Darkest Deception, page 13
part #4 of Rise Of The Dragons Series
I glanced at the map on Dick’s phone, “Right at the end of this lane.”
“Who’s that?”
“I said stop talking to me! It’s Dick, he’s my…lodger. He offered to drive so I could keep you under surveillance.”
“He sounds nice, say hi from me!”
“Hi Maxi!”
“Stop having a conversation!” I glared at Dick then spoke into the phone, “Go into a shop.”
Maxi mumbled something then opened the closest shop door and went in. The door had a blacked out panel. I had a bad feeling about this. As the camera’s stream shifted to adjust to the neon lighting inside, I caught brightly coloured feather boas and a lot of black. The camera turned in a slow circle as Maxi took it in. The rack of magazines with x-rated titles. A display of adult toys in bright colours. A disinterested young woman with piercings all over her face stood at a low counter, flipping the pages of a magazine. I caught sight of Maxi’s face in a mirrored surface. His eyes were wide like a baby deer caught in the headlights.
“Can I help you?” the woman didn’t even look up from her magazine.
“What? I mean yah, yah, I’ll take er…this,” he grabbed the nearest thing off the display and rushed to the counter. I saw him put a box of edible underwear on the pristine countertop. The lady bagged it in a paper bag and took his money, “Yah, thanks.”
“Just turn around and get out Maxi,” I made my voice soft and calm, like I was talking to a frightened animal, which I was.
He followed my instructions, his hands trembling as he opened the door. Outside, he leant against the wall and I could hear him breathing deeply. The paper bag rustled in his hands. So this club wasn’t in as nice a part of London as I’d thought.
“You did great, now how about a drink. Did I see a pub across from the club?”
Maxi scanned the street and went into the pub. He ordered a pint of cider and picked a table near the window where he could compose himself and watch the club. About halfway down the pint, he mumbled, “Did you see that place?”
“I did, you did great.”
“There were…”
“Best not to dwell on it,” I wondered how naïve he could be, after all he had gone to a private boarding school.
I watched as he pushed the paper bag to one side and carried on drinking. A couple of middle aged men in suits entered the club. They looked like wealthy city types wanting a drink. Maxi’s stream clicked as he took pictures of them. A few seconds later, their names appeared on my stream. I was impressed. Maxi had managed to link face recognition to his prototype spy camera and had accessed the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and crime databases. A speeding ticket flashed up and a parking fine. Minor misdemeanours. Both men came out again after about an hour. There was nothing I could see that flagged them as supernaturals or a threat.
After his nerves had settled, Maxi decided to go for another walk.
“You forgot your package!” A helpful bartender called after him. Maxi’s reflection in a faded pub mirror blushed beetroot red as he mumbled his thanks and grabbed the crumpled paper bag.
Clutching it tightly, he tried to circle around the back of the building. It was tucked behind a brick wall with a solid looking gate on it. Maxi gave it a tentative push then leaned against it as a delivery bike pedalled past.
“Top of the afternoon to you sah!” The delivery driver nearly fell off his bike as he turned to give Maxi a confused look.
“No one says that Maxi!” He was not doing a good job of staying discreet. No one acknowledged anyone else in London. It was how the city dwellers got by without thinking of their fellow citizens. After all, if you started talking to people on the street, the next place would be on the tube. I shuddered as I imagined having to strike up a conversation with strangers in those cramped compartments.
Maxi crossed the road and took a long look at the part of the building that stretched above the wall. It was tall, but not a skyscraper. The brickwork was less fancy at the back and an ancient fire escape crisscrossed down past the blacked out windows. I didn’t like the look of the blacked out windows, but it was always useful to know where the escape routes were.
“That’s all you can do for now, go back and have another drink. See who comes and goes. I’ll be there soon enough.”
“Roger that.”
“Over and out Maxi,” I huffed out a sigh. This was going to be the least undercover surveillance operation in history.
