pounce on the other side of the barricades the police had set up on Fagin’s street. “You need to tell them to keep their damn helicopter higher. No saying what the elemental might do if it decides they’re a threat.”
“They’ve been warned. I’ll repeat it. When the press descends on you—”
“I’m good at ignoring them.”
“I don’t want you to. Tell them that the elemental is not dangerous as long as it isn’t disturbed. Emphasize the need to keep back. Emphasize that it hasn’t harmed anyone. You can add that we’re pursuing all leads regarding the bombing, and I’ll be giving a press conference at three thirty.”
“Bless you.”
“You’re welcome.” He sighed. “What the hell was Fagin thinking, dealing with an elemental?”
Lily didn’t try to answer that one. It was a good question, though, so after she disconnected she repeated it. “What the hell was Fagin thinking?”
The unconscious man spoke. “Thought it was little.”
Lily jumped. “You’re awake.”
“Unfortunately. Thirsty.”
“I’ve got water,” Rule said. “No, hold still.” He lifted Cullen’s head and shoulders with one arm and held a glass to his lips.
Cullen drank the entire glassful without opening his eyes. “Ah. Good. That’s good.” Rule lowered him back to flat. “Fagin thought the elemental was little. Sherry probably told him that. I thought so, too. Looked small, not much power. Turns out most of it was asleep. They don’t sleep here.”
Lily frowned. “Here . . . you mean in our realm?”
“Yeah. We need Fagin’s computer. I’ve got the journal, but we need the other one. The book.”
Rule spoke. “What book?”
“Ars Magicka. A grimoire. By Eberhardus Czypsser.”
“Gesundheit,” Lily said.
“It’s in medieval German. The translation’s on Fagin’s computer.”
“The one on his desk?”
“Yeah, it . . . shit. Fire’s probably not good for computers.”
“I’m guessing it isn’t. But—”
“Original’s in his safety-deposit box. Cambridge. You can get a warrant or something.” His eyes came open, burning blue in his pale face. “I need that book.”
“I was about to say that Fagin is not an idiot. He’s bound to have backed up his work. Even if he didn’t, it may be possible to recover the data from his hard drive.”
“Get everything. I need . . .” He winced. His eyes closed again. “Dammit,” he muttered. “Think some of the nerve endings are coming back online.”
Lily glanced at Rule, who shook his head. “He needs to shut up and rest.”
“I need,” Cullen said, his voice faint but adamant, “to see that damn grimoire.”
“Does this have something to do with the dagger?”
Blue eyes popped open. “That’s mostly Vodun work. I’ve got the reference I need for that. But there’s something else.”
She waited. When he didn’t continue, she prodded. “What?”
“Don’t know. It looks almost like elf work, though.”
“Elf? As in Rethna?”
“I’m probably wrong. I need to see that grimoire.” His eyes closed again.
“We’ll work on that,” Lily said. “You called it a bomb. You didn’t see any magic involved?”
“No. Purely physical stuff.”
“Okay. Did you see or smell anything I need to know before things went boom?”
“Two projectiles, one right after the other. First one broke the window. Second one lit everything on fire. Lots of nasty smoke. Smelled . . . sweet, for a second. Then nasty. Uh . . . like garlic, matches, and smog. Don’t know what else. I was busy.”
A raspy baritone called from the other side of the wall. “Agent Yu! Ms. O’Shaunessy’s here.”
The baritone belonged to the police sergeant who was handling crowd control. Lily shoved to her feet. If only she wasn’t so tired . . . tired of trying to do unofficially what she should be investigating with the full force of the Bureau. Tired of keeping secrets from her boss, from everyone. Tired of people she cared about being attacked, hurt, killed. Tired of clandestine organizations and war—God! The war had barely begun and she was so sick of it! Sick as hell, too, of mantles—stupid damn mantles that did what some stupid damn Old One wanted them to do, and never mind who got used up in the process and what that did to Rule.
Anger smoldered in her at that last thought. It gave her the energy to head for the stupid damn wall.
“Hey, Sherry,” she called as she drew near the earthen rampart. “Do you have what you’ll need for contacting it?”
“Except for what only Fagin can provide, yes. I understand that’s on its way.”
“Should be.”
“Emily and Kirk are with me. Emily’s a strong Earth-Gifted. Kirk’s Earth Gift is minor, but he’s very skilled. They’ll be handling the contact under my