by Jon F. Merz
Zero looked at me and I looked at him.
Cosgrove just laughed, as if reading our minds. "Soon, gentlemen, very soon. But first, we’ll have a bit of fun."
Chapter Twenty-Eight
We waited for McKinley to pull some clothes on. Cosgrove smiled at me.
"Dying to know, aren’t you?"
"Know what?"
"As if," said Cosgrove. "You want to know what I’ve done with your little lovely. What’s her name? Talya, isn’t it?"
"Yes."
He hefted the gun. "Personally, I’ve never really cared for firearms. I’d never even touched a gun before that night a week back on the roof with you and your little toy. I’m much more of a hands-on chap. You know, I’ll use something I can really get a good grip on. Get right up to my elbows in the muck of death. No long range killing for me. Removes you from the spiritual cleansing that goes along with it."
"Only cleansing that needs to be done around here is for you," said Zero.
Cosgrove turned around and placed the muzzle of the pistol against Zero’s heart. Zero never blinked.
"I should shoot you right now and be done with it."
"Why don’t you?" said Zero. "I’ve been ready to die for years."
Cosgrove wiggled his eyebrows. "My secret. You’ll find out soon enough anyway, I expect."
I sighed.
Cosgrove turned back to face me. "Sorry Lawson, am I boring you?"
"Absolutely."
He laughed. "I admire your blunt attitude. At least a bloke knows exactly where he stands with you." He fondled the gun again. "She’s safe, Lawson."
"Pardon me if I don’t embrace that statement as truth."
"Understandable." Cosgrove nodded. "And mind you, before this is over, she might not be safe."
"Why is that?"
"I suppose that depends on you, really. But again, I can’t say that much now or the surprise won’t be effective. And I do love surprises."
McKinley reappeared in the doorway, dressed in jeans and a sweater under his jacket.
Cosgrove smiled again. "All freshened up, McKinley? Lathered enough hemorrhoid cream on so your arse isn’t smarting on the drive over?"
McKinley frowned. "Comments like that aren’t necessary."
"Tsk. I’ve hurt your feelings, have I? Tough toodles. We have work to do." Cosgrove tossed him the gun. "Right, you keep an eye on these two then. You’re a better shot than I am."
Cosgrove motioned for us to walk ahead of him. "Let’s go."
Outside, Marlborough Street looked hopelessly vacant. No chance of rescue from some silly fool out walking their black Labrador well after midnight. Not even someone sleep walking. And not a chance of having a cop car roll past when you needed it. Zero and I were in the shit.
We could have tried to make a move, no doubt about it, but I figured Zero knew as I did that our best chance now was to go along and see what Cosgrove had planned for ourselves. Then we could sort the mess out on the go.
Cosgrove’s car was a black Lexus and it fit in perfectly with the surrounding neighborhood. It also probably meant he drove like hell.
"Zero drives," said Cosgrove tossing him the keys. "And don’t forget McKinley’s got the gun on Lawson at all times."
Zero caught the keys.
A brief squelch in the night air as the alarm was deactivated and the doors unlocked. I slid in the back seat next to McKinley. Cosgrove rode up front with Zero.
Zero started the engine and turned the lights on. The interior was a cream leather that squealed absurdly when you moved against it. Cosgrove obviously enjoyed surrounding himself with luxury.
"Take us back into Kenmore Square, Zero. Then head out on Beacon Street."
Zero said nothing but wheeled the car in the appropriate direction. I knew he’d be trying to figure out a game plan so once we arrived, we’d have a chance to turn the tables. I was doing the same thing.
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of planning you can do in these situations. You have no idea where you’re going, what the odds are, what the opposition has planned for you and what kind of environment you’ll be raising hell in. All of that lack of knowledge spells disaster for trying to plan an escape and counter attack. Usually, the best you can do is simply conserve your strength, try to stay aware and calm and hope for the best. That way, when the opportunity to jump presents itself, you’ll see it and be able to take full advantage of it.
