Some Kind of Magic by R. Cooper Read Free Book Online

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    responsible of the two.
    “What"s high school got to do with it, Cal? Do you see
    that stuff on the ground by the desk?”
    “The faint residue of white, powdery stuff on the carpet?
    No. I don"t see it.”
    “Man, shut up. We"re at work.”
    “Well of course I see it! It"s so obvious! What do I look
    like? Don"t answer that.”
    “Enough.” Ray breathed out, and they both stopped
    their banter to calmly stare at him. “CSU took a sample
    already.”
    “Oh.” They looked around as one.
    “You know, something in this room is making me all
    tingly.”
    “Too much information, Cal.” Benedict beat Ray to it.
    “So who is—was—this guy?”
    “Elliot Fielding. Defense attorney.”
    “A smug bastard, when he"d been alive,” Ross piped in.
    “Defended scum.”
    “So you knew him?” Benedict blinked.
    “We all did.” Penn explained. “But we"ll find his killer….”
    “So some other prick lawyer can get them off.” Ray
    finished, sharing a grin with her. Ross let out a small laugh
    Some Kind of Magic | R. Cooper
    41
    too, making Cal shoot him a disgruntled look. Then Cal
    turned back to Ray.
    “Ooh, should I make a „get him off" joke?”
    “Not if you like breathing,” Ray snarled quietly, meeting
    Parker"s eyes and knowing it was a mistake when he was
    filled with the urge to throw Parker against the nearest wall
    and hold him there and take all that want and that smart
    mouth and show him what a lack of shame could really
    mean.
    The image sucked the breath right from him and was
    probably visible in his eyes. As part Fairy, Cal could see
    through almost any guise, but his ability to read expressions
    and spot lies was a skill learned from his human father, who
    had been the finest cop this department had ever seen. He
    was even the reason Cal was working with them now.
    It had seemed so innocent then. They"d needed insight
    into magic and other Beings. Calvin, newly retired, had
    suggested they ask his son.
    Ray"s life had never been the same.
    The sparkles around Cal flared, and Ray abruptly felt
    obvious. His face was hot, and he blushed to realize he was
    growling lowly.
    It was the most embarrassing thing he could have done,
    aside from getting hard right here, and he wasn"t far from
    that. He never lost control like this, or hadn"t used to.
    He turned away quickly before Parker could react and
    studied the victim again.
    “Make yourself useful, Tulip, and tell us your theory.”
    He was rewarded with a burst of overly appreciative
    laughter from Ross. Parker howled in fake outrage.
    Some Kind of Magic | R. Cooper
    42

    “A slur, Branigan? An anti-fairy slur!” It was almost
    delight in his voice, a warmth at Ray"s nicknames for him
    that Ray never understood. Even the first time Ray had done
    it, called him Tiger Lily out of desperation, Cal had seemed
    to find it amusing.
    Amusing, hell. He had found it enchanting . “Not all of us
    are named after flowers, I"ll remind you, Ray.”
    “Just most of you,” Ray couldn"t help responding. Even
    in other languages. Ray had looked it up. Nasreen meant a
    type of rose.
    Parker"s voice only got warmer. “Bad dog. Just for that,
    no biscuit.”
    Ray coughed before he could growl again, though he
    angled his head and caught the little tart"s pleased smirk
    and had to clench his hands to keep from grabbing him
    and….
    “Go on, Cal.” Penn, bless her heart, saved him and his
    dignity. Parker paused to make sure that Ray"s eyes were on
    him and then posed dramatically.
    “ Personal somehow, is the feeling I get in here. I mean.
    That.” He waved at Fielding without looking at him. “What,
    did he snap his neck and throw him around a little?” Ray
    could smell Ross"s surprise, but he and Penn only nodded.
    Parker was, under it all, as sharp as they came. “But the
    strength here….” Cal looked up at him. “You okay, Ray Ray?
    You seem… edgy.”
    His honest concern was like sunshine.
    Ray touched his nose and almost backed