Die on Your Feet

by S. G. Wong

  “If Mr. Arbogast returns, ring the police immediately,” said Lola. “Ask for Detective Inspector Bednarski. They’ll track him down. Cooperate with the police fully and they’ll take care of Mr. Arbogast.”

  “You didn’t answer me.” Wing face was grey around the edges, but his eyes were clear and his jaw set. “Why does Bodewell think Sunny was murdered?”

  Lola considered her reply. She decided on the truth. Wing shook his head sadly as she told him of the heroin-filled balloons. Lola concluded grimly, “Mr. Arbogast is looking for someone else to blame.”

  Wing rubbed his face, then clasped his hands together in front of him. He looked down at them as he spoke. “I don’t think he left town. He had only a briefcase with him.” Wing raised his gaze to meet Lola’s eyes. “But I’m afraid it’s too late already. He could be anywhere in the City.”

  “I need to get into his house, Mr. Wing, find an address book, get contacts for his friends, family, acquaintances, anyone he may have gone to for help.”

  “I don’t believe the Wards have been reset,” replied Wing, rubbing his face again. “Look near the telephone, in the kitchen. They usually kept their book nearby.” His voice was thin, weary. “Neither had any family left.”

  Lola left Wing sitting on the porch, staring out into the street. She strode over to Arbogast’s back door. It wasn’t locked and she entered without issue. The table and chairs had been put upright. The oven door was firmly closed now. Papers had been gathered into piles, but they still covered the countertops. She found a dark green leather address book within seconds. Lola flipped through the pages quickly before snapping it closed. She hurried through the house and took the stairs upward. She checked the closets in the master bedroom. Not that she’d taken a full inventory the day before, but she didn’t see any gaps or empty clothes hangers now.

  “Wing was telling the truth,” said Aubrey. “Arbogast is likely still in the City.” He paused. “He may come back here.”

  Lola remained silent as she looked at her wristwatch and calculated. She slapped the address book against her palm a time or two. Finally, she looked down at it. Making her decision, Lola returned to the kitchen downstairs. She pulled over a chair and sat at the counter. She opened the address book to the first entries and picked up the telephone receiver.

  A frustrating forty minutes later, she returned the receiver to its cradle for a final time. Closing the green address book, she pushed it away. Lola shoved away from the countertop and stepped to the back door. Once outside, she took out her cigarette case. Turning at a sound, she found Jed Wing staring at her from over the fence.

  “No one’s heard from him,” she said. She chose a cigarette, found her lighter and put it to use. She inhaled deeply of the pungent smoke.

  “Why are you still here?”

  Lola shrugged. “He might’ve returned. Seemed quicker just to stay and make the calls.” She exhaled, putting the case and lighter away in her purse.

  Wing looked up. Dusk was beginning to settle over the houses and lemon trees. “No moon tonight,” he said. Lola took another long drag of her Egyptian, nodding in absent-minded agreement. She ran through a mental inventory of gin joints and speakeasies. She doubted he was welcome at the parlours.

  Abruptly, she went still, running the older man’s words through her mind. “Isn’t there something significant about the new moon in April, the dark moon?” She furrowed her brow, trying to capture the fleeting thought.

  Wing shook his head slowly after a few moments. “You’d have to be more specific than that, I’m afraid.”

  Aubrey suddenly inhaled so sharply, the sound was like a high-pitched whistle in Lola’s ears. She winced. He said, “Mayor. It’s his Death Moon.” Lola raised an eyebrow, trying to fit this bit of information into the bigger puzzle. Aubrey broke into her thoughts, his voice urgent. “We have to go. Now. I don’t have a damned clue where Arbogast is and I don’t care right now. I’m talking about Grace. She’s with him tonight, on his Death Moon night. That damned Ghost has something planned, and she’s a part of it. I don’t trust the timing. So stop staring at the fence, for gods’ sake. Let’s go,” he shouted.

  Lola went.

  Chapter Twenty

  Twenty-five minutes later, Lola drove slowly up to an ornate gate of scrolling, white-painted metal. She watched a guard step out of his little house and wait for her to stop. She obliged and rolled down her window.