After all, you only get one shot at this kind of stuff. There’s no second place. Coming in second means you’re dead. Or with Cosgrove-worse.
Cosgrove turned around to look at me. "So, Lawson, come on and tell me all about your relationship with the scrumptious Talya. What’s she like? Good in the sack or what?"
"We never slept together."
"No? Pity that. My advice to you would be to always take advantage of such an opportunity. After all, you never know when it might get snatched away from you, pardon the pun."
"I’ll keep that in mind."
"You do that." Cosgrove looked at McKinley. "I don’t imagine the Council would be too pleased if they learned one of their prize Fixers was in love with a human."
McKinley shook his head. "No, they certainly wouldn’t."
Cosgrove chuckled. "Mind you they probably wouldn’t be too thrilled with discovering one of their Controls was a raging pedophile as well, though, eh?"
McKinley said nothing. Cosgrove kept chuckling as he turned back around.
We followed Beacon Street out past Coolidge Corner and down towards Cleveland Circle. Even at this hour there were tons of Boston College students cloistering around the small eateries and pizzerias that stayed open late. The cold of the night air only seemed to heighten the effects of whatever alcohol or narcotic haze they’d induced on themselves.
I wondered why Zero hadn’t mentioned to Cosgrove that we knew about his plan to resurrect the Sargoth. But it might have been too risky. Cosgrove’s ego might have been the only thing keeping us alive at that moment. Spoiling his surprise might have lethal consequences.
"Around the reservoir, Zero. It’s coming up on your left."
Left? There was nothing there but an old water treatment plant for the reservoir across the way. It hadn’t been used in a long time and I realized it would be a great place to hide out. Cosgrove wouldn’t have risked purchasing a home in the area, even under a pseudonym.
I caught Zero’s eye in the rearview mirror and I managed a brief nod. It was all we had to say to each other. We’d been in shit enough times before to understand how we worked. If I’d had to pick anyone to go into battle with, it would be Zero. And he knew it.
"Turn here."
Zero wheeled the car into the gravel lined circular driveway in front of the plant crunching white stones together underneath the tires. Even from the closing distance I could make out some lights on inside.
"I thought this place was deserted," I said.
Cosgrove nodded. "It was until the Brookline DPW decided to reconsider using it."
"What made them do that?"
"Well, I had some influence in that area. And if you’re thinking the police will notice the lights and come knocking, you needn’t. They know to expect it."
Zero sighed. "Well, as long as no one crashes the party."
Cosgrove laughed again. "No worries, Zero. We’ll be all left alone. We can have as much fun as we want and no one will tell us to hush up."
"That’s good," said Zero. "Because when we kill you and McKinley, there won’t be any nosy neighbors asking what the horrible racket was all about."
Cosgrove looked at him and for just a second and his smile slipped. But he brought it back quickly. "I do so enjoy listening to your pathetic threats, Zero. You have such a sense of humor."
"You can bet I’ll be laughing when I kill you," said Zero as he wheeled us up to the front of the plant.
Cosgrove nodded. "Park here."
Zero slid the car into park and waited.
Co
sgrove led the way. "Out gentlemen. We’re here and I want to introduce you to the greatest project ever conceived by a vampirical genius such as myself."
Zero raised his hand.
Cosgrove stopped talking and looked at him. "What is it?"
"It’s just that if you’re going to keep spewing this bullshit, would you mind awfully if I went home and got my hip boots? I’ve got a feeling I’m going to need them."
Cosgrove brought his face closer to Zero’s which was difficult considering Zero stood four inches taller than he did. "I shall enjoy watching you suffer Zero. And believe me you will suffer." He turned to McKinley. "Let me get things started properly. Bring them inside in five minutes."
Then he spun on one heel like some flamboyant Gestapo worshipper and vanished behind the heavy oaken door.
Zero looked at McKinley. "It’s not too late, you know. Let us go and we’ll put in a good word for you with the Council. Help us take him down."
McKinley smirked. "You have no idea how insignificant the Council is about to become, Zero."
