Requiem: A Montague & Strong Detective Novel (Montague & Strong Case Files Book 13)

by Orlando A. Sanchez

  “It’s Monty. You know him. He’s stubborn and thick-headed. You tell him not to cast and he’ll listen most of the time, unless he sees those he cares about in danger.”

  I remained silent for a few moments to let my words sink in.

  “He should have never cast on the skywalk,” she said. “Evers knew he would.”

  “She probably did,” I said. “The fact that it was booby-trapped wouldn’t have made any difference to him. Nothing would’ve stopped him. You were in danger, and that’s all that mattered to him in that moment: your safety.”

  “I know,” she said. “He can be so….”

  She threw her hands up in the air, exasperated.

  “Impossibly difficult,” I said with a nod. “I know. But he cares for you deeply. You know that.”

  “I know,” she said. “He views you as his family. Did you know you were the only one he wanted admitted the first day? He’s impossible.”

  “He’s Monty. Comes with the territory. How is he? Really?”

  “I’m…concerned,” Roxanne said as the elevator doors whispered open. “The schism has left…traces.”

  “Traces?” I asked, worried. “What does that mean, traces?”

  Magic users were notorious for their skill in understating situations. What I saw as major devastation to property, Monty saw as urban renovation. The fact that Roxanne admitted she was concerned was the equivalent of the sorceress running around the room with her hair on fire.

  My heart may have skipped a beat or three.

  “Come see me after you visit,” she said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I was just there and I’m sure he would like some space from my mothering. We can discuss it then.”

  “Okay,” I said with a sudden knot in my stomach. “I’ll do that. What room is he in?”

  “731, far end of the hall, to the left,” she said, pointing behind me as we reached the top floor and exited the elevator. “It’s the only patient room on this level. I had it converted from a conference room, so as to monitor his condition and recovery. My office is on the other side of the floor.”

  “That’s convenient. How many offices are on this floor?”

  “Besides mine, none.”

  “So, it’s just your office and his room?”

  “Considering my responsibilities here, it was the only way I could ensure he received the care he needed after a schism,” she explained. “Very few physicians are competently trained in dealing with the after-effects of one.”

  “And you are?”

  “One of the few on the entire eastern seaboard,” Roxanne said with a nod. “It’s a specific body of knowledge. His recovery will take some time, and he will exhibit uncharacteristic quirks during the process.”

  “Quirks which require close supervision, it seems.”

  “Quirks which require isolation, for his safety,” she answered. “As I mentioned earlier, he is not ready to leave, even if he thinks otherwise.”

  “I see,” I said, looking down the corridor to where Monty was impriso—I mean, where Monty was getting expert medical care. “I’m sure he’s enjoying the extra level of care you’re providing.”

  She gave me a withering glare.

  “This is Tristan,” she said dryly. “He absolutely hates it. In any case, you should have no trouble getting past the security on this level. I briefed them myself.”

  “How soon should I expect the orbs of destruction after meeting them?”

  “These are professionals, not easily prone to surprise,” Roxanne answered, glancing at Peaches. “Just remember what I said about your presence and tread carefully. The security detail on this floor is on high alert.”

  “Because of Monty’s quirks?” I asked. “I mean, how bad are these quirks? Has he started drinking coffee?”

  “Initially, they manifested as random obliteration circles all around his room.”

  “Oh,” I said, having second thoughts about my visit. “Maybe I should come back when he’s more quirk-free?”

  “It should be safe,” Roxanne said. “I placed the nullifying runes myself. Besides, what’s the worst that can happen? The circles won’t kill you. You may suffer excruciating agony and wish death many times over, but they won’t kill you.”

  “Well if that’s not incentive, I don’t know what is.”

  “Go see him,” she said quietly. “He needs to see someone besides me. Just don’t irk the security team. They are a bit skittish these days.”

  “Can’t see why,” I said as Peaches bumped my knee and nearly shoved me into the nearby wall. “Oh, I don’t want to trouble you, but does the kitchen have some extra sausage for my bottomless hellhound?”

  Roxanne gestured and materialized a large sausage for Peaches. She stepped close and fed it to him, then bent over and whispered something I couldn’t make out in his ear before walking away.

  “Come see me after your visit with Tristan. I have information you need.”

  She walked off and headed to her office. I understood her concern, but she wasn’t going to keep Monty in Haven for long with these methods, no matter how powerful she was.

  I was pretty certain Monty was stronger than Roxanne. He was also a wise mage who knew better than to piss her off in her hospital by trying to escape. It’s not like she couldn’t locate him if she wanted to. Staying put was the smart play here, but it wouldn’t last.

  I rubbed my hellhound’s head and started heading in the other direction, towards Monty’s cell—I mean, room.

 

 

 

 

  I looked down the corridor Roxanne had taken to her office. Like I said—impressive and scary.

 

  FOUR

  In order to get to Monty’s room, we had to cross a gauntlet of some of the scariest sorcerers I had ever seen.

