by Helen Harper
‘Go back to Supe Squad,’ the Carr wolf growled. ‘You’re not wanted here.’
Interesting. My gaze swung from each one to the next. They might be from separate clans but they possessed the same air of stalwart immobility.
I tapped my mouth. ‘There’s only one reason why I’d be denied access today when I was so heavily involved yesterday. And that’s because your alphas are expecting something illegal to take place.’
I couldn’t be the only person who was suspicious about why Devereau Webb wouldn’t say who he was nominating for turning. Likeable as he was, Webb was a career criminal. It would hardly be a shock if he wanted to circumvent the legal system by arranging for a criminal colleague to become a wolf and therefore elude justice. Werewolves were, after all, only subject to werewolf law.
‘Let me speak to your alphas,’ I demanded.
‘They’re busy,’ the McGuigan wolf said.
‘All of them?’
The Sullivan wolf folded his arms. ‘All of them.’
Huh. They were playing with fire if they thought they could lock me out. ‘In that case,’ I said, as if it were of no consequence at all, ‘please remind your alphas that it’s illegal for any human to be turned into a werewolf when they’ve been charged with a crime or if they are suspected of committing a crime. If that happened, the entire clan would be held responsible.’
‘Oooooh,’ the Carr guy mocked. ‘Now, I’m scared.’
‘I can assure you,’ I said calmly, ‘that however desirable it might be to have exclusive use of the whole of Regent’s Park to play in during the full moon, it’s not worth the risk of turning someone illegally.’
‘I don’t know what she’s talking about.’ The Fairfax bouncer sniffed. ‘You guys know?’
‘Not a clue, man. Not a frigging clue.’
I was beginning to get irritated. ‘Look,’ I started.
‘Fuck off, love.’
I could have raised my loaded crossbow and threatened them. I could have demanded to be allowed in. Legally, though, I had no standing here. Not only would forcing my way in damage Supe Squad’s relations with the whole supernatural community, it would also result in my suspension.
I gritted my teeth. Then I noticed a flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye – and beyond the four wolves’ vision.
‘Very well.’ I stalked past them, pretending not to hear the sniggers behind my back. I wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot.
I kept walking, aware that the bouncers were tracking my movements. When I reached the corner and turned left so I was out of their sight, I stopped dead.
‘Oh good,’ Buffy said. ‘I wasn’t sure if you’d noticed me.’ She offered me a dazzling smile. ‘How’s things?’
‘What do you want?’ I asked flatly, toying with the trigger on the crossbow.
She continued to grin. ‘I won’t attack, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m not your enemy, DC Bellamy.’
‘You could have fooled me.’
Buffy flicked her hair. ‘I was following orders. Besides, you won. You got away from me.’ She shrugged. ‘No hard feelings.’
That was easy for her to say. ‘Were you following me on the way here?’
Her smile stretched further. ‘I was.’
I sighed and wondered if I was supposed to be grateful that she hadn’t bothered to deny it. ‘What do you want?’
‘I am here on behalf of my alpha.’
Fine. ‘What does Lady Sullivan want?’
‘To make amends, of course.’
My eyes narrowed. That didn’t sound likely. ‘Go on.’
‘Wait a minute.’ She paused and tapped her temple. ‘I want to make sure I’ve got the message right. I don’t always have the best memory.’ She giggled girlishly.
Buffy’s routine wasn’t fooling me in the slightest. She was strong enough to deny any compulsion, and she had no qualms about killing a police detective. She was one dangerous wolf. ‘Get on with it,’ I said.
Her smile vanished. ‘If you insist.’ She leaned towards me, displaying her sharp, lupine teeth. ‘You displayed great nobility yesterday. You kept your end of the bargain and passed over your DNA sample when you had no reason to. We appreciate that. We also appreciate that you’ve not made a fuss about what occurred.’
I was running out of patience. ‘And?’
‘And Clan Sullivan would like to make amends.’ She ran her tongue over her lips. ‘Follow me and all will become clear.’
‘If you seriously think I’m going to fall for that again—’
‘My real name is Patricia. Patricia Sullivan.’
