The team leader screamed as XJ422’s fangs ripped into his throat.
11
Maria stepped into the Black Sun. She didn’t usually hit the bar in the morning, so the lack of a crowd took her by surprise. It’d been a while since she’d seen the place so empty.
Guess even criminals don’t drink before lunch.
The AET lieutenant sidled up to the bar. She gave Kathy a polite nod, but she wasn’t interested in a drink. She needed Tyler. “Your boss around?”
Kathy nodded. “He’s in the back.”
“Could you get him for me?”
Kathy smiled. “Sure thing, Lieutenant.” The brunette made her way from the bar to a back hallway, and a moment later she reappeared with Tyler in tow.
Tyler chuckled. “Don’t usually to see you here in the morning, Lieutenant. What’s the occasion?”
Maria shrugged. “I’m not here for booze.”
Tyler went behind the bar and leaned forward. “What do you need then, Lieutenant?”
“I’ve got some information suggesting a level-five bounty might be coming into town, and I wondered if you’d heard anything.”
The bartender sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you, Lieutenant. Not for a level five.”
Maria blinked. “Huh?”
He held up his hands. “Look, I’ve got a policy. Small fish are small fish. If they are level three or lower we can talk about information, but a man or a woman who has earned a level four or higher bounty... Well, I don’t want to be on their bad side.”
She glowered at him. “What about being on my bad side?”
Tyler shrugged. “At least a cop won’t melt my skin or turn me into a zombie.” He looked around for a moment before lowering his voice. “I can’t give you anything else, but I will let you know that, yes, a level five just came to LA.”
Maria locked eyes with the bartender. She could threaten or arrest him, but if she did that all the careful neutrality they’d worked to build at the Black Sun would vanish. Even if they had to look the other way now and again, overall, having access to the place worked to the cops’ advantage.
She sucked in a breath and nodded. “Not going to say I’m happy about it, but I understand.” She shrugged. “I’ve got another question that shouldn’t offend your delicate criminal sensibilities.”
Tyler chuckled. “What?”
“Even though the Oricerans coughed up a bunch of money to donate to the police department and AET, replacing a lot of the equipment and artifacts we used recently is hard and it’s going to take a while through normal channels.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, you think government requisitions are a bureaucratic nightmare? Try doing it for magical items. It has to go through so many damn departments and approvals.” Maria shook her head. “It’s like everyone’s afraid we’ll accidentally give a necromancer taxpayer dollars and someone will vote out the city council and the mayor because of it.”
“So you’re looking for what…unofficial channels?”
Maria shrugged. “Just want to know all my options.”
“You have any contacts with the consulate?”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t, but that’s a good idea.”
“Yeah, well, they’ll try and keep it official, and they are pretty bureaucratic, too. But if you’re looking for something a little less official, I can give you a name.”
“Go on.”
“Dannec. He’s an elf.” Tyler grinned. “But I wouldn’t go talking to him dressed for the office, if you know what I mean.” He rattled off an address. “Are you sure about this, Lieutenant? Blurring some lines here.”
A fucking level five is in town, and we barely have any anti-magic deflectors. It’s a damned slaughter waiting to happen.
Maria snorted. “Even though we have the money, the bureaucrats are dragging their feet on replacement equipment. My men need the gear to survive, and if I need to bend the rules a little to do it, I don’t give a shit. Thanks, Tyler.” She hopped off her stool and marched toward the door.
James slid into the booth next to Trey and across from his aunt. He could see the family resemblance, and made sure not to comment on her lean appearance and the sunken cheeks that indicated malnourishment.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Brownstone,” the woman offered. “I’m Charlyce.”
“Nice to meet you, Charlyce. Didn’t know Trey had an aunt.”
Trey sighed, but the woman smiled.
“I’ve been on the streets, but I’ve cleaned myself up. We haven’t seen each other for seven years.”
“Shit, seven years?” He glanced at Trey, and the man shrugged.
Charlyce waved a hand. “But that can wait for another time. I’m not here to talk about me, but a little girl named Dina.”
James leaned back in the booth. “Who’s that?”
“Her daddy was killed right in front of her. I found her hiding in a vent in an alley.”
The bounty hunter shot another glance at Trey before looking back at Charlyce. “That’s terrible, but what does it have to do with me?”
“They’re not talking a lot about it, but something evil done killed that girl’s father.” Charlyce shook her head. “It cut his head off. I overheard the police at the scene when they were talking to the girl. She talked about weird shadows and glowing red eyes, and when I found her, she told me ‘Red Eyes’ had killed her daddy.” The woman reached across the table and took James’ hand. “Please, Mr. Brownstone. This is something evil and magical. I saw the body. No normal man could do what I saw. Las Vegas needs you. Dina needs you.”
James’ face twitched. “What’s this girl to you?”
“Nothing, really, I guess… I’ll admit I’ve been trying to keep an eye on her. She lost her daddy, you know? Since her daddy’s murder they’ve been keeping her at a Child Protective Services building, but I don’t know if I trust them. The girl ain’t got no family, so I want to do what I can to help her and get some justice for her.” She clucked her tongue. “She ain’t the only one. Been several deaths lately. The police are keeping a lot of details out of the news, but I’ve heard some of them when they didn’t know I was around and listening.”
