Gods and Swindlers (City of Eldrich Book 3) (27 page)

Jeff was massaging Kady’s shoulders and neck. “Sorry, guys. I know you want to talk to your dad, but I need to look after my woman.”

Kady snorted. “I’m fine for now. I’ve been listening. Trust me. We need as much help from Matthew as we can get.”

Jeff sighed. “They have a dragon? That’s fucked up.”

“You can’t talk like that when the baby gets here,” Kady said.

“Indeed,” Matthew said. Meaghan could tell now by the tone of voice which one was speaking. “What’s the plan?”

Meaghan shook her head and pointed in the direction of the Donners’ house. “I don’t have a plan, Dad. Not yet.”

“No plan?” Jeff’s voice squeaked with fear.

Kady reached behind her, gave him an awkward punch on the leg, then pointed toward the floor and rolled her eyes.

“Oh,” he said, with a grin.

“I’m going across the street,” Meaghan said.

“Not alone you aren’t,” Russ said.

“You want to leave Dad?”

“No. But you can’t go out there by yourself.”

The wind howled, as if trying to argue his point. Russ pointed toward the window. “You can’t even see their house from here. If you wander off in the wrong direction or slip or—”

“Jeff can go with her,” Kady said. When he objected, she said, “Honey, I love you, but you’re kind of driving me nuts at the moment. You heard Gretchen. We’ve got hours until go time. Help Meaghan. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay,” Jeff said. “There’s about forty feet of tow chain in the plow truck. We can hook one end to it and take the other with us. If we get lost, we can follow the chain back to the truck. It’s parked right in front of your house.”

Meaghan looked at Russ. “How’s that for bread crumbs, Hansel?”

“Don’t joke,” Russ said. “You don’t know anything about winter. A storm like this can kill you.” He looked at Jeff. “The tow chain is a good idea. Do it, no matter what she says.”

Meaghan nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. We’ll be back soon and I’m bringing everybody back here. We can’t risk them splitting us up.”

Let’s hope the elves haven’t already thought of that and the witches’ barrier holds.
So far, the elves seemed more focused on keeping Holly Lane isolated from the wider world but, other than the morning shenanigans in the basement, had not directly interfered. Meaghan felt certain Terry’s smashed generator had been the work of the Order, not the elves.

Marnie met them at the front door. “I’m going with you. Me being here is upsetting Natalie. I can feel it from up here. We need her strong and focused.”

Meaghan opened her mouth to object, then nodded. She knew from her own experience in Fahraya that Marnie wasn’t merely imagining it.

They wrestled into their coats and boots, and stepped into the howling night.

The accumulated snow was now well over their knees. They tried to find the path created by earlier trips to and from the house, but the wind had drifted it closed. Even the tire tracks were gone. Holly Lane looked like the Arctic wilderness.

Bracing herself against the gusts, Meaghan shined the flashlight in the direction of the plow. It was caked with snow, but the orange paint was still visible in spots. She pointed at it and grabbed Jeff’s hand. He grabbed Marnie’s hand, and together the three of them fought their way through the deep snow.

Jeff pulled himself into the back of the truck bed and retrieved two large plastic buckets. He pulled a large hook from one bucket, attached it to a ring on the side of the truck. They made their way across the street, lugging the heavy chain buckets.

The tow chain had seemed silly when Jeff first mentioned it, but Meaghan was grateful for it before they were halfway across the street. The flashlight was useless. The driving snow had obliterated all landmarks.

Even Marnie, with her heightened senses, struggled to find her way. They got to the end of the first twenty-foot chain and realized they’d veered off on a diagonal toward the empty field abutting the Keele and Donner properties at the dead end of Holly Lane.

In warmer weather, it was a pleasant rolling meadow, about two acres, full of rabbits and birds and swaying grass. The end of the road was marked by a few short sections of guardrail with enough space between them to easily pass through without realizing it.

If they wandered out there now, they’d be dead long before anyone found them.

They corrected their course, attached the second chain to the first and, this time, found themselves in the front of the Donners’ house.

Meaghan banged on the door.