  “Miss.” The guard tipped his hat. He glanced into the back seat. “Are you lost?”

  “No,” replied Lola. “I’m here to see my mother. Grace McCall. She’s expected.”

  The guard neither confirmed nor denied it. “Your name please?” He held a clipboard and a fountain pen, its cap already unscrewed. Lola heard the nib scratching the paper as he jotted down her answer. “Please remain in your car, Miss Starke.” He stepped away and re-entered the small guardhouse. Lola heard another voice murmur something that sounded like a question. The first guard replied in equally low tones. Lola guessed they’d be ringing up to the main house for instructions.

  When the guard reappeared next to her window, Lola had her best polite smile in place. The guard nodded. “You have been cleared to go up, Miss Starke. However, I need to search your car before I can let you proceed.”

  Lola immediately set the hand brake and turned the engine off. She got out and, following his gesture, waited next to the guardhouse. The man drew out a hand torch and peered inside the car, under the car and inside the boot. Lola felt a presence just to her left and turned to find a stout woman in guard’s uniform watching her. Lola nodded in greeting.

  “Good evening,” said Aubrey. So, this guard had a Ghost. Lola imagined Aubrey was giving his best polite smile as well. The earlier panic in his voice was now nowhere in evidence. Rather, he sounded smooth and urbane.

  “Yes,” he continued. “Aubrey O’Connell. Yes, I was.” He gave a good-natured chuckle. “I’m flattered you remember me at all. We grew up together, in fact. Is she here yet?” A pause. “Oh. Well it would be a great favour if we could await her inside. I’m sure Mayor won’t begrudge us some time in his library.” He paused again. “Yes, I do. We both do. We just saw him a few days ago, as a matter of fact. What was that?” he asked genially. “To be honest, it’s a private family matter between Miss McCall and her daughter. I’m just along for the ride. You know how it is.” Lola had to give it to him. Aubrey struck the perfect tone as the put-upon Ghost of a flighty young woman.

  Lola waited with a blankly polite expression. The male guard completed his circuit of the car. He stepped over to Lola and his co-worker. “It’s clean.” He nodded to Lola. “I’ll drive you up to the main house.”

  Lola nodded. The man stepped around and held open the passenger side door. Lola slid in as graciously as she could. Aubrey bade the other Ghost farewell. The gate split down the middle and a gap opened silently for them to drive through. A few minutes later and they arrived at the circular cobbled driveway that fronted a large manor house of dark brick and columns flanking the massive front door. Shutters framed every window. A huge semi-circular window above the front door showcased an enormous chandelier inside. Exterior lights, styled to resemble carriage lanterns, brightened the front of the house. Lola recalled that tours had once been given of this property. Many tourists had paid good money to see Matteo Esperanza’s home, its European style and build such an anomaly on this coast. When he’d originally been elected the City’s mayor, however, Esperanza’s security detail had immediately cancelled all house tours.

  The guard drove until the drive was just beginning to round away from the main house. He parked next to a dark Packard. The guard exited quickly. Lola waited for him to come around for her. She thanked him. He returned her car key and gestured for her to step to the house. He escorted her to the door and rang the doorbell. Lola waited patiently to
be handed off.

  The door opened. Lola had expected another guard, but it was the majordomo who greeted her instead. The man was easily a head shorter than Lola. He wore a severe grey coat and black trousers. He gave her a bow in the European fashion, short and clipped. Lola thought it strange seeing a Chinese man do so. Just beside her, the guard tipped his hat, murmured a “miss,” turned on his heel and walked away down the driveway.

  “If you’ll follow me, Miss Starke,” said the majordomo. Lola thought she detected a very slight lisp. “I shall lead you to the library. Miss McCall shall be down shortly.”