James frowned and turned to Trey. “Have you checked the local bounties?”
The other man shrugged. “I just came here for her.”
“And I just came for Jessie Rae’s.” James pulled out his phone and brought up his bounty hunting app. He tapped to change the location from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and searched for new bounties. “We got a new one recently. Level four, ‘Red Eyes Killer.’ Looking through the shit they have listed, this sounds like the guy.”
Charlyce nodded grimly. “Will you help, Mr. Brownstone?”
James grunted. “I was looking for something to do anyway.”
“Bless you, Mr. Brownstone. Bless you.”
Trey furrowed his brow. “I want in on this, James.”
The bounty hunter looked at his protégé. Trey had done a good job proving himself in Los Angeles, but a level four with unusual powers might prove too dangerous. Telling him that directly might wound his pride, though.
Time to make my life more complicated by lying. Shit. Hope this doesn’t become a habit.
“You need to stay with your aunt. First of all, you should catch up with her since you haven’t seen her for years. Plus, if she’s keeping an eye on the girl, you can help with that just in case the guy pokes around the girl again.”
James doubted the killer would, but at least this way Trey could feel involved.
Trey nodded. “You got it, big man.”
Charlyce smiled. “Thank you for taking the time to listen to a homeless nobody, Mr. Brownstone.”
“You aren’t homeless anymore,” her nephew interjected. “You were never homeless. You were just lost.”
Maria stepped out of her car and scanned the area. Dilapidated apartment buildings lined the street, and more than a few rough-loo
king men, some wearing gang colors, prowled around. That wasn’t that different than many other places in LA. The pointed-eared man staring at her from across the street was more what she was looking for.
Even though most people called the area Elf Town, plenty of different Oricerans lived in the neighborhood, both new arrivals and Earth families with Oriceran blood. Some had known and hidden their true nature throughout the generations, and others had only recently learned of their heritage. The neighborhood wasn’t the only Oriceran-heavy enclave in the city, but this was where Dannec lived.
Maria tugged at her black jacket, not liking the idea that she was doing something for the police out of uniform. Her blue jeans, black leather boots, white shirt, and black jacket wouldn’t stand out here, but neither did they command the respect associated with a police uniform.
The AET lieutenant made her way down the street as she watched the building numbers go up. She was almost to her contact’s apartment.
“Yo, baby,” a man called from across the street. “I got something you’d like.”
Maria flipped him off and continued walking. The man chuckled.
Another man grabbed his crotch. “Welcome to the neighborhood, sweet thing.”
She snorted.
A lot of people misunderstood both Maria and AET. She didn’t give two shits if someone was a man or an elf or a half-dragon or whatever, let alone if they had been born on Oriceran or Earth. America was a land of immigrants, and if some of the new ones came from another planet, that wasn’t a reason to hate them. People were people.
She only had a problem with criminals and overpowered beings who thought they were above the law. The average Oriceran in town kept their nose clean and followed the law while plenty of humans like Brownstone caused trouble.
Things might change in the future, but for now the powerful needed to be kept in check, and AET was a big part of that.
Maria stopped when she spotted a blue apartment building with the correct street number. She marched up the rickety, rusted staircase to the second floor and then to an apartment in the back, then took a deep breath and knocked on the faded door. The metal numbers marking the apartment were gone; only their outline remained.
The lock turned, and the door partially opened. The top chain remained in place. A frail ancient-looking elf peered at Maria through the crack of the door.
He looked her up and down. “I don’t know you. Who are you?”
“Maria.”
“What do you want?”
“I’m looking for Dannec.” She leaned closer to whisper. “To talk about buying a few magical items.”
“I don’t know about that kind of thing.”
Maria laughed. “You’re an elf who doesn’t know about magic? Bullshit.”
“It’s a strange new world, isn’t it? Lots of strange people in it.”
“Look, Tyler at the Black Sun told me to talk to you.”
The elf narrowed his eyes. “Did he now?”
“Yeah.”
The door closed.
“Shit.” Maria gritted her teeth. She’d fucked it up already.
A moment later it swung open, now chain-free, and the elf gestured. “Come on in.”
Maria stepped inside and held in the gasp that wanted to erupt. Piles of magical items and artifacts sat atop several tables in the living room. Rods, wands, crystals, necklaces, bones, coins, and an assortment of other miscellaneous objects covered the tables.
Her instincts as a cop told her that half the shit in that room was probably illegal, but she wasn’t there to put the man in jail. She was there to get what she needed to protect her AET team. Besides, there was a difference between feeling something might be illegal and knowing it was illegal.
The elf looked her up and down again, suspicion in his eyes. “And what are you interested in, Maria?”
She slowly reached into her pocket and pulled out a discharged anti-magic deflector. The crystal was solid black.
Dannec held out his hand and Maria placed the deflector in his palm.
“Good stuff,” the elf murmured. “Not just good stuff, government stuff.” He peered at her. “This is specially made, Maria. I don’t think this is something a random woman off the street can get.”