I blinked. She didn’t look like a Patricia.
‘Use it against me, if you wish. We both know you’re capable of doing that.’
I wasn’t so sure about that. ‘I’ll stick to Buffy.’
There was a flicker of relief in her yellow eyes and I suddenly realised she was more nervous than she was letting on. The revelation relaxed me slightly.
‘As you wish, Detective. I promise you’re not in any danger. You want to know what’s going on with Devereau Webb. At Lady Sullivan’s behest, I am in a position to help you.’
I cast a long glance at her then I swung the crossbow round and hooked it onto the straps at my back so it was out of the way. ‘Go on.’
‘There’s a back entrance to Fairfax’s club. I can let you in and take you to the security room. There you’ll have eyes and ears on whatever happens in the meeting.’
‘I don’t get it.’ I frowned. ‘By doing this, Lady Sullivan could jeopardise your clan’s chance of gaining full moon access to Regent’s Park.’
Buffy didn’t miss a beat. ‘As desirable as that would be, we don’t need to get into a squabble with the other clans. Devereau Webb wants to play the clans off against each other. As Sullivans, we’re too smart to fall into such a trap. Plus, we owe you. This is our way of making up for what happened yesterday.’
I watched her for a moment or two. Lukas’s black-eyed determination to come here with me flashed into my head. ‘Let me guess,’ I said, ‘Lord Horvath has been making threats.’
Buffy didn’t answer, but I knew I was right. This had nothing to do with making amends. Given a choice between a one-in-four chance of winning the Regent’s Park rights and allowing a cold war to start between Clan Sullivan and the vamps, Lady Sullivan had plumped for the lesser of two evils. Whatever. If her machinations benefited me and Supe Squad in the long run, I could deal with them.
I gestured to Buffy. ‘Lead the way.’
***
A fire door was wedged open at the rear of Fairfax’s club. Buffy flashed me another of her brilliant grins and placed her finger to her lips, indicating that I should stay quiet. I nodded, wondering what fallout Clan Sullivan might incur if Lord Fairfax discovered they’d aided and abetted my intrusion into his club. Not my problem, I decided. You reap what you sow.
Buffy carefully pulled the door wide open and we padded inside. I followed her down a snaking corridor towards a narrow staircase. There, she turned to me. ‘Up one flight and to the right,’ she whispered. ‘From here, you’re on your own.’
That suited me. I nodded my thanks and pushed past her. When I glanced back, she’d already disappeared.
I continued upwards; hopefully I’d not already missed too much of the meeting.
At the top of the stairs I did as Buffy had instructed and located the door on the right. Holding my breath, I nudged it open to reveal a small room. It had an array of electronic equipment, walkie-talkies hanging on the wall – and a large two-way mirror looking out over the main floor of the club.
I peered through it. Seated at the same table as yesterday were the four werewolf alphas and Devereau Webb. Nobody else appeared to be in attendance. Webb’s lips were moving but I couldn’t hear what he was saying. I glanced round and found a set of headphones plugged into the complicated security system. I put them on. Bingo.
‘I can assure you that the pape
rwork is in order. I’m not stupid enough to try to fool the entire werewolf population of London,’ Webb was saying.
‘My solicitors have checked it,’ McGuigan said in an overly casual tone. ‘We have no concerns on that front, even if Clan Carr do. Nobody is forcing you to be here, Lady Carr. You’re more than welcome to leave, if you wish to do so.’
Ah-ha. He was ingratiating himself with Webb to try and get the jump on the others, and trying to get rid of some of his competition at the same time. I doubted that would go down well with Lady Carr. I was right.
‘You ridiculous excuse for a wolf!’ she spat. ‘You might be prepared to jump blindly into this agreement but I am more careful.’
‘I’m not jumping blindly into anything,’ McGuigan returned. ‘I’m merely stating a fact.’
‘Ladies, gentlemen.’ Webb held up his hands, palms outward. ‘There’s no need to squabble. Lord McGuigan’s solicitors are correct – but so is Lady Carr. This is purely quid pro quo and it is good to be cautious. I would be, if I were in your situation.’
