The Detective Inspectors (The Doorknob Society Saga Book 4) (11 page)

“Does the HVO have any Artifacts?”

“Not in our possession. The last one we had had been the Looking Glass and that has been lost for over a hundred years.”

“At least they don’t have it then.”

“They might not have that, but this means at least one Society has fallen. How long before another one falls?”

 Gavin entered the room and sat down across from Emory. “I’ve been getting warning signs about HVO for months now. I sent Henna and another DI Kayla Pendragon to look into it. There are still small factions of resistance like Emory. But for the most part the First Kind’s control is solid. Miranda, the head of HVO, has been in charge for years and no one would ever suspect her of being First Kind.”

“I’ve known Miranda for a very long time. I can’t believe she would ever turn against the HVO.” Emory shook his head.

 “Regardless, it appears that she has been placing people in positions of authority for at least six months now. Either she is with them or she is under their control, either way we have a big problem on our hands.”

“Is Henna okay?” I asked.

“She’s holing up in the Dying Star Markets since she got too close to some compromised DIs. Once the heat dies down I’ll go collect her.”

“What can we do?” I asked.

“If we go to the Council it could make things worse,” Gavin explained. “They would turn against what remains of HVO and it could lead to an open war. We have to contain the damage.”

“How?”

“I’m not sure.” Gavin shook his head and let out a low whistle.

“There is a failsafe in the prison,” Emory offered.

“How so?” I asked anxiously.

“If the prison was ever a lost effort, we built in a kill switch. Once activated it closes down all access to the dimension effectively cutting it off from the universe.”

“That would trap everyone in the prison there,” I said to clarify.

“That’s right, once activated you only have fifteen minutes to get out before the prison is cut off forever.”

Gavin looked as surprised as I did, only I voiced it. “That’s pretty extreme.”

“So is the situation,” Emory reminded. “The HVO has been trying to reach the prison for the last month but without success. Every mission we’ve attempted has failed.”

“That failsafe is it still active, will it work?” I asked.

“Yes, it is a very old power, but according to all our best men it would be very effective.”

“He’s talking about the same thing that was used on the real First Kind a millennium ago. It would work and could end this whole thing if we caught enough First Kind in the trap.” Gavin leaned forward his eyes gleaming. “We can take the fight to them.”

“I like the sound of that.” I relished the idea of playing offense for once.

 “It’s dangerous,” Emory warned, “if you get caught in the dimension you’ll be cut off and locked in there with them.”

“I need to get Edgar out of there no matter what, so I have to take the chance. But if we can deal a blow to the First Kind as well, it makes it that much sweeter, which means we have to do it.”

“Will your team go along with it?” Gavin asked.

“They’d go to hell with me to save Edgar. The other problem is Nightshade.”

“Why’s that?” Gavin asked.

“The Guild doesn’t trust him anymore and they have DS looking into him. He bought some Gremlin Collar that has them all worked up.”

“A Gremlin Collar, I haven’t seen one of those in years,” Gavin said. “Why would he want it?”

“No idea, and after the meeting Uncle Archie and I had with him this morning I doubt he’ll be volunteering the information. He was going to help us find a Mapmaker for the team and now I’m not sure if I should even let him be part of the team.”

“Nightshade has skills that could help you,” Gavin advised. “Let me talk with him and see what I can find out. Just because the Guild doesn’t trust him, doesn’t make it true. I’ve known Nightshade for a long time, let me see what I can do.”

Gavin had been Nightshade’s friend and I was glad to know that he still was. “Okay, now the question is how do we get into Storm Reach?”

“I can help you there,” Emory offered.

Status: Maybe I’m just unstable?

“He’s in a prison?” Val’s voice cracked as if she was about to break down.

 I tucked my arms around my chest hugging myself tightly, feeling her pain and worry and wishing I was able to reach out and hug her. Unfortunately, I wasn’t good with physical displays of emotions. But I could reassure her. “Yes, but we know where he is now and that’s what matters.”

“Can you rescue him?”

“You bet your ass we can.” I had to believe my own words because there was no way in hell that I was going to leave Edgar there. He was one of my best friends and the First Kind had already taken too much from me to lose someone else I cared about.

