by Kim Harrison
“Thanks, Randy.” Wrinkles in his forehead bunching, Captain Pelhan slowed as he took the papers, but he didn’t stop. “I’ll sign these later.”
“Uh, sir?” the officer added to make Pelhan’s eyes crinkle, and the tired man rocked to a halt, his narrow shoulders slumping. “I’ve got a kid at my desk I don’t know what to do with. He says he’s a minor, but he won’t tell me his name because he’s more afraid of his mom than us.”
Together, Trisk and Pelhan looked around Officer Randy. Trisk’s eyebrows rose. The kid looked too tall to be a minor, but his face was baby smooth as he slumped in the stiff-looking chair, his head lolled to make his red dreadlocks hang down his back. She’d never seen hair like that, but it kind of went with his orange bell-bottoms, yellow shirt, and rope sandals. Witch, she thought, seeing the plethora of wooden charms around his neck disguised as beads.
Pelhan winced, running a quick hand over his short graying hair. “Please tell me he’s dressed like that for Halloween.”
Officer Randy grinned. “Nope. He says he’s part of a band, which checks out since there’s a bass guitar and drum set in his van. We’re running the plates to find out who he is, but it’s from Ohio, and . . .”
“Everything is down,” Pelhan finished for him as the kid pantomimed playing a guitar. The scent of redwood grew, and Pelhan rubbed his forehead in defeat. “We can’t put him downstairs with the vamps. Cuff him to a table in the break room.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Wait.” Pelhan eyed Trisk dryly, the wrinkles at his eyes deepening. “Cuff Dr. Cambri in the break room. I’ll talk to the bass player right now.”
“Yes, sir.” Officer Randy took her arm, and Trisk stiffened.
“Now, wait a minute—” she began to protest, her anger cutting off when a young man dressed in a powder-blue suit and wide tie spilled into the lobby, his long blond hair flying everywhere as he waved a knife as long as her arm.
“Where is he!” the man shouted, his eyes pupil black as he flipped a desk over and stood in its place, papers scattering and the typewriter hitting the floor with a dull thud and ting of its bell. “Let him go, or I’ll rip this place apart looking for him!”
“Oh God. We’ve got another one going ape,” someone said, and then the room seemed to shift all at once as six uniformed men launched themselves at him.
The man with the knife bellowed, brandishing it as if it were a sword. His lips curled back from his teeth to show his slightly larger canines. He was a living vampire, and he was totally freaked out as he flung the attacking officers off him.
“Holy crap,” she whispered, unable to look away as Officer Randy pushed her back. The vampire had totally lost it, wild and screaming as a mass of men piled on top of him. The knife was sent skittering across the floor. It was quickly followed by a howl of anger, and she heard Captain Pelhan shout, “Got ’im!”
The men atop the vampire fell off, and the incensed man rose like a vengeful god. His suit was torn, and his hands were cuffed. Fury spilled from him in a roar, spittle flying as he lashed out at anyone who came near. The men circling him knew to keep back. Suddenly Trisk realized almost every officer in the room had a bandage or limp.
“Easy, now. We have your master downstairs,” Pelhan said, his hand raised in placation. But the living vampire’s expression twisted into frustration, and Trisk’s eyes widened when the cuffed man stared down at his bound hands and his shoulders tensed.
“Uh, those aren’t going to hold him,” she said to Randy.
“Captain!” Randy shouted, but it was too late and the cuffs broke with an echoing ping.
“Dude!” the kid at Randy’s desk exclaimed, his eyes wide as again Trisk pressed back, the charmed silver cuffs on her wrists preventing her from even protecting herself, much less helping.
“Where is he!” the vampire shouted, lashing blindly out at the captain.
Pelhan took it right on the jaw, reeling backward as officers fell on the vampire once more. “Son of a bitch,” he said, feeling his face. “Get him down. Now! And no weapons!”
“But sir—” someone complained.
“No weapons!” Pelhan bellowed, his brow furrowed as he watched the vampire struggle under six men. “We hurt this loon, and we pay for it through the nose. Someone find out who his master is so we can get him in the right cell!” Still holding his jaw, he bent down over the pile of men, his face inches from the incensed living vampire. “Who is your master?” he asked. “You can’t take him out of here now anyway. The sun is up.”
