Hell, In a Troy (Lopez Time Book 2)

by Phillip S. Power

  “Let me shower and change? I’ll hurry.”

  He did. It was still going to take too long, he didn’t doubt.

  Chapter five

  Avery Rome wasn’t a better line walker than he was really. Except for one trick that he didn’t actually have yet, they were about the same that way. That single trick was a large one, however. She could, on her own, open a node into the void. It wasn’t even about blasting power around. Just focusing on a tiny bit of space, and bending it out of the way, using will. Until there was a link to nothing. After that, it was just a matter of pushing the edges away. A thing that he’d done himself, scores of times.

  Seeing it done, he thought that he had the basic idea down. It wasn’t even magic really. Just a good use of focus. The kind that he had, which almost no one else did. It was yet another thing to practice, since the biggest drawback of being a line walker was not being able to do that. Zack could. Avery as well, meaning that he didn't have a good excuse.

  If the seventeen-year-old girl could do it, then he could.

  Not that she wasn’t several hundred years older than that but it was still the same thing. He was older in every way than she was.

  She also managed to go from in front of his apartment complex, outside in the parking lot, to Minnesota, directly. She didn’t go into the building there directly, even though it was a node complex. That was where local taxes were handled, if they had one. Troy needed to find who did that for Lincoln. He could pay his directly, of course but making the contacts was a good idea. You were supposed to do that first thing, when you moved. His not bothering was a bit of a slap in the face to whoever was in charge. He’d honestly just been too busy. That or had forgotten when he’d had time.

  The place was, much like Westfield, hidden as a shopping mall. The big difference here was that no pretense was being made to it actually making money at all. The New Mexico node actually turned a real profit. Westfield barely broke even for most of the places.

  Donner Mall was clearly dying. It only had five stores in the whole single level place. Those all looked a bit like someone had hate fucked them with a hammer. It wasn’t good. Or terribly clean, inside. He wasn’t going to get all fussy about that part though. It was clear that these people weren’t doing well, as a group. No one in the area was.

  The place was dark inside, as if the power was turned off to save money. They had skylights, which was enough for him, thankfully.

  “Do you want to stay here? I can’t see taking you into something like this as being a good idea.”

  She actually nodded. Not that a dragon had to be scared of whatever was inside. There might be fighting though, if they tried to kill him. That probably wasn’t going to happen but the ambassador there was a vampire, so it could, if a war was being set up. If it were a tax revolt… Well, the hastily scribbled letter from Bey had suggested that, if it were, he was allowed to kill as many vampires in the area as needed to restore order.

  In fact, other than getting the money, or helping them file for an extension, no other options had been given at all.

  It was nearing seven, so it wasn’t too surprising to find that they had a real vampire in the space when he went into the Yoghurt World. It was a bit run down but scrubbed enough that it didn’t smell bad. The woman behind the counter looked young but was already awake for the day. When she saw him, her eyes took in his clothing first. It was a nice suit but not his best. Still, it looked expensive.

  Then she smiled, her lips twitching upward. There was a hint of red to her eyes. It was probably a constant thing for her. It contrasted with the blue nicely. That was pale. The effect made her look a bit like she was wearing makeup. Her skin was pale and smooth seeming. Like she’d died at about twenty or so, give or take a few years. She wore the regulation green and white apron that had the store logo on it. That was over a skirt that showed a lot of leg, and a top that was loose and flowing. Both were a bit too casual for his taste, given the situation but it did fit with her apparent age pretty well.

  She moved closer to the counter, which was made of vinyl, not stone like at Westfield.

  “Hello! Could I interest you in a frozen yogurt today? We have some chocolate that works very well with strawberry caramel.” She didn’t even seem to be teasing, or trying to act like she was being ultra-professional. She just seemed to think he was a human.

  That was cute. Adorable, really. He was breathing constantly, collecting energy and using that as a kind of memory device to keep doing it. His skin was too pale though, and frankly, even being well fed, he was vampire pink, as far as energy went. Not human red.

