“You’ve got me confused with someone in the know.” She tracked me as I continued to back away.
“The interview doesn’t have to be right now,” Caroline said.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She finally stopped following me, turning away. I kept reversing until I emerged from the thickest part of the crowd. I skirted around the edge of the throng, this time keeping my eyes open for crazy reporters looking to collide into me.
When I had put some distance between us, I searched Caroline out again, seeing her talking to the cameraman beside her van.
She has to be attractive, doesn’t she? I thought wistfully.
Don’t pretend you aren’t loving it, Jerome thought. Though you liked it more before you figured out she was shaking you down for shade info.
It would have been easier to walk away from her if she had wrinkly skin and a pudgy body.
I dunno, Jerome thought. That body might not be pudgy, but it sure is undulating.
Mmmmhhh, undulating.
You are the worse, Jerome thought. You may have walked away, but you are still staring at her and she knows it.
Why do complications have to be good-looking?
They don’t. You just fixate on the good-looking ones.
Do not.
Do too. Harriet Ashley, Doctor Kressan, and Elizabeth Lowndes are all possible problems for you, but you don’t dream about them like you do with Florence, Sash, and now Caroline.
Can you see my dreams?
Jerome mentally chuckled. Which one? Sash or Florence?
I flushed. Neither. It was just a question.
Tell me more about this dream, Jerome thought. PG-13, R rating, or something you’d only find on the dark web.
“Hey.” Someone grabbed my arm, and I swiveled around. Sash.
Pity I can’t communicate directly with sensitives, Jerome thought. I’d love to tell her about that dream you had. Did we settle on it being R-rated or dark-corners-of-the-web rated?
The heat in my face bloomed into full blush. “Why are you creeping up on me?” My stomach tightened at having her unexpectedly standing so close to me.
“Creeping? I came over to find out what you were telling the reporter.”
Ask her if she is jealous, Jerome thought.
“Shut up.”
Sash’s eyes widened. “What did you say to me?”
Ha ha, you told the person who decides whether to execute you or not to shut up, Jerome thought.
“I didn’t mean for you to shut up,” I told Sash. “I meant myself. My own thoughts.”
“You were telling your own thoughts to shut up?” She no longer seemed mad; she looked at me like I was crazy. I wasn’t sure if that was better or worse.
Probably various reasons she could decide the need to execute a sentinel who is on probation, Jerome thought. Stupidity, insanity, recklessness, emotional imbalance. You are ticking all the boxes.
Don’t forget it’s worse for you if I get killed and you end up alive but stuck in a coffin with me. I turned my attention back to Sash. “Before my mouth ran away with me, you were asking about the reporter.”
Direct her back to what she was mad at you about. Good plan, Jerome thought.
“What were you telling her?” Sash asked. “You know that news about the prison was leaked yesterday, right? Findley and I were just discussing who it could be when we look down and see you talking to a reporter.”
“That wasn’t my doing. Do you know the old bump-into-someone-with-blank-printer-paper-in-hand move?”
“You are so weird.”
“Why, thank you.” I twirled my hand and did a little bow.
She gave a head-shake. “I have to get back.” She climbed up the steps back toward the dais.
Get any good material for the next dream? Jerome asked.
I told you, there was no dream.
Picture this, Jerome thought. She is wearing black leather and approaches slowly, her tongue wetting her lips. Your hands and feet are tied down; you are spread-eagled and powerless. Your chest pounds with anticipation. Then she stabs and kills you.
You aren’t funny.
Chapter 13
Tuesday 08:35
The conference had been due to start at eight, but the mayor was still showing no urgency to get started, and the crowd was growing restless. Directly in front of the dais, the majority of watchers were clearly all reporters, but the surroundings of the plaza was also beginning to fill up with people. I didn’t know if that was due to passersby stopping to see what was going on or if word was spreading beyond the press corps about this event.
The main road in front of city had been closed off, but a stretch limo trickled through the crowd with shouting police moving people out of the way to let it through. The limo pulled in behind the TV vans, and the driver stepped out. It was Konstance.
The ninja, Jerome thought.
The ninja indeed. The last time I had seen Konstance, he’d been wearing a black mask, and he’d stabbed me in the stomach with a sword. Presently, he wore dark sunglasses and a black suit, looking more FBI agent than ninja. Konstance opened the back door of the limo, and his employer, Richard Sulle, got out.
I had expected Sulle as soon as I saw Konstance. What I certainly didn’t expect was the next two people to emerge from the limo. Florence and Jo. I ran across. What were the two of them doing in Sulle’s limo?
Richard Sulle was first to see me. His smile reminded me of a great white shark, his teeth bright against his well-tanned skin. “Rune Russell. We meet again. What a surprise.”
“Why have you brought them?” I nodded at Jo and Florence.
Sulle smile gleamed. “You expect me to answer to you?”
Before I had a chance to reply to me, Alex barreled me out of the way. “Jo shouldn’t be here. I made myself clear.”
“Mayor Maxwell told me to bring her,” Sulle said. “I thought there had been a change of plan.”
Alex shook his head. “There wasn’t. This is unacceptable.”
