Dire Straits

by Helen Harper

  I run over the phone call in my mind. I’m sure I said nothing more than the address and that I needed an ambulance. There was no reason to send goons with guns to check it out. And how in the hell had they arrived so quickly? I only hung up on the responder a few minutes ago; response times are never that fast. If I’d waited to enter the house until I was supposed to, O’Shea would have lost so much blood he’d probably be dead and I would be the sole witness to the crime. Or the prime suspect. I grip the steering wheel and swerve right.

  ‘What in the hell have you gotten me into?’ I say aloud to O’Shea, not expecting an answer.

  His spooky orange eyes swivel in my direction and he opens his mouth.

  ‘Don’t speak,’ I tell him curtly. ‘Conserve your energy. You can give me answers later.’ I’m damned if I’ll let him croak on me before I find out exactly what is going on.

  I press down on the accelerator, speeding up again, and make a snap decision. I don’t know who this guy is and why the police – and someone else much more violent – are so interested in him, but my interest is piqued. The hospital is now out. There’s only one place nearby where I can get him some proper medical help and avoid the suddenly undesirable eye of the law. I’d rather choke on my own tongue than go there but I’m out of other options. Shit in a hell basket.

  Chapter Two: Family Ties

  I ignore the red lights; right now I have worse things to worry about than traffic violations. And it’s not as if the roads round here are busy. I’d have been impressed with my speed if the situation weren’t so dire. Even so, by the time we arrive outside the familiar terraced house, I can tell that O’Shea is beginning to fade. Blood is leaking from between his fingers where they continue to clutch at the gaping wound. Arse.

  I stop the car and jump out, running up the path to the door. I bang on it loudly and try to open it, even though I know it will be barred. ‘Open up!’ I yell, crouching down to flip open the letterbox.

  The door swings open noiselessly. A fat ginger tom cat is sitting in the hallway glaring at me.

  I snarl. ‘Where is he?’

  The cat licks a paw before starting to wash its face.

  ‘I don’t have time for this. Where in hell is he?’

  A man appears behind the animal. He has the kind of straight-backed posture a ballroom dancer would envy. He raises his eyebrows at me. ‘Bo.’

  ‘I need help. There’s a…’

  He interrupts. ‘Obviously you need help. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here. But this is not how we do things.’

  I grit my teeth. This is one of the many reasons why I avoid this place like the plague. I step over the threshold, ignoring the cat and give the man a perfunctory kiss on the cheek.

  ‘Grandfather. How lovely to see you again.’

  He inclines his head. ‘And you, my dear.’

  ‘Now will you help me?’

  His eyes drift down my torso and his upper lip wrinkles. ‘You are coverered in blood.’ There is the faintest tinge of disgust in his voice.

  ‘It’s not mine.’

  ‘I know that.’ He sniffs. ‘A triber. Agathos daemon, if I’m not mistaken.’

  I sigh inwardly. Most people need to get up close and personal to recognise a triber. You can usually tell them by their eyes: Agathos daemons, even quarter breeds like O’Shea, possess pupils of different hues while vampires’ pupils contain a telltale red dot. Both black and white witches don’t have irises at all, whereas Kakos daemons …well, I’m not sure anyone has seen a Kakos’s eyes and lived to tell the tale. Some people don’t need to look into their eyes, however; they simply have an inbuilt intuition. It can be learned, much in the way that you can learn to tell the difference between the epicanthal folds of Chinese people versus Japanese people, or work out from two Caucasians which one is French and which one American. I can usually do so with tribers without getting into their face and peering at their eyes. My grandfather, unusually, can do it from fifty metres. He also enjoys making his talent known.

  I try to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. ‘Well done. But he’s only a quarter Agathos and right now he’s dying in my car.’ I gesture outside. ‘If you’d be so kind?’

  He seems to be mulling it over. I curl my fingers into fists at my sides.

  ‘Very well,’ he agrees finally. ‘But only because I don’t need a corpse littering my front garden. I can do without the police asking unnecessary questions.’

