The Detective Inspectors (The Doorknob Society Saga Book 4)

by Fletcher, MJ

  “I kid, now get ready, it’s time to get started.”

  “What?” I shook my head. “I haven’t finished moving here yet. I was visiting,” —it was my turn to shoot my uncle a look— “how did you even know I was here.”

  “This city has been my home for some time, along with that come a plethora of close friends and business acquaintances. You don’t think someone would mention to me that they saw my niece out all night last evening?” He tapped the side of his head and then pointed back at me.

  “Right, I hadn’t thought about that.”

  “Plus, if I leave it up to you to decide when your training starts, it never will. You’ve been avoiding me for weeks. Now get yourself together so that we can finally begin.” He slid onto the chair beside Jess who ran her hands frantically through her hair trying to get it in some semblance of order.

  “Fine,” I sighed and walked to the kitchen. “First, I have to have my coffee.”

  “No time, get ready, and we’ll grab some on the way.”

  I agreed with a grumble and headed to my room where I rushed through a fast shower, tossing on a change of clothes that I had stashed in my bag. My hair got towel dried, since I didn’t feel like dealing with it and no makeup, so Uncle Archie was getting the au natural version. I slung my bag over my shoulder and returned to the living area. Val was in pajamas sitting cross-legged talking with Archie.

  “About time.” He was up, in his coat, and opening the door before I could say anything. “Let’s move.”

  I waved to Val and rolled my eyes letting her know this wasn’t exactly what I had planned to do today, and then trudged down the stairs after my uncle. When we hit the foyer area the hairs on my neck rose as Archie activated a doorknob and opened a portal. We stepped through and into an Old Kind area I’d never seen before.

  Old stone buildings stood next to new metal and glass structures. The blending of the two opposite architectural styles was seamless and eye-catching. Along one side of the street a series of doors were cranking open and closed by a series of gears that wound and unwound with clockwork precision.

  “Where are we?”

  “London, the Old Kind section. We’ve had a strong presence in this city since it was founded. The Doors over there are like a form of public transit. Instead of using your own abilities, you’re able to go through prearranged portals. It cuts down on traffic and makes things here less chaotic.”

  “Who controls it?”

  “The portals are controlled by the DS but the equipment is maintained by the Impossible Engineers.”

  “What are we doing here?”

  “This is Old Town, anything that happens with our kind, one way or another comes through here. We have a mission, so to get started we’ve come here. Follow me and don’t speak unless I say so, is that clear?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s the last time you speak, clear?”

  I nodded my head and really wished I’d gotten more sleep than I had or at least had gotten to have my morning coffee.

  We walked along the street until we reached a side road and turned down it. The cobblestone street curved around and the further we went the closer the buildings got on either side. Uncle Archie stopped and looked up at the sign of one of the establishments and I followed his gaze.

  The Dead Bolt.

  We entered and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room. A long bar stretched along the back wall and small tables dotted the small space. A few were occupied and those that were had men hunkered over them talking, not paying a bit of attention to anyone. Archie went straight to the bar and tapped the surface. A jovial, fat man glanced his way and waved his hand toward the back of the establishment.

  I followed Uncle Archie to the end of the bar where a short corridor led to a single door. Archie knocked on it, opened the door, and entered. I followed behind him and as I crossed the threshold portal energy washed over me. I swayed a moment from the intensity. Whatever occupied this space was Old Kind and mighty powerful.

  “Archibald, my boy, it’s been far too long, how have you been?” An older man sat behind a desk, his massive girth barely contained in the chair he was sitting in. He was almost entirely bald except for small patches of hair around his temples.

  “Not well, Hugh. You, of course, heard about my brother.”

  “Yes, a terrible situation. We were all very upset by the news.” His eyes flashed over me for a brief moment, and then back to Archie.

  “I’m sure you were, but that’s not why I’m here.”

  “Of course not, dear boy, how can I help you?”