“Let him go!” the man in the powder-blue suit raged. “You have no right to hold him! You have no right to hold me!”
“Tell me who he is, and we’ll take you to him,” Pelhan said patiently, but the man twisted and bucked, trying to escape.
A woman in uniform inched closer, a mass of stapled paper in her hand. “I think I heard him ask for Ormand, Captain.”
Pelhan sighed and leaned back on a desk. “Do we have Ormand here?”
“Yes, sir.” The woman studied her papers.
“Well, we can’t take him down like this,” Pelhan said, and with a roar, the vampire made another bid for freedom. Three more men fell on him.
There has got to be a better way, Trisk thought. “Hey,” she said suddenly to Officer Randy, still standing beside her. “If you uncuff me, I can circle him.”
Pelhan’s eyes lit up. His sharp whistle brought everyone’s attention up. “Tex,” he demanded. “Circle the bastard.”
“Here?” A thick man disentangled himself, breathing hard as he pulled out of the pile-on.
“I don’t see any humans, do you?” the captain said, glancing at the kid with the amulets and getting a thumbs-up. Shrugging, Tex pricked his finger with the sharp point of what looked like a pen but was probably anything but.
Immediately Trisk knew it had been a mistake when the scent of the blood hit the living vampire, and with a bellow, the man rose, throwing everyone off him.
“Now, Tex!” Pelhan shouted, and the officer wiped the drop of blood on a wooden disk he’d taken from his pocket, tossing the charm at the vampire and shouting a word of Latin.
Trisk shuddered as the circle rose up around him, the earth magic both alien and familiar as the witch used the magic of plants and his blood to do the same thing she could do right from the ley line. The vampire slammed into the circle, falling back in a hunched rage. He was caught, and his threats cycled down to an eerie, rocking anticipation that was somehow more disturbing.
There was a collective sigh as everyone picked themselves up off the floor, inspecting new hurts and righting desks as that kid swore and laughed. Someone went for a mop, and the people who had clustered at the doors to watch quickly found something else to do. Trisk looked at Officer Randy still gripping her bicep, clearing her throat for him to ease up. “You should have circled him with a ley line charm,” she said as Pelhan watched his people reorganize with a tired patience. “Avoided the blood issue. Don’t you have any ley line witches on your payroll?”
A hint of embarrassment colored Pelhan’s stubbled cheeks. “We do, but we like to keep them in research and development.”
She tugged out of Randy’s grip. “You should give them guns and put them on the street. At least temporarily.”
Nodding, Pelhan turned to one of his more intact officers. “Get me downstairs on the phone, will you?” he asked, and a thick black receiver was almost immediately shoved into his hands. “Hey, it’s Captain Pelhan. I need to talk to Mr. Ormand. One of his children is up here causing bloody hell and we want to bring him down.”
Trisk watched the vampire seething in his circle. It had taken nine men to subdue him. If he’d been an undead vampire, it would’ve been near impossible. Magic, though, was the great equalizer, gaining respect from the most violent Inderlander. She could almost sense a new pride and confidence among the battered and bruised officers now shaking Officer Tex’s hand and giving him back-slapping congratulations. There’
s something here, she mused, but it eluded her, distracted when Captain Pelhan pushed himself up off the desk.
“Yes, sir.” Pelhan inclined his head in respect to a man who wasn’t even in the room. “One of your children is asking after you,” he said, and an officer tending a scratch snickered. “I’d like to bring him down, but he’s distressed and I’m reluctant to move him until he’s calm.”
The captain listened for a moment, his eyes flicking back to the vampire now brushing the street dirt off his suit. “He failed to tell us, but he has long blond hair. Tall. His nose is crooked, and he’s wearing a blue suit with a white tie.” A relieved expression came over Pelhan’s face. “Thank you, sir,” he said, yanking the cord of the phone to get more slack. “Jake,” he said authoritatively, and the man in the circle scowled.
