I Know Who Killed Hector

During his morning patrol, Riley sensed someone was following him.

The streets were not busy—they never were in this territory—so once he sensed the eyes it was not difficult to locate them. He doubled back in an arc, coming up behind his stalker, who pretended to be interested in fruit at a vendor's stall.

"You're Alexander, the baker's boy, right?"

"Yes. Good morning, Keeper." Alexander turned the fruit over and brought it to his nose, sniffing it before replacing it on the pile. "I'm not very good at following people, I guess."

"You didn't do too badly. I have a lot of experience in much rougher territories. Not paying attention in the slums can get a Keeper killed pretty quickly."

"That makes sense. I was wondering if we could speak privately somewhere."

"This way." Riley led the young man to a nearby street that contained three vacant buildings. He stopped in front of the middle one and sat on the steps. "This will do."

"It will." Alexander sat beside the Keeper and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a cloth and unwrapped it, removing two dried sausages and offering one to Riley. "A shame about Hector."

Riley took a bite from his sausage and chewed. "You knew him?"

"What makes you say that?"

"The sound of his name sounds comfortable on your lips."

"Truly?"

Riley nodded.

"They say Keepers are taught magic when they are trained. Is that true?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

Riley took another bite of sausage. "Why did you know Hector?"

"He was kind to me."

"I knew the man. It's surprising to hear that Hector was kind to anyone."

"I'm not that good with people but Hector was always nice to me. Saved me from getting beat up a few times."

"It's good to know that the man wasn't as bad as most made him out to be." He was worse.

The two sat and finished their sausages. Riley waited, content to let Alexander say what he wanted when he was ready.

"I know who killed Hector."

Riley was unable to contain his surprise. "How do you know? Did you see it happen?"

"No."

That's a lie. "You have heard someone claiming responsibility, then?"

Alexander shook his head.

A flood of questions sprang to mind, but Riley took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Tell me what you wanted to say."

"I'm afraid. Some of my information could get me into serious trouble." The boy frowned. "If the wrong person heard what I have to say. . ."

"You broke the law and want to make certain you aren't brought to task for it."

"How could you know that?"

"Keeper magic."

Alexander stood. "Never mind. I was wrong to say something." He began to walk away.

"Stop. Sit down and tell me what you know. I promise to do my best to protect you."

"You need to assure me that I won't be arrested."

Riley considered the situation and nodded. "Give me the killer and your crimes will be forgotten."

"Thank you."

"But you must tell me what you did."

The young man paused, then nodded. "I have to anyway. It's part of the story."

Riley pointed to the step beside him and Alexander returned to sit.

"My father brings in strays."

"Animals?"

"Worse. Street kids."

"For what purpose? To help around the shop?"

"No." Alexander made a hawking noise and spat on the sidewalk. "He picks one homeless person and offers them a bath and food once a week."

"Ah." Riley nodded. "Your father is a religious man who follows the Shepherd's teachings."

"Yes."

"Continue."

"It's not right. He brings these rats in and gives them food and money, too."

"More money than he gives you."

"Yes!" Alexander's face grew red and his eyes widened. "He hands the vermin a silver coin each week while I have to make do with less. It's unfair to be treated worse than an alley dweller by my own father."

Riley laid a hand on the young man's shoulder. "I agree."

Alexander bolted up and bit his lower lip. "Thank you."

"So the alley rat killed Hector?"

"Yes."

"I don't see how you could think that."

"Well—"

"A boy is fed and clothed and the sudden kindness makes him decide to kill a Keeper?"

"There's more to it than that."

Riley nodded. Of course there is.

"Hector beat the boy."

"Boy? How old is he?"

"Around the same age as me. Sixteen or so."

"Why would Hector beat him?"

"To make him leave the district."

"That makes no sense." Riley could tell from Alexander's body language that there was still more than he was admitting. "Ah. You put Hector up to it."

Alexander shook his head but then looked down at the ground and nodded.

The boy is a good actor. He almost seems to regret his involvement. The venom in his eyes a few moments ago was the real truth, though. Even now, this confession serves to get revenge better than Hector's beatings could.

"I just wanted Hector to slap him around a little bit. To make him scared to come back."

"So your father would give you the money."

"And the attention." He looked up and there were tears in his eyes. "He seems so happy when Demenik comes to visit and so disappointed when he looks at me."

Riley gave the boy a moment before asking his next question. "How could a young man, this Demenik, kill Hector? That Keeper was strong as a stone building. I can see how Demenik might want to kill him, but I don't believe that a half-starved, weak alley rat could have beaten a full-grown strong Keeper like Hector to death in the streets and then escaped without being noticed."

"He had friends help him. Another alley rat, maybe a few years older than me. That one carried a quarterstaff and definitely knew how to use it."

"You saw it happen?"

Alexander's expression turned to worry. "I didn't mean to tell you that."

Of course you did, clever little actor that you are.

"Perhaps you put this Demenik and his friend up to it."

"What?"

Riley bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at the boy's reaction. "Okay, I believe you didn't do that. But if you saw it happen, I might need you to step forward and testify."

Alexander smiled. "I would, if you assure me that I won't have to share the part about my involvement."

Riley sucked his breath in and pretended to be unsure.

"Come on. You don't need to get me into trouble and you bring the killer to justice. Please, Keeper."

Riley stood and looked down at Alexander, keeping his expression serious. "I need to discuss this with my superiors. I will not tell them about you. Say nothing to anyone until we speak again."

"Okay."

"Swear that you will remain quiet."

"I swear."