  Even before the squad of sorcerers, I noticed the nullifying runes etched into the floor and walls, slowly pulsing from deep reds to bright blues. Roxanne wasn’t kidding when she said she had counter-measures in place. This area was beyond secure. The runes gave off so much energy that the security detail on the floor felt like window dressing.

  They weren’t.

  The security team stood some distance from Monty’s door. I figured the runes would affect them too, which was why they were remaining just this side of the runed area, outside of the null zone.

  It reminded me of the set up in the Randy Rump. As a neutral location, casting was strongly discouraged inside its walls. This was reinforced by the nullifying runes strategically placed around the property, both inside and out.

  Much to Jimmy’s distress, it hadn’t stopped the regular destruction of the place, but the last batch of runes that had been inscribed at the Rump had been scary strong. If anyone managed to cast through them, nullifying runes were the least of anyone’s concerns.

  I visually scanned the security team quickly and processed the information they provided. At first glance, there were four sorcerers with serious energy signatures. Any one of them would’ve been a handful. All four of them together as a team sent the message loud and clear: Attack this level and die a quick and painful death.

  Roxanne wasn’t fooling around.

  At first, I thought the message was for someone who had realized they no longer wished to live and figured that the best way to end it all was to stroll up to this level, looking for Monty. It took me a few seconds, and then I realized this was Roxanne’s way of sending Monty a not-so-subtle message.

  You will be discharged when I think you’re good and ready, not one second before.

  It would have been
touching, if it weren’t a bit scary.

  I knew Roxanne cared deeply for Monty, I just hadn’t realized she cared four-insanely-strong-sorcerers deep. It was a nice gesture, I guess, for magic users. Ultimately, it was futile. I could sense the undercurrent of power that was Monty’s energy signature, beneath the nullifying runes. If I wasn’t a mage and could sense him, I was certain the security team knew they were outclassed. Monty’s signature replied to Roxanne’s not-so-subtle message.

  I’m staying here because I choose to, not because I have to.

  His energy signature dwarfed the power of the four sorcerers combined. If he really wanted to, Monty could stroll out of here, and all they could do, was hold the door for him as he left. His power had increased from certain badass to scary kickass.

  Even though this security detail wasn’t in the same league as Monty, they still looked plenty intimidating. They weren’t slouches—they just weren’t strong enough to deal with a determined Monty.

  It reminded me of the glimpse of power Dex had shown me recently. It was on a scale of: You should give up now, lay down, and die. And that was without Nemain, that scary mace-axe of his. I now had an idea of what the Morrigan saw in him and why he had never joined the Ten.

  Dex and the Morrigan were both more than slightly unhinged, and were made for each other.

  I realized that Dex wielded so much power that his very presence was a threat. I shook myself out of my thoughts, refocused on the security team and approached slowly, keeping my hands in sight. I didn’t want a repeat of the destruction tango that had happened downstairs.

  Somehow, I knew I would walk away with more than just a few bumps and bruises, if it came to that. Peaches would have to go lethal, which meant they would react in kind. In the end, it would spiral into a messy and bloody nuclear option. It was too early for nuclear options, and I hadn’t had any coffee.

  Even though this team was smaller than the lobby and reception squad, these were heavy-hitters, and I wasn’t Monty. One of the energy signatures was off the charts and I actually paused in my approach. The one who had focused my attention was the tall, burly man standing closest to me and effectively barring my path.

  Actually, he was wide enough to bar anyone’s path and comfortably take up all the remaining space in the corridor. It never crossed my mind that some sorcerers trained their bodies as well as their minds.

  My image of them was always of the stereotypical bookworm studying in a dusty library, practicing how to cast, and learning arcane finger wiggles. Clearly, I was mistaken here. This sorcerer looked like he bench-pressed the library after studying in it.

  They all wore rune-inscribed combat armor, but I could tell from the way he stood and the look in his eyes that the first sorcerer had seen action. Deadly action.

  Time to break out the diplomacy.

  “Good morning, Mr. Strong,” the sorcerer closest to me said. His voice was a deep baritone that reverberated in the corridor. “Visiting Mr. Montague?”

  “I’d like to,” I said, looking up into his face. He stood at least six inches taller than me. The full beard gave him a rogue lumberjack look. “You are?”

  “Elias Pirn,” he said, holding out a massive hand about the size of my head. “I’m lead security here. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  I gave his hand a firm shake and nodded to the rest of the group. They all returned the nod and then went back to standing relaxed, but alert. Elias and his team were dangerous. They made Tank and the group downstairs look like the novice B-team. Up here, I was dealing with the professional A-team.

  The lethal A-team.

  “Thank you for keeping him safe,” I said. “I’m sure he’s been a royal pain in the ass.”

  Two of the sorcerers exchanged glances and smiles.

  “Nothing we can’t handle,” Elias said quickly, shutting down the smiles with a look. “We’ve guarded…challenging clients in the past. Mr. Montague is not much of a problem, once you get to know him.”

