“No.” My voice hardened. I held up my left hand, revealing Hel’s rune. “Look, I’ve observed the protocols out of courtesy, but I have the right to ask. What do you know of the events that transpired that night?”

Pursing her lips, the naiad called to the others in a foreign tongue, silvery and lilting. The others responded in kind. In the golden light of dawn, their faces were inhuman, lovely, and utterly unconcerned.

“I know it was naught to do with us,” the naiad said dismissively.

“Okay, but what happened?” I persisted. “According to his friends, he entered the river of his own volition, and began having difficulty swimming about halfway across. Can any of you confirm it?”

The naiad assumed a look of outrage. “Now you accuse us of failing to come to his aid?”

“I’m not saying that!” I said with irritation. “I’m just asking you to bear witness. You must have seen—”

She jerked her chin at me. “We have answered your question, Hel’s liaison! Nothing more is required. I am sorry a mortal boy is dead, but I swear to you on my oath, it had naught to do with us.”

“Yes, but—”

“You have my oath, halfling! You come to us bearing cultured pearls, shod like a peasant, and think to earn our goodwill?” The naiad’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “Farewell.” With a flicker of movement, she turned and dived, and like a shoal of fish, the others followed suit.

Within seconds, there was nothing more than gilded ripples on the surface of the water to mark their departure.

I swore, my tail lashing in frustration. “I’ll be back!” I called. “Your oath isn’t enough! I need to know what you saw, you heartless bitches!”

In answer, a rill of silvery laughter hung in the air.

Naiads, gah!

Chapter Ten

Ten

Disgruntled, I reported to the police station.

It wasn’t a good scene. Patty Rogan, the day clerk, beckoned me aside as soon as I entered the station. Behind the frosted glass on the door to the chief’s office, I could make out several figures and hear raised voices.

“What’s up?” I whispered to Patty.

“The chief and Cody are in there with a reporter from the Appeldoorn Guardian,” she whispered back. “The Vanderhei family’s making a stink in the papers. They’re demanding that the chief either disclose details of the investigation, or rule it an accidental death and order the kid’s body released.”

Oh, crap.

“Do we have the autopsy results?” I asked.

Patty shook her head. “The ME’s office is backed up. It might be a couple of days yet.”