Schulz had conferred with his lieutenant about the best way to approach this supposedly dangerous kid, and it was decided to enlist his step-aunt’s help. Looking at the young man, Schulz saw a college kid, a bit over six feet, lanky, with dark hair and very blue eyes. Girls would probably like his eyes, not that Schulz was an authority on that, but he did have two daughters of his own. A second glance revealed that the lankiness was lean muscle, not skinny or weak. More sinew and taunt definition. Shoulders were not narrow either. And he was not afraid. Not at all.

Most people who were called into a police station for questioning about a murder would be at least nervous, or uncertain. This kid was none of those things.

Schulz led Declan, along with the aunt, Darci, into the interview room.

“Darci here told us you called her about the crime scene?” he started. “Tell me about how you came to know about it.”

“Well, I dreamt it. Not my forte really, more my aunt Ashling’s kind of thing. We differ, you know?” the kid said.

“Er, who differs?”

“Witches, Detective. We’re not all the same. Each has different strengths and weaknesses. So this premonition thing is more in my aunt’s wheelhouse than mine.”

Beside him, the deputy nodded, just slightly, but definitely a nod.

“Yeah, witches. Not much experience there, at least not in Chicago,” Schulz said, frowning.

“Oh, you have quite a few in Chicago. At least two of their circles are represented at my school, Arcane. But if you don’t mind me asking, you’ve a bit of an accent. Europe?”

“Germany, born and raised. Dual citizenship. Mom was in the US Army, stationed there when she met my dad. Raised there, moved here for college,” Schulz said, glancing at the deputy, who wore an interested expression. “Back to witches. I know just what I’ve seen on the news and read in the blogs. But you live in a school of them? Here in town?”

“Yes. They really should brief you on this stuff. Oracle runs it, so you’d think they’d talk to local law enforcement,” the kid said.

“Federal agencies, no matter the name, aren’t well known for being good communicators with us local types,” Darci said.

“So, you live with other witches. Did any of them sense anything?” Schulz asked, giving the deputy a reproachful look. She just smiled.

“I don’t know. They live on a different floor. I’m in among the werewolves.”

He said it so casually that it took Schulz a second to process. “There are werewolves there too?” he asked, thinking of the crime scene again.

“Yes, and a few other weres, bears and one cougar, but mostly wolves.”

“And you live among them? Not the witches?”