  “You must have a different Montague in there then,” I said with a small laugh. “I need to bring my hell—er, my very large canine-like partner with. That okay?”

  “If he’s on this floor, Director DeMarco approved it,” Elias answered. “Not an issue with us, unless he starts destroying property. Hellhounds aren’t known for their delicate natures. Has he been fed in the last hour?”

  “A few minutes ago,” I said, impressed. “You know about hellhounds?”

  “I’ve never met a puppy, but yes,” Elias answered, glancing down at Peaches with a raised eyebrow. “Forces of nature and damn near impossible to stop.”

  “That sounds about right,” I said, rubbing my hellhound’s head. “But Peaches is an above-average hellhound.”

  “You’ve come across many hellhounds, then?” Elias asked, still looking down at my own superbly behaved hellhound. “Did you say Peaches?”

  “Just one other, his dad,” I said. “Yes, his name is Peaches.”

  “He seems okay at this size; it’s when they get super-sized that they become truly dangerous,” Elias replied, looking at me. “Not a situation I want to revisit in my life ever again. At least not without an ample amount of RPGs. Know what I mean?”

  It was a subtle, not-so-subtle message: Keep your hellhound under control or we will.

  “They can be a handful,” I said with a chuckle that never reached my eyes. “Peaches is an awesome hellhound. He’ll behave, and I’d never let any harm come to him. Not while I’m breathing. Know what I mean?”

  “I’m glad we see eye to eye on things,” Elias said, stepping to one side. “We aren’t equipped to deal with a hellhound level of property damage.”

  “Property destruction is so not his thing. Now, sausages—well, he loses his mind for those.”

 

 

  Silence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Elias gave me a nod and a tight smile, motioning to the door at the far end of the corridor.

  “Right that way, Mr. Strong,” Elias said. “I’m sure Mr. Montague will be glad to see you.”

  I walked past the four sorcerers and into the null zone. The shift in energy prickled against my skin, as I pushed on the door.

  Nothing happened.

  “Apologies,” Elias said, walking into the null zone. With a gesture, he placed an orange-glowing hand on the door, unlocking it. “The locks are runically enhanced for safety. They default to being locked.”

  “Are you saying Monty is locked in?” I felt the anger rise within. “Why is he locked in?”

  “Monty?” Elias asked, giving me a look. “Mr. Montague?”

  “Yes, Mr. Montague. You have him locked in for his safety?”

  “For his safety?” Elias asked. “You misunderstand. The locks on the door are for our safety, not his.”

  “Oh,” I said, chagrined. “I thought you were keeping him here against—”

  “Have a good visit,” Elias said, cutting me off and moving out of the null zone. “Please don’t agitate him. That would be…unpleasant for everyone involved.”

  It wasn’t lost on me that Elias could cast while standing next to me…in the null zone.

  It was a subtle show of force that said: We can control your access, and we aren’t scared of your hellhound. Keep it frosty, and you can leave here in one piece. Bring the heat, and we will burn you down.

  Roxanne wasn’t kidding with these four.

  I gave Elias a brief nod and pushed the door open, stepping into Monty’s room.

>   I paused to catch my breath at the sheer scope of the room. Roxanne had spared no expense renovating the space into…I wanted to say a patient suite, but it was closer to a patient wing. A very upscale patient wing for just one pris—patient.

  Palatial didn’t begin to describe it. I felt like I had stepped into a high-end furniture showroom. The room was easily three to four times larger than any normal hospital room. There was enough space to fit four more beds and still have room left over for something small, like a jacuzzi or a bus.

  An Eames sofa sat along one side of the room. Behind it, was a series of three large, dark rosewood Smania bookcases filled with books. Opposite the sofa, and across the large Persian center rug, sat a medium-sized desk from the same Italian craftsmanship as the bookcases, with a pile of books spread out across its surface. All of the books on the table were open to different sections. Sitting on the desk was a large notepad with Monty’s handwriting on the page.

  The bed was an oversized, industrial behemoth. It looked like someone had seen a hospital bed and created one for an ogre or a giant. I turned back and looked at the door, which was definitely too small for the bed to pass through, and shook my head.

  Monty sat in the enormous bed with his laptop and looked up as I entered. A small smile crossed his lips as he closed his computer. His hair was in the usual Monty style—just this side of unkempt. He held a teacup and took a small sip as I crossed the expanse that was his room. His face was slightly drawn but had good color. He looked like a somewhat thinner version of his usual self.

  Peaches gave Monty a low rumble. Monty returned the greeting with a nod. My hellhound did a few circles, plopped down on the rug next to the bed, and a few moments later, I heard the low snore. I looked around the room once again, took off my jacket and placed it on one of the several chairs around the desk.

  “The next time I need some downtime,” I said, pulling another chair to the bed and turning it so the back faced Monty, before sitting. “I’m going to ask Roxanne to save me this room. Do I have to make a reservation to get this room?”

  “Roxanne has gone a bit overboard,” Monty said, glancing around the room. “She wanted to make sure I was comfortable.”