A Malevolent Manner (Patrick Pierce #1)
Page 43
*
The briefing was quick and efficient, ending without incident. The packs had come prepared with the equipment required for the task, so the groups filed out of the Hunt Room heading towards the North Tower.
“Did you know this was coming?” MacDuff quietly asked his master.
“No.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“I’m not sure, but I’m not leaving and I’m not giving up.”
“Good.”
They walked the rest of the way to the tower in silence, though the other packs were not as sombre. It appeared that this excursion was more a fun diversion. However everyone became silent as they passed the Secretary’s office and crossed the bridge to the North Tower.
The procession passed door upon door and down sets of stairs. The torches lending a suitably medieval air to the ancient building. The Secretary finally stopped at a door with a series of letters and numbers on it. Pierce had noted the markings on the other doors and assumed it was some sort of location system. Knowing this was his door, he quickly memorised the combination.
“Good luck gentlemen, ladies,” offered Drummond opening the door for the Hunt. Everyone passed by him, with the odd member nodding to the Secretary.
Pierce followed MacDuff along a short hallway and then down a circular staircase to a round room with one door. The three participating packs had divided themselves up, so Pierce walked over to where the Brown Pack had gathered. Everyone was armed with pistols and had removed them from their shoulder holsters to inspect them one last time.
Understanding the Canadian disdain for handguns, Pierce had no intention of using his and left it unchecked in his holster.
As the senior Hunt member present Zeidt looked to see everyone was ready and led the way through the door. His pack followed him, then Schell’s, and finally Pierce led his pack through.
The small room looking out over St. Patrick Street in Ottawa quickly filled up as all twelve members emerged from the Manor’s portal.
Zeidt’s pack had been tasked with the actual incursion into the university, so they left first. This eased the tension in the room as the Red and Brown Packs were on relatively good terms with each other, though not with the departed Gold Pack.
“What do you say we head over to a nice little bistro I found the last time I was here?” offered Schell. “Our packs know what they’re doing and we’ll probably only get in the way.”
Schell’s pack was in charge of transport and was making their way down to the back alley, which housed a garage with a panel van. Pierce’s pack was held in reserve in case something went wrong. He could sense that the red pack was used to the absence of their master.
“Sounds great,” replied Pierce. “I’ll meet you down on the street. I just have to talk to my guys.”
“Don’t take too long, it sounds like a downpour out there,” he said as he went down the stairs.
“I’m going with Herr Schell,” Pierce explained walking over to his pack. “I can’t go into everything, but I’ve got to find a way to return to the Manor without attracting attention. Cleaver thinks I’m going to stay in Ottawa. That’s why we’re here. If I’m not back here when the task is complete, return to the Manor without me.”
The pack looked dubious, but decided not to argue.
“As you say my Lord,” answered MacDuff for the three of them. “Take care. We’ll take our positions as arranged and will be on channel 4 if you need us.”
Pierce nodded and turned towards the stairs, descending to the front door of the building. When he emerged he almost ran into Schell on the doorstep, huddled from the storm in the doorframe.
“Let’s get out of this mess Patrick!” he yelled while he headed down the sidewalk. “Keep up; I don’t want to catch cold!”
They took off at a quick pace, just under a run. The long leather jackets proved very efficient against the rain, though their lack of hoods had their heads wet within seconds.
Pierce was struck with a strange thought as they dodged puddles and avoided passersby. Dr. Cleaver had said that when you leave your time through the door, you return at the exact moment. As if you never left. But he had left Ottawa during an overcast afternoon and it was now raining at night. He didn’t know what to make of it, but something didn’t seem right.
They finally came to the bistro and Pierce recognized it as a place he passed from time to time and never entered due to its extreme expense. He continued to benefit from the perks of his new found life.
“They do a passable crème brulé,” observed Schell under the shelter of the bistro’s canopy. “But it’s more than made up for by the extensive wine list.”
“I’ve just noticed we’re very close to my house,” observed Pierce with mock surprise. “I hadn’t planned on it, but being so close I think I’ll stop in and pick up some things.” He said with a slight inflection at the end, hoping Schell would take it as an invitation to join him. He did not want the company, for his newly formed plan would not allow it. But to ignore his companion might be suspicious.
“Capital idea,” observed Schell with enthusiasm, causing Pierce to pause. “I will be waiting for you in the comfort of this establishment.”
Pierce felt slight relief, though he would never have made the offer if he thought Schell would accept.
“Fair enough,” Pierce said turning back towards the street. “I should be back soon.”
“Not to worry my friend, I might never leave,” he murmured as the door opened, providing a wave of warmth, music and laughter.