I nodded.
Magda came over to me and put a hand on mine. "Pia, sweetie, who was that man you were with? Do you think it was him?"
"I don't know," I said miserably, wanting nothing more than to pour the whole story out to her, but knowing she wouldn't believe half of it. "His name is Alec, and it's possible he killed her, although he didn't seem at all like the violent sort of person."
Not until I knew he was a vampire, that is. Not until I learned how much the vampires hated the Brotherhood, and then it made all too much sense.
"Then again, Kristoff said he didn't kill her, but can I really trust him now? I just don't know!"
"Who's Kristoff?" Magda asked.
"Another guy. Alec's friend."
"You haven't gone to the police? I really think you should. If that guy you hooked up with is bad news, you don't know what he will do next. He might come after you."
I shook my head. "I wish I could, but it's... complicated."
"Complicated how? Pia, are you in love with this Alec? Because if you are, I'm here to tell you - "
"No, no, it's nothing like that," I said, blushing at the memory of the kiss I had shared with Kristoff. "He's a nice enough man, and I really don't think he murdered Anniki, although he might have... Oh, it's so muddled, Magda. There are other people involved, a religious group, for lack of a better description, and Kristoff said he didn't, but what if he was lying? But if he did, how could I want to kiss him? I mean, wouldn't you know if someone was capable of murdering someone else?"
She blinked at me in incomprehension. "Just by kissing him? I don't know. I haven't kissed any murderers. Wait a minute - you kissed your lover's friend? Oh, honey, we really need to have a talk."
"No, it's not like that. At least... No, it's not. I'm married to him, but I don't like him."
Her mouth dropped open a little bit. "Whoa, back up a few steps. You're married? Since when?"
"This morning. I was forced into it. Kristoff bribed some people and had his friends witness it falsely. But I don't like him at all. He murdered a man in front of me, for heaven's sake!"
"Another murder?" she asked, incredulous.
"Yes, although Karl says that Kristoff was just trying to protect me from him."
"Who's Karl?" she asked, a puzzled frown wrinkling her forehead. "A third lover?"
"No, he has a wife," I said, not wanting to get into the issue of just exactly what he was. "And Kristoff isn't a lover. He's just my husband, that's all."
"Then, who did this unwanted husband kill?"
"The man with the knife." I ran my hands through my hair again. "I told you it was complicated."
"Honey, that's not even close to the word I'd use for it."
There was a knock at the door and an inquiry.
"Occupied! Be out in just a minute!" Magda shouted at it, then turned back to me. "What can I do to help?"
"Oh, god love you," I said, filled with appreciation. I gave her a swift hug. "Bless you for not pestering me with a thousand and one questions. I need money, mostly. I don't have anywhere to stay and haven't eaten since yesterday - "
"Say no more," she said, digging out a money belt. She handed me a handful of cash. "I'm afraid that's all I have. I was going to cash a traveler's check in the morning. Is that enough?"
I counted it quickly. It was about a hundred dollars in euros. "It's more than enough," I lied. "Thank you so much."
"Husbands and lovers and Karls with their wives aside, I think you really should go to the police," she counseled. "If people are being murdered in front of you, you have to do something about it. You can't just run away."
"I am going to do something," I said, mentally girding my loins. "I'm going to go to the only person who can help me."
"Karl?" Magda guessed. "Alec?"