“It’s dangerous isn’t it, like really dangerous?” Val’s voice didn’t only quiver, so did her lips.

 I wasn’t about to lie to her, besides she wasn’t stupid. She had unexpectedly been on a mission with my team and had firsthand knowledge of the danger we faced. “Yes, very dangerous”

Her eyes welled with tears. “Chloe, I want him back, but I don’t want to lose you in the process.”

 “That won’t happen.”

“How can you be sure? Let them send someone else, it’s bad enough that you’ve lost so much already.” She hurried over to me and clutched my hand as if she’d never let go.

“I won’t leave Edgar, Val. He knows I’ll come for him. He’s waiting and I won’t disappoint him. I won’t let them take anyone else from me. She’s already killed my father and robbed me of my life. She’s not getting Edgar too!”

 “She?”

“My mother is responsible for all of this and it’s up to me to finish it.” I pulled away from Val and stormed across the room. I stopped at the window staring out as dusk settled over London. My anger was near to boiling and I wasn’t sure I could stop it from spilling over.

“Chloe, I know she ruined things for you. But if you’re this angry now, how can you know that you’re not doing this just for the sake of revenge?”

“Does it matter, Val, don’t I deserve revenge? My mom, the woman who was supposed to love me unconditionally, stole my childhood. Then after all those years of wondering why she left Dad and I, she waltzes back into my life, steals away the man I love, and kills my father.” My voice quivered and my whole body trembled with anger. “She killed him, Val! She killed my dad, her husband, the man she claimed she loved with all her heart.”

 Val didn’t say anything, she simply slid her arm around my shoulders and hugged me.

I couldn’t stop trembling and Val didn’t stop hugging me. “I refuse to let her get away with everything and she’s definitely not getting Edgar.”

“Then go get Edgar and bring him and everyone with you back home safely,” she whispered. “And please be careful.”

“I’m always careful.” I laughed and she joined in since we both knew that I didn’t do careful. Both of us also understood that there was no way I was going to let anyone else take on the mission of finding and rescuing Edgar. My friend— my responsibility— no matter the risk to me.

We stood side by side and watched the city come to life for the night. Lights flickered on as the moon rose full. The sounds of cars and people drifted through the window and yet I felt detached from it all. I wondered if I would ever be part of life again.

 The sudden need for solitude hit me hard and I eased myself away from Val. “I’m going to grab some sleep. I’ll see you later.”

 Val nodded and I appreciated that she didn’t try to get me to talk or cheer me up. I walked to my room closing the door quietly and slid out of my clothes with some effort. I had barely gotten any sleep last night and my day hadn’t exactly been an easy one so exhaustion was gaining on me. I crawled into bed peeling off my boots and pants and tossing them on the floor. I grabbed the blankets and pulled them around me, grateful for their warmth and comfort and laid my head down and closed my eyes.

I wanted sleep to come so badly but my chaotic thoughts had a different idea. I didn’t know what I was going to do about Nightshade. It was problem enough that the Council didn’t trust him, but I wasn’t sure if I should either. I wanted to, I wanted to believe that the First Kind hadn’t entirely stolen the pain-in-the-ass guy that I had known and had come to love. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t deny that he was different and that was something I was fighting to accept.

Then there was my mom. It was obvious that I was letting my anger toward her get in the way of my better judgment. My thirst for revenge was growing worse, even though I had good reason for it. I had to take a step back and examine things more impartially. The one thing that still had me puzzled was... who did she answer to? I really needed to find out, since even if my mom was eliminated, the big boss would still keep coming. The only way to end it for good was to get the top guy, which meant finding out who the hell was pulling the strings. If the First Kind succeeded and were able to open a portal to where the true First Kind was locked away, it would be the end of the Old Kind and the world that I knew. I sure as hell wasn’t about to let that happen.

No wonder sleep couldn’t reach me, my mind was on overload. I bet Nightshade didn’t have this problem. No, he was probably in bed with his new girlfriend Darla. How the hell could he date her? I hadn’t been able to stand that girl since the moment I met her. She had been a thorn in my side then and she was an even bigger one now.