  I narrow my eyes at that comment. Right now it’s a little too close to the bone. Fortunately he refrains from further discussion and I go back to the car, pulling open the passenger door. O’Shea falls against me, his head lolling. Cursing, I thrust my palm against his neck. I’m pretty sure I can still feel a pulse, although I’m amazed there’s any blood left inside him.

  I realise my grandfather still hasn’t left his house. ‘What are you waiting for?’ I shout. ‘He’s dying. You said you’d help.’

  He winces. ‘Raising your voice is so vulgar. You should keep your tone more dulcet, it’s more becoming for a lady. I said I would help the daemon and I will.’

  ‘So freaking help!’ Desperation is leaking from my every pore.

  He gestures down at his clothes. ‘This is Savile Row. I’m not about to sully it with arterial blood. Bring him inside and I’ll save his life.’ He purses his lips. ‘For what it’s worth.’

  I watch open-mouthed, as he goes back inside. I swear the bloody cat is grinning at me mockingly. Then an ominous rattle comes from O’Shea’s throat and I give in, hooking my hands under his armpits and dragging him up to the house while trying to staunch the wound at the same time. A snail’s trail of blood leads from the open car door and up the perfectly paved path behind us. I huff with exertion, noting out of the corner of my eye that several curtains are being pushed aside as the neighbours look on. At least I know they won’t be calling it in to the authorities. They wouldn’t dare.

  After what seems an age, I’m back at the door and trying to pull O’Shea inside the house. One of his shoes catches on the lip of the entrance and, even though I tug hard, it won’t budge. Something taps my shoulder and I twist my head round. My grandfather has donned a plastic apron. He has kept his impeccable grey suit – complete with waistcoat, cravat and fob watch – on underneath. I avoid rolling my eyes. Why he insists on wearing such clothes when he lives on a rundown housing estate in one of the less salubrious areas of London, I have no idea. I let him take O’Shea’s upper body, and he produces a pressure bandage which he presses to the daemon’s neck while I free his caught shoe and lift his feet. Together we manoeuvre him inside and onto the kitchen table.

  My grandfather leans down to inspect the wound. ‘He’s almost gone,’ he observes calmly. ‘You’ve not given me much time.’

  ‘There’d be a damn sight more time if you’d helped me get him inside.’

  He clucks at my tone, elevating O’Shea’s head and reaching for a steel instrument which is already glowing red at the tip. He lifts up the bandage and cleans away the worst of the blood, then presses the metal into the wound, cauterising it. There’s a lengthy sizzle and the stench of cooking flesh fills the room. Bile rises in my throat.

  I turn away and open a drawer, rummaging around until I find what I need. I crouch down next to O’Shea’s neck and start cleaning the area with antiseptic while my grandfather cuts off his t-shirt to attend to the wound on his ribs. He hisses when he finds it, making me look up.

  ‘Bloodguzzlers,’ he states, by way of explanation.

  I start. It doesn’t make any sense for vampires to attack a daemon. ‘Are you sure?’

  I receive a withering look in return. Holding the palms of my hands up in surrender, I stand up. ‘Is there a…?’

  ‘Behind you.’

  I turn round and spot the suture kit. Scooping it up, I eye my grandfather again. ‘Is this…?’

  ‘Catgut,’ he grunts.

  ‘Do you think you could let me finish just one sentence?’
r />   ‘What’s the point when I know what you’re going to say?’

  I pull out the pre-threaded needle and bend down to stitch up O’Shea’s neck, counting to ten very slowly in my head.

  ‘Have you spoken to your mother lately?’ my grandfather asks.

  I can’t help snapping. ‘You mean you don’t know already?’

  ‘There’s no need to be impolite. This is small talk. It’s what civilised people do.’

  ‘And I suppose civilised people also spend their afternoons sewing up daemons as well,’ I say under my breath.

  He hears me. ‘Only when their errant granddaughters arrive on their doorstep demanding that’s what they do. It’s been seven months since you were last here, Bo. The least you could do is pop round for afternoon tea from time to time.’

  I stab the needle into O’Shea’s flesh with a little too much vigour and he moans.

  ‘I have to work. I told you.’

  ‘You don’t work every day.’

