Summer Knight (The Dresden Files #4) - Jim Butcher Page 0,36
try to leave it behind me, but it wont go. And its eating up every part of my life."
She turned away, grabbing irritably at a box of tissues. I walked over to the fireplace and studied the swords on the mantel, so she wouldnt feel my eyes on her.
After a moment she spoke, her tone changing, growing more focused. "What are you doing here so late?"
I turned back to face her. "I need a favor. Information." I passed over the envelope Mab had given me. Murphy opened it, looked at the pair of pictures, and frowned.
"These are shots from the report of Ronald Reuels death. How did you get them?"
"I didnt," I said. "A client gave them to me. I dont know where she got them."
She rubbed her eyes and asked, "What did she want from you?"
"She wants me to find the person who killed him."
Murphy shook her head. "I thought this was an accidental death."
"I hear it isnt."
"Whered you hear that?"
I sighed. "A magic faerie told me."
That got me a suspicious glare, which dissolved into a frown. "God, youre being literal, arent you?"
"Yeah."
Murphy shook her head, a tired smile at the corners of her mouth. "How can I help?"
"Id like to look at the file on Ronald Reuels death. I cant look at the scene, but maybe CPD caught something they didnt know was a clue. It would give me a place to start, at least."
Murphy nodded without looking at me. "All right. One condition."
"Sure. What?"
"If this is a murder, you bring me in on it."
"Murph," I protested, "come on. I dont want to pull you into anything that"
"Dammit, Harry," Murphy snapped, "if someones killing people in Chicago, Im going to deal with them. Its my job. Whats been happening to me doesnt change that."
"Its your job to stop the bad guys," I said. "But this might not be a guy. Maybe not even human. I just think youd be safer if"
"Fuck safe," Murphy muttered. "My job, Harry. If you turn up a killing, you will bring me in."
I hesitated, trying not to let my frustration show. I didnt want Murphy involved with Mab and company. Murphy had earned too many scars already. The faeries had a way of insinuating themselves into your life. I didnt want Murphy exposed to that, especially as vulnerable as she was.
But at the same time, I couldnt lie to her. I owed her a lot more than that.
Bottom line, Murphy had been hurt. She was afraid, and if she didnt force herself to face that fear, it might swallow her whole. She knew it. As terrified as she was, she knew that she had to keep going or she would never recover.
As much as I wanted to keep her safe, especially now, it wouldnt help her. Not in the long run. In a sense, her life was at stake.
"Deal," I said quietly.
She nodded and rose. "Stay out here. I need to get on the computer, see what I can pull up for you."
"I can wait if its better."
She shook her head. "Ive already taken the Valium. If I wait any longer Ill be too zonked to think straight. Just sit down. Have a drink. Try not to blow up anything." She padded out of the room on silent feet.
I sat down in one of the armchairs, stretched out my legs, let my head fall forward, and dropped into a light doze. It had been a long day, and it looked like it was just going to get longer. I woke up when Murphy came back into the room, her eyes heavy. She had a manila folder with her. "Okay," she said, "this is everything I could print out. The pictures arent as clear as they could be, but they arent horrible."
I sat up, took the folder from her and opened it. Murphy sat down in an armchair, facing me, her legs tucked beneath her. I started going over the details in the folder, though my brain felt like some kind of gelatin dessert topped with mush.
"What happened to your hand?" she asked.
"Magic faerie," I said. "Magic faerie with a letter opener."
"It doesnt look good. The dressing isnt right either. You have anyone look at it?"
I shook my head. "No time."
"Harry, you idiot." She got up, disappeared into the kitchen, and came back out with a first aid kit. I decided not to argue with her. She pulled up a chair from the kitchen next to mine, and rested my arm in her lap.