“You’ve no right to hold him,” Jake said. “Or me. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Pelhan yanked more slack from the phone cord and came closer to the humming circle. “Jake, you know your master can’t leave until the sun sets. He wants to talk to you.”
Jake’s expression shifted, the anger vanishing into a sudden unease. “He’s here against his will,” he said, the severity of his pupil-black eyes behind his straggly hair beginning to ease. “You can’t care for him. You’re going to kill him.”
Captain Pelhan nodded. “That’s why we need your help. Ormand needs your help. But I won’t let you out of the circle when you’re angry.” He held the phone up, unable to just hand it in. “Okay, sir,” he said loudly.
Officer Randy had taken Trisk’s arm again and was trying to lead her away, but she dug her feet in, wanting to hear, and they both stopped when a low, cultured voice with a precise accent seemed to flow from the tiny speaker. “You allowed fear to make your decisions,” Ormand said, and Jake shuddered, suddenly looking frightened.
“They’re holding you against your will,” Jake said, his voice trembling in fear that he might have done something wrong. “I came to free you. The others fled. Cowards,” he spat.
“Jake,” Ormond said lovingly, but Trisk knew it was a lie. Ormond had no soul. It had gone before him, and if the light ever touched him, his mind would realize that and he’d walk into the sunlight, killing himself to bring his mind, body, and soul back into harmony.
“They were afraid,” Ormand said, and Jake fidgeted, brushing his suit clean again. “It’s not a crime to be afraid. You will make a powerful undead, Jake, but not yet. I need you as you are. Tell the officers you’ll stop this so they can bring you to me.”
Jake’s eyes flicked up, the hint of quickly smothered worry striking through Trisk. Living vampires both loved and feared their masters; loved the emotions they pulled from them along with the blood the undead needed to survive, feared because deep down they recognized it for the abuse it was, all the while knowing that if they were lucky, they’d become the very thing they hated.
“Yes. Okay,” Jake whispered, and the captain placed the phone back at his ear.
“Thank you, sir,” he said, but Trisk could already hear the dial tone. Ormand had hung up. Grimacing, the captain set the phone back in the cradle. Facing Jake, he put his hands on his hips in evaluation. “Well?”
Jake squinted at him for a moment, then squared his shoulders, fixed his tie, and even pulled a comb from his back pocket and ran it through his hair. Tucking the comb away, he faced Captain Pelhan squarely. “I apologize for my behavior. I was distressed, but that is no excuse.”
Trisk’s eyebrows rose, but Pelhan smiled as he gestured to Officer Tex. “Let him out.”
She could almost feel the room take a hesitant breath as the charm broke and the energy dissipated. “This way, Jake,” Officer Tex said. “I’ll take you down.”
With a last condescending look at those he had fought off, Jake fell into place beside the man. “Am I under arrest?” the living vampire asked, his voice surprisingly meek.
“Not officially, no,” Tex said, sounding almost cheerful. “They’ll explain downstairs, but your master is in no danger. If you have others you think he’d like to see, write down their names, and I’ll get word to them.”
“That would help, yes, please,” Jake said, his voice going faint. And then they were gone.
Captain Pelhan exhaled. With a surge of sound and motion, the room began to get back to normal. “It’s going to be one hell of a Halloween tomorrow,” he said, then his expression went grim. “Randy, I asked you to take Dr. Cambri to the break room. I have to finish a few things, and I’ll be right in.”
Trisk pulled out of Randy’s new grip on her with a jerk. “Am I under arrest for breaking curfew or for murder, Captain?”
Pelhan’s narrow face smirked at her even as he dialed a number by heart, one slow digit ratcheting around the dial at a time. “That’s what I’m looking into,” he said as he listened to it ring. “Unless you want to follow Jake down to holding?”
She shook her head, not liking the idea of being six feet underground with who knew how many vampires. But he’d already turned back to the phone, waving them off in dismissal.
“This way, Doctor,” Randy said, and she obediently followed him, appreciating that he wasn’t trying to manhandle her anymore. Silent, they went deeper into the building, passing dark offices that spoke of missing colleagues. The scent of angry vampire eased, and she shook off her feeling of angst. “Has that been happening a lot?” she asked, and Randy shrugged.
