by Jayne Castle
“That thing is as big as a car,” he said.
“Sure is,” Emmett said, looking pleased. “Mercer Wyatt gave it to us for a wedding present. You should see the manual.”
“Tricky to operate, huh?”
“It is more than merely tricky,” Emmett said. “Grilling is an art, my friend, one that requires innate talent, practice, a passion for perfection, and the ability to work under pressure.”
“I can see the problem with the pressure,” Cooper said. He glanced at the three dust bunnies perched on the railing beside him.
The one introduced as Fuzz and his small companion, who went by the name of Ginger, wore little satin ribbons on top of their furry heads. Rose hovered next to them, glittering like a high-class showgirl in the green-stone bracelet she had selected to wear for the evening.
None of the bunnies had seemed surprised to see each other tonight. Cooper got the feeling they had all been previously acquainted. The fluffy beasts supervised the grilling process with close attention.
“In my admittedly limited experience, dust bunnies are big on barbecue,” Emmett said. “Probably because they are not what you’d call vegetarians.”
“How did you end up with two of the little guys?”
Emmett glanced at the bunnies wearing the bows. “One’s a girl, I think. She’s Fuzz’s friend. He started inviting her to dinner a few weeks ago. Got a bad feeling I’m going to look under the bed one of these days and find a bunch of baby dust bunnies.”
“You know, until I arrived here in Cadence yesterday and discovered that Elly was rooming with Rose, I never knew anyone who kept a dust bunny as a pet.”
“Until you and Elly showed up with Rose tonight, my wife was the only person I knew who lived with one. Lydia once told me that it was Fuzz who initiated the association. Just appeared on her balcony one evening and made himself at home.”
“Elly says that’s how it was with Rose. Brings flowers every so often, and in exchange, she likes to wear Elly’s bracelets.”
“I’m not sure what’s going on between Lydia and Fuzz, but I’ve got a hunch there’s some kind of psychic bond.”
“The experts say there’s no such thing as a true psychic bond between animals and humans,” Cooper reminded him.
“Tell that to Fuzz and Lydia.”
Cooper smiled. He was enjoying the evening, in spite of the complications of the last twenty-four hours. He hadn’t intended to have the blue ghost problem turn into a social visit with an old friend, but that was where the phone call to Mercer Wyatt, the chief of the Cadence Guild, had led.
“If we’re dealing with a blue,” Wyatt said, “we’ve got to keep a low profile. Whoever he is, he may be anywhere at or near the top of the organization. I don’t think you and I should take the risk of being seen meeting to talk about the problem. This is a secure line, but we both know that there is no such thing as perfect security.”
“This is your town,” Cooper said. “How do you want to handle the situation?”
“I know you’re not officially an enforcer any longer, but it’s not like there’re a lot of guys with your kind of talent I can call on. You know that as well as I do.”
“Had a feeling you were going to say that.”
“In addition, you’ve already got a jump on this thing because you were first on the scene last night,” Wyatt added. “Will you do me a favor here and take care of the business?”
It never hurt to have the chief of one of the other Guilds in the position of owing you a favor, Cooper thought, but he wasn’t in town to make nice with his opposite number in the Cadence City Guild. He’d had other plans.
Nevertheless, the freak had to be uncovered and dealt with as quickly as possible. Bad press of the kind that a criminally minded blue was capable of generating would be devastating for all of the Guilds, not just the Cadence organization.
“I’ll look into it,” Cooper said, reluctant but resigned.
“Emmett will be your contact. Now that he’s no longer officially associated with the Guild, no one in the organization is paying any attention to him. With luck, that includes our blue freak. You two should be able to communicate without arousing any suspicions.”
Emmett London was the former head of the Resonance City Guild. He had held the position for several years, during which he had made great strides toward transforming it into a legitimate, respected, damn near mainstream institution. Satisfied with what he had accomplished, he had stepped down from the position to pursue a career as a business consultant.
A few months back he had moved to Cadence, met and married Lydia Smith, and settled enthusiastically into domestic life.
Cooper envied him. Sure, there had been a few problems for Emmett along the way, small details like a couple of dead bodies and a murderous madman who had tried to become a dictator. But those distractions aside, Emmett’s life looked very good.
The Londons’ town house was in one of the newly renovated, upscale neighborhoods of the Old Quarter. From where he stood on the deck Cooper could see the dark expanse of a park and the fog-reflected green glow of the Dead City Wall.
After bringing drinks out to the men a short time earlier and declaring barbecuing to be men’s work, Elly and Lydia had disappeared back into the warmly lit town house.
“Another thing to keep in mind with fish,” Emmett said, making more adjustments to the grill’s controls, “is that you don’t want to go poking and prodding the filets with a spatula after you’ve got them on the fire. That way lies disaster.”
“I’ll try to remember that,” Cooper said. “You know, I’m impressed. Never realized you knew how to barbecue.”
“It’s a skill you don’t pick up until after you get married, settle down, and stop eating out in restaurants.”
“Guess that explains it. I’m still eating in restaurants a lot.”
