Erica had a split personality.  As a witch, she was reserved, always dressed in black, and rarely out during the day.  Black suited her, not just as a witch, but because at night she could move more freely without drawing the attention of others.<br/><br/>Yet as the city librarian, she was always stylishly dressed and seen everywhere during the day.  Always fundraising for the library and cozying up to the rich and powerful.  And always outspoken about the issues of the day.  Which made her controversial.  But it was all a distraction to misdirect people away from her other profession.<br/><br/><a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F736x%2Fb4%2Fae%2F89%2Fb4ae89a140ddba05e57d25b1814a8c3a.jpg&amp;hash=44699e8dee294b8caf416cc57c56e148" href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b4/ae/89/b4ae89a140ddba05e57d25b1814a8c3a.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Erica</a>had dressed more casually than normal, hoping<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Flh4.googleusercontent.com%2Fproxy%2FuBIsXBXeZxm2dkxnaEortlygoDNz4VnCIp7KUOT4ZJ3jHLvyLxYB4nyrKNI_vO5vTv_uhp13gl1qTP3CcbLbPf6XflMRNa2dkc8nuSlEg1O2NkWIGghCF-q5hmokrSByjkdCZManDtUoZZ3C1Q0IBgyVhE8d9xpX_BON&amp;hash=06b8a45d77da7b0991427fc0c26d1d81" href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/uBIsXBXeZxm2dkxnaEortlygoDNz4VnCIp7KUOT4ZJ3jHLvyLxYB4nyrKNI_vO5vTv_uhp13gl1qTP3CcbLbPf6XflMRNa2dkc8nuSlEg1O2NkWIGghCF-q5hmokrSByjkdCZManDtUoZZ3C1Q0IBgyVhE8d9xpX_BON" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Jake</a>would show up out of uniform as well.  This was not the time to be standing out in the crowd.  When he arrived, she stood up from her table and murmured to him, "Let's go to one of the tables outside."  Passing the bar, she told the bartender, "Bourbon for both of us," and pointed to the outside seating.<br/><br/>"Was there someone you were trying to avoid in there?" Jake asked as he pulled out a chair for her at one of those circular wrought iron bistro tables.<br/><br/>"Maybe.  I don't know.  I lost a dear friend recently and am looking with suspicion at everyone around me," Erica replied.  "Where are you on the Aveline case?"<br/><br/>Jake scowled at her and said "Erica, you know better than to ask me about an ongoing case.  Besides, that's not how our arrangement works.  You call me when you have something I need to know.  And I solve the case based your tips and take all the credit.  And in turn, you never tell me how you know what you know.  I'm not exactly happy about that arrangement, but I've accepted it."<br/><br/>He paused, staring into her eyes.  Seeing the nervousness in them, he asked.  "You've never asked me for information before.  So what's different about this case?"<br/><br/>"Aveline and I traveled in the same circles," she replied.<br/><br/>She paused when she saw the bartender coming out with their drinks.  When he left, Jake picked up the conversation.<br/><br/>"And you think you're in danger because you belong to the same circle?"<br/><br/>"Yes!  Well . . . . . no.  Well . . . . . . maybe."  She wasn't sure how to answer the question.<br/><br/>"It's not like you not to have all the answers, Erica," Jake's eyebrow was arched in surprise.<br/><br/>"I travel at the edges of the circle, which means I'm in less danger than others connected to Aveline.  Please don't ask me to explain any further.  I'll give you answers as soon as I have them.  Given all the information I've given you over the years, surely you can tell me something about the investigation.  You owe me."<br/><br/>Jake sighed, then asked "OK, what do you need to know?"<br/><br/>"Anything unusual about the DNA of the killer? Does the DNA match an animal or a human?" Erica was going for the key question that would answer so many others. The killer could be a human trying to implicate Cerberus by making the attack look like the work of a werewolf. Or the killer could indeed be a werewolf. Or finally, the killer could be a wild animal.<br/><br/>"Wolf DNA," he replied.  "What you would expect from an animal attack.  The only reason we haven't ruled Aveline's death as a random animal attack is the argument between him and another man just before the attack.  That's too much of a coincidence.  And you know how I hate coincidences, Erica."<br/><br/>"Maybe the wolf belonged to the other man and was ordered to attack?"<br/><br/>"Witnesses didn't see a wolf.  Just the two men arguing.  That doesn't mean there wasn't a wolf somewhere close at hand.  So, do you have ANYTHING for me, Erica."<br/><br/>"You mean, other than my heartfelt gratitude?" she replied as she leaned forward to give Jake a kiss.  "As soon as I figure the crime out, I'll let you know."  Erica and Jake had long ago realized they were all wrong for each other, but that didn't keep them from becoming friends.  Erica finished her drink, got up, and walked away, with a sensuous swing to her hips that she knew had Jake's complete attention.  She liked making a grand exit with that ass of hers.