  “Someone in this establishment has been asking around about purchasing a very rare item.”

  “Is that so, well you know I can’t stop my customers from looking for oddities, Archibald.”

  “I’d never ask you to, Hugh. The problem is that I heard the fellow has been searching the black market for a Gremlin Collar. Would you know anything about that?”

  “Haven’t heard a peep.” He leaned back in his seat with a smug smile, almost as if he wanted us to know that he was lying through his teeth. “Anyway that would be a matter for the HVO, wouldn’t it?”

  “I’m so glad to hear you say that, Hugh. You see since my brother’s death and with the truces being reclaimed the Council has authorized all Masters to deal with suspected First Kind, however we see fit.”

  “It’s good then that there are none here.”

  “Is that so?” Archibald leaned over the desk planting his hands flat on it.

  “What are you implying?”

  “I’m implying, my fat friend, that if you are playing both sides I will come through this place like a buzz saw and leave nothing left behind. A war is coming and there won’t be any grey areas to slip through. If you choose the wrong side, it’ll be over for you.”

  “Are you threatening me, boy?” Hugh’s eyes lit up and the power in the room fluctuated to such a degree that it prickled my flesh. Hugh may not look like much, but his strength was palpable.

  “Yes I am.”

  “I’ve faced down the likes of your kind for sixty years. If you think you can scare me with idle threats, you’re wrong.”

  “Chloe” I was surprised to hear my uncle call my name as he stepped away from the desk and pointed toward Hugh. “Why don’t you show Mr. Greenstreet how we handle people who side with the First Kind?”

  Hugh Greenstreet narrowed his eyes and gave me a cursory glance, not hiding his disdain. I wasn’t exactly sure what Uncle Archie expected of me, but Greenstreet’s scornful look was enough to make my blood boil. I pulled out my Doorknob and activated my whip. It slithered to life and the room became oppressive with portal energy.

  “If you’re trying to scare me, Archibald, it won’t work?” He was lying, his voice quivering and my senses picked up his own power, struggling to maintain dominance in the small confined area.

  “I don’t try, Hugh,” —Uncle Archie pointed to me— “do it.”

  I reacted instinctively. I threw my arm back and snapped it forward, my whip snaking out and cracking across his desk shattering it into kindling.

  “You’re insane!” He pulled his massive weight from his seat and backed into the corner.

  “The First Kind killed my brother,”—Uncle Archie jabbed his finger my way—“her father. You’re damn right I’m insane. Did you sell him the Gremlin Collar?”

  “Yes, alright, I sold him the collar, but it’s not as if he could actually use it to catch a Gremlin. The HVO would stop him immediately.”

  Archibald raced around the desk in a second planting his face in front of Hugh’s, his voice low and threatening. “If you work against the Old Kind again, we’ll be back to pay you a final visit.”

  “I un—understand,” Hugh stammered and looked from Archie to me, fear turning him paler than a ghost.

  Archibald spun and exited the room and I followed after him leaving Hugh Greenstreet breathing heavily, sweating profuse
ly, and cowering cowardly in the corner. We made our way out of the The Dead Bolt and back onto the street.

  “What say we get that coffee now?” Uncle Archie smiled.

  I wasn’t sure what the hell just happened, and I didn’t even know where to begin. “What was that all about?”

  “That was Hugh Greenstreet; he is one of a few Powerbrokers,” Uncle Archie explained as we walked off. “This isn’t school anymore, Chloe, you’re dealing with a different kind of element now. The Powerbrokers pedal information and some like Greenstreet even sell illegal devices for the right price. The Council has always allowed them free reign for two reasons; one they’re powerful and hard to stop and two, no one cared as long as they were playing for all sides.”

  “With the First Kind around that’s all changed.”

  “Exactly, if we let them deal with the First Kind besides us,” —Uncle Archie shook his head— “we’ll be in trouble quickly. By getting to Greenstreet now, he’ll get the word out to the other brokers that it’s not a good idea to cross the Old Kind.”