Before we joined the motorway, I decided to change into my suit. There was less traffic here and fewer police cars or traffic cameras. I didn’t fancy flashing anyone as I got dressed. I climbed inelegantly into the back seat and began stripping. Dick’s eyes caught mine in the mirror. I lifted my eyebrows and he looked away. I smiled. It was nice to confirm he was still interested. Perhaps after all this was over, we could finally enjoy some alone time in a nice London hotel. I got changed in record time despite the cramped conditions. I left the jacket hanging from the handle above the door and clambered back into the front seat, my spiked stiletto heels in hand. I slipped them on and settled back into my seat, strapping myself back in.
The sun had set by the time we entered the outskirts of London. After some finagling on the phone to pay the congestion charge, I played through the options for getting into the club and seeing what the Director was up to at midnight. Most of them involved violence.
Three half pints and a packet of crisps in, Maxi was getting restless. I saw his hands tapping on the table and his constant glances at the club’s entrance.
We were getting close to the street but stuck in city traffic when two figures appeared walking side by side on the brightly lit street. Even under the artificial lighting, I recognised my boss. Vass. The other figure was taller, leaner. The Director? I couldn’t quite make out his face under a pinstriped trilby hat.
Maxi had spotted them too. He stood up and downed the remaining liquid in his glass. “I’m going in!”
“Maxi no! Wait for me!” he ignored me and kept going. “Maxi, if you don’t stop this instant I’ll, I’ll…I’ll give you a bad performance report.”
I watched him stiffen slightly. He craved positive performance reports. I wouldn’t be surprised if he framed each evaluation he received alongside his many academic qualifications. But he kept going. I started to open the car door, intent on racing across the remaining streets and stopping him. Dick pulled me back.
“Don’t blow it for him, have a little faith. We’ll be there soon.”
I took my hand off the handle. Dick was right. The team trusted me, I had to trust my team. And I did trust Maxi, I realised, even if he was an eager fool. I held my breath as he walked straight past the discreet brass plaque that held the name of the club and pushed open the heavy doors.
The door opened onto a small reception area. It looked old and expensive with wood panelling and leather seats. Vass and the other man turned as he entered behind them. Even in the faded fake candlelight, I could see it was the Director. Dzrak. I felt myself tense as they recognised Maxi. Then Vass smiled and leaned over to the uniformed man standing at the tall reception desk.
The man asked Maxi for his name and gestured for him to sign in. I watched his neat signature spell out Maximillian Baskerville in black ink on a thick page. Then he followed Vass and the Director through a pair of wooden doors into the club. I expected them to stop at the well-stocked bar, manned by a waiter in a neat waistcoat over a crisp white shirt or sit on one of the well-used leather sofas. Instead, they walked to a brass lift and pressed a button. I couldn’t tell if they were going up or down. The lift shuddered to a halt and the lights flickered.
Vass turned to Maxi and looked directly into the camera, “You won’t be needing these.” I watched helplessly as he pulled them from Maxi’s face and heard a crunch as he snapped them in half. The feed went dead.
Chapter 19
“Dzrak it!” We were still too far away for me to usefully do anything. I tapped my foot impatiently. A message from Dot popped up. I called her immediately.
“What is it?”
“Not good. I had my contacts do some digging on that club. It’s a hotspot for some nefarious supernaturals as well as serious city hotshots.” She reeled off the names. I recognised at least one from the Magical Liaison Office’s watchlist, a politician and the head of a big tech firm.
“And you didn’t find this out before?!”
“Sorry boss.”
I hung up. Now I was even more worried about Maxi. I spent the time pulling weapons out of my handbag. The Fang Dagger went in my belt. I strapped my crossbow holster to my thigh and made sure my bow was loaded before putting it in. I rearranged the knives and bolts in my bag so they were more easily accessible. Then I sat there, tense and frustrated, ready to run for it as soon as we were close.
“Hey, it’ll be alright.”
I stared at Dick, “You don’t know that. Just stay clear. I’ll meet you at the hotel if I survive.”
He paled. I was asking a lot of him to accept this world and my job as well as my shifter nature. He pulled up at the end of the street. I opened the door then leaned in and gave him a hard kiss on the lips. I’d made my decision. If I made it out, I wanted Dick.