  ‘When I don’t work, I sleep.’ He has a knack for making me feel both guilty and annoyed at exactly the same time.

  ‘I can still put in a word with Thompson and Grant, you know.’

  ‘So I can spend my days investigating insurance fraud? No thank you.’

  There’s a moment of silence. When I finally look up and meet his eyes, his hands are on his hips. He appears genuinely perplexed. ‘You’d rather be saving daemons?’

  I sigh. It would take more than the passing of a few laws to take away the old-school racism bred into my grandfather’s psyche. ‘He’s Agathos,’ I repeat, pointlessly. ‘And only a quarter at that.’

  ‘So you’ve said.’ Something flashes in his eyes and I realise I’m about to get sucker-punched. ‘You don’t normally do this though, Bo. Save daemons, I mean. You normally hang around taking sleazy pictures of affairs or handing out summons. Does that make you feel fulfilled?’

  ‘You’ve been keeping tabs on me.’ I keep my voice flat. It’s not a question.

  ‘You’re my only grandchild. Of course I’m keeping tabs on you! I’m concerned about the life you’ve chosen. You can do better than that seedy firm.’

  ‘It’s not seedy.’ I’m lying. It’s seedier than a prostitute’s unwashed bed linen. I continue, ‘And it’s a meritorious corporate ladder. You start at the bottom and work your way up. I’m working my way up.’ I finish my last stitch and tie the catgut into a granny knot. I stand up, drawing my shoulders back and looking my grandfather in the eye. ‘This is what I want to do.’

  He doesn’t give way. He just remains where he is, staring back at me with a challenging look. Long seconds stretch out. Then O’Shea breaks the tension by moaning and coughing. He mutters something and twists on the table in a spasm of pain.

  I bend down. ‘What is it?’

  He coughs again. I place my ear closer to his mouth, ignoring the distaste that crosses my grandfather’s features.

  ‘Thank.’ There’s a drawn-out pause as he sucks in air. ‘You.’ His pupils roll into his head and he lapses back into unconsciousness.

  I straighten up and give my grandfather a triumphant look. He raises his eyebrows. ‘So he’s got manners. So what?’

  I give up. I’m covered in blood, in dire need of a shower, and I have many, many questions which need answers. Dealing with my grandfather is not a priority. My bladder, however, still is.

  ‘May I use your bathroom?’ I ask primly.

  He nods and gestures upwards. I walk out, taking care not to brush against anything and leave a bloodstained advertisement of my presence in my grandfather’s immaculately kept house. I’d never hear the end of it if he came across a smudge of daemon blood on his flocked wallpaper.

  In the bathroom, I finally relieve myself then lean over the small sink and wash off as much of the blood as I can. I’m not hugely successful; all I manage to do is smear it over my skin. I’m particularly pissed off that my jacket is covered in it. When I decide I can do no more until I get home and strip off, I rock back on my heels and stare at my reflection in the mirror. My skin is even paler than normal, and my hair is matted and untidy. I smooth it down but it appears that daemon blood is no better at keeping my unruly curls in place than expensive hair products, so I give up and head back to the kitchen. My grandfather is washing up at the sink. He turns round as I approach, no doubt assessing my remarkably unimproved appearance.

  ‘Can I leave him here until nightfall?’

  I’d rather not, but O’Shea needs to rest and I need to find out exactly what is going on. My grandfather may not appreciate his presence, but right now his unconscious body would be too much of an encumbrance, especially with the sodding police apparently after him.

  His gaze remains on me. ‘Is he dangerous?’

  I look at O’Shea stretched out on the table, soaked in blood and in a semi-coma. Then I look at my grandfather. ‘You’re kidding me, right?’

  He doesn’t blink. ‘He’s going to come around. I would like to know if I need to take measures to guard against him.’

  ‘I think you can hold your own,’ I reply drily.

  ‘Tell me why you tied him up.’

  I’m momentarily confused. Then I realise the handcuffs are still attached to O’Shea’s right wrist. ‘Oh. That wasn’t me. He was already cuffed when I found him.’

  For the first time, my grandfather looks surprised. And worried.

  I lean forward. ‘What is it?’

