Flight from Mayhem (21 page)

G
erta seemed tired,
so Bette led her to one of the conference rooms where she could rest on a sofa, then returned as we discussed the situation. As she slid into the chair, the Melusine had a determined look on her face. “You have no idea how to catch this creature, do you?”

Alex played with a bottle of blood, sliding it back and forth on the table. He looked grumpy, but then again, we hadn't been running a winning streak lately.

“No, to be honest. And I don't think Chase does either. How do you catch somebody who can—whenever they want—transform to look like someone else? I called Johnson a few minutes ago. They're wrapping up out at Stone Weaver's place, and he said that he's going to notify the banks Weaver frequented. He'll tell them that if someone purporting to be Stone Weaver tries to make a withdrawal or transfer, to call the FH-CSI immediately. He can't very well tell them it's a doppelgänger, they wouldn't understand, so he's telling them there's an impersonator defrauding wealthy Fae. But
chances are the creature has already been there and wiped out every account it can. We'll know more when the offices open, so Bette, love, will you do us a favor and get that information before you leave work in the morning?”

She jotted down a note. “Sure thing. I've been thinking. The doppelgänger will move on pretty soon, so if we want to have a chance of catching it, we have to move now. I suggest . . . bait.”

“Bait?” I glanced at her, not sure I liked the sound of that.

“Yes, bait. This doppelgänger goes after wealthy older Fae. We know he—she—it . . . travels in the circles I do. I suggest that I let it be known I just came into an inheritance. I look older, let's face it, I look like a grandma—”

Alex and Ralph both snorted.

“You look as much like a grandma as Glenda did,” Alex said.

I shot him a long look. Just how much was he thinking of Glenda, lately? But the flare of irritation passed as Bette let out a loud chuckle.

“Sugar, you're blind. Truth is, I do look like an elderly Fae. Not an Elder Fae, but an elderly one. Melusines don't retain their physical looks quite so much as they retain the power to charm. We have it where it counts, but the wrinkles and gray hair are there from fairly early on. If the doppelgänger is still around—and I suspect it may try one or two more catches before it moves on to new territory—then I'll set myself up to be right smack in plain sight. And truth is, I have more than a pretty penny set by, so if the critter checks me out, it will see money in the bank.”

The silence was worthy of a pin drop. Ralph cleared his throat, speaking first. “Nope. We can't let you do that, Bette. What if something goes wrong? And doesn't everybody know you work for Alex? If the doppelgänger is smart, it won't dare try anything.”

“There's the kicker, sugar butt.” Bette flashed him a bright smile. “I don't tell anybody down there what I do. I
figure it's best if they don't know. Oh, they know I have a job, but most of them assume that I work in a brothel. I let them think that.”

Alex choked on his blood, spitting a bright red patch of liquid on the table in front of him. He immediately grabbed a napkin and wiped it up. “My apologies, but . . .
What the hell?
You let them think you work in a brothel? As a hooker?”

She stuck out her tongue. “As the madam, I'll have you know. The men are too embarrassed to ask about it—they don't want me knowing they're interested. The women aren't all that interested. It's the perfect cover and it fits a lot more than trying to pass as working as a medical receptionist or something equally inane. I'd never be able to pull off that disguise.”

I hated to agree with her. The idea seemed too dangerous, but it was the only one we had to go on. “Bette may have something. We need to engage the doppelgänger before it moves on. This might be the way to do it. At least it's a plan, and if we can attract its attention, then it won't be hunting some unwary victim. Bette knows what to look out for. It's not like she's going to be taken in by a smooth-talking charmer. But what about Dent? Don't your friends know you have a . . .” I paused, about to say
boy toy
, but I didn't want to offend her.

But she just laughed. “My young stud? Hunk-a-hunk-a burning love? I told you, I was going to break up with him. I don't want anything long term and he does. I'm planning on dropping by his apartment in the morning. So I can put a spin on it and play it out like he broke up with me. I can play the dumped girlfriend to the hilt, and make it out that he thought I was too old for him and how horrible I feel and insecure. If the doppelgänger is around, that will give it the perfect opening.”

Ralph frowned, rapping his knuckles on the table. “It does make sense.”

“I hate to admit it, but I concur.” Alex rubbed his head. “But don't you go playing heroine. You keep us fully informed. If this does draw the doppelgänger out, we need
to know the minute you think he—it—has made a move. We have to walk a fine line here.”

“Sure thing, sugar.” Bette took a long drag on her cigarette. Ralph coughed as she breathed out the smoke in a long plume. Just then, my cell phone jangled.

I glanced at the Caller ID.
Chai.
“Hello?”

“You at the office, Little Sister?” The sound of traffic roared past in the background. Where was he, given the streets were fairly empty during this time of night?

“Yes, I am. What's up and what's that noise?”

“There appears to be a bit of a road race going on, and the cops have just shown up to put a stop to it. But I called you because I was out for a stroll and smelled the salamander. I know where it is and thought if you guys were up for a rumble, maybe we can take the sucker down. He's got himself trapped inside a fenced-in schoolyard and I slammed the gate on him. He doesn't realize it yet, but if you get over here, maybe we can take care of the problem. Though I'm pretty certain he's probably eaten a transient or two by now.” Chai let out a snort. “He looks fat and sassy to me.”

“Do you think you can gate him back to the plane of Fire?”

“Only if I have somebody to distract him while I'm setting up the gate. So get over here pronto.” He hung up. I had put him on my cell phone plan and he wasn't shy about making use of it, even though he knew very few people. He liked playing games on the thing.

