Desandra shrugged. “Why would I lie? I recognize the scent. I smelled it before a couple of times, at the Keep and at the clan house. It’s not someone who is at the Keep often, but I know the scent and it’s one of ours.”

Anger and hate clawed at each other on Jennifer’s face. “Why are you doing this? What could you possibly gain from this?”

“I’m telling the truth,” Desandra said.

“This is one of your schemes, isn’t it? Not this time.”

The three wolves escorting Jennifer and the wolf render next to me simultaneously decided to look everywhere except at the two women. Behind them, Derek also pretended that nothing was happening. Ascanio rolled his eyes.

“Not this bloody time, do you hear me?” Jennifer’s voice spiked, picking up notes of hysteria. “No more plots, Desandra. No more Desandra Show.”

And Jennifer had just lost it in public. Awesome. Because that was what we really needed, to have this pissing match right this second in front of witnesses.

“Table it,” I said. “Back to Mulradin’s body.”

“Desandra’s right,” Robert said, his voice cold and precise.

We all turned to the alpha of the rats. He’d been so quiet, I had forgotten he was there.

“It’s a wolf,” he said. “I didn’t get a scent because the odor of blood was too thick, but I was close enough to see the wounds in detail. Mulradin had fought back. He must’ve grabbed at his attacker, because I saw fur stuck to his bloody hands. Wolf fur.”

Jennifer glared at him. It was like flicking a match at a glacier. Robert remained unperturbed.

“We need to find the killer before the deadline is up,” I said before she could freak out again. If we had the killer in custody, there was still a chance to defuse the situation.

“If he or she still lives,” Jim said.

Good point. If I were Hugh, I’d kill this wolf to make sure we couldn’t turn him or her over.

“And should we find this person, what will happen?” Robert said.

The question was asked in a mild tone, but I got the feeling a lot rode on how I answered.

“If the killer is apprehended, an investigation will be conducted within the Pack,” I said.

“And if found guilty?” Robert persisted.

“Robert, what are you really asking?”

Robert paused. “I’m asking about custody.”

“I have no intention of giving the People one of our Pack members for their burn-a-shapeshifter-alive party,” I said. “We don’t roll over when they stomp their feet. But we need to find whoever is responsible. We can’t act until we know what happened.”

“We need to examine the crime scene,” Jim said. “The body didn’t smell of wolfsbane.”