to shake him. I was happier knowing where he was than worrying about him being out of sight. Id play it coolgive him a while to see if I could figure out what he was up to. I nodded to myself, and strode out to the curb, Mouse at my side.
Okay, kids, I called over my shoulder. Get in the cab.
Mouse and I took the backseat. Molly didnt give Nelson a chance to choose. She got into the passenger seat in front, and boyfriend Nelson settled into the backseat beside me.
Which? I asked him.
OHare.
I told the driver, and we took off for the airport. I watched my shadow in vague reflections in the windows. The cars lights came on and followed us all the way out to OHare. We got Nelson there in time to meet his B-movie mogul, and he all but leapt from the car. Molly opened her door to follow him.
Wait, I said. Not you.
She shot me a glance over her shoulder, frowning. What?
Nelsons out of jail and hes talked to me about what happened, and hes in time to meet Darby Crane. I think I pretty much lived up to what I said I would do.
She frowned prettily. Yes. So?
So now its your turn. Close the door.
She shook her head. Harry, dont you see that hes in some kind of trouble? And he doesnt believe inhellip; She glanced at the cabby and back to me. You know.
Maybe he is, I said. Maybe not. Im going to get over to the convention tonight and see if theres anything supernatural about the assault on Mr. Pell. Right after we get done talking to your parents.
Molly blanched. What?
We had a deal, I said. And in my judgment, Molly, we need to go see them.
Buthellip; she sputtered. It isnt as though I need them to bail me out or anything.
You should have thought about that before you made the deal, I said.
Im not going there, she said, and folded her arms. I dont want to.
I felt cold stone flow into the features of my face, into the timbre of my voice. Miss Carpenter. Is there any doubt in your mindany at all that I could take you there regardless of what you want to do?
The change in tone hit her hard. She blinked at me in surprise for a second, lips parted but empty of sound.
Im taking you to see them, I said. Because its the smart thing to do. The legal thing to do. The right thing to do. You agreed to do it, and by the stars and stones, if you try to weasel out on me I will wrap you in duct tape, box you up, and send you UPS.
She stared at me in utter shock.
Im not your mom or your dad, Molly. And these days Im not a very nice person. Youve already abused my friendship tonight, and diverted my attention from work that could have saved lives. People who really need my help might get hurt or die because of this stupid stunt. I leaned closer, staring coldly, and she leaned away, declining to make eye contact. Now buckle the fuck up.
She did.
I gave the cabby the address and closed my eyes. I hadnt seen Michael inhellip; nearly two years. I regretted that. Of course, not seeing Michael meant not seeing Charity either, which I did not regret. And now I was going to drive up in a cab with their daughter. Charity was going to like that almost as much as I like cleaning up after Mouse on our walks. In her eyes, my mere presence near her daughter would make me guilty of uncounted (if imaginary) transgressions.
The angelic sigil on my left palm burned and itched furiously. I poked at it through the leather glove, but it didnt help. Id have to keep the glove on. If Michael saw the sigil, or if he somehow sensed the shadow of Lasciel running around in my head, he might react in a manner similar to his wifesand that didnt take into consideration a fathers desire to protect hishellip; physically matured daughter from any would-be, ah, invaders.
I predicted fireworks of one kind or another. Fun, fun, fun.
Should I survive the conversation, I would then be off to a horror convention, where a supernatural assault might or might not have happened, with a mysterious stranger following me while an unknown would-be assassin ran around loose somewhere, probably practicing his offensive driving skills so that he could polish