by E. A. Copen
“Hey, it’s okay. I’m coming to bust you out.” I started to put my arms around her but stopped when I saw the gaping wounds on her back where Morningstar’s whip had sliced her open. A new fire lit in my chest, and I envisioned stomping on the squishy black parasite that was Lucifer Morningstar. I set my jaw. “And when I get here, I’m going to kill Morningstar. Then I’m going to resurrect his ass and kill it again and keep on killing it until I get tired of watching him die.”
“You can’t.” She shook her head. “Even with Khaleda and Haru’s help, you couldn’t.”
She was right. We’d messed up big time. I didn’t know then what I knew now.
“I’m working on something new. I called in a specialist, Emma.” I gently smoothed my hand through the tangles of her hair. “I might’ve done it sooner if you’d told me what you were up to, you know. Cutting a deal with Loki? What were you thinking?”
She sniffled. “I thought there was no way out of my deal with Morningstar, and when you realized that, you’d do exactly what you’re doing. I knew you wouldn’t just let me go. That’s not the kind of man you are. If I couldn’t stop you, I figured the best thing to do was make sure you didn’t kill yourself. You’re an idiot sometimes, Lazarus.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
We sat together in the quiet for a while, as comfortable and happy as two people in Hell could probably be.
“I freed Fenrir.” I don’t know why I told her that. She’d probably be angry at me for doing something else that was stupid. I was sure Emma wouldn’t approve of all the shit I’d done to get as far as I had, and when Emma wasn’t happy, she’d make sure I knew it. “I might have to do more terrible things before this is all done. Persephone told me back at the tournament that someone would open the gates to Hell and there would be Hell on Earth. I never thought it’d be me.”
“We all do terrible things.” She sounded exhausted. “I used to think things were different. If I could just do enough good on my way out, arrest enough murderers, it’d make up for all the shit I’d done. But I still wound up here.”
“You don’t belong here.”
“Yes, I do.” She leaned back so that I could look at her face. “I had the chance to see my grandfather before he passed, you know. I didn’t because I’d caught my first big case. While he was dying, I was bent over my desk, staring at photographs. He died alone because I was too much of a workaholic.”
“I’m sure he knew you cared, Emma.”
“That’s not all,” she said, shaking her head. “I’ve made bad calls on the job, calls that got other people killed. I’ve watched innocents die and the guilty walk away clean while I did nothing. I looked at you when we first met and saw your rap sheet instead of the person behind it because I was so sure of who you were. How many innocent people did I help put away? How many people are rotting behind bars because of some spell I didn’t see or supernatural event I didn’t know about? I…” She swallowed and looked down at the pure white floor. “I put a gun in my mouth because of the guilt. I wanted to die. All that downtime with the broken collarbone gave me too much time to think. I had to face myself without having a badge to hide behind, and it scared the hell out of me.”
“But you didn’t pull the trigger.” I put my hand over hers. Just hearing how much she’d struggled made me want to hit someone, but there wasn’t anyone I could punch who would make her feel better. This wasn’t that kind of enemy. She was fighting her own guilt.
Emma pulled her hand away and wiped away tears. “I didn’t because of the roses. I know it sounds stupid, but I knew no one would take care of them if I was gone. Since I’ve been down here, that’s all I can think about. Who’s taking care of those stupid flowers?”
“I’ve got it, Emma. I’ll take care of your roses until you get back. You just hold on a couple more days.”
She nodded. Her head jerked toward one wall suddenly. “Someone’s coming.”
I jerked awake, staring down the barrel of a gun. Behind the gun stood the gangster-turned-porn director whose sister Morningstar was currently possessing, Darius. A couple of thugs in red tank tops and white shorts flanked him, their arms crossed.
Darius growled, “Where’s my sister, asshole?”
Chapter Fifteen
Darius’ thugs pulled me to my feet too fast and left me dizzy. He pressed the gun to my temple. “I asked you a question! Where’s Nikki?”
I raised my hands in surrender. “Shoot me and you’ll never get her back.”
