Dark Secrets - Linsey Hall Page 0,19

land in the distance that I could see, but on the shore to my left, the city stretched far into the distance. “Chicago is on one of their enormous lakes, isn’t it?”

“The Great Lakes. This is Lake Michigan. Magic Side sits just offshore of South Side. It resides in a pocket dimension, so it looks like water to humans.”

“So only supernaturals can see it?”

“Exactly.” He turned toward the street. “Come, we’re not too far from Ms. Cross’s office.”

I followed him down the busy city street, passing supernaturals of all shapes and sizes. Unlike Guild City, which looked as ancient and magical as an old teapot shooting silver stars, Magic Side looked modern and almost normal, except for the individuals who filled the streets and the cars that rushed by.

Horns and exotic features weren’t uncommon to see on passersby, and everyone’s magical signatures were on display.

“They don’t keep their signatures on lockdown, do they?” I asked.

Grey shook his head. “It’s not required here.”

“But why? Isn’t their city like ours, hidden amongst humans?”

“It’s similar, yes. Their rules are different. They consider it a First Amendment right.”

I frowned, disliking the iron control that Guild City exerted over the magical signatures of its residents. It seemed unnecessary. Magic Side was more relaxed and still managed to thrive.

We hopped on a trolley car painted red and cream with the words Magic Side Surface Lines written across the side.

I looked at the rectangular windows and leather seats. “Streetcars seem a little old fashioned, don’t they?”

Grey nodded. “Chicago phased out their trolley system in the ’40s and ’50s. Magic Side bought the old cars and kept them running. Downtown Magic Side is called the Circuit because of all the converging streetcar lines.”

I nodded as I leaned against the glass. Tall buildings whipped by, though mainly, I was paying attention to the throngs of supernaturals crowding the sidewalks.

We hopped off beside a long but narrow city park.

The green oasis was dotted with pathways and benches, inviting walkers and readers to enjoy the space. There was a small, round duck pond in the center, ringed by a walkway and flower beds. On one side of the park, an enormous neoclassical building rose several stories in the air. The heavy limestone stonework was beautiful, as was the massive set of wide stairs leading up to the columned entry and massive brass doors.

“Is that the Hall of Inquiry?” I asked.

“Yes.” He pulled a mobile from his pocket and typed in a message. “Ms. Cross will come get us soon.”

“We can’t meet her inside?”

The corner of his mouth kicked up in a small smile. “Technically, I’m not on their side of the law.”

“You mean the legal side?”

“Precisely.”

“How to you know Ms. Cross, then, if she’s an Order agent?”

“I know some people in Magic Side. It’s useful to have contacts at the Order for dealing with…” He hesitated, clearly searching for the right word. “Individuals who are like me.”

“You mean criminal kingpins.”

He shrugged elegantly and sat down on one of the stone benches beside the pond. I took a seat beside him and watched the ducks flapping their wings at each other. “I suppose you could call them that,” he said. “Chicago’s magical criminal underground predates Al Capone.”

“You mean gangsters? Like with Tommy guns and flappers on their arms?”

“Some might call them that, but it’s a bit more complicated.”

I grimaced. I’d gone a long way from Police College to associating with known criminals. “You don’t deal in guns or drugs or women, do you?”

His eyes flared with surprise. “Of course not.”

“Good.” I believed him. Mac had told me something of the sort when we’d first talked about Grey, and in all my time knowing him and visiting his headquarters, I’d never seen anything that would turn my stomach. There were plenty of ways to circumvent magical law and make a fortune that didn’t involve selling your soul.

As we waited, my mind turned back to the book I’d read last night. “You helped found Guild City.”

“Yes.”

“Care to give any details?”

“What do you want to know?”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure. Why aren't you on the Council anymore if you played such an important role in creating the city itself?”

“I don’t want to be involved. Not anymore, at least. I served for several decades when the city was getting off the ground. Though I was never close with the other members, we agreed on most things. But the years passed, and people changed, and I lost interest.”

“That was when Councilor Rasla came, right? Making the laws