“I didn’t say I was a random woman.”
“If you want me to help you, be honest with me. It’s only fair, don’t you think?”
Maria glanced at the door and considered leaving before shaking her head. “It’s AET issue. I work with AET. Lieutenant Maria Hall, LAPD.”
The elf’s bored expression didn’t change. “And why is AET interested in old Dannec, huh? You think I’m an enhanced threat?” He chuckled. “My wife would agree.”
“We’re not, not officially. I’m interested in you getting me more deflectors, or something that works the same. I don’t care.” Maria shrugged. “My men need protection, and the word is you can get them that.”
“I can, for a price.”
“I can get you money.”
Dannec gave her a toothy grin. “That I like to hear. I read about it, you know.”
“Read about what?”
The elf waved a hand in a grand gesture. “The big battle. I’ve heard rumors and whispers about it as well.” He shook his head. “You’re lucky to be alive, Lieutenant.”
Maria snorted and pointed at the deflector. “It wasn’t luck. It was equipment, and that’s what I need from you.”
Dannec nodded. “Of course.” He handed the spent deflector back. “You know what you should have done in that last battle?”
“What?”
“You should have called James Brownstone to help. You know, the one who the police had kill all the gangsters.”
Maria managed a pained smile. “We do often go after the same targets, true, but this wasn’t a matter where Brownstone could help the department.”
She saw no reason for this elf to know about her feelings about Brownstone.
“I see. I also read about how many deflectors you used up in the battle,” Dannec commented. “You want that many from me?”
Maria nodded. “Yes.”
He rattled off a high price, and the cop twitched. She hadn’t expected them to be cheap, but the shock of hearing the amount still took her by surprise.
Dannec clucked his tongue. “Don’t worry, Lieutenant Hall. These are better, probably thirty percent more absorption, than your fancy government-issued ones.” He rubbed his chin. “Because I like your face, I will take fifteen percent off the price, but you’ll have to owe me a favor.”
Maria narrowed her eyes. “A favor?”
“Yes, a favor.” He shrugged. “Nothing illegal. Just a favor.”
Maria gritted her teeth and again considered walking out. Even if the favor weren’t illegal, owing a man with criminal connections was dangerous. But then she remembered the battle in the park: wounded men on the ground, the damned witch repelling bullets like it was nothing.
“Fair enough,” she muttered.
“Good, good. One last thing.”
“Yeah?”
Dannec grinned. “Magic takes many forms. Do you or your men have any restrictions?”
“Restrictions?”
“You know, like refusing to wear chicken bones or skulls?”
Maria grimaced at the idea of the AET walking around holding skulls or wearing chicken bones. “Uh…”
Dannec cackled.
She blinked. “You’re fucking with me, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but you should have seen your face.”
Maria cracked a smile. “You’re all right, Dannec.”
12
Tessa strolled down the street, taking in the Hollywood Walk of Fame with its speckled terrazzo blocks with five-pointed stars set inside. She passed name after name, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Tourists strolled on either side of her, taking pictures or seeking the star of their favorite entertainer. More than a few people clapped with excitement when they finally
located the star they were looking for.
The woman snorted, drawing a few curious looks from passing tourists. The actors, directors, and musicians who had earned themselves a spot on the Walk of Fame had accomplished that through mere entertainment efforts, and entertainment was a lie. Even worse, it was a distraction from the truth of human existence.
The true human experience was distilled pain and misery. Enlightenment and kindness were a lie. Only strength and power freed you from the darkness.
Tessa shook her head. There were so many people around her, all with vacant and shallow expressions. In a sense, they weren’t really people. They didn’t have the strength to be worthy of the title “human.” They were ghosts; pale reflections of living souls. They were dead but didn’t know it.
I’ve proven myself strong. This is why I’m happy, and others are miserable in their hearts. It’s why they seek to distract themselves with frivolousness.
Her hand dipped into her purse, and she caressed the emerald-tipped wand inside.
She stopped and watched the flow of foot traffic for a long moment. It’d be so easy to unleash her power and kill dozens if not hundreds of people. Then they would know misery and suffering. She’d prove her humanity over these ghosts calling themselves people.
The woman let out a long sigh. She wasn’t worried about the police, even the AET. From what she’d heard, the main LA AET team had been hit hard by a strong witch the week before. Tessa doubted they had the resources to handle her. She licked her lips. It was tempting.
Tessa pulled her hand out of her purse.
No. The authorities were no threat, but one man was—a man who’d proven his humanity through the destruction of so many ghosts. James Brownstone.
“I’ll be nice, Brownstone,” Tessa whispered. “For now.”
James pushed into the busy Las Vegas police station. A din of police, civilians, and bitching criminals filled the room. A few people glanced his way and whispered to themselves, but he didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad one.
He grunted. The bounty hunter was used to LA and LA cops, people like Sergeant Mack and his station. Even though James had been to Las Vegas many times, he’d barely dealt with the police and didn’t know where the cops working their bounty department were located.
When Angels Cry: An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure (The Unbelievable Mr. Brownstone Book 6) Page 9