The drive to the coroner's office was full of awkward silences, awkward glances, and awkward conversation. Dev and Julianne got out of the car in silence and started toward the building. Dev stopped and turned to face her.

"Before I slipped into the future, were you watching me here?"

"You're quite the detective." She smiled. He was impressive. "How did you know?"

"I felt like I was being watched before I went in last time." Dev pulled her note out of his pocket. It was looking a little worn. "And you left this for me." He stuffed the note back and turned away blushing. "Shall we?"

Dev opened the door for Julianne. She entered and the smell of bleach and death greeted them. He led her back to a check in station where Doctor Ansel Kaine and his assistant sat behind desks clacking away at typewriters.

"Detective Brígh, I wasn't expecting you." Doctor Kaine said as the typewriter dinged the end of the line. With a practiced stroke, he reset the bar and continued without looking up. "Good evening, madam. I am Doctor Ansel Kaine, chief medical examiner for Jackson County." He rolled the form out and laid it in a folder, straightening it before flipping it closed. "How can I assist you tonight?"

"Doctor Kaine, this is Julia..."

"Julie Wright, Doctor. I'm here to identify a body for the good detective." She interrupted Dev. With his partner possibly compromised, she didn't want to take any chances with the rest of his coworkers. Dev nodded and waved his hand. Doctor Kaine pursed his lips and just nodded.

"A word, detective?" Doctor Kaine asked Dev over. He walked to where he was bade. "I seem to recall that you are suspended. Not working the case against Captain Townshend's wishes, I trust?" Dev paled and stuttered. "Not to worry, I won't say anything." Dev breathed a sigh of relief. "Provided..." Dev held his breath again. "The nice lady can provide identity to the deceased. Curiosity, and all that..." Doctor Kaine smiled wryly.

"Doc, that wasn't nice." Julianne watched as the two men spoke in hushed voices and looked back at her. They looked like conspiring school boys. She almost laughed.

"This way, Ms. Wright." Doctor Kaine led them to the mortuary. He motioned for them to stand aside as he pulled open a large metal door and slid a sheet covered body out of chilled storage. He pulled the sheet down and exposed the head. "Do you know this man?"

Julianne's knees almost buckled. She covered her mouth and held herself up with her free hand. A short sob came out when she tried to answer. Doctor Kaine covered Danny's face and pushed him back into the chute. She steadied herself and wiped her cheeks.

"Yes." She said clearing her throat and said a second, firmer, "Yes. His name is Daniel Jefferson. He was 30 years old." Doctor Kaine went to retrieve a clipboard.

"That was not the reaction I was expecting. Are you okay, do you need to sit down?" Dev asked. Julianne shook her head. Doctor Kaine returned with his clipboard and a tissue.

"In order to cross t's and dot i's, I need your name and relationship to the deceased. Now, name we have." He looked across over the rim of his glasses knowingly. "How did you know Mister Jefferson?"

"We were engaged to be wed a few years ago. It didn't work out." Dev let out an audible 'Huh?' as a shocked response. He cleared his throat and stepped away for a moment.

"Thank you." Doctor Kaine shook her hand and held it a moment. "I'm sorry for your loss. Take your time saying your goodbyes." He approached Dev. "I don't know what your relationship is with that woman, but I think she could use a shoulder to cry on and maybe an ice cream." Dev started walking to Julianne but Doctor Kaine caught his arm.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Devlin. I think she's hiding something, and I don't mean her phony name. I don't have a lot of information, but what we know about that body and how it died confuse me. Be careful. I'll put in my report that she came in of her own accord, without police escort." Dev shook Ansel's hand firmly.

"Thank you." Dev went to Julianne. "Are you ready to leave?" She nodded and they walked out of the building. He opened his car door for her and got in.

"So... Danny was your fiance?" Tears rolled down her cheeks and she only nodded. He retrieved his handkerchief and handed it to her. She dabbed at her cheeks and exhaled shakily. "Take your time." Julianne turned in the seat to face Dev. With the sad puppy eyes and earnest interest, He reminded her so much of Danny. In a different life, maybe they could have been friends.

"He was so oblivious, at first. I had been in love with him since we were kids but he was always so studious."

"You grew up together?" Dev asked. She smiled and nodded.

"He helped me in school; showed me how to do arithmetic. He learned of magic in our teens. He would show off little feats of power and spells, literal child's play. I had been interested now, I was enraptured. My schoolgirl crush knew magic. I pretty much forced him into a relationship; he barely noticed me. He was so enthralled with magic and theory that the only way I got attention from him was to throw myself at him. Before college, I asked if he would propose to me. He did in spite of himself and we spent the first years of college engaged."

She shifted in her seat, wringing the kerchief in her hands. "I went days without seeing him. Once, an entire month went by and no one had seen him. I was beside myself with worry. When he returned from whatever escapade that drew him away, I would shower him in affections. He started to show less and less interest in me and more in the power. Then, in the summer of of '47, he left me." She made a motion with her hand and tapped her clutch. It opened of its own accord and a small, folded piece of paper climbed out. Julianne took it and handed it to Dev.

It read:

-Jules,

I think I have found a way to get more power, enough even to give to you.

There are others like me.

The Keeper tells me if I can prove myself, I can unlock my potential.

Goodbye,

Danny-

Dev folded it back and gave the old note back to her. Julianne cradled the note gingerly for a moment and then put it back.

"That was the last I heard from him until a few weeks ago when he found me to ask about getting involved in that ritual." Dev noted everything and scratched his head with his pencil.

"So if you hadn't seen him in eight years, how did you find your Numen?" Julianne's breath caught in her throat, completely caught off guard. Dev looked up inquisitively. She looked upset again, but not because of Danny.

"I... tried to find him." She started. "I had 'borrowed' some of his journals filled with magical theory to try to do magic on my own. I had no idea that I needed a Numen to do so. I dropped out of college in pursuit of Danny. Fell in with some very seedy types and did a lot of things I'm not proud of. I never found Danny, but the 'others' he mentioned in the note found me. I don't know if Danny steered them onto my trail or if I had just asked the right questions in the wrong places enough, but, eventually I was brought before your partner's wife. The cult had me trying to activate pieces of Numen so that they could consume magical souls. When I failed at that, I was thrown into an oubliette and left to die."

Dev saw a look pass quickly over her features that he had seen on the battlefield in France. The thousand yard stare. Whatever she had been through had been harrowing. She smiled through the tears.

"But I had a secret. I had awakened a Numen. With Kushiel's help, I fought my way out." She left out that she had spent weeks subsisting on the minimal magic she had access to. She felt bile welling up in her throat remembering the smells. The tastes. "I've been killing Malformed and magical abusers ever since."

His heart hurt. He could feel her anguish, her sorrow and fear. His experience, hell, his whole life, was so different. The suffering she had gone through; she looked lost. Dev offered his hand across the divide, and Julianne reached out and took it.

In a sudden swell, magical energy cascaded around the car. Hues of crimson and turquoise crackled and buffeted them. Dev and Julianne embraced, weathering the storm of power they had created. He leaned in and she completed the kiss. It was both chaste and full of promised passion.

As quickly as it began, the magic faded. Julianne pulled away, eyes closed, savoring the sensation. She felt energized. She felt the care in Dev's arms. He brushed hair over her shoulder and wiped away her tears. She opened her eyes and examined his expression. With a sob, she threw her hands around him.

This time, he held her while she wept.