I frowned. "So, why not enlighten us?"
"And spoil Cosgrove’s fun? Not a chance. He’s already upset with me as it is. Considering what he’s got planned for you two, there’s no way I’m going to risk incurring his wrath any more than I have so far."
"It’s that bad is it?"
McKinley nodded. "Surprised the hell out of me, that’s for sure."
"Really," said Zero. "Well, I can’t wait to see it."
McKinley checked his watch. "You’ll want to change your mind once we get inside." He looked up. "It’s time, boys. Time to go see what this is all about."
He gestured with the gun. Zero and I walked toward the door. I was hoping this would work out, that we’d hatch some daring escape. But we couldn’t. Not yet. Not until we got a chance to take them all down once and for all.
I only hoped it wouldn’t be too late once we did.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The massive door slid open on oiled hinges like a giant gaping maw. We passed under the oaken doorframe and felt it close, swallowing us whole as we moved inside the treatment plant.
Ahead, darkness loomed pierced just vaguely by scattered forty watt light bulbs doing little to keep away the ravenous ebony interior. Shadows shifted as we walked across the old linoleum floor toward another large door at the end of the long corridor.
McKinley chuckled. "Won’t be long now, boys."
From further within the plant I could make out clinks and clanks of old pipes and gears expanding and contracting in response to varying temperatures. It was easy to imagine this place as a bustling hive of activity in years past.
Now it was tangibly tainted with unspeakable evil.
Cosgrove’s evil.
I’ve known folks who thought evil could be easily classified as one kind of attribute, simply the opposite of good. But that’s just so much bull shit as far as I’m concerned. Evil has within it varying degrees of wretchedness that range from vaguely nasty to downright hellish. It’s like any other kind of personality trait. It’s as equally tough to try to classify discipline solely as one type of aspect of the self. Some people have a narcissistic discipline that borders on the vain while others possess an innate form of it that drives them to unparalleled heights of success within their lives.
But folks nowadays simply find it easier to lump all of these things into a simple definition that spans the length of a few words in the most recent edition of their favorite dictionary. So we have to come up other words to describe vain discipline or slightly evil.
I could come up with some very interesting words to describe Cosgrove’s evil. But I prefer to just let it stand that he’s a sick fuck.
McKinley reached the metallic door first and opened it. Even from where I stood I could sense what was beyond it. I could hear the strange chanting, the old language being spoken in strange tongues. Cosgrove had obviously figured out the ceremonial procedures for raising the Sargoth. I just hoped he hadn’t finished it yet.
God knew how deep Cosgrove must have had to dig to unearth the kind of evil emanating from within the bowels of the treatment facility but it sounded positively awful.
Zero stopped moving. "What the hell is he doing?"
McKinley laughed again. "You’ll find out soon enough."
"The hell," said Zero. "He’s invoking the Sargoth. I’m not going in there."
McKinley stopped short. "How do you know?"
"I’m not as stupid as you are, McKinley. I know what that creature’s capable of. Do you?"
McKinley frowned. "I know enough."
"You don’t know shit," said Zero. "If you did, there’s no way you would have signed on to be a part of this stupid plan."
"Cosgrove assures me there will be no problems controlling him."
"You can’t control the Sargoth, McKinley. It won’t bow to the desires of a mere vampire."
"You don’t know that. Cosgrove has the ability to control him. He told me."
"You believe everything everyone tells you?"
"I believe Cosgrove."
"What did it cost," I asked.
McKinley turned to me. "What’s that?"
"What did it cost to get you to sell us out? To betray the entire basis of our society? How much did Cosgrove give you to become the bottom-dwelling scumbag traitor that you are right now?"
"Isn’t it obvious?"
"If it was I wouldn’t have wasted any breath asking it, you idiot."
McKinley grinned. "I get to kill the members of the Council."
"What kind of ax do you have to grind?"
McKinley turned away. "It’s time for you two to see Cosgrove."