  Lola stepped inside. The foyer was rectangular, and to her surprise, warmly inviting. She noted two vases of flowers, two jade carvings of traditional Chinese lions, as well as a number of potted jade plants. A flight of stairs went up the right wall. At its foot was a door leading to what looked like a single room. Lola guessed it was the drawing room, filled with a few pieces of furniture and perhaps a small fireplace. On the left wall, a large rectangular mirror, framed in simple pewter, reflected the chandelier’s brilliance. To either side of the mirror were two doors, both closed. Lola followed her guide past both of these and down the hallway that led off from the far left corner of the foyer. She eyed the stairs briefly, but the angle didn’t allow her to see the second floor.

  The majordomo stopped at a set of double doors made of dark wood. He opened one and moved aside for Lola to precede him inside. Once she passed through, he said, “I shall bring refreshment.” He closed the door. Lola listened for the click of a lock turning, but she heard only his retreating footsteps.

  Aubrey spoke quickly. “Grace is already here. They won’t allow us to see her until Mayor’s security clears it. And no, I don’t understand what that means. However, this room is Warded against us leaving.”

  “So we wait in the library,” said Lola. She kept her tone brisk. Starting at the nearest shelf, she walked along the wall, examining book spines.

  “You’re being awfully cooperative,” said Aubrey. “Why did you agree to come here?”

  Lola trailed a finger against the books as she walked. “It still bothers me that Copenhagen didn’t arrest Arbogast when he was right there in her office. I don’t buy that Arbogast threatened to frame Mayor at all. So why bring Mayor into this? She’s got some plan running in the background—you can count on that.”

  “So lacking any leads on Arbogast, you figured this was as good a place as anywhere else in the City to find him?” Aubrey’s skepticism rang clearly.

  “No,” replied Lola patiently. “Your panic at recalling Mayor’s Death Moon reminded me. Arbogast isn’t the centre of this. For all I know, Copenhagen sent Arbogast somewhere, and she’s got me running around town for her own twisted amusement. Five gets you ten there wasn’t a word of truth in anything she told me.”

  “But the fact remains,” Aubrey said, realization dawning in his voice, “she brought Mayor into the equation.”

  Lola nodded. “I aim to find out why.” She turned back toward the centre of the room just as the door opened.

  “Darling, what are you doing here?” Lola’s mother hurriedly entered the room, followed by St. John. “You must take Aubrey and leave immediately.” Lola had expected her mother to be in evening wear, replete with pearls and diamonds. Instead, Grace wore a simple frock in white and blue, covered with a light wool sweater in dove grey.

  St. John closed the door. “I’m with Grace on this one, girl. It’s not safe for you to bringing your Ghost here.”

  Lola put up her hands. “He’s the one who wanted to be brought. Wouldn’t leave me alone until I did.”

  Grace embraced Lola tightly. When she moved back, she slid her hands down Lola’s arms until mother and daughter were holding hands. She looked directly into Lola’s eyes. “Darling, please. I wish you could stay, I do, but it’s not a good idea.”

  St. John spoke up before Lola could reply. “And it ain’t personal, neither. Tonight’s a bad time for your Ghost to be here.”

  “Let me speak, for gods sake,” said Aubrey.

  Lola conveyed her Ghost’s request.

  “You tell them they’d better come clean. Now. I want an explanation as to why Mayor wants Grace here on the night of his Death Moon. Once I’m satisfied with the reason, then we’ll leave.”

  Lola relayed the demand, watching her mother’s face darken with each word. Grace’s hands spasmed briefly. Lola winced inwardly as her mother’s fingernails dug into her vulnerable palms. Then Grace abruptly let go.

  “Oh, you overprotective, overbearing...” Lola wasn’t exactly clear to whom her mother was speaking but she held her tongue. Grace sputtered for a few more phrases before she finished with, “You’re driving me mad.”

  St. John raised an eyebrow at Lola. She noted his light grey suit had thin maroon chalk stripes. She asked him, “How many men’d you bring tonight?” He put up two fingers. Grace glared at both of them before turning to Lola.

  “I’m fine. St. John has me well taken care of, as always.”

  “Tell her I’m waiting,” said Aubrey.

  Lola kept her voice neutral as she complied. She must have managed fairly well as Grace only compressed her lips into a thin line. She glanced at St. John. “The time please?”

  He checked his wristwatch then nodded.