  “Why bring me?”

  “You felt his energy, right?”

  “Yes, as soon as we walked into the room. Honestly, I was surprised he didn’t come after me.”

  “He couldn’t that room we were in was his own personal dimension. He was using all his power to maintain it. Someone like me wouldn’t be able to use my abilities in there, but you could.”

  I stopped in the middle of the street. “Wait, what? Why?”

  “You could use your powers in his dimension because you’re a Polymorph.” He chuckled. “Plus the look on his face was priceless.”

  “You know?”

  “Worst kept secret in the family you being a Polymorph. Come on, coffee is this way.” He turned down another street and headed into a café with me on his heels.

  “Now what?”

  “Now we need to find the Gremlin Collar before they do something with it.”

  “Like what?”

  “A Gremlin Collar is used to capture Gremlins between portals and keep the beast under your control. They’re highly illegal, but we’ve been having issues with the HVO being stretched too thin to handle all the problems we’re been having. Plus, DS likes to handle as much in house as we can, even more so since the debacle with Mr. Jordan.”

  I kept hearing about the HVO and their problems and I was starting to think they might be a lot worse off than anyone knew. Mr. Jordan was another subject entirely. After I had ruined him and gotten him kicked out as head of DS, I’d heard rumors about him being seen around. I also wondered if he might have something to do with the First Kind.

  “Has anyone seen Jordan?” I asked curious.

  “No, only rumors of his whereabouts pop up now and then. He’s smart enough to stay off radar for now, if someone did find him he’d be brought before the Council.”

  “That’s not all that would happen to him.” I had plans for him myself.

  “He does have a nasty history with the family. But let’s talk about your training, after all it’s why you’re here.”

  “Okay.”

  “I know you have your mission from the Council to find Edgar Magnus, I won’t get in the way of that, but I do want to be kept in the loop. I also know you’ve seen and done more than most full-fledged DS members. But I want you to remember, you don’t know everything and you need to listen to me and learn.”

  I thought about Greenstreet and many of the other intriguing characters I had met along the way. Uncle Archie was right. I was woefully unaware of the realities of the Old Kind. That was something I was going to have to amend.

  “I understand.”

  “Good,” he confirmed with a strong nod.

  We both got coffees to go and walked back out to the street. I took a deep gulp and was glad to finally have something in my system after the night I had.

  “So who are we looking for anyway?” I asked the coffee finally fortifying me.

  “A Guilder named James Nightshade.”

  Chapter 13

  Status: Why can’t my life ever be easy?

  “And you know him?” Uncle Archie asked for what seemed like the fiftieth time.

  “Yes.” I nodded as we stepped out of the portal and onto a small side street somewhere in London.

  “Okay, well I’ll be doing the talking.”

  Three steps led up to an oversized red door and as I took each one I felt myself getting closer to my doom.

  Uncle Archie knocked and stepped back, his hands sliding into his pockets. Not for comfort, his energy vibrated slightly as he tested his Doorknob.

  The door swung open and I gritted my teeth seeing the woman standing before us wearing only a t-shirt. Her hair was still a mess from sleep and she looked from Uncle Archie to me. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of me.

  “What do you want?” Darla seethed.

  It was a good thing that Uncle Archie was here, if he hadn’t been I would have given her a good solid punch.

  “We’re here to see James Nightshade,” Uncle Archie announced with authority and she turned to face him.

  “Why?”

  Uncle Archie took a step toward her. “That doesn’t concern you. Get him now.”

  She took a step back and shouted, “Nightshade.” Then she looked me up and down and yelled again, “DS is here for you.”

  The sound of him coming down the steps echoed out of the door and I held my breath, not at all looking forward to this moment. He came up behind Darla and slid his hand effortlessly around her waist pressing her up against him. The only thing he wore was jeans, his naked chest was trim and tight and a silver pendant on a chain rested against it. His eyes shot over me for a brief moment, and then went to rest on my uncle.