“You trying to blackmail me, Magic Man?” He pressed the barrel harder against my head.
“No, I’m trying to help you. Get the gun out of my face, and I’ll tell you what I know.”
He considered me for a second, sneering, before pulling the gun away. “Talk fast.”
My eyes darted from Darius to his friends crowding the tiny greenhouse, all of whom were probably armed. They wouldn’t be happy with my answer no matter how I phrased it. “You were right. Morningstar had her. They were a romantic item. I tried a couple of times to talk her into leaving him, but she wouldn’t have it. When the shit hit the fan, Morningstar took her hostage.”
“What do you mean?” Darius demanded.
“He possessed her.”
He looked at his flunkies, who shrugged. “You mean to tell me you let the Devil get in my sister?”
“I’m going to hedge my bets and say technically Morningstar was inside your sister a lot before he actually took control of her body.”
The gun flashed in the sun before it hit the side of my head. I crumpled and curled up as several feet kicked at me all at once. Pain flashed through my ribs and knees, not to mention the sharp ache in my head from getting pistol-whipped.
“They took Emma too!” Another kick to the ribs made me wheeze out the last part.
Darius pushed his people back after they got a few good kicks in. “I think he’s trying to say something. It better be good.”
I lay there, cradling my chest for a minute before I was finally able to roll onto my back. “I said they took Emma too.”
“Emma?” He looked to one of his flunkies.
“The cop,” said the other man in a deeper voice. “His girlfriend.”
I didn’t have the energy to explain that she technically wasn’t my girlfriend. Not officially. “I can get them back, both Emma and Nikki. I called in a specialist to help. I’ve spent the last two days working on getting to where he’s got them. I can save your sister, Darius. I just need time.”
He shifted and I flinched, expecting to get my face stomped. Instead, Darius squatted, letting the gun dangle between his knees. “How much time?”
I stifled a cough. “Either I get them back or die trying, but the process takes about a week. There’s no way to speed it up, not that I’m aware of. I’m trying, Darius.”
He sighed and stood. “You shoulda kept me in the loop, man. I really hate having to come find you and kick your ass, but you know how it is. It didn’t look good, you disappearing all the time. Then suddenly Willis here sees you driving around town like nothin’ happened. You can understand my position, man.”
“Sure,” I lied, cradling my ribs as I sat up. “Can I get up now, or you going to have your asshole cousins beat the shit out of me some more? ’Cause it’s going to be awful hard to go get your sister back if I’ve got broken bones.”
Darius snapped his fingers and his pals backed off. “Anything I can do to help?”
Typical. Beat the shit out of me and then offer to help. That was the hazard of dealing with thugs like Darius. He was great for muscle as long as I stayed on his good side, but his default reactions would always be distrust and violence.
He offered me his hand, so I took it and let him help me to my feet.
My ribs screamed. I didn’t think anything was broken but I’d be sore for a while. “See those roses over there?” I nodded toward the roses I’d watered earlier. “You and your boys keep them alive for the next few d
ays, no matter what.”
The flunky to his right made a face. “Man, I ain’t watering no flowers.”
Darius got in the bigger man’s face. “You’ll do it if I say to do it, Willis. You’ll be the best damn rose gardener there ever was. Marc, you make sure Willis takes care of them roses. Anything else you need, Magic Man?”
I debated telling Darius about the ten grand I needed to pay the specialist, but I knew he was having financial difficulties of his own. If he’d had ten thousand dollars lying around, he’d have paid Morningstar off, and Nikki would be safe at home. “Not yet, but if I can think of something, I’ll give you a call. Promise.”
Darius nodded. “This her place?” He gestured vaguely around him. “I can’t see you bein’ the type to grow roses.”
“Emma’s house, yeah.”
“Then we’ll keep an eye on the place, too. As a favor to you. Make sure nobody gets any ideas about breaking in or nothing while she’s gone.”
“Just don’t break or steal anything. Remember, she is a cop.”
Darius looked like he’d just swallowed a living fish. “What do you take me for? Some street thug? I’m a businessman now, Lazarus. I’m legit.”