I stalked down the street. It was after dark and quiet. I didn’t like it. Surely even the more out of the way parts of London were busy at night. The gloomy pub light illuminated the road. Further down I saw the neon sign above the sex shop Maxi had entered earlier. I took a deep breath outside the heavy club doors then pushed them open.
The scent of pine wood polish mingled with leather made me wrinkle my nose as I stepped inside. The young man on reception looked me up and down, and raised an eyebrow in a question. I stayed silent and stared him down. He broke our staring contest after two seconds and coughed nervously.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m here for Vass.”
“I’m afraid this is a gentleman’s only club…”
“And?”
“You’re not…” he trailed off.
I tried a knowing smile, “I’m, er, an exception…the, er, entertainment.”
He frowned as he took in my smart suit, high heels and the crossbow strapped to my thigh.
“I wasn’t aware anyone had ordered any…entertainment. But I’m afraid ladies are only permitted to enter the club on Tuesday lunchtimes or the last Sunday of every month. Club rules.”
I moved closer and stepped around his desk in one sharp movement. His hand reached for a phone. I grabbed his arm, preventing him from moving. I pressed against him and whispered, “Right, there are two ways this can go…” My free hand hovered above the holster on my thigh. His eyes widened as he focused on the sharp bolt in the crossbow. He swallowed twice.
“OK, OK, you can go in.”
“Excellent. Now tell me where Vass has gone.”
“I need to check the log.”
“Of course,” I ripped the phone off the desk, severing the cables before releasing his arm. I stayed close, breathing down his neck as he frantically flicked through a leather diary where they kept booking details.
“He’s, uh, in the, uh, basement room. It’s a private party. You can’t go down there!”
My gaze caught on Maxi’s signature printed in an open log book. Looks like he was the only non-member in tonight. I stabbed the Fang Dagger into the bright red panic alarm under the desk. Sparks glittered around the blade.
I smiled ferociously and the man backed away against the wall, “Like I said, I’m the entertainment.”
I left him cowering behind his desk and strolled into the bar. The tang of leather was stronger here, mixed with whisky and old wood. The bartender looked up and gave a start at seeing a woman in the club. He frowned then his eyes widened as he focused on something behind me. I whirled round, dagger in hand. Dot grinned at me and raised her hands in mock surrender. I breathed out a sigh.
“I thought I told you to stay in Cardiff.”
“Like I was going to let you have all the fun.”
I nodded, “Alright, make sure no one does anything stupid.” The vampire nodded and smiled at the staff who were now gaping at us.
I walked past a club member sleeping underneath a newspaper and two others playing cards. They didn’t even look up as I walked to the lift. I pushed a brass button then stepped in when the doors slid open. I pressed the polished button with a ‘B’ for basement and unholstered my crossbow. The weight felt good in my hands. The lift slowed and the doors opened onto a hallway lit with electric flickering candles. Atmospheric. I sniffed and stepped out. Spicy aftershave mixed with newspapers and the sparky scent of burnt electronics told me that Maxi had gone this way. No blood. He was alive. Or had been drained by a vampire. I forced my thoughts away from that possibility.
I followed the hallway. At each door, I paused and allowed my nose to lead the way. There was a cleaning closet, an empty office and finally a room filled with people. Magical beings. Their scents were too strong and too varied, mingling into each other. I listened carefully, trying to get a feel for how many people were inside. I weighed up my options. I was normally all for the direct approach, but Maxi could be in danger. Silently, I headed back down the hall.
I tried the door of the cleaning cupboard. It was unlocked. Who would want to steal cleaning supplies? There was a metal trolley. I loaded it up with sprays and cloths. A broom and a mop were already neatly attached to one end. Perfect. I dug around in my handbag until I found a roll of duct tape. I attached one of my spare knives to the mop head. As I reversed the trolley out, I saw an overcoat hanging from a peg in the same green as the uniform waistcoats upstairs. I slipped it on over my suit jacket.
