Stormwind (The Storm Chronicles Book 3) by Skye Knizley Page A

flipped open his rumpled notepad. “Ms. Hisakawa, are you aware one of your bouncers, Mr. Wade Franks, is dead?”
    Hisakawa’s face barely twitched. “No, I was not. He was expected for his regular shift later today. May I ask what happened?”
    “He was found early this morning hanging from a gargoyle in Old Town. I can’t release any other details, I’m sorry.”
    “As am I. Wade was a good man and an excellent employee,” Hisakawa said. “He will be missed.”
    “Can you tell us what shift he worked?” Levac asked.
    “He normally worked eight to midnight Wednesday through Saturday.”
    “Which means he didn’t work last night, correct?” Raven asked.
    “Correct,” Hisakawa replied.
    Levac made a note and continued, “Was he here at all last night?”
    Hisakawa shook her head. “No. I haven’t seen him since he left Saturday night.”
    Raven leaned forward, her sensitive nose twitching at the amount of perfume Hisakawa was wearing. “Do you know if Mr. Franks had any difficulties with anyone here at the club? Did he have any arguments or anything like that?”
    “I do not believe so,” Hisakawa said. “Mr. Franks was always very professional. I require all my staff to remain so. No fraternizing, no relationships beyond ordinary friendship, no stealing…this is an upscale environment and I intend to keep it that way.”
    “That is admirable of you, Ms. Hisakawa,” Levac said. “Could you tell us if Mr. Franks had any friends we could speak to?”
    “Wade wasn’t close with very many members of the staff aside from myself and Giselle, the hostess. As security he was posted in the lobby unless called into the bar and that occurred only on rare occasions,” Hisakawa said. “He did speak with Josef Diarmait quite often, perhaps he can help you further.”
    “Where can we find Mr. Diarmait?” Levac asked, making a note in his pad.
    “In the humidor. He is our tobacconist and I believe he and Wade were quite close.”
    “Thank you, Ms. Hisakawa,” Raven said, standing.
    She pulled out one of her cards and left it on the desk. “If you think of anything else please call, day or night.”
    “You are welcome, Detective, and I will.”
    Levac stood and offered Hisakawa a clumsy bow which she returned with a nod of her head. The two detectives were almost to the door when Levac half turned.
    “Ms. Hisakawa, just one more thing, if you would.”
    “Yes, Detective?” Hisakawa asked.
    “You said you were close to Mr. Franks. Have you ever been in his apartment or had sexual relations with him?” Levac asked.
    Hisakawa’s face froze. “No, Detective, our friendship was strictly professional.”
    “Of course, ma’am, of course. No offense intended,” Levac said in his best Peter Falk voice. “You have a good evening.”
    The two detectives exited into the lobby and Raven took Levac aside.
    “What was that about?” Raven asked.
    “I couldn’t help noticing Ms. Hisakawa’s hair is similar to the hair I collected in Franks’ apartment,” Levac said.
    “Good catch. What did you think of her answer?”
    “I think I am going to start a full background check on her,” Levac replied.
    “A Codumbo hunch?” Raven asked.
    “Yeah. A feeling,” Levac said. “She was lying about something. I’ll follow up on it later, let’s see what the tobacconist has to say.”
    Raven followed Levac down the steps and into the bar. At this hour the bar was already filling up with young professionals dressed in expensive suits and dresses. A handful of people turned to watch the detectives as they passed. Raven glanced back at them and followed Levac into the large humidor located at the far end of the club. A burly man with close-cropped blonde hair and biceps bigger than her thigh sat behind a counter filled with a selection of meerschaum pipes, cigar cutters and lighters. All around the rest of the room were glass and wood cases filled with the world’s finest cigars and the room was heavy with the