  “I can’t say more than this,” began Grace “This is an annual ceremony on the new moon of April, and I’m a part of it. Nothing untoward has ever occurred. I have never been harmed nor has anyone else who’s involved, for that matter. Does that satisfy you, Aubrey?”

  “Why isn’t Mayor here to tell us this?” asked Lola.

  Grace sighed, clearly exasperated. “Because you asked to see me. Think what you will of him, but Mayor is still gentleman enough to give a friend privacy for a family matter.” She touched her earring, smoothed her black hair. “Now, I must go and so must you. Jiang will show you out.”

  As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. St. John did the honours. It was the majordomo with a service cart. “Refreshments, miss. Madame, Mayor has requested that Miss Starke remain until afterward, when he can visit with her properly.” He bowed low, this time in the Chinese manner, until his upper body was perpendicular to the ground. He held the position for the traditional few seconds before returning upright.

  Lola caught a few choice words from her mother, but Grace was muttering under her breath so they weren’t entirely clear. St. John shrugged when Lola glanced at him. Grace bussed Lola on the cheek hurriedly and left the room. As he followed Grace out, St. John said, “See you later then, girl.”

  The majordomo, Jiang, pushed the cart toward an arrangement of two armchairs near the fireplace. On the medium-sized table between the chairs, he laid out a tea service complete with small buns, sweet tarts and fruit. Lola chose one of the armchairs, upholstered in dark leather, and sat. The tea smelled strong. Lola didn’t recognize it but she was happy to try it. She murmured her thanks as the majordomo poured into a tall cup patterned in pale green leaves. Jiang bowed low again and departed. Lola listened again for the sound of a lock, but it didn’t come.

  “She didn’t explain much of anything,” said Aubrey.

  “I’m curious he wants us to stay. Even though Mother and St. John were both at great pains to tell us it was dangerous.”

  “The Ghost is nothing if not arrogant, Lola. As well as unpredictable. You’d do well to remember that,” said Aubrey.

  Lola shrugged. She turned her attention to the tea and food. It didn’t take long. Dabbing at her lips one last time, she then folded her napkin precisely and left it next to her plate. She stood, picking up her teacup, and stepped over to the windows. She took a sip of tea, turned and wandered around the library, in clear view of the windows. Five minutes or so of this and she was satisfied that the security detail watching from the exte
rior grounds would see her safely tucked in at the library. She made sure to take down a book from a shelf in line with one of the windows before returning to the armchair. She forced herself to read five pages of Heretical Feng-Shui in Feudal Times.

  “Tell me about the Wards,” she said in a low voice.

  “They’re strong,” replied Aubrey, “but I’ve found a tiny crack. Here, near the bottom of the shelf to the right of the door.”

  “Will it set anything off?”

  “Hasn’t so far.” Aubrey paused. “I’ve been working on it since you started eating.”

  “Isn’t that a long time for you to crack a Ward?”

  “Mayor’s a well-known adept. His Spells are complicated, intelligently woven. He ties his magic to his essence. Don’t ask me how. None of us normal Ghosts know.”

  Lola was curious. “Is that why you don’t like him? He ignores the rules in the Ghost Handbook?”

  Aubrey’s taut voice came sharply: “Something’s happening.”

  “Is it the Warding?” asked Lola. “Did you trip an alarm?”

  Aubrey’s voice was stretched thin: “We have to get out. Something feels...wrong.”

  “Did you break the Ward?’ asked Lola even as she got up. She kept her body low and duck-walked to the door, making sure the furniture was between her and the windows. She stopped at the door, listening hard. Nothing. “Aubrey. Did you break the Ward?”

  “No,” he replied faintly. “I mean, yes, it’s broken but I didn’t do it.”

  “Aubrey,” Lola whispered sharply. “Stay with me. What’s going on?”

  “There’s something not right in the Ether.” he replied. “Be quiet. I need to focus.”

  Lola ground her teeth but remained silent. She strained her ears, heard nothing. No running feet. No low murmurs as orders were given or locations ascertained. If there was something going on, it didn’t involve the security detail. Nor St. John’s men, she realized. Her mother should be safe.