“It’s me and Marnie and Jeff,” she shouted over the roar of the wind. “Let us in.”

The door creaked open. In the dim light glowing from the fireplace, Meaghan made out a large figure holding a sledgehammer.

“Oh, for hell’s sake, Terry, open the goddam door and let us in,” Meaghan shouted. “We’re freezing our asses off out here.”

“Meg, what are you doing here?” Terry pulled her into the house, with Jeff and Marnie trailing behind her.

“Sucks out there,” Jeff said. “Hey, man, I hear you’re like this badass thunder god.”

“Huh,” Terry grunted. “Not even close. What’s going on? How’s the baby doing?”

“He’s her dad,” Jeff said pointing at Meaghan. “Super weird shit.”

Brian walked up, smiling at Marnie. She slipped her arm around him and gave him a quick kiss.

That’s why Natalie’s upset
.

Brian looked at Meaghan. “Is Kady’s baby really your father?”

“For the moment, yeah,” Meaghan said.

“She’s not in big labor, yet,” Jeff said. “Gretchen says we’ve got a few hours to go.”

“How are we doing on the plan?” Meaghan asked. “Also, I think we need to get everyone over to my house so they can’t split us up. We almost got lost coming over here.”

“Yeah,” Brian said. “We were thinking the same thing. The plan is coming along.”

Meaghan pulled off her coat. With all the people and the fire, it was reasonably warm. She followed everyone into the crowded living room. Jeff was immediately monopolized by Steph, who wanted to hear all about the baby. Marnie stayed close to Brian. Despite Marnie’s earlier calm talking about her ordeal, Meaghan could see how much more relaxed she looked with Brian nearby.

Luka, Terry, and Owen sat in a knot by the fire, whispering back and forth.

But Meaghan’s eye was quickly drawn to the three people sitting near the front windows.

Up until now, Buzz had been one of the largest men Meaghan had ever seen. But the man and woman who sat next to him made Buzz look small.

The Millers. Now Meaghan understood why they were so reclusive. Their size exceeded human scale. The man had to be eight feet tall and the woman wasn’t much smaller. Like Buzz, the man was bald, but the woman had white hair pulled back into a braid.

She gave Meaghan a shy smile.

Buzz noticed Meaghan and grinned. “Hey, Meg, come over and say hi to my cousins.” He patted the woman’s arm. “This is Aggie.” He pointed at the mountain sitting on his other side. “This little guy is Hank.”

Those better be strong chairs.
Hank had to weigh at least five hundred pounds and none of it appeared to be fat.

In a voice like the rumble of an avalanche, Hank said, “I knew your pa. Good feller, Matthew. Sorry to hear he passed.”

“Thank you,” Meaghan said. She decided not to mention the pending reincarnation going on across the street.

“We brought you some ’shine,” Hank said.

“Rocket fuel, he means,” Buzz said. “Strong stuff.”

Meaghan laughed. “No kidding. I’ve sampled it before.”

Buzz laughed, too. “Yeah, don’t drink it near an open flame.”

During the Labor Day struggle, the Power had used a jar of the Miller’s moonshine as accelerant in their effort to burn Marnie. At the memory, Meaghan’s laughter abruptly ceased. She’d been there with a fire extinguisher to smother the flames before Marnie was burned, but in the back of her mind, Meaghan could still hear Marnie’s anguished screams.

Aggie, seeing the look on Meaghan’s face, swatted Buzz on the back of the head hard enough to make him gasp. “It mixes nice with ginger ale,” she said in soft voice. “Don’t need more than a splash, so a jar lasts you a good long time.”

“What the hell, Aggie?” Buzz spluttered.

Aggie swatted Buzz again. “Hush, boy.” She gave Meaghan another shy smile. “Ignore him, child.”

“Ow.” Buzz rubbed the back of his head. “She puts on this sweet old lady routine, but she’s got a punch like a Mack truck. If that dragon shows up, Aggie can take care of it all by herself.”

“Shut your mouth, boy,” Aggie said. “You don’t jest about dragons. They’re fearsome wild beasts.”

“But tasty,” rumbled Hank, “if you dress the meat proper.”