  “How can I help the DS?”

  “We’d like a moment,” Uncle Archie said.

  “Is that so, why?”

  “We have some questions for you.”

  “Isn’t that nice, but if you have questions for me, why isn’t a Guilder with you?”

  “The Skeleton Key Guild asked DS to look into this matter. Apparently, you’re very popular with the Guild right now and they need an impartial opinion.”

  “I must have missed the text.”

  “If you want I could return with a Guilder, though I doubt you’d want them knowing what you’re up too.”

  I winced. This was going to turn bad. Nightshade didn’t take well to threats.

  “And just what am I up too?” Nightshade laughed and leaned casually against the doorjamb, Darla remaining plastered to his side.

  “Do you really want to discuss this in front of your—” Uncle Archie gave Darla a slow perusal, and then raised an eyebrow, “friend.”

  Score one in my book for Uncle Archie as Darla’s face turned as red as the garish lipstick she sometimes wore, and I smirked just a bit.

  “Darla, go make us some coffee.” Nightshade didn’t even look at her as he said it, his eyes stayed focused on Archie.

  “What’s going on?” Darla asked.

  “I’ll take care of it.” He smiled and turned her around swatting her on the butt. She jumped and slapped at his shoulder and it took all my willpower not to scream at them.

  “You going to be okay?” she asked over her shoulder as she walked toward the back of the living area.

  He gave her a sideways glance. “I’ll take it black.”

  She snorted and walked through a doorway I assumed lead into the kitchen.

  “May we come in?” Uncle Archie asked.

  “No.”

  “Nightshade.” His name, soft on my lips, slipped out without me thinking about it and his head gave a sharp turn, his eyes flaring with anger.

  “Fine.” He spun and walked back into the house.

  My breath caught in my throat when I caught sight of the scars that marked his back. One slice after another cut across his upper and lower back and I clenched my hands until my knuckles turned bright white. He’d gotten those for no
t betraying me to the First Kind. And now he barely remembered me.

  A living room was off the foyer area and he dropped into a large armchair and placed his feet on the polished oak coffee table. Uncle Archie didn’t sit and neither did I.

  Uncle Archie got straight to the point. “According to my source you purchased a Gremlin Collar.”

  “What’s the world coming too when you can’t trust black market sellers,” Nightshade joked though looked as if he meant it.

  “You admit buying restricted material then?” Uncle Archie asked.

  “No, I never bought any such thing.” He smiled at us both with his lopsided grin.

  “I would think someone like you would take this seriously,” Uncle Archie said.

  “Someone like me?”

  “Yes, someone no one trusts.”

  Nightshade flinched at the comment and slowly turned his eyes on me.

  I wanted to shrink and disappear. How the hell was I going to explain to him that it wasn’t me who questioned his integrity?

  “Is that so?”

  “There are still a lot of questions regarding your time with the First Kind.” Uncle Archie went on. “When you disregard authority, like you’re doing now, it raises concerns.”

  “Uncle Archie—” His hand shot up to silence me.

  “If people have concerns about my time with the First Kind, they should have the guts to ask me themselves.”

  It was an accusation and since he kept his eyes on me ignoring Uncle Archie, it was obvious who he meant it for.

  “I’m asking you,” Uncle Archie said.

  “And just who are you?”

  “Archibald Masters.”

  Nightshade threw his head back and laughed. “Another Masters, I should have figured. Do they grow you on trees just to annoy me?”

  Uncle Archie stiffened but ignored the remark. “It’s simple, Nightshade, you can bring the Gremlin Collar to me or I can take you and your girlfriend in for interrogation, and then search your place on my own.”

  “You’re welcome to try, old man.”

  “If that’s the way you want it.” Uncle Archie’s abilities activated and I threw my hand out grabbing his arm before he could do anything.