"In case they have goons. I need thugpower with countergoon capability."
Murphy nodded. "A few extra hands wouldn't be a bad idea." She sped up again, her staff a blur. I had to struggle to keep up. "Why don't you ask the holy knight guy?"
"No," I said.
"What if we need him?"
"Michael would come in a hot second if I asked him. But I'm tired of seeing him get hurt because of me." I frowned, almost lost the rhythm, then found it again. "God or someone like Him does Michael's event scheduling, and I get the feeling that Michael's a lot less invincible when he isn't officially on the clock."
"But he's a big boy. I mean, he knows the risks. He has brains."
"He also has kids."
Murphy faltered this time, and I hit one of her thumbs. She winced and nodded toward the rookie cop she'd humbled. "O'Toole there is Mickey Malone's nephew. He'd jump through fire for you, if I asked him along."
"God, no. No newbies on this run. A stupid mistake could be fatal."
"I could talk to Stallings."
I shook my head. "Murph, the boys in SI are a lot better at handling supernatural weirdness than the average bear—but a lot of them still don't really believe what they're dealing with. I want someone smart and tough, and who won't freeze or freak out, and that's you."
"They're better than that."
"What happens to them if something goes wrong? If I make a mistake. Or you do. Even if they got out in one piece, how do you think they would handle the backlash when they got back to the real world? Where people don't believe in vampires, and there are bodies to explain?"
Murphy frowned. "The same thing that would happen to me, I guess."
"Yeah. But you're their leader. You want to be responsible for sending them into that kind of mess? Expose them to that?"
Murphy looked at several of the men around the gym and grimaced. "You know I don't want that. But my point is that I'm as vulnerable as they are."
"Maybe. But you know the score. They don't. Not really. You know enough to be careful and smart."
"What about the White Council?" Murphy asked. "Shouldn't they be willing to help you? I mean, you're one of their own."
I shrugged. "By and large they don't like me. I need their help like I need a sword in the neck."
"Gee. Someone actually resisted your charm and finesse."
"What can I say. They have no taste."
Murphy nodded. "So who else are you going to get?"
"You and one more will do for coffin patrol," I said. "I know a guy who is good with vampires. And I'm going to have a driver standing by when it goes down."
"How many laws are you planning on breaking?"
"None," I said. "If I can help it."
"What if these vampires have human goons?"
"We disable them. I'm only gunning for Black Court. But if you want to pull double duty as conscience officer, that's fine by me."
We finished the sequence, backed a step away, and bowed to each other. Murphy walked with me to the edge of the mat, frowning and mulling things over. "I don't want to sidestep any laws. Vampire hunting is one thing. Going vigilante is another."
"Done," I said.
She frowned. "And I'd really, really like it if we did it on Saturday."
I snorted. "If we go early, maybe you can get laid up in the hospital or something, at least."
"Ha-ha," Murphy said.
"Do me a favor and keep an eye on missing persons for a few days. It might help tip us off to their location. I want every bit of information I can get."
"Gotcha," Murphy said. "You want to work on some hand-to-hand?"
I picked up my duster. "Can't. Got to be on the new job in half an hour."
"Harry, aikido is a demanding discipline. If you don't practice every day, you're going to lose what you've learned."
"I know, I know. But it isn't like I can depend on a routine from day to day."
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," Murphy said. She held my staff for me while I put on my