Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Torin frowned, a grim expression coming over his square features.
“I take it you haven’t worked a serial killer case before?”
“One who kills over and over for sexual gratification?” Sky said, remembering his definition. “No—we don’t have that kind of crime here on Portex Three.”
“Probably because the Serpentines are Reptilian,” he remarked. “Cold-blooded, like you said—not prone to crimes of passion.”
“It’s a very orderly society,” Sky admitted. “Most of the scenes I investigate are accidental deaths. And the murders I see are mostly between females—a business woman trying to get ahead—a rivalry at work.” She didn’t add that most of the murders were poisonings—Serpentine females were able to make a deadly venom with their fangs, though they rarely used it.
“Well, Mammalian societies are rarely orderly,” Torin rumbled. “Also, in most of them, the males are bigger, stronger, and more aggressive than the females. And the…” He cleared his throat. “The male sex drive we were talking about earlier can get out of hand.”
“So…a male kills a female because he wants her and can’t have her sexually?” Sky asked, still trying to understand it.
He nodded.
“Often that’s the motivation. A male knows he doesn’t have a chance with the female he wants—maybe because she’s above him socially or simply doesn’t consider him attractive—and he violates her and kills her because of it.”
Sky looked at him in surprise.
“They want to mate that badly?” She couldn’t imagine a Serpentine male acting in such a fashion. They were so passive that she’d never met a single one that could be labeled ‘aggressive’ in any way.
Torin shrugged.
“There are other reasons that males kill females, but sex is the biggest motivator—at least from what I’ve seen.”
“The mammalian male sex drive must be incredibly strong—violent even,” Sky said, frowning up at the giant Kindred.
“You have no idea, Darlin’,” he rumbled dryly.
“So is this a big problem with…with the Kindred?” Sky asked. “Men killing women, I mean?” she added.
She almost said “with our people” but the words didn’t feel quite right in her mouth. She might not look Serpentine but she’d been raised on Portex Three—it felt more like her home and the Serpentines felt more like her people than the Kindred society her mother had abandoned when she’d moved them here so many years ago.
“Among the Kindred? No—never!” Commander Torin spoke as though the very thought horrified him. “We worship the Goddess—the Mother of All Life. And we believe that within every female there is a tiny divine spark—a little bit of the Goddess we revere.”
Sky raised her eyebrows.
“So then…you worship females?”
“In a way. It’s more like we’re extremely protective of them,” he rumbled. “And the idea of hurting or killing a female…” He shook his head. “That’s the worst thing a male could do. It’s against our nature—against our fucking DNA. But with other hot-blooded humanoids, well…it can be a real problem.”
“Do you see it much on that planet the Kindred are guarding?” Sky asked curiously. “That…Ferth?”
“It’s called ‘Earth,’” he corrected. “And yes, I’m afraid they have a pretty big problem with it there. It’s why they coined the term ‘serial killer.’” He shook his head. “There are some males there that just fucking hate females—hate them but desire them at the same time. It’s sick, but that’s how the humans are.”
“They sound like a flawed race,” Sky remarked. “You really couldn’t find anyplace better to get mates from?”
Before the giant Kindred could answer, they were stopped by another security guardian at the front door of the ambassador’s tower.
“Stop—are you authorized to enter? We have an active crime scene here,” she said.
Sky pointed to the 3-D logo of the Peace Keepers on her chest.
“Special Agent Sky’lar here from the main PK Station,” she said.
“And who’s this?” The guard gave Torin an unfriendly look.
“He’s a Peace Keeper from the Kindred people—the ones the ambassador came from,” Sky told her. “He’s here to consult on this case—Captain Thal’nx’s orders.”
“Well…” It was clear the guardian didn’t like the look of the big Kindred, but with such high authorization, she couldn’t refuse to let them in.
“We really need to get in to see the crime scene,” Sky said firmly. “Are you going to step aside or should I call your supervisor?”
“Fine. You may enter. Crime scene is up the stairs in the main sleeping chamber.” Grudgingly, the guardian stepped aside, allowing Sky and Commander Torin to pass.
“Thanks for speaking up for me,” he rumbled, as they stepped into the large entrance hall. “That’s twice now you’ve done it.”
“Well…” Sky shrugged uneasily. She hadn’t liked the big Kindred at first and he was still irritatingly tall, but she had to admit he spoke intelligently and since their little confrontation he seemed to really be making an effort to be less annoying.
“I mean it—thank you,” Torin said.
“I’m just trying to do my job and Captain Thal’nx said you were to come along,” Sky said, trying to deflect his thanks. “And…I’m sorry the guardians were rude to you,” she added grudgingly. “They’re just not used to a male Peace Keeper—especially not one as big as you.”