? He's dead, isn't he?"
"He is, but the mage who was using him to torment my brother isn't."
"There's another thing I find odd about you," he said. "Normally, civilians don't tell us humble guards when they're planning murders. It opens them up to all sorts of legal shenanigans. You ever think about that?"
"Does it help if I say I'm not going to kill him personally?"
"Ah," Telly said, switching the lollipop to his other cheek. "So, you're just an accomplice?"
"Something like that."
"I didn't picture you as the sort to hire assassins."
"I'm not," I said, a little offended.
"Then your servants will do the killing? I know some of them are undead…"
"Don't be ridiculous," I said. "Look. I could show you what I'm going to do if you like, but I don't think you'd enjoy the experience. The void does leave a certain mark on your sanity…"
The Inspector sucked on his lollipop for a bit.
I could smell the sticky sweet raspberry scent. It made me wrinkle my nose. Gentlemen shouldn't be breathing all over each other.
Only the fact that there was a corpse between us whose stink was arguably a bit worse was stopping me from saying anything.
Or tossing his wretched candy into the void.
I felt the Old Twit twitch at that one as he wondered what a lollipop would be like. I rolled my eyes and put it on my list to acquire and earned another pat on the head for my trouble.
"I think I'll be fine," Telly said at last, his eyes drifting back to the suit, which I had wrenched open to expose the chest.
While the head had been mostly ruined, the first thing I noticed was the man inside the patched old suit was wearing a dark grey Fenrington suit. And it didn't look like it was off the rack.
I rubbed the wool material between my fingers in surprise.
Telly didn't blink. "Expensive, is it?"
"Moderately."
"Not something you'd expect to find here?"
"I'd expect to find it on an Accountant," I said.
"Or a lawyer?"
"Perhaps," I said. "Although most lawyers would choose a Morton."
"I don't know what that is," Telly admitted. "But I'd expect if it's like you say, that this is probably Albert."
"Who?"
"Albert Dunkin. He went missing a few weeks ago. His wife's been knocking on my door every day. She's going to be a touch upset at the news."
He said it calmly, but I caught a tightening of his voice. Being a gentleman, I chose not to say anything about it. We all have emotions and we learn to deal with them in our own way.
"What did he do?"
"He was a lawyer. Mostly worked in Estate Management."
"Is that lucrative?"
"Not particularly."
"Then you might be right," I said. "I'd expect lawyers who don't make a lot of money might buy from Fenrington. Was he a mage?"
"Nothing in his record to say he ever cast more than a shadow."
"Hmm."
"What's that?"
I looked down to see some silver fluid leaking from the suit.
"Quicksilver, I'd imagine," I said. "Looks like it's been pressed between two layers of lead."
"Sounds uncomfortable."
"But somewhat effective when dealing with the void's effects," I said. "However it has problems of its own."
"Such as?"
"Poking your head into the void will drive you insane," I said. "Spending too much time around quicksilver and lead will do the same. It just takes a little longer."
"Oh." He pursed his lips. "Sounds like he was doomed to go crazy."
"The inner lining here is interesting, though," I said, peeling back the damaged suit. "Look at this."
He peered inside, frowning deeply.
Gave a little nod.
Then looked up at me with a serious look in his eye.
"Alright," he said. "I don't know what I'm looking at. Some kind of leather?"
"Pig skin," I confirmed.
"I'm guessing not just any kind of pig," he said drily.
"Telaxian Boar."
"And that's interesting, because…?"
"Because it's very rare," I told him. "And very difficult to cure. Telaxian Boars are native to-"
"I got this part," he grinned. "Let me guess. Telaxia?"
"No. Telaxian is just its breed. It's actually found in Sconce."
"Oh." He scratched his head. "That's disappointing."
"Because of the sulphur springs in Sconce, their skin has certain protective capabilities when it comes to heat and certain types of air."
"The kind found in the void, I'm guessing?"
"Yes."
"Look at that," he said proudly, glancing towards one of the guards who was trying not to laugh. "I got one right."
"I imagine that's not too common?"
"Tch," he said, working his lollipop hard. "That's a bit rude."
"What I've been saying is that, because of its unique nature, there's probably only one or two people in the city who could work with Telaxian Boar leather."
"Really?" He brightened a little at that. "You know, in my humble circles we call that a clue. A good one, too."
"I'll let you chase it up, then."
"And what will you be doing while I do all the plodding about the city?"
"Probably going home for a bath before having a gin and tonic."
"That seems unfair."
"I know," I said, standing up and pulling out a napkin to wipe my hands with. "And I'd like to say I'm very disappointed in myself for letting you do the work, but I do believe it's what you're paid for."
"Hmph." He gave the corpse another look before slowly getting to his feet. "Sometimes I don't think I get paid enough."
"I can't help you there," I said. "I'm not one to be involved in such mookery as bribing the City Guard."
"That's a shame," he grinned around the lollipop. "I could use the extra gold. Couldn't I, Harold?"
One of the guards shrugged. "Don't know, sir."
"Well, I could. My wife's always saying she wants more dresses."
"All women want more dresses," I said. "It doesn't matter how many they already own. They will always want more."
"I won't argue that," he said.
I paused.
"Did he have anything in common with Dermit?"
"Not until today."
"Hmm."
"I agree."
"Well," I said with a heavy sigh. "Nothing I can do now. Please let me know when you find out anything about the Boar leather."
"Sure," Telly said with a sardonic smirk. "I'll come running right away, your Lordship."
"Taran," I said automatically. "Just Taran."
The Investigator gave a polite nod, showing he'd heard, then turned away.
I tried not to take the man personally. I understood why he didn't like me very much. Under other circumstances, I'm sure he'd have made my life very difficult.
But right now, we needed each other.