“Detective Ariadne Alexiou. She’s gone missing.”
Once more, Hades glanced at Ilias, whose expression had become tense. They were both thinking the same thing. Had Theseus decided to dispose of the detective already?
“That is very unfortunate,” Hades said, not wishing to admit that he knew the woman at all. There was something about this that did not sit right with him, and it had nothing to do with the fact that Ariadne was gone. “Why come to me?”
“It’s just a hunch I have,” said the captain. “See, she’s been investigating these disappearances across New Athens, and shortly before she went missing, she asked if she could go to the gods for help. Specifically, she wanted your help.”
The last sentence was delivered like an accusation. Hades did not like it.
“I am very aware of the Hellenic Police Department’s disdain for the gods,” Hades said. “So it seems unlikely you would approve such an endeavor.”
“I didn’t,” the captain replied mildly.
“Then what would lead you to believe your detective came to me?”
“Ariadne is…difficult.”
“Difficult or determined?”
“Ignoring orders doesn’t make anyone look good, Lord Hades.”
“It certainly doesn’t make you look good,” Hades said. “It makes you look like you don’t have control of your people. Is that why you are really here, Captain?”
The man glared. “I’m here because I’d like to locate my detective and happen to know that she did, in fact, come to you against my orders. What do you have to say to that?”
“Are you accusing me lying, Captain?” Hades asked, and before the officer could respond, he continued. “Be very careful with how you respond, as I happen to know some truths about you, and I have no fear in disclosing them.”
The detective continued glaring and, after a moment, picked up the photo of Ariadne. “I’ll leave my card.”
“Don’t bother,” Hades said. “I know where to find you.”
The captain said nothing but left stiffly, as if he could feel Hades’s gaze on his back as he went. Once they were alone, Hades looked to Ilias.
“I thought I said to watch her,” Hades said.
“We have,” the satyr replied, defensive. “This wasn’t Theseus.”
If not Theseus, then who? There was only one other person interested enough in the detective to be responsible for her disappearance.
“Dionysus.”
* * *
Hades had a theory that Dionysus had discovered Ariadne’s association with Theseus, likely because he’d had his maenads stalking her since her unwanted visit to Bakkheia. He decided not to waste time arriving the mortal way and chose to teleport instead, appearing in Dionysus’s darkened office at his club.
“How discourteous,” the god said when Hades appeared.
“Do you have Ariadne?” Hades asked.
“As if anyone could control that wicked, mouthy—”
“I did not ask for a list of traits you admire about her,” Hades cut him off. “Do you have her?”
Dionysus glared. “She’s mine to punish, not yours.”
“She doesn’t deserve your punishment,” Hades said.
“She betrayed me,” he said.
“You cannot blame her for the deaths of the Graeae. I doubt it was her who held the knife, but she can tell us who did.”
“I am not a child, Hades,” Dionysus said through clenched teeth. “I know her value.”
“That, coming from someone who won’t choose a side.”
The God of the Vine glared. “I’m letting you in, aren’t I?” he countered. “Is that choosing a side?”
Hades lifted his head. “It’s a start.”
Dionysus pushed past Hades. “Come.”
They left the office for the elevator on the way to the basement.
“No dungeon?” Hades inquired, glancing at the god, who seemed more on edge.
“No,” he said with none of his usual sarcasm.
Hades raised a brow but said nothing.
Once in the basement, Hades was surprised to find Ariadne in the common area among the maenads, though she kept her distance, sitting in a large chair farthest from everyone in the room, reading. He’d expected her to be locked up in one of the dorms, though he recognized that was probably not wise, considering the Graeae had easily been taken from there. At least if she were in a crowd, there would be witnesses to a potential abduction.
Ariadne looked up as they approached and stiffened.
“What do you want?” she snapped.
Hades rolled his eyes. “I see you haven’t lost any of that venom.”
She offered a malicious smile. “It doesn’t seem to deter you.”
“Not when you happen to have answers to my questions,” said Hades.
“I’m not sure what you think I can give you,” she said.
“Don’t you? The Graeae?”
There was a long pause as Ariadne stared at the two gods. Her eyes began to water.
“I hate you,” she said between her teeth. “You think he won’t know that you’ve taken me? You think he won’t guess what you want?”
“I told you I would protect you,” Dionysus clipped.
“And what about my sister?” she yelled, her voice raw and pained.
Hades watched Dionysus look away, jaw clenched. Clearly there had already been some discussion around what kind of information she was willing to offer.
“Where is your sister?” Hades asked. He realized he still did not know why Theseus seemed to have her.
“Her sister is married to Theseus,” said Dionysus, speaking for her. “And he uses her to manipulate Ariadne.”
That explained why she seemed to have to earn the right to see her.
“What she doesn’t seem to realize is that there’s nothing we can do for her,” Dionysus said.
“You can’t,” Ariadne said. “But I can and the only way to ensure that is to not tell you a fucking thing.”
“Do you really think Theseus will grant you access to his wife?”
“Don’t call her that,” she said between her teeth.
“Tell me,” said Dionysus. “How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”