and then closed it again. Good point.
Besides, she continued, isnt it a good thing if more people are paying attention? From what youve told me, things from the spooky side of the street dont like crowds.
In general, no, I said. But the place wasnt exactly a ghost town yesterday when the phobophage showed up.
You think it will appear right in front of all these people? she asked.
I think crowds arent going to deter it. I think that if something bad happens, the more people there are around, the more fear its going to generate and the more our killer gets to eat. And a panic with more people means even more people get hurt.
Murphys pale golden brows knitted into a frown. So, what options can you give me?
Theres no guarantee, but I think well have until nightfall.
Why?
Because it will be stronger after dark.
Murphy frowned. You think thats why Pell survived his attack, she murmured. It was still daylight.
Got it in one, I said. Assuming we have until sundown, it gives us a little time to work.
Doing what?
Setting up some wards, I said.
Like at your place?
I shook my head. Nothing that complex. Theres no time. I cant build a moat around this place, but I think I can throw together a web that will let us know when and where something comes over from the Nevernever. Ill need to walk around a lot of the building to cover it all.
She nodded. That doesnt address the crowd issue.
I grimaced. You know anyone in the fire department?
A cousin, she said.
This place must be over maximum occupancy. Maybe if the fire marshal heard about how crowded it was, theyd clear at least some of these people out. We only need a crowd big enough to tempt the killer in.
She nodded. Ill see to it.
And I know its a long shot, but has CPD turned up anything? Or the ME?
Nothing on the autopsy. They didnt give this one to Butters. Brioche handled it, and he didnt find anything out of the ordinary.
Naturally, I sighed. Greene?
Theories. He had some vague notion that the attack might have been some kind of publicity stunt to attract attention to the convention.
Thats a little cynical, I said.
Greene isnt a believer, Murphy said. And hes a trained investigator looking for a solid motive. If he accepts that the killer was just some kind of lunatic, it means hes got almost nothing to work with. So hes grasping at straws and hoping he can find something familiar he can use to nail the killer fast.
I grunted. Guess I can see that.
I dont envy him, Murphy said. I dont like him much, but hes a cop, and hes in a tight spot. Chances are, theres not a damned thing he could do about it. And he doesnt even know it.
There was a little extra weight on the last phrase, something that contained personal pain.
Murphy had faced the same situations as Greene, more or less. Something wild happened, and none of it made any sense. Murphy had her first face-off with the supernatural while she was still a beat cop on patrol. It gave her an advantage as a detective, because at least she knew how much she didnt know. Greene didnt even have that much going for him. I hated to see her like that, feeling helpless to do anything. Hurting. Even if only in memory.
How about you? I asked. You see anything that you think is worth mentioning?
Not yet. Someone around here has got to know something useful even if they dont know that they do. She tilted her head and frowned at me. Wait. Youre asking me?
I shrugged a shoulder. Murph, youve seen as much weird as most wizards. I think youre more capable than you know.
She studied my face for a long moment. What do you mean?
I shrugged again. I mean that youve been there a time or two. You know what its like when something is lurking around. Theres commonality to it. Youll know it when you feel it.
What? Am I supposed to be a wizard now?
I grinned. Just a savvy cop chick, Murph.
Cop chick? she asked, menace in her voice.
Sorry, I said. Police chick.
She grunted. Thats better.
Just dont ignore your instincts, I said. Theyre there for a reason.
Murphy wasnt listening to that last part, because shed turned her head sharply to one side, blue eyes narrowing as she focused on a man who had emerged from a conference room doorway and was slipping down the hall.
And Mouse let