“Let’s straighten this out.” Sulle led Alex toward the dais. It appeared Sulle had no problem answering to Alex.
Konstance, standing behind Florence and Jo, made a stabbing motion in my direction, then winked at me. I scowled, feeling the urge to summon my firesword. That’d wipe the grin off his face.
Also cause a mass panic, Jerome thought.
I don’t intend to do it.
“Come with me.” I guided Florence and Jo away from the limo and Konstance’s grin.
“I want to apologize for last night,” Florence said.
“For what?”
“For how I was. The situation at Gorlam’s has me all flustered. I must have seemed an awful pile of goop.”
“You were more, I don’t know, passive than I remembered. Not as sure of yourself.” She seemed much more refreshed today.
“Exactly,” Florence nodded. “Goop. All this supernatural stuff threw me for a loop. Shades, sentinels, and God knows what else.”
“You are dealing with it better than most.” I thought of Tyler and Pete. “A lot better. And of course you faced down Sash. I wouldn’t have had the courage.”
“That had to be done,” Florence said. “I can’t believe it was allowed to go on as long as he did. I’ve talked to Doctor Kressan, and the test that woman wants to run will be organized properly from here on. The doctor will use a scalpel and make sure everything is sterile, and bandage it up after someone has checked for unusual healing. We’ll call in the employees at Gorlam’s one by one, telling them it’s a swab test for, I don’t know, Doctor Kressan can use some medical jargon.”
“I’m sure that’ll work for Sash,” I said.
“I don’t care what she wants,” Florence said. “That’s the way it’s going to be.”
“How is Ally?” I asked Jo.
“I didn’t get a chance to meet her yet today, but I’m sure she’s still terrified. Have you figured out a way to help her?”
I sh
ook my head.
Florence spoke up. “Jo and I are investigating. We’ll figure out who’s behind the possessions.”
“You shouldn’t be doing that. Leave it to me and Sash.”
“I’ve recorded who was first on the scene after each of the children were attacked and who else was close. Both Doctor Kressan and Director Wells were on duty during each attack.”
“It can only be a sentinel,” I said. “Sash thinks her test is the best way to start.”
“Where did she learn her investigation skills, the Spanish Inquisition?” Florence asked. “Wait, don’t answer, maybe she was alive back then—who knows with all this magic stuff happening? You two aren’t going to solve anything the way she is going about things. I made a list of social workers who were on duty on the nights in question.”
“Could you email me your notes so I can look them over?”
“I guess so.” Florence didn’t seem happy to share. I guessed she associated me with Sash’s more bloody investigation tactics.
“I’ve started asking the other orphans if they have seen anything unusual,” Jo said. “They’ll often talk to one of their own quicker than an adult.”
“Jo, please don’t. Whatever about Florence, you definitely shouldn’t get involved. This is dangerous.”
“You think that the only thing I’m useful for is holding Ally’s hand.”
“Of course not.”
“Would you object to Alex investigating the possessions?”
“There’d be no point in trying to stop him.”
“So because I’m a girl, you can order me around?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
“And you don’t want Florence putting herself in danger either. Because she’s one of those weak female types.”
“I never said that.”
Florence looked across me at Jo. “He’s a bit of a chauvinist pig, is he?”
“Not a pig, but he has plenty of ingrained chauvinism to work on,” Jo said.
Schooled. Jerome mentally chuckled.
I’m supposed to feel bad about feeling protective?
Apparently. Keep up, Jerome thought.
“What are you two doing here anyway?” I asked, deciding to change the subject. I knew a losing battle when I saw one. “I gathered that the mayor wanted you here, but Alex didn’t.”
“No one told me,” Florence said. “When I insisted Jo couldn’t be just be taken out of the orphanage, I was told to accompany her.”
“It’s to do with where used to live, Collier Mansion,” Jo said. “Alex and I inherited the charred remains of the house.” She glanced across at me. When I said nothing, she continued. “The whole thing was a big mess. Some of the grounds belonged to the Wyndhams, our grandparents—who wanted nothing to do with us—insurance premiums hadn’t been paid, and the house had been mortgaged to the hilt. Alex did some deal where we wiped our hands of everything.”
“What’s that got to do with—I have to go.” I dashed from Florence and Jo, leaving them with the confused expressions.
I had just seen someone who meant bad news.
Heff, the phoenix shifter.
Chapter 14
Tuesday 08:55
By the time I reached the place where I’d seen him, Heff had disappeared. I searched frantically. He had been in human form, with a gray hoodie pulled low over his face, but I had gotten a brief glimpse of his unmistakeable spiderweb tattoos.
All faces turned in the same direction and a hush descended. The press conference was starting.
“Thanks for coming out, everyone, and sorry about the delay in starting,” Mayor Maxwell said. “These are chaotic times.” He paused. “I know that the city is still reeling from the announcement I made over the weekend. There has been little outright panic, and for that I am proud of the people of this great city. I know the fear that is in the hearts of each and every one of you, for I have that same fear myself. But as I said on Saturday, the best way to deal with that fear is to be open and shine a light on the unknown.”