Lady Sullivan, who must have known that I was watching from above, leaned forward. Her gaze didn’t drift upwards for a moment. ‘Then let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Who is it that you’re so desperate to turn? Who deserves to be made into one of our own?’
There was a heavy pause. Devereau Webb glanced from one wolf to another. Then he gave a small smile. ‘You’re right. We might as well cut to the chase. The person in question is my niece.’
I was startled. Niece?
Lord Fairfax rubbed his chin. ‘She is ill?’
Webb nodded. ‘Leukaemia. All other avenues of treatment have been exhausted. This is her last chance.’
‘If she’s ill,’ Lady Carr said, ‘she might not survive the transformation. Her immune system will already be compromised. This is not a certainty, Mr Webb.’
‘I understand that. Her last course of chemotherapy was completed some months ago. Alice is dying, but she is also strong. It is a risk I’m prepared to take.’
‘Is it a risk she’s prepared to take?’ Fairfax questioned.
‘I am her guardian,’ Webb said. ‘The final decision is mine. And she understands that turning will be for the best.’
Wait. What?
Lady Sullivan’s back stiffened. ‘What do you mean – guardian?’
Webb crossed his legs. There was something robotic about his movements. We were about to get to the crux of the matter – and we all knew it.
‘Alice is eleven years old.’
My shoulders dropped. It wasn’t a criminal Webb was trying to help; it was far worse than that.
For a moment, the four werewolf alphas were silent, then they all exploded at once.
‘A child? We can’t turn a child!’
‘It can’t be done.’
‘If word were to get out that…’
Webb cleared his throat. ‘I understand your concerns. I wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to get your attention, or have negotiated such a sweetener, if I didn’t realise how unorthodox this is.’
Lord McGuigan’s voice, which had been saccharine sweet seconds earlier, now dripped with ice. ‘There are many good reasons why we do not accept human children, Mr Webb. It is not because of custom, but necessity.’
Lady Carr nodded, finally in agreement with her alpha counterpart. ‘It is not only human law that prohibits minors being turned. Puberty causes all sorts of issues that can create havoc. They have been well documented.’
Fairfax got to his feet and started to pace up and down. ‘When was the last one? It was the boy back in the fifties, right? The one taken into the Sullivan clan.’
‘If that’s a dig,’ Lady Sullivan snapped, ‘then remember that happened well before any of our time. As you well know.’ Her jaw tightened. ‘But yes, what happened with him was unfortunate. He killed three people, Mr Webb.’
‘Forewarned is forearmed,’ Webb returned. ‘I’m sure you can put measures in place to avoid such unpleasantness again.’
Her eyebrows shot up. ‘Unpleasantness?’
‘We’ve fought hard for our independence,’ Lord Fairfax said. ‘Something like this has the potential to set us back decades.’
‘She’s not like other children. She’s smart. Thoughtful. She—’
‘She won’t be able to control her own damned hormones!’ Lady Carr interrupted.
Webb uncrossed his legs, stood up and strode towards the exit. For a second, I thought he was storming out – until he returned with a small figure in tow.
I stared at the short, pigtailed girl who’d screamed blue murder when she’d spotted me in the stairwell of Devereau Webb’s tower block. My heart sank into my toes. Oh. Oh no.
‘This is Alice,’ Webb said simply.
Lady Sullivan shook her head. ‘No.’ She wouldn’t look at the girl. ‘No. We cannot do this. It was one thing when we thought it was a petty criminal you wanted to protect, but this child is another matter entirely. It can’t be done.’
Alice rounded on Webb. ‘See?’ she said, her hands bunching up into fists. ‘See? I told you! I don’t even want to be a fucking werewolf!’
‘Alice,’ he chided sternly. ‘Watch your language.’ He looked up and appealed to the four alphas. ‘Talk to her. You’ll see she’s special. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think it was worth it.’
‘Of course you think it’s worth it, Mr Webb,’ Lady Carr said. ‘She’s your niece. But that doesn’t change the facts. When she’s eighteen—’
Webb’s face contorted. ‘She doesn’t have that long!’
‘Then there’s nothing we can do.’ Lady Carr rose to her feet. ‘And if any of you suggest otherwise, I will do everything I can to stop you.’