I glanced up. “Salamander is caged and Chai thinks we can take it down if we get over there. Or rather, that he can gate it back to the Elemental plane of Fire if we distract it while he sets up the gate.” At the
ding
of my phone, I glanced at it. “He just texted me directions. Not far from here, actually—the creature's got itself stuck in an abandoned schoolyard.”

Ralph and Alex were on their feet immediately.

“Tonya, you stay here with Bette and Gerta.” I slipped on my jacket. “Let's go, boys.”

As we headed toward the Range Rover, I glanced back
at the clock. Four o'clock and all was ready for hell to break loose in the shape of a giant lizard.

*   *   *

B
y the time
we reached the enclosure, Chai had managed to prop the gate shut on it and trap the salamander inside. The lizard was slamming around against the chain link, and it wouldn't be long before it managed to smash its way out.

“We've got to do something soon,” Alex said. “What's our next move? I have no clue how to control one of these beasties.”

Chai eyed the flailing lizard. “I need to open a gate to the Elemental plane of Fire. Chances are, the creature will dive straight through it once it senses it. Usually, Elementals who have been summoned don't really want to hang around, so it should want to go home. But I can't get close enough to open the gate without getting hurt, unless you distract it. So I guess . . . act as bait while I open the gate?”

“You're a poet—” Ralph started to say, but Chai cut him off.

“Yeah, yeah . . . just don't get near its mouth. It might not be a Komodo and have the bacteria they do, but those teeth could sever you in two, wolf boy.”

Ralph grinned. “Then we play a game of keep-away. Alex and Shimmer and I will take turns distracting it while you set up the gate.”

Oh, lovely
, I thought. Just what I wanted to do with the rest of my evening, but we really didn't have a choice, so I steeled myself and—as Chai opened the chain-link fence—we swung in behind him. Alex immediately raced over to the right of the salamander, yelling at the top of his lungs and waving his hands. It swung on him, and Chai slipped past it and began setting up for the gate. As the salamander charged on Alex, Ralph ran to the middle and set up a racket. The giant lizard stopped, then turned and lunged at him. I immediately picked up on what they meant by
keep-away
and—as the salamander careened toward Ralph—I took the left side and pelted it with a nasty rock that was near my foot. And so we went—back and forth, taking turns keeping the thing distracted. I knew this lull wouldn't last long, though. Pretty soon the creature would get so frustrated it would charge one of us and not pull back. I had the feeling we were rapidly reaching that state.

I spied a two-by-four and darted forward to smack the hindquarters of the salamander as it nearly caught Ralph in its teeth. As it spun on me, Chai let out a yell. He was standing by a fiery-looking gate—flames were shooting out of the portal. I dashed toward him, the salamander on my tail. At the last minute, I leaped to the side. The lizard paused for a moment, glancing at me, then at Chai, then back at the flames. It flicked out its tongue, eyeing us as if it were deciding whether we were crunchy enough to stick around for, but then apparently decided we weren't worth the bother and lurched through the gate. Chai shouted some sort of incantation—guttural and harsh—and the gate slammed shut and disappeared with a wisp of smoke.

“What do you know about that?” The voice took us all by surprise.

As we all whirled around, a man staggered into view. He was holding a bottle of what looked like whiskey, with a bemused look on his face. “I didn't realize this stuff was so pow . . . pow . . . strong.” His words were slurred, and I realized he was drunk. He looked like a college frat boy.

Ralph hurried over to him. “What are you doing here, dude?”

“I . . . I'm sorry, sir . . .” The college boy fell back, landing on his ass. It was only then that I realized he was wearing what looked like a toga, and from the open slit on the side, I could see a pair of pink panties. I coughed, not knowing what to say.

“You're being hazed, right? Pledging to a fraternity?” Ralph let out a long sigh.

With a nod, our frat boy leaned to the side and vomited on the pavement. I grimaced.

Ralph glanced over at us. “We can't leave him out here. He'll get himself killed.”

Alex was frowning. “I hate this sort of crap. These organizations think the way to induct members is to make them humiliate themselves, or to put them in outright danger. Look, mate, where are you from? Where do you live?” He made the mistake of smiling, and his fangs peeped out.

The college kid freaked. “Vampire!” He tried to scramble to his feet, but only tripped over his toga and went sprawling face first. Alex reached down and grabbed him by the arm, hauling him to his feet. He forced the sodden frat boy to stare at him. A moment later, the kid relaxed in his grip.

“Mate, I just asked you where you're from and what's your name?”

“Westminster House. Western Washington College of the Arts. I'm . . . Curry . . . Curt.”

“I know where that is,” Ralph said. “It's a new, very private, very exclusive conservatory. In West Seattle near Alki. Ask him what he's supposed to be doing?”

Alex asked him.

“I . . . I . . . drink the bottle and find my way back.” The boy hiccupped.

Alex snorted. “I say we take him back and drop him off at the dean's house.”

“He'll get in trouble, and so will the fraternity.” Ralph frowned.

“Too bad. They deserve to be upbraided for this stunt. Haul him over to the Range Rover, Shimmer, while Ralph and I make sure there are no remaining signs of the lizard.”

Chai joined me. He picked up Curt and gently tossed him over his shoulder. “I'll never understand humans and their need to degrade their own kind.”

“Dragons are good at that, too.” I hated to admit it, but
humans had nothing on my kind when it came to games of humiliation.

“I know, Little Sister.”

We situated Curt in the backseat, and Chai crawled in next to him. By that point, Alex and Ralph returned. Alex eased out of the dead-end street and we headed toward West Seattle.

“At least the salamander is taken care of. One case closed.”

“For all the good ten dollars a month will do.” Alex laughed ruefully. “But we'll consider it our good deed for the month.” He sobered. “What do you all think about Bette's plan? I have a really bad feeling about it.”