Mayor Maxwell’s voice reached the entire plaza through large speakers placed to the side of the lectern. While I listened to the mayor’s speech, I continued to move through the crowd, searching the faces, looking for the gray hoodie. According to Tyler, Heff had said on the message board that he intended to make sure this prison never happened. Whatever he was planning, it wasn’t going to be good.
“However,” the mayor continued, “I also wanted to assure everyone that the authorities aren’t just reacting to events. We are being proactive. Many believe that the world has been turned upside down and that the city is powerless to help you. I can assure everyone that is simply not true. It’s an unprecedented problem, but one we are dealing with in a calm manner just like we dealt with the clogged sewer system last year. In fact, we are confident that this problem will prove much less smelly.”
The mayor paused, but apart from one titter, no one was inclined to laugh.
“I have every expectation that the vast majority of these shades will be productive members of society,” the mayor continued. “Those who aren’t will have to be dealt with the same as any other criminal. To that end, I’m today announcing the building of a specialized prison. Such facilities exist in other parts of the country, but here at City Hall, we feel it’s important to have one in Lusteer City.”
A murmur ran through the crowd.
“Before we get into the details, I want to briefly mention one brave man. His name was John Collier, and he was one of the first reporters to investigate supernatural activity in this city. He and his wife died in a fire, and we believe that was because of what he tried to expose criminals within the supernatural world.”
Behind the mayor, Alex stared at the ground. I couldn’t see where Jo was.
“Good, brave men willing to stand up for what is right is what has made our country great, and I salute you, John Collier. Your sacrifice wasn’t recognized at the time, but I want to announce that, in recognition of your courage, the prison will be built on the grounds of where you died and will be called the John Collier Prison.”
As the mayor paused for a round of applause, he glanced behind at Alex, who gave a stiff shake of his head. “John’s family asks that you respect their privacy. Now I’m sure you’ll have heard of our so-called budget problems.” Mayor Maxwell grinned. “Heck, you know about them better than me, since the majority of them have been invented by members of the press.” He didn’t get a single laugh but that didn’t stop Mayor Maxwell from smiling to himself. “Nevertheless, I won’t deny that things are tight, and the last thing we want to do is to have to raise taxes in these uncertain times. So I’m happy to announce that this prison is a public-private partnership led by a corporate consortium.” Maxwell half turned and held out his arm. Richard Sulle approached.
“That’s like giving the keys of the prison to the criminals,” I muttered to myself. Sulle might not be a shade, but no one could convince me he was on the right side.
Maybe no one is on the right side. Jerome thought. Just varying shades of wrong. Pun intended.
That’s a scary thought.
Welcome to the real world.
The mayor put an arm on Sulle’s shoulder. “Richard Sulle was the person who led the consortium that built Verge Tower. He has very generously offered his time and expertise toward this project.”
I was continuing to look for Heff, but the only thing my search was turning up was angry glares from those I bumped into. I decided I needed a better way. The row of TV vans gave me an idea, and I headed toward them.
The mayor stepped away from the microphone and Sulle took his place. “My time and expertise are all very well, but I know what I’m really wanted for,” Sulle said. “Money.”
The time the crowd laughed.
“I know I won’t be believed, but I’m not in this for profit,” Sulle continued. “The announcement by the mayor a few days ago has shocked the city, and it still hasn’t recovered.
I can see it in the way people walk, in the way they jump at shadows, even in the way they hold themselves.” Sulle paused, his eyes scanning the crowd. “I was born in Lusteer, in an old slum neighborhood called Calico. Do you know what happened to Calico?” Sulle lifted his arm and pointed to the skyscrapers of the central business district. “The tenement buildings were knocked down and something better and stronger was built. Forever onwards and upwards, my friends, in this great city and this great country. I’ve lived here long enough to know the psyche of a person from Lusteer. We can be knocked down, but we’ll never stay down. We’ve been dealt a shock, and it will take a while to come to terms with it, but when we do, we will emerge stronger than before. No one is taking our city from us, whether they come from heaven or hell.”
A cheer rose up. I looked around in surprise. This was my first ever press conference, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t normal for people to stand up and applaud at these things. The mayor had gotten virtually no reaction, yet everyone went nuts for Sulle. I shook my head in disgust.
Reaching one of the TV vans, I hopped first onto the hood, then onto the roof. I quickly looked around to see if anyone had noticed my remarkable jumping, but everyone was fixated on Sulle. From the top of the van, I could see everything much better. I scanned for Heff.
“We are all in this together,” Sulle said when everyone had quieted down. “Whether we be a politician, a citizen, or even a company. When I went around to the CEOs in the city and told them that the people of Lusteer needed this prison, they didn’t hesitate. They acted with generosity, and I was able to raise enough money to get this project off the ground in just a few days.”
I wondered why the mayor had let Sulle take the microphone. Surely an experienced politician would want to take full credit for the project.
A sharp voice rang out. “Is it true that Transkey have been awarded the contract for building the prison?”
Sulle surveyed the crowd before his gaze fell on Caroline Black standing at the side of the seating area. Her cameraman stood behind her with his camera on his shoulder.
Fire Summoning (The Sentinels Book 2) Page 8