  “Hi. Are you Ambassador Freely?” That was the only name given for the person that would be there. If it was a first, last or only name, he didn't know.

  She bowed a bit, her smile actually warming a fraction.

  “I am. How may I help you? We have a decently fresh shipment of blood in. Cow though. We don’t have a lot of call for human here. Times have been a bit tight, economically in the region, so business has suffered.”

  It was a good line, if she knew he was there to check her taxes.

  “I was sent by Bey, since the tax returns for the area were a little light.” He held up his hand. “A stopgap. If they send him or The Snowflake in, things tend to get messy. I’m the one they send when it’s probably just a mistake. Troy Lopez.” He moved forward and held his hand out, to shake. It was an insane move, if they were about to fight.

  A completely normal one, otherwise. She took it, smiling still.

  “I can let you see the books? It’s really just that the money didn't come in. It happens every twenty years or so. Is that enough? I can get those for you. You can use my office for it? Whatever you like, for the Council representative, of course.”

  He smiled, wondering if he could make heads or tails of something like that. There was almost no need, since he’d been able to read her thoughts on the matter enough to realize that she was slightly uneasy but not lying. It was just a depression. The money wasn’t there, so they didn’t have to pay it in. The vampires took ten percent. That year, it just had been ten percent of a smaller amount.

  “That sounds good. I might need to call in with that. I’m a police officer by trade, right now. Not an accountant. Things… Well, they match your story, so far. The area looks like it was hit pretty hard.

  She made a face then.

  “True. Plus, we just don’t have a lot of our kind here. That means people have regular human jobs most of the time. We don’t own a lot of things in the area. That… Well, it could make more I think. Even in hard times. We need a shop in the area. A grocery store, for humans? Right now they have to shop at the corner stores, which doesn’t work well. It’s just soda and Wonder Bread, if they have anything at all like that. A real food desert.”

  She moved into the other room, and instead of coming out with a stake or a machine gun, she came back with a smart looking leather-bound book. The ledger inside looked right to him. As if he could tell that kind of thing. That meant dialing the number that Bey had given him, in order to check it out.

  When it picked up, the voice was a new one to him.

  “Marissa Constantine.” That was all she said. The Accountant of the Council. One of the most feared beings in the world. Bey killed you but Marissa was the one that found out why you needed to die, most of the time.

  “Hello. This is Troy Lopez. Bey asked me to check things out at the Minnesota node, in regards to lower than expected taxes? I’m looking at the books. The story is that the area is just economically depressed. I can vouch for that much. The numbers look right for that but I’m out of my depth a bit here…”

  “Oh? Excellent. Not that they are on hard times but if you read the figures to me, I can check them over this device? Let me get something to write with.”

  That didn't take long, since she was always ready for that kind of thing, it seemed. Half an hour later, the lady on the phone, sighed. It was dry but managed to seem p
retty human, other than that.

  “The story seems correct. Very good. What do you suggest for the situation?”

  Troy wasn’t an idiot. She was asking, with a bit of resignation, how many vampires in the area he thought they needed to kill, in order to get them not to be so poor in the future. As if that was the only plan possible.

  “Ambassador Freely suggested we put in a human grocery store here. That should make enough money to employ a few of the locals, while spurring the economy a bit. Then, some kind of manufacturing? This area isn’t right for extensive farming, I don’t think. A bit. Maybe some blood farms?” He stopped, since it would be unexpected for him to suggest that kind of thing. He resisted tapping on the table top of the booth he sat at.

  The Ambassador had frozen behind the counter, when her name was mentioned.

  The vampire on the phone didn’t speak for a long time.

  “Can they handle putting those things together there?”

  He just told the truth.