‘There is no need.’ McGuigan’s expression was blank. ‘We’re in agreement here. She cannot, and will not, be turned.’
Webb wasn’t prepared to give up just yet. ‘Regent’s Park is—’
‘It’s not enough.’ Fairfax glowered. He was obviously annoyed, although not at Webb or Alice; I reckoned he was simply pissed off with the entire situation. ‘You should leave now. It’s for the best.’
For the first time, Devereau Webb looked defeated. ‘What will it take?’ he asked. ‘What else can I offer?’
‘Nothing.’ Lady Sullivan shook her head. ‘We are done here.’
One by one, all four alphas strode out of the room. Webb’s shoulders slumped. ‘I’m sorry,’ he whispered. ‘I’m so sorry.’
Alice sniffed. Her bottom lip was quivering and her freckles were in stark relief across her pale skin. She put her arms round his waist and hugged him tight. ‘It’s okay.’ She patted him on the back. ‘Let’s go home now, Uncle Dev.’
Chapter Twenty-One
I let myself out via the fire exit where I’d come in. There was no sign of Buffy but, before I’d taken five steps, a sleek car rounded the corner and pulled up beside me. The passenger door opened and a slender hand with bejewelled fingers beckoned to me. I sighed and got in, though I didn’t close the door behind me. I wanted a fast exit if I needed it.
‘I trust that your curiosity is satisfied, DC Bellamy,’ Lady Sullivan said. Her expression didn’t betray a trace of emotion.
‘It is, if what I just witnessed was true,’ I told her. ‘Will you all stick to what you said in there? Or is someone likely to backtrack in order to gain the Regent’s Park advantage?’
She didn’t hesitate. ‘None of us were lying. The risks created by turning a human child are far too great. It’s not your laws which stop us, it is our own morals. We know the consequences, and we’ve learned from our history when others have tried to do the same. This is not something any of us are prepared to do. I can assure you of that.’ She glanced down. ‘Devereau Webb probably believes it is a lack of compassion on our part. The truth is quite the opposite.’
I felt sick with sympathy for both Webb and his niece. And I was desperately glad that I hadn’t been forced to intervene in order to up
hold the law. ‘That poor girl,’ I murmured.
‘Yes.’ Lady Sullivan sniffed. ‘Poor girl, indeed.’ She raised her chin and looked me in the eye. ‘I trust we are good now. You and I, I mean.’
‘We are.’ I hesitated. ‘I kept my word. I didn’t tell Lord Horvath what you did. He found out by himself.’
‘I am aware of that. But please tell him that I have made restitution.’
I watched her for a moment, then I posed the question that I’d been dying to ask. ‘Why are you afraid of him?’
She took a while before answering. ‘There may be four werewolf clans and only one vampire group, and we might outnumber the vampires three to one, but they have the organisation and the strength,’ she said finally. ‘Not to mention the wealth. Until Horvath came along, the bloodsuckers were little more than a minor annoyance. Now they possess more money, more intelligence and more power than we do. I’m not being modest, I’m speaking the truth. You should be wary of getting too close to them, Detective. They seek only to enhance their own position, and they will stop at nothing to expand their reach. You might think you’re starting to understand the supernatural community, but you’ve barely scratched the surface. And when it comes to the vampires, you probably never will.’ She smiled humourlessly. ‘Consider yourself warned. They are predators. And they love a chase.’
I absorbed her words then I nodded. ‘Noted.’
‘I hope so.’ She twisted one of her rings. ‘I will be in touch once I receive the results of the DNA testing.’
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her what I’d learned from Infernal Enchantments but I managed to resist. True, vampires were predators – but so were werewolves. There was nothing to be gained by making their lives too easy for them. Instead, I murmured a brief farewell and left.
***
Angry rain clouds were darkening the sky by the time I reached St Erbin’s. There was no sign of either the Reverend Knight or Lukas, but there was a solitary figure standing in the graveyard with her head bent.
I squinted and drew in a breath when I realised who it was. It was tempting to nip past her and hope she didn’t see me, but that was the coward’s way out. I could do better; I was better.