"I knew he wouldn’t spill it," said Zero. "He’s too much of a coward."
"I’m not a coward!" McKinley spun around sending a gooey string of spittle flying into the air that Zero barely avoided. "You don’t have the right to know what the Council did to me."
"Must have something to do with his posterior predilection," said Zero.
McKinley looked confused. I smirked.
"That word may not exist in his vocabulary."
Zero nodded. "Just goes to show you that they’ll let anybody become a Control."
"Well, they let you Zero. That probably means character doesn’t count anymore."
"You can’t call me into question, McKinley. My honor has never been suspect."
"If honor means marrying a human and hoping to get away with it, then I’d rather be a traitor."
If Zero was surprised by McKinley’s revelation, he didn’t let it show, although I suspected that he had just finalized plans to kill McKinley in his mind.
When Zero didn’t say anything, McKinley smiled. "I thought that might make you a little less hostile. Didn’t think anyone knew about your little indiscretion, did you? Well, I saw your file."
"Surprised you could read it," I said.
"Enough of this idle bullshit," said McKinley. "Boys, your time is at hand. Let’s not keep Cosgrove waiting any longer."
We entered an inferno. Seriously, Cosgrove must have had the damned thermostat cranked to about a hundred degrees. Steam and condensation filled the room making it difficult to see and I wondered whether this little soiree wasn’t going to set off some temperature alarms at some meter somewhere out in Brookline.
And then his sick voice bled through the haze like a slimy snake oozing and coating everything like a viscous scum.
"Welcome Lawson, Zero. Are you ready to witness my grand plan?"
Zero, who was never much on ceremony, cleared his throat. "It’ll never work, Cosgrove."
"What’s that, Zero?"
"Invoking the Sargoth. You won’t be able to control him now matter how much that twisted ego of yours insists otherwise. He’s too powerful. You open that portal and he’ll take over everything
you’ve worked so hard to set up."
"Ridiculous."
The voice seemed closer but it was
still impossible to tell. I was sweating buckets in the damned heat. It was painfully oppressive.
"The Sargoth," Cosgrove continued, "is happy to help me bring his dreams to life."
"Did he tell you that? Or did you just dream it up to help convince Xavier, McKinley and the other naive bastards you were worth backing?"
Cosgrove’s hand materialized and slapped Zero across the face. Zero reeled back, bringing his hand up and away from his face. I could make out a line of blood on the back of his hand.
"Fool," said Cosgrove. "You will see the glory of the Sargoth. Don’t you understand? We are the true masters of this planet. Not the humans. Human beings have never been the rightful inheritors. It is us, we who were born into the night. It is we who should rule. And rule we shall. Once I finish invoking the Sargoth, once the possession has occurred, then the Council will fall, helped along to their graves by McKinley here. Then, I will rule supreme."
Jesus, he was really baked this time. I wondered if the temperature had something to do with the increased tempo of Cosgrove’s dementia.
"Lawson, you’re being awfully quiet."
I tried taking a breath. "Me? I’m spellbound by your orations, Cosgrove. Besides, it’s not polite to interrupt."
He paused, seeming to absorb this. "And what do you think of my plans. Are you ready to join my team yet? I could use another team member now that Xavier seems to have met an untimely end."
"Oh, I’d say his demise was right on schedule, Cosgrove."
Cosgrove smiled. "Indeed."
"He died real nice," said Zero.
Cosgrove ignored him, still focused on me. "I’d imagine," he said, "that you’re curious as to what I’ve done with your lovely partner, hmm?"
Of course I was. "Yes."
"Always so bloody honest." Cosgrove drew closer. "Really, Lawson, falling in love with a human. Not the sort of behavior fitting of the Fixers is it? You’ve disgraced your profession."
Like he was the poster boy for upstanding vampires everywhere. I said nothing.
"You know, if you work for me, it won’t be a problem." He smiled. "You can fall in love with as many mortals as you wish."
Fat chance. "Cosgrove, if I work for you, there won’t be any mortals left to fall in love with."