  “I don’t have a clue at all. I bet that, if they can’t do it themselves, they can find people that will be able to do it, if they have the capital to start things going with. I’m just suggesting we give them a hand up. They have to climb the rope themselves.” He left out the point about hanging on it. That was just going to be assumed.

  “Very good! Allow me to run this by the others. It will be a few days for that. For now, the numbers do work out. We aren’t cruel that way. Which is why you were sent, rather than others. Thank you, Officer Lopez. May I call on you in the future, if this kind of task is needed? That might be superior, in some places.”

  “Certainly. Now, I left a perfectly good line walker sitting on a bench out front, in case I had to fight the vampires in the area. Thankfully that wasn’t needed. I already ruined one outfit today. A Rome original?”

  “In the course of your other task?”

  “Yep. Exactly. It was needed but a horrible loss. Some mages spelled human soldiers to attack a shifter boy. The police, his classmates and the local mages put an end to that. Peacefully, for the most part. There was some wrestling but the human kids managed that for us. Handily, I should add.”

  “Against trained soldiers, compelled to attack? That’s impressive. You have their names? We should keep an eye on them, I think.”

  It wasn’t a horrible idea, actually.

  “I’ll make a note of that. Oh… We also have a community picnic. I’ve spoken to Bey about that? You suggested sending Ambassador Keene or Ambassador Felicia? We’ve had to keep you Council types out, since letting you come would defeat the purpose. For this one. The idea is to let the soccer moms and the local mechanics to feel like it’s for them. So that they can see that the stranger things in life aren’t all that scary. Not all the time.” Some of them were.

  Still, they were there. Ignoring them wouldn’t really help much.

  “I was thinking of having a party though, in a few months? It would probably be a bit too above my station to invite the whole council but I’d like to mention it anyway, so that no one feels bad when you and Bey come.” He was being a bit pushy, putting it that way. It was on purpose though. It was important that people felt wanted in life.

  “Very good. Will we be allowed to meet your police master? Roy Benson… He’s the father of The Snowflake? That must be a fascinating tale. Also, your partner, Detective Tran?”

  That The Accountant of the Council knew the names was a bit telling. Troy wouldn’t have been that shocked if she hadn’t really known his without looking at some reports, and he was a line walker that had actually taken her around several times, to various places.

  “I can invite them. A few others as well. Possibly Ambassador Freeley? She’s either about to go places or meet the final death. I’m betting on that first one.” Possibly with his own life, so it was a real enough thing.

  Which Marissa seemed to understand.

  “Perfect! Yes. Please let me know when it will be happening. There might be a small issue with transportation. Is that…” She paused then, prompting him to offer to come and get them. Which was a trap, of course.

  “I might be able to arrange that? I can’t do that, right now. I bet that there are others who would love to help though. Let me see what I can work out that way?”

  Avery would do it, if she had the time. So would Eve, though the Council felt like they had to pay them for their line walking work that way. It was probably why they were favorable for his current plan, actually. It didn’t cost them anything, and in a real emergency, they could just ask for his help. Or order it. They tended to be polite first, though.

  There was a life lesson in that. Even he could see that.

  The Accountant of the Council let him go shortly after that. As soon as he hung up, the Ambassador looked freaked.

  “I hadn’t meant that we, our people should open that store here. Just that it’s needed.”

  He nodded.

  “Making it a good investment. Even poor people have to buy food. We just have to locate it correctly, so that people who don’t have cars can reach it. Do something nice but with an eye toward function. If you make it too high end, no one will use it. I was poor once, so kind of have the basics on that one.” He smiled, holding her eyes for a minute. The circle of red in the center was attractive. Distinctive as well.

  She didn’t think he was flirting with her though, curtseying instead. That showed her age, he knew.

  “Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. Now. Did I eavesdrop correctly? There’s a line walker here? That’s…” She straightened her skirt a bit, and her apron. “I should go and greet them. Or… is that allowed? I…”

  Troy moved to the front and waved at Avery. It took a bit but she finally turned to look at him.