“You need to talk to my brother,” Meaghan said. “He’d love to learn how to cook dragon.”

“Tastes just like chicken,” Buzz said, winking at Meaghan.

“No,” Hank said, a serious look on his huge face. “It don’t. It tastes more like duck, but spicy like.”

“Hank, you don’t know what dragon tastes like neither,” Aggie said, sharing an amused look with Meaghan. “There isn’t nobody around here knows what dragon tastes like because nobody’s eaten dragon in over a thousand years.”

She gestured to Meaghan to come closer. “Your feller is hiding across the room. He’s nervous being this close to us because we make liquor and he don’t want to be tempted. You should go steady him up a bit.”

Meaghan glanced across the room. John was huddled in an armchair in a dark corner on the other side of the room.

She nodded to Aggie. “I’ll do that.”

Aggie lifted her giant hand and gave Meaghan a soft pat on the arm. “He’s a good man and he’s trying hard.”

“I know,” Meaghan said, smiling back at Aggie. Despite her size and alleged punching skills, Aggie exuded gentleness. “Nice meeting you both.”

She made her way across the room to John. His eyes were closed, a look of concentration on his face. She stared at him for a long moment and felt her eyes fill with tears.

I love him and now I’ll die before I can get my head straight enough to show him how much.

She shoved the tears back down. If she thought about the dragon right now, she’d lose it. “It’s me. Open your eyes.”

He sighed. “Are they still here?”

“Yes,” Meaghan said, “with a jar of moonshine and a funnel so they can pour it down your throat.”

John chuckled and looked up at her. “Don’t joke. I . . . they are so large and they bring so many jars with them.”

“How are you guys doing with that?”

“I’m hiding in this chair trying to meditate, and Terry is drinking even more coffee than usual.”

Meaghan grimaced. “Is he bouncing off the walls yet?”

John laughed. “Soon.” He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. “How are things at your house?”

“As weird as they are over here,” Meaghan said, hugging him. “As weird as they always are.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

L
UKA, TERRY, AND
Owen rose to their feet and headed over to Meaghan and John.

“Let’s go back to the kitchen,” Terry said a manic gleam in his eye. “Have a chat.”

It was much colder in the back of the house. A single candle burned in the center of the kitchen table.

Meaghan pulled out a chair and sat down. “So, guys, you got a plan yet?”

Luka grinned. “Yeah, I think we do.”

“Well?”

Owen yawned. “I could use some coffee, but Terry drank it all.”

“Don’t lie, there’s more, you know there’s more, plenty for all,” Terry said in a rush.

Meaghan glanced at John. “You said he wasn’t bouncing off the walls yet.”

John watched Terry through narrowed eyes. “I was wrong. Are you okay?”

Terry snorted and waved his hand. “I’m fine. Just a little amped up.” He grinned. “Amped up, get it?”

Owen sighed. “Unfortunately.”

Luka stared at Terry for a long moment. “You sure you can pull this off?”

Terry stared back. “Sure I’m sure.” He squirmed in his chair. “I think.”

“Pull what off?” Meaghan asked.

“The fair folk have to think I’m drinking again,” Terry said, avoiding John’s eyes. “That I’m too drunk to be a threat.”

“We are back to this again? This is a bad idea.” John glared at Luka and Owen. “I thought you agreed with me. Do you think this is a game we play? That we don’t fight for every day we stay sober?”

“They know the stakes,” Terry said. “They were there when I was at my worst. They’re as invested as I am in keeping me on the wagon.”

“More,” Luka said. “We had to clean up the messes.”

“And there were a lot of messes,” Owen added. “So many messes.”

“But—”

“Johnny, if there was another way, I’d do it. But they need to believe I’m not a threat.”

“But if they know about the lightning—”

“They know when I’m drunk I have very little control over it. If they know the lightning is back, then better they think the drinking came with it.”

Luka leaned forward. “John, trust me. I’m not any happier about this idea than you are. But Terry’s right. They want us to hand him over so they can break him and show everyone the smith is a fraud. If they think he’s already broken, they’ll let their guard down.”