“Meant to talk to you about that.” Emmett moved upwind of the smoke. “You were supposed to be married by now. Had my tux all pressed and ready to wear to the wedding. What the hell happened?”
“Things got complicated.”
“Women do tend to have that impact on a man’s life,” Emmett said, looking knowledgeable.
“I heard that,” Lydia said loudly from the doorway.
She walked out onto the deck carrying a flat, rectangular glass dish that contained the fish. When she passed beneath the lamp, the light gleamed on her red hair.
Elly trailed a couple of steps behind her, a glass of wine in each hand.
Emmett smiled winningly at his wife. “But life would sure be boring without a few complications of the female sort,” he said. “Isn’t that right, Cooper?”
Cooper caught Elly’s eye. She turned away very quickly and got very busy setting one of the wineglasses on the table.
“Right,” he said.
Lydia smiled approvingly. “Just so you know.”
Emmett gave her a quick, possessive kiss and took the dish from her. Lydia picked up the wineglass that Elly had placed on the table and took a sip.
“Pay attention, here,” Emmett said to Cooper. “In spite of your recent little setback, you may have need of this information someday. I don’t give out my grilling secrets to just any visiting hunter who drops in for a free meal.”
“I’m watching every move you make, London,” Cooper said.
Elly looked thoughtful. “You two have known each other a long time, I gather?”
“Met a few years back when I was running the Resonance City Guild.” Emmett examined the marinated fish with the air of a brain surgeon preparing to operate. “Brought him in to handle a little problem we had at the time.”
“Really?” Elly smiled benignly. “Would that have been a problem in your Archives Department, by any chance?”
“How did you guess?” Emmett said smoothly. “Never knew anyone who could whip an Archives Department into shape faster and with less bad press than Cooper, here.” He looked at Cooper, spatula at the ready. “You rea
dy to watch the master at work?”
“Not sure I’m up to this,” Cooper said. “I tend to faint at the sight of blood.”
“You know the old saying, the ghost that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Emmett used the spatula to convey the fish onto the grill. “So, you got a plan to track down our blue freak?”
“Not sure you could call it a plan,” Cooper said. “More like an extremely thin lead.” He reached into the pocket of his shirt and removed the object he had retrieved from the floor near the scene of the blue vortex. He held it up so that they could all see it.
“Looks like a fancy swizzle stick,” Lydia said, taking a closer look at the little plastic sword.
“It is,” Cooper said. “Ever heard of a club called The Road to the Ruins?”
Lydia looked interested. “That’s your lead?”
Cooper looked at her. “It’s all I’ve got at the moment. What do you know about it?”
“Well, for starters, The Road is the most exclusive nightclub and casino in town. It’s located in the Old Quarter, right up against the wall. It’s a private club with a special VIP entrance. If you don’t have a pass, you have to stand in a long line with all the lesser beings and hope that the bouncers will eventually let you in. I admit that I can’t give you any firsthand observations of the place, because Emmett tends to be extremely straitlaced about some things.”
“I’m a married man,” Emmett declared piously. “Married men don’t join clubs like The Road to the Ruins unless they’re doing deals with underworld figures or having torrid affairs with their best friends’ wives.”
“Excuses, excuses.” Lydia exchanged a meaningful glance with Elly. “Beware. This is what happens after you get married. All of a sudden they want to stay home every night and grill fish instead of taking you out for a good time.”
“I’ll remember that,” Elly said politely.
She sat down on a deck chair and crossed her legs. Cooper was suddenly keenly aware that the little violet-colored dress she was wearing was even shorter than the skirt she’d had on last night.
“They say the food is great,” Lydia continued. “And I’ve heard the entertainment is first-rate, if a little on the raunchy side.”
Cooper looked at Emmett and shook his head in a mockingly sorrowful manner. “And to think you never take your wife there.”
“Call me boring.” Emmett used the spatula to transfer the filets to the grill. “But I guarantee you, it isn’t the kind of place you’d take the respectable daughter of a high-ranking member of the Aurora Springs Guild, either.”
“I think he’s talking about me,” Elly said to Lydia.
Lydia nodded. “Yes, I did get that impression.”
Emmett ignored both of them. “The owner is a guy named Ormond Ripley. Said to have discreet ties throughout the underworld and also in the political sphere. He’s been smart enough and sufficiently well-connected to stay out of trouble with the law, which is saying something, given that he’s operating a casino. Used to be a Guild man.”
“I get the picture.” Absently, Cooper swirled what was left of his drink. “Now, all I have to do is find a way to get inside the club.” He raised one brow at Emmett. “Got any suggestions?”
“Wyatt can pull some strings and get you in,” Emmett said. “I’ll give him a call in the morning.”
Elly rezzed up a suspiciously bright smile. Cooper got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“No need to call the local Guild boss,” she said airily. “I go to The Road a lot. I know some people. I can get Cooper inside. We can go tonight, if you like.”
Chapter 15
AFTER DINNER COOPER AND EMMETT WENT INSIDE THE house to put together a detailed plan for dealing with the blue freak.
Elly and Lydia stood at the edge of the deck and watched the men walk away, talking in low tones.