  “The Ambassador here wants to meet you. We’re just wrapping things up. They’re fine. We won’t have to take the building down or anything.”

  The girl, who had nice dark skin, being at least half black, moved smoothly.

  “That’s good. I’d love to meet someone new.” She hurried a bit but it was just a quick walk, not a sprint.

  Freeley introduced herself, by that name. Avery, for her part, didn’t need to be introduced.

  “Avery Rome? From Red Rain? I didn’t know you were a line walker as well. I got the dragon part but… Amazing.” She curtseyed again, and looked down. “So nice to meet you. Would you like something to eat? You as well, Mr. Lopez. I should have asked before. Forgive my manners. I was just expecting to die, so, you understand. Distracted.”

  It was probably what most people expected, when the Council came at all. Even if they were Ambassadors. Especially if they came in unannounced like he had.

  “Nothing for me. I ate a few days ago. Yesterday, in fact. So, I’ll be fine for a while. Avery?”

  The girl smiled and shook her head.

  “We have to go, if things are done here? Troy has friends who suffered a loss. We need to take them food and make certain their spirits don’t fall too much. It was very nice meeting you, Ambassador Freeley.”

  The woman behind the counter, who didn't look much older than the dragon shifter, smiled again.

  “You as well. Mr. Lopez. I… If I’m to come to a party far away, I might need…” She stopped. After all, it wasn’t like she could say no, if he invited her. Not if the Council would have a presence there.

  Her eyes were downcast but Avery nodded a little. The girl had remarkably little tolerance for the rules of other people as far as who was allowed line travel or not. Eve had mentioned that to Troy a while back.

  “Let me know when it is and I can get you there. Back as well.”

  Troy winked at her.

  “Thanks. Can you do about ten people that night? Also, you’ll need to show up for it. In about a month, so we can go by your schedule as well. In the evening or at night. We don’t need a bunch of grumpy vampires there, after all. Especially if we end up with The Technician there. I live in her territory.”
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  Avery made a face then.

  “Which will mean that Ann will be there as well? We aren’t… Getting along that well. I stole some slaves from her, about a year ago. She is not pleased with me, still.” Avery turned to Freeley, to explain. “The Rotted. The greater demon? She goes to the same school I do. So does The Technician. Ann had enslaved my mother and a friend of mine, so I used a loophole to get them free, in a different reality. The woman can be a bit petty about things like that.”

  The vampire behind the counter went wide eyed, which was probably about the idea of the Council not being the biggest thing to fear at the party.

  Which got Troy to snap his fingers.

  “Oh… We need to get Zack in as well. The demons can get themselves there though. Santos and Tran can just drive, so it won’t be a big thing. Ty Gartner… Except if we have him in, we get at least seven other people. My apartment isn’t that big. I just needed to cover for the fact that I kind of banned the Council from the picnic. If they show up it’s suddenly a state dinner or at least something huge that way.”

  There were two sets of nods. Avery waved, then walked to the counter and wrote down her number on the pad there.

  “Call me if you need me for anything? If Mr. Lopez introduced us like this, it has to be for a reason. I’ll try to be around on occasion. I can use the node here? There’s no shifter presence here, from the looks of it.”

  There was a slow nod, which was slightly wide eyed, from the Ambassador.

  As they walked to the back, since there was a node right there, Troy waited. Avery took his arm, then led him into the void. It was tempting to take himself through but he let her do it. Even if it ached a bit as it happened. That wasn’t a real pain, just him wanting to stretch by doing his own bit of traveling. Avery did a good enough job. They ended up in his parking lot, just about where they’d left from.

  He thought they were about three feet over. Not that it mattered that much. They were on the gravel patch, next to the sidewalk, by the street. Cars passed but no one indicated they saw them suddenly appear. Zack used to describe things like that to him. How people would be looking right at him when he walked out of nothing and then act like he’d been there the whole time.