Unshapely Things Read Online Free PDF

it?" he murmured.
    My heart caught a moment. I couldn't help it. Something about the kid, his pretty little woman face on a man's little body and the sadness in his voice. I didn't think it was an act. For a moment, I heard what must have driven him here and maybe what kept him here.
    Murdock leaned forward. "Do you want to tell me something, Shay?" he asked softly. I could tell Murdock had felt it, too. Is that what kept him in the Weird?
    Shay just stared at us solemnly. He reached up and removed his head scarf, shaking out long, brown hair. "It's the way Robin said. We were on our way home." Robin seemed to relax a little. "The first time," Shay continued.
    "Shay! No!" Robin said, spinning away from us.
    Shay tapped his arm. "It's all right." Robin reached out and held his hand. Shay fixed us with a defiant eye. "We were looking for Gamelyn the second time."
    "You knew him?" Murdock asked.
    Shay nodded. "I met him at the Flitterbug. He was sweet. Too sweet for that place. And drunk, like they all are when they first come here. A man kept buying him drinks. He made me nervous. I tried to talk Gamelyn into going home, but he said he was fine. They left together. I started to follow, but Robin came back, and we talked for a bit. Then I got nervous again, and we went looking for Gamelyn. We were about to give up when I thought I saw Gamelyn's friend go down an alley."
    "What friend?" Murdock asked.
    "A flit. She usually came around to talk to Gamelyn."
    "Was the murderer still there?"
    Shay shook his head, and his voice went soft. "When we got to the alley we ... we found him and called the police. They'd only been gone about twenty minutes, but I guess that was all the time he needed."
    "Could you identify him?"
    Shay considered for a moment. "Probably. The Flitterbug is kind of dark. Not everyone goes someplace else, if you know what I mean. He looked old. Mean. I think he was fey."
    "What kind of fey?"
    "I don't know," he said. "One of the fairies or maybe a druid. He made my skin crawl. I never felt like that around the fey before. I didn't like him. And his voice. His voice sounded like someone took a saw to a violin. I would remember that voice."
    "Tell me about the flit," I said.
    Shay shrugged again. "I don't know her name if that's what you mean. She seemed shy. She only talked to Gamelyn. Half the time, I didn't even know she was around. She liked to curl up on his shoulder under his hair. She was tiny, maybe four or five inches tall."
    "What color were her wings?"
    "A pale yellow. That's why I didn't always notice her. Gamelyn had such lovely blond hair, like morning sunlight," said Shay.
    "And you have no idea where she's from?"
    Shay shook his head. "No. Like I said, she only spoke to Gamelyn."
    Murdock cleared his throat. "Where were you, Robin?"
    The kid became very still as he glared at us. "I was busy," he said. I didn't need to ask, and Murdock let it drop.
    Murdock stood up. "I'll need you to come down to the station. I want you to work with a police artist."
    Robin turned away. "Shay's lying. He didn't see anything. He's just looking for attention."
    Shay rose from the bed and came around to the other side. He took Robin's hand and tugged it. "It's okay, Robin. Detective Murdock won't let anything happen to me. We'll do this favor for him. And for Gamelyn." He threw Murdock a flirty little look. "We may need his help someday."
    I could see just the hint of a smile playing on Murdock's lips. He was too indulgent sometimes. Shay did have a certain amount of charm though. We walked back to the alley while Robin and Shay locked their door. On the floor in the corner, Shay placed a small protection ward that looked like some of Belgor's merchandise. I didn't have the heart to tell them it was only decorative.
    I stood aside as they got in the car. Murdock leaned across the seat to look at me through the passenger window. "You coming?"
    "No. I'll catch up with you later."
    He straightened up in the seat and