I used my bum to push open the sleek double doors and bustled in with the trolley. The low murmur of voices stopped instantly. I kept my head down and moved quickly to a corner of the room. The wheels clattered as I went. Not exactly a subtle entrance. I counted out of the corner of my eye. Twelve. Plus Maxi. Still alive and sitting at the table. He was sweating and looking around. One of the men coughed loudly. I ignored him and flicked a duster at a light.
“We are still meeting in here,” one of them bristled, astonished that a cleaner would dare to enter an occupied room. I tensed.
“Now, now, that’s no way to treat our guest,” I recognised the Director’s voice. I tensed. “Won’t you have a seat Agent Jones?”
I felt the compulsion ooze from him. I resisted. Instead, I turned slowly, slipping my crossbow from under a pile of cloths on the table.
“How about you tell me what’s going on?”
He laughed at that. A high-pitched sound. It grated on my ears. I ground my teeth together and kept my crossbow aimed at him. He gave a small nod. Two males in suits stood and walked confidently towards me. One troll, one elf. I adjusted my aim. The first bolt hit the elf in the knee. He fell to the ground with a scream. I reloaded at supernatural speed. I turned and hit the troll in the shoulder. He grunted with pain and kept coming. I dropped the crossbow onto the trolley and yanked the mop from its clip. The troll laughed, and gestured to his friends at the table. A couple of them guffawed too. A couple more looked nervous. He pushed his long greasy hair over his shoulder and raised his fists in a martial arts stance.
I jabbed the mop handle at his face. He raised his guard. I spun the mop around and hit him in the stomach. Hard. His mouth dropped open as the knife I’d attached to it sunk into his flesh. I yanked the mop out and blood poured onto the floor. The muddy metallic smell of troll blood filled my nostrils.
“Get her!” the Director yelled.
A werewolf transformed in front of me and pounced. I sidestepped his leap and picked up my blowtorch from the trolley. I flicked the switch but it didn’t light. I tried again. I looked at the blowtorch and at the wolf, which had turned and was now sporting an animal grin on its furry face. I threw the useless blowtorch at its face and retrieved my Fang Dagger from the trolley. He prowled towards me. We squared off in front of each other. I tossed the knife from hand to hand as I looked for an opening. The wolf’s mouth opened. Saliva dripped onto the floor. His paws moved impatiently. He leapt again. I ran to the other corner of the room, jumped and shifted into my lynx form. He followed. I used the wall to give me height and landed on his back. I dug my claws in hard, raking through his furry hide. He howled and bucked as he tried to shake my grip. With another leap, I was gone. His wounds were already closing. He turned to face me. His yellow eyes met my amber ones. He charged and leapt. I ran forward and ducked. Underneath him, I transformed back to my human form, twisted and rammed the dagger into his stomach up to its jewelled hilt. His momentum took him forward. The knife ripped his underbelly open. I held onto the handle. Guts spilled onto the carpeted floor. I winced at the carpet burns on my back as I skidded away from him. He was panting still but he was out of the fight.
Another troll stood and towered over me. I rolled between his legs, aiming a kick at his groin. I heard his sharp intake of breath as I connected. He doubled over. He turned to me, tears leaking down his face. I shoved a swivel chair on wheels at him and sprinted back to the trolley. I needed more weapons. He grabbed the back of the overall coat I was wearing. I felt myself pulled backwards. I turned deftly, spinning my arms out of the garment. He was left holding the coat. He dropped it with a roar and pushed the chair aside. I made it to the cart and grabbed another knife. I threw it in his direction. The force of my throw sunk it deep into his eye. He fell to the ground with a scream.
I backed into the injured elf as I scanned the room for the next attack. His eyes were wide and his mouth was opening and closing as he took in the scene. He limped away from me as quickly as he could, back to his seat “I’ve had enough of this!” He pressed a metallic box on the table. The sucking sound of a portal forming filled my ears. A glowing oval appeared above the box. I swore softly. So this was what the portal research the Office had paid for had created. It looked like it had been successful. The elf dragged himself onto the table, grabbed the box and stumbled through. The portal closed behind him.