I pointed a finger at him. “And don’t film any pornos in there. Promise me, Darius. I don’t want her to come home to that.”
He sighed and nodded again. “Okay, yeah. That’d be in bad taste, wouldn’t it? But you make sure when she gets back, she knows we helped, you feel me?”
“I feel you.” We traded grips.
Darius put his arm around me like we were old pals and walked me to my car. It might’ve been strange to anyone else, an ex-con trusting an ex-gangster to housesit for an ex-cop, but Darius was a man of his word. If he said he’d look after the place, he’d do his damnedest to keep his word. Just to make sure, I planned on dropping by once a day to check on things. I had to make sure they weren’t overwatering the roses after all.
My phone rang as soon as I got into my car. I stared at the screen, trying to decide whether to answer it. The number seemed familiar, and it was local, but it wasn’t one I knew by heart. Just in case it was Baron Samedi with a bag full of money, I decided to answer. “Your dime, my time, pal. Go.”
The other end was quiet for a second as the caller tried to decide what to make of my answer. “Lazarus?”
I sat up straighter. “Detective Moses! Good to hear your voice, man. How’ve you been?”
“Oh, you know how it is. Got about nine months left before I can retire. With the bad knee, I guess they just figure an old fart like me is better off behind a desk. Hey, that’s sort of why I’m calling. I haven’t been able to get a hold of Emma for a few days. She okay?”
I bit my tongue. Moses had been Emma’s partner, and he was aware of the supernatural on a certain level. A goddess had tried to sacrifice the man. Still, I didn’t know how I could explain to him that she was dead and in Hell and that I’d just spent the last two nights trying to get to her. It was too complicated a conversation to have over the phone.
Yet if I told him nothing, he’d probably drive over to her place and run into Darius and his thugs. That wouldn’t turn out well for anybody. At least he’d called me first. Maybe I could tell a little white lie.
I stuck my keys into the ignition. “Yeah, she’s just dealing with some stuff, Moses. You know how Emma is. She doesn’t want anyone bothering her. Said she was leaving town for a few days to clear her head.”
“That’s funny. She didn’t mention that to me when we talked the other day.” Crap, he wasn’t buying it.
“Last-minute decision. I guess she got a great deal on airfare to Cancun. Nothing like the warm sun and sandy beaches to clear your head.” I winced. Please don’t ask me any more questions.
“Huh. Well, usually she asks me to watch her place for her when she leaves town. Get the mail. Water the roses. That sort of thing.”
“No need to worry about that,” I said, probably too fast. “I’m taking care of the place.”
He hesitated. “You know, you two have been together a lot lately. I know it ain’t none of my business, but you and Emma aren’t together together, are you? Romantically speaking.”
I started the car, cleared my throat, and leaned back with one hand on the steering wheel. “Why? You don’t think it’s a good idea?”
“Now, I didn’t say that. Nah, I think it’d be good for her to find someone. Settle down. Have a nice, boring life.” Moses sighed. “No offense, Lazarus. We both know you’re anything but boring.”
“I’m touched, Moses. Didn’t know you felt that way.”
“I'm serious, Laz. I don’t want Emma dragged into all your magic mumbo-jumbo. She’s a good girl. A better detective. She needs to be back here, not chasing down monsters.”
Too late. “Moses, Emma’s an adult. She gets to make her own decisions. And I’m not the one keeping her from going back to work at the precinct. She can go back anytime. If you’ve got a problem with me—”
“Whoa there. You know I don’t. I just…” He sighed again. “Look, this is a conversation we should have in person. How about we meet for drinks?”
Catching up with Moses sounded good, but if I let him pick the venue, he’d take me to a cop bar. That was the last place I wanted to be. The only place I knew was semi-safe for drinks that Moses knew how to get to was Paula’s. Yet I hadn’t spoken to my ex-landlady since moving out. Oh well. It wasn’t like I wasn’t welcome at Paula’s anytime. We’d parted on mostly good terms.
“How about Paula’s at four?” I suggested. “I’ll buy you a hamburger.”