  ‘They’re yours, Bo,’ he says quietly. ‘They’re your cuffs. I was there when your father gave them to you. I’d recognise them anywhere.’

  I’m taken aback. ‘That’s ridiculous. They’re not mine – he was restrained with them before I arrived.’

  Except I have to admit that my grandfather doesn’t make mistakes like that. My eyes drop to the set of steel rings and I walk over and touch them. They’re still smeared in blood. I think about how easily I picked the lock back at Wiltshore Avenue. I kneel down and examine them further. I wipe away some of the blood with my thumb and my stomach drops. There’s a tiny zigzagged scratch along the side that’s heart-rendingly familiar.

  ‘Well, this is just getting better and better,’ I murmur to myself. It appears that someone broke into my apartment and stole my handcuffs. Then they used them to tie up O’Shea and left him for dead, calling in armed police to arrive the moment I was supposed to enter the house. I’m being set up and I have no idea by whom or for what reason.

  ‘What aren’t you telling me, Bo?’ My grandfather’s voice is quiet.

  I chew on my bottom lip. Whether it’s O’Shea or me who is the focus of this utter bollocks of a situation, he has a right to know. As much as he’s a pompous, crabby old son of a bitch, I can’t keep him in the dark.

  ‘It’s possible I’m being targeted.’ I keep my tone deliberately light.

  There’s no reaction from my grandfather but the length of time before he speaks again is telling. ‘Not the daemon?’

  I shrug. ‘Maybe him too. At this point it’s difficult to say.’

  He nods thoughtfully. ‘So what did you do?’

  ‘Jesus! Why do you always think the worst of me? I’ve not done anything!’

  ‘Bo, I was planning a quiet afternoon of Pimms and bridge. Now I need to batten down the hatches and worry about who might knock on my door. I deserve to know the truth.’

  ‘I’m not lying.’ I hold his eyes. ‘If keeping him here is a problem, then just say so.’

  ‘Why would having a half-dead quarter daemon on my kitchen table be a problem?’ He runs a hand through his shock of white hair and takes a deep breath. ‘He can stay for now.’

  I exhale slowly. Thank God for that.

  ‘So who is he?’

  ‘His name is Devlin O’Shea. He’s suspected of dabbling in black magic.’

  ‘How black?’

  I wave a dismissive hand in the air. ‘More grey than black. I was told he’s been selling a few glamour spells. Just your usual petty
witchcraft, nothing to get anyone’s knickers in a twist.’

  ‘Was he selling to bloodguzzlers?’

  I shake my head. ‘Humans.’ At least that’s what I had been told anyway.

  My grandfather sniffs. ‘And you? How are you involved?’

  ‘I was supposed to serve him with a summons to appear before the Agathos court. There was a bonus in it if I caught him in the act of dealing.’ I look away for a moment. ‘The thing is, the summons was only going to be activated at noon. I was to wait until then before approaching him. I may have been a little overly punctual.’

  ‘You were early?’

  I nod.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I wanted to hurry home to catch the afternoon soaps. What does it matter?’

  He growls at me. I don’t care. I’m damned if I’m going to tell him that it was because I needed the loo.

  ‘Have you been nosing into anything you shouldn’t have?’

  I take the question seriously, mulling over all my recent exploits. There’s nothing that stands out. I’ve served a few other summons, but their recipients have accepted them with equanimity. And my other work has involved me staying out of sight on routine surveillance missions.

  ‘I’ve been squeaky clean.’ Just for the hell of it, I smirk humourlessly at the old man. ‘Can you say the same?’

  He snorts. I scratch at my neck. O’Shea’s blood is congealing on my skin and starting to feel uncomfortable. I check my watch, focusing not on the panic which is swirling in my veins but on what I need to do next.

  ‘I’ll be back around nine,’ I say. ‘Can you hold the fort until then?’

  He gives me a droll look. Say what you like about the old bastard, he’s as tough as old nails. If the daemon’s attackers are smart – or stupid – enough to come calling, they’ll be in for a great surprise. I turn to leave but he grabs my arm. ‘Be careful.’ His tone is serious.

  I nod, then walk out.