“Enough that we’re having a meeting tonight on how to handle aggressive vampires,” he said. “It’s almost easier without humans around.” Randy shook his head ruefully. “I never thought I’d say that.”
She frowned, not liking the idea of a world without humans, or that some people might want it that way. “Why?” she asked belligerently. “It just gives them the go-ahead to be as ugly as they want. You can’t tell me Jake would have done all that if he knew there was a human watching and he might be punished or killed for giving us away.”
“True.” Randy nodded. “But it’s easier when you can openly use magic. You saw how many people it took to down him physically compared to one circle.”
“So . . .” she hedged, feeling marginally better, “it’s not the humans being gone that makes it easier, just that you can do magic?”
Randy slowed at a wide archway. Beyond it was the break room, the tall windows showing sparkling bright day reflecting off the surrounding buildings. “What’s the difference?” he asked as he gestured for her to go in.
But she thought there was a lot of difference, and she scanned the small room, wrinkling her nose at the coffee slowly thickening on its burner. Coffee sounded good, but not the sludge at the bottom of that pot. There was a hand-lettered sign over the coffeemaker saying if you didn’t know how to work it, ask Sarah.
“Ah, if you leave me uncuffed, I’ll make a fresh pot of coffee for everyone,” she said. And clean the counter. Sweep the sugar off the floor. It looked as if no one had been in here to clean in days.
“Sorry, Dr. Cambri.” Officer Randy cuffed first the table leg, then her hand. She volunteered her burned one since she didn’t want to use it anyway, hiding the red skin behind her curled fingers. “If the captain doesn’t show up in an hour, just start yelling.”
“You’re kidding, right?” she asked as Randy gave her a mirthless smile and hustled out. “Great, just great,” she muttered, pulling at her cuff and feeling it clink.
26
Trisk sat at one of the long break room tables, her head pillowed on her folded arms as she waited for Captain Pelhan. The scent of tuna rose from the wadded up paper that had been wrapped around a sandwich someone had gotten for her, but she was still hungry. She had a feeling it might be a while before the captain showed, the efficient man clearly taking on more than he was used to and too married to protocol to delegate until he knew the men he’d assign new duties to would be good at them. Still . . . it had been an hour.
A scuff at the door pulled her head up, and she fl
ushed when the incoming officer stopped short, his eyes on her cuffs. “Morning,” she said, pulling herself up even straighter.
“Are you supposed to be here?” he asked as he went to the coffee counter, blanched at the ugly sludge, and went for a tea bag instead.
Like spots on a tiger, she thought. “Captain Pelhan wants to talk to me.”
Nodding, the man poured the stale hot water over the stale, old tea leaves, and she shuddered at the imagined stale, nasty taste of it. “So he cuffs you to a table in the break room?”
She smiled cattily. “He’s the captain,” she said brightly.
The officer snorted his agreement. “Can I get you something? Tea? Coffee?” he asked, his shoes grinding the grit of sugar on the tile floor.
“Water?” she suggested, and the man set his brewing cup of tea down to find a water-spotted glass in the cupboard and fill it. The lukewarm feel of the smooth glass in her hand made her suddenly ten times thirstier, and she slammed it even before he’d taken his tea up again. Great. I’m going to need to use the ladies’ room in about twenty minutes, she thought as she wiped the last drops from her lips. “Thanks,” she said as she held it out for him to refill, and the man gave her a hesitant smile as he took it.
“Hey, is it true you set fire to one of the boxcars at the railroad? They can’t put it out.”
“That’s what she told me,” Captain Pelhan said loudly, startling them both as he walked in. “Smith, they could use your help downstairs. Try not to get enthralled, okay? We don’t have enough staff right now to give you a week off.”
“Yes, sir.” Hunched in embarrassment, the man took his tea and headed for the door.
Captain Pelhan eased down across from her, a heavy sigh spilling from him as the bench took his slight weight. His eye was twitching, and he looked as if he needed sleep—a lot of it.