I grabbed my pillow, yanked it from under my neck, shoved it against my face, and opened my mouth and screamed into it. With all my problems, here I was once again worrying about the girl that Nightshade was dating. Had I really become like those girls that annoyed me? I had followed him the other night. That thought had me screaming my frustration into the pillow again.

I whacked myself with the pillow over and over. It was time to knock the pathetic girly thing off. I wished the pillow was heavier, then maybe it would knock me out and I wouldn’t have to think about it anymore, but I wasn’t that lucky.

I tossed the pillow away and sat up, glancing around my new room. I had thrown most of my stuff off to one side in a pile. All I had brought was a duffel bag of boots and one suitcase. The room was barren except for the huge bed and a dresser with a mirror attached to the back of it. A big window let in a stream of light from the city and the high ceilings made me feel small. I was used to my attic room with exposed rafters and the view of the Ocean.

I missed Cape May and I knew if I wanted I could open a portal and sleep there tonight, but that would be taking a step backward and I had to move on.

What I needed to do was come up with a plan, something better than rushing into the prison and bashing heads. I had wanted to talk with Gavin about Rosalita but with Emory around I didn’t feel comfortable about it. I always seemed to be keeping secrets, so what was one more.

 Rosalita was a fixer and if I had it right, my great-great grandmother. But I hadn’t really confirmed that yet. I did know she was a Polymorph and that she knew my ancestor, and great-great grandfather, Bodie who I’d met at the Tavern at the End of Time.

I hadn’t thought about Bodie in a while. I activated my abilities and opened a small portal to my own personal dimension. I didn’t need a doorknob for it since only I could access it. I reached in and my fingers wrapped around the handle of my Polymorph Case. I pulled it out and slid it onto the bed beside me. I snapped the locks and turned the gears flipping it open.

Sitting in the middle of the case was the mirror that Rosalita had given me when I found out I was being controlled by a Forget Me Not. During my trip to the Tavern at the End of Time I had met Bodie, and he had the same exact mirror. Somehow the two were connected through time and I’d been able to talk to him one time since then. I had wanted to talk with him again but hadn’t had the chance... until now.

I worked the controls on the handle, the face of the mirror rippling like a drop of water falling into a pond. My reflection faded replaced by darkness, though I could hear muffled noises.

“Bodie?” I asked quietly, the darkness shifted and a flash of light dashed across the glass.

“Chloe?” Bodie’s face appeared in the mirror, and I had to smile.

Here I was in modern times talking with a relative from another era and his fashion sense proved that. His shoulder length, blond hair was combed backed away from his brow and his posture was rigid in a brown suit that seemed more like a suit of armor to me, especially with that high stiff, white collar.

I chuckled, thrilled to be able to see him again. “Thank goodness, I thought we wouldn’t get to talk again.”

 “Me too.”

“I’m glad you’re okay, but where are you?” He raised an eyebrow and I realized he most likely wasn’t used to seeing young women lying around half dressed. I reached over and yanked my suitcase open and pulled out a hoodie and tossed it on, zipping it closed.

“Sorry, long day, I was about to go to bed.”

“Were you able to learn anything more about Ian Gatekeeper?”

 Gatekeeper was the man in Bodie’s time responsible for the Darkwatch, a precursor to the First Kind. And I had the sneaking suspicion he might be the mystery man who was still pulling strings in my time.

“I’ve had people looking into it but nothing new yet. How are things going in your time?”

“The Darkwatch is gaining in strength, and I am doing my best to stop them. I’m honestly not sure your history books are going to be right, I feel like we’re losing the battle.”

“No, you’ll find a way to beat them.”

“But only for a time, then I leave this mess for you to fix. I wish I didn’t have to do that to you, Chloe.” Bodie shook his head.

 I wished I could hug him and tell him everything was going to be okay. He reminded me so much of Dad that it was oddly comforting to me.

“Do you have a plan?” I asked.

“Yes, we’ve learned the Darkwatch is held up in an HVO dimension that they use as a prison called Storm Reach.”

“You’re kidding?”