“Sounds divine. I’ll see you then.” He hung up.
I blew out a breath. That conversation could’ve gone better. I hadn’t expected Moses to be opposed to the idea. If it’d been anyone else, I would’ve told them to stuff it, but Moses was a good guy. I didn’t say that about anyone else who’d shot me. Even if we disagreed, he deserved to say his piece.
In the meantime, I had to rustle up ten grand to pay a surly Australian.
Chapter Sixteen
I had less than two hundred dollars in my checking account, but I had a business that was doing okay, so I used it as collateral to take out a loan. The interest rate wasn’t great. I couldn’t get the full ten thousand, but I got a good chunk of it, and hoped I could make up the rest some other way.
It was noon by the time I made it back to Pony’s to spend a few hours with Remy while he caught a nap. I was almost too tired to spend time with her myself, but a couple of energy drinks kept me going long enough to get through a sing-along DVD—which I sang along with, despite being a horrible singer—and a couple of feedings and diaper changes. Before I had Remy, I never would’ve believed I could function on caffeine and desperation, but being a dad gives you superpowers. Forget magic, all I needed to get through another day were the ABC’s and a bag of Huggies.
At three, Pony got up from his nap, and I went to shower and get ready to go meet Moses. When I came out of the bathroom, I found Pony sitting in his chair, staring blankly at Remy like he was totally checked out. He looked more haggard than normal.
I dropped my towel around my neck. “She keep you up last night?”
Pony didn’t answer.
“Earth to Pony.” I snapped my fingers.
He came to life suddenly, blinking as if I’d woken him from a nap. “Huh?”
“I asked if Remy kept you up last night. You look half-dead.”
He shook his head. “No, she’s a good baby. Only got me up the one time like normal.”
I glanced at the clock on the wall and decided I had time to sit and talk. The sofa creaked as I eased onto it. Remy was on her back, swatting at a couple of plastic shapes that hung over an arch. All the experts in books said she needed mental stimulation and mobiles like that would make her smarter somehow. I always thought she looked kind of pissed off whenever we set her down under it. When she was smacking the star, moon, and ringed planet around, she was
probably saying, “Get this shit out of my face so I can sleep or puke on daddy’s favorite shirt again.” I was certain Remy’s life goal was to destroy every shirt I owned with spit-up.
“What’s wrong, Pony?”
He shrugged. “Just tired is all. You try bein’ my age. Getting old sucks.”
There was more going on. I could sense it, but I couldn’t make him tell me anything he didn’t want to. “You sure that’s all it is?”
“’ Course I’m sure,” he snapped. “We’ll be fine. I’ve got someone coming over this evening after Remy’s in bed. Don’t you worry about her. Miss Angela loves babies. I’m teaching her to read tarot.”
I sighed and stood. “Okay, then. I’ll be back tomorrow morning. I’ve got to head out to meet a guy for drinks. If Josiah shows up, tell him he can find me at Paula’s.”
Pony’s head jerked up like I’d slapped him. “You’re goin’ over there?”
Weird. He’d never objected to me drinking at Paula’s before. He was acting strange. Then again, strange was relative when you spend your evenings walking through various hells.
“The guy I’m meeting is Emma’s partner.” I grabbed my coat from where it hung on the ancient coat tree next to the door and slid it on. “I didn’t want to go to a cop bar, and Paula makes the best hamburgers. Why? Something I should know?”
He pressed his lips together, adjusted his glasses, and started rocking on his rocker. “Nope.”
“Pony, if you’d rather I stayed a little longer—”
“Go do your thing.” He waved me toward the door. “Don’t you worry about us, boy.”
“Okay.” I grabbed the door and pulled it open.
Outside, a gentle rain rolled down the street. The gray sky and lack of sun made it seem later than it really was.
“Lazarus?”
I turned. “Yeah?”
Pony had stopped rocking and wore a somber expression. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was about to cry. Something was definitely up. “I know I ain’t the easiest person to grow up with. I made your life hell, even when you didn’t deserve it.”