“Guild business,” Lydia intoned darkly.
“Don’t remind me,” Elly said.
For a while they stood silently together, looked out over the mist-shrouded park. At the far end of the railing, Rose, Ginger, and Fuzz sat munching quietly on pretzels.
“Did you see the look on Cooper’s face when I told him that I could get him into The Road?” Elly asked after a while.
Lydia laughed. “Priceless. Typical Guild-boss-caught-flatfooted expression.”
“Doesn’t happen often.”
“Enjoy the moment.”
“Thanks, I will.”
Lydia tipped her head a little to one side. “Do you really know someone who can get you a pass into that club?”
“I have a couple of friends who have been members for quite a while. They own a very successful antiques business on Ruin Lane. I blend special tisanes for both of them, and in return they’ve invited me to go with them to The Road a couple of times. I’m sure they’ll let me borrow their pass tonight.”
“Under other circumstances, it sounds like it would be a fun evening.”
“Yes.” Elly leaned her forearms on the railing and linked her fingers, absorbing the night. “I get the impression that Cooper is sort of stuck having to take care of this problem for the Cadence Guild.”
“Emmett told me earlier that blue freaks don’t come along very often. Neither do the unique kind of dissonance-energy para-rezzes who can handle them.”
“When you think about it, it’s my fault Cooper got involved in the first place. If I hadn’t asked him to help me find my friend in the tunnels last night, he would never have known about that blue vortex.”
“Was it really as scary as Emmett and Cooper implied?” Lydia asked.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, that’s for sure, and I’ve been into the catacombs on several occasions with my family. It looked spooky and very powerful, although I don’t think I took it as seriously as I should have because Cooper was able to de-rez it so quickly.”
“Emmett says he’s good.”
“I must admit, even though I was raised in a Guild family, I’ve always assumed that blues and enforcers were mostly hunter legends.”
“Well, you’re way ahead of me. I’d never even heard of blues or enforcers until today.”
“Goes to show what a good job the Guilds have done keeping their secrets down the years.”
“I know it isn’t any of my business,” Lydia said, “but Emmett told me earlier that you and Cooper had been engaged for a while. He said you called off the wedding.”
“Yes.”
“Let me guess, the job got in the way?”
Elly smiled sadly. “You’re very astute.”
“Not really. It’s just that I’ve been there and done that. There was a time when I was worried sick that Emmett was going to become the permanent head of the Cadence City Guild. I wasn’t sure if I could handle it. Luckily, it turned out that he didn’t want the job.”
“Unfortunately, Cooper does want the job,” Elly said. “He’s made it clear that being the head of the Aurora Springs Guild is very, very important to him.”
“And you’ve decided you can’t deal with being Mrs. Guild Boss?”
“When we first met I didn’t know that he was even a candidate for the job.” She unlinked her fingers and spread her hands. “I thought he was a librarian, for heaven’s sake.”
“A librarian?”
“He was brought in from out of town to organize the Aurora Springs Guild Archives. Or, at least, that’s what everyone claimed. He has all kinds of degrees in history and archival research and information retrieval. But it turned out that the academic background, although genuine, was just cover for his real position as an enforcer.”
“Ah.”
There was a world of understanding in the simple exclamation.
Elly sighed. “Right after I started dating him, the old Guild boss, Haggerty, disappeared, and the next thing I knew the Council had appointed Cooper as the new chief. He asked me to marry him before I had a chance to adjust to the change in the situation.”
“Got to watch out for those librarians,” Lydia said.
“You can say that again. Well, to make a short story even shorter, I soon found out how important the job was to him. Cooper started showing up late for dates or even breaking them altogether at the last minute. He evaded any discussion that involved Guild business. It dawned on me that maybe the only reason he wanted to marry me was because of my family connections.”
“Connections?”
“He doesn’t have any of his own,” Elly explained. “His people are all non-Guild. Very distinguished academic types for the most part. They don’t even live in Aurora Springs.”
“I see.”
“I think Cooper also liked the fact that I was an instructor at Aurora Springs College. He wanted a wife who could give him some good contacts with respectable, mainstream institutions in the community.”
“You’re sure those are the only reasons he wanted to marry you?” Lydia asked.
Elly winced. “Yesterday he admitted that almost every move he’s ever made in his life since the age of nine was aimed at establishing himself as the head of the Aurora Springs Guild.”
“Why?”
Elly hesitated. “You know, I haven’t asked him that question. I’ve been too busy being offended by the glaring possibility that he saw me as just another step to his ultimate goal.”
“Well, I can’t blame you for not wanting to be a stepping-stone.”
“For a while, after I found out he was going to be made the head of the Guild, I was able to convince myself that we could still have a good marriage. Dad kept going on and on about how Cooper was the new, younger face of the Guild, a leader who would guide the organization into the future. I certainly believe that mainstreaming is a worthy goal. I told myself that I could be a partner in the effort, blah, blah, blah.”
“Blah, blah, blah.” Lydia nodded. “I know exactly what you mean.”
“Give me a break, I was falling in love with the man, and you know how it is. You can talk yourself into just about anything when you think you’re in love.”