I forced a laugh and was thrilled to see how calm and content she was. Her body looked solid as a rock, not a hint of transparency. “Why don’t you have a seat?” I said, moving a stack of books from the couch to give her more room. “I’m just going to tidy up a bit.”
“Now?” she said, with a giggle that gave way to uproarious laughter. The reaction was so cartoonish, so out of character, that I wondered if maybe she was beginning to degrade, as Connor had warned she would. “But it’s so late!”
“Well, better late than never, right?” I said.
I threw myself down on the couch, checking to make sure my bat was still hanging from my belt. Jane had to be outside spying by now, and God only knew what she might do. If she made a move on the apartment, I wanted to be ready. Irene sat at the far end of the couch staring at me. She seemed to have settled back to her normal, refined self.
It was funny how small talk seemed hard to come by when I really needed it. There were so many topics I wanted to avoid right now to keep Irene in good spirits. The biggest elephant in the conversational room, of course, was her own case, which she naturally brought up.
“Dare I ask if there are any new developments?”
“Be patient,” I said, looking over toward the windows. I spun around and checked the door. “Something will come up. There’s nothing new.”
Unless I counted the fact that I knew Faisal Bane was interested in her, but I didn’t think telling Irene that would be terribly calming. Instead, I did what I did best when I felt uncomfortable. I rambled.
We had antiques as a common ground after all. I told her about all the wonderful pieces I had seen back at her apartment, leaving out the fact that most of them were smashed to bits. The mere mention of so many of her things kept her fascinated, and did the trick of making her seem all the more alive. A strong part of me wanted to forget that she was no longer living.
The threat of Jane slowly faded from my thoughts as I became more and more immersed in my conversation with Irene. But just when I was lulled into a real sense of comfort, a commotion arose somewhere outside my wall of windows.
“Wesker, no!” a male voice shouted from the rooftop across the way.
The windows were shut, but the shout cut through them. The thunderous din of something or someonecrashing full force into the alleyway below rang out. I threw the sash up on the window and chanced a look outside. Lights throughout the building were coming on, and several others people were already poking their heads out. It was too dark to make out anything distinct in the alley below, and I gave up trying to see anything when a rapid knocking sounded at the door.
“What’s going on?” Irene said nervously. I looked over at her and her body flickered briefly due to her sudden emotional state.
“Keep it together, Irene,” I said, running for the door.
When I opened it, two men stood there: Inspectre Argyle Quimbley and Thaddeus Wesker of Greater amp; Lesser Arcana. The old Brit looked positively winded, but Wesker just looked pissed off. He pushed his way into the apartment and Quimbley stumbled in behind him, clutching his side. I was stunned by their sudden appearance at my apartment, and in the middle of the night no less. No one from work had ever been here before. Well, unless you counted Irene. I shut the door and ran for the window, pulling the curtain down again now that Jane hadfour potential targets to choose from. Wesker was staring darkly at Irene.
“What’sshe doing here?” he spat out.
“Excuse me,” Irene said, heading angrily toward Wesker at a fast float. “Am I not in the room?”
“What’s going on?” I asked, quickly stepping between her and Wesker. Irene stopped in her tracks. “What the hell was that? Inspectre, was that you I heard calling out?”
Quimbley nodded in response, and gulped down a deep breath as he gathered his composure, starting with grooming his walruslike mustache.
“Wesker intercepted some intel from the Sectarians,” the Inspectre said, “regarding both you and Connor showing up at their offices. He learned that even though they now have possession of the fish artifact, they were still particularly interested in Ms. Blatt. All we know is that someone was very keen on finding her and was sending someone after you. So rather than involving the Enchancellors at this point, I convinced Wesker to keep things quiet and we decided to investigate the situation ourselves. Neither of our divisions wanted the red tape and triplicate forms of openly declaring a joint venture. We tried getting you on your cell, but you didn’t answer. We feared the worst.”
“I turned itoff because I was on a surveillance mission!” I said defensively. “One you sent me on!”
The Inspectre was wheezing now.
“Sir, are you okay?”
He nodded. “Ripping good rooftops in SoHo. Took me a bit of effort to climb up to the top of the building next to you, though. That’s when we observed a woman in black moving into position near your apartment. Striking-looking young lady.”
“That would be Jane,” I muttered quietly. The two of them stared at me blankly. I kept my voice low, hoping Irene couldn’t overhear. “Bane’s errand girl? The one you sent me to watch tonight? Look, Iknow Jane was watching me. I had everything under control here.”
Wesker perked up at the mention of her. “On a first-name basis now, are you?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head perhaps just a bit too much. “She was just there when Connor and I first encountered the Sectarians. When I went a little bat happy in their reception area.”
“You realize how bad that’s going to look for your future at the Department, don’t you?” Wesker said.
I smiled weakly. “Sorry,” I added.
“Nonsense,” Quimbley said, “happens to the best of us at times, my boy. Now, where was I?”
Wesker’s face tightened and he looked like he wanted to strangle the Inspectre right there in my living room.
“I believe you were moving in on Jane…” I offered.
“Ah yes!” the Inspectre said, eyes lighting up. “Yes. Anyway,Jane had lowered herself over the edge of the building across from yours, and before I knew it, Wesker was sprinting across the rooftops like some damned fool superhero. Before I could catch up, he pulled a switchblade and flicked it through her tie-off line. I tried to call out, but alas, too late.”
It was true that Jane was with the enemy here, had even brought a gun to deal with us if she had found Irene in my apartment. Still, it bothered me to think of her being harmed. That was a gut-wrencher I hadn’t expected. I couldn’t imagine Wesker killing her in cold blood. We had procedures and protocols in place for the handling of humans under the influence of dark forces. But then again, it wasWesker we were talking about.
“He didn’t kill her, did he?” Irene asked suddenly.
Quimbley shook his head. “I don’t think so. When I looked over the edge of the rooftop, I couldn’t tell.”
Wesker stepped forward.
“Enough of this concern for the enemy,” he said and glared at Irene over my shoulder. “What isshe doing here?”
I tried to look past Wesker, seeking guidance from Quimbley, but all the old man could do was look at me sympathetically.
“Don’t look at him,” Wesker shouted. “Answer me! What is she doing here?”
I tried to compose myself, keeping my anger over his tone in check, but the best I could do was sarcasm.
“I’m sorry, Director Wesker,” I said. “I didn’t realize that the Division of Greater and Lesser Arcana had generously provided accommodations for clients such as Miss Blatt. I suppose that’s why no onenoticed her orhelped her all day when she arrived. When I stopped by the office on my way home the other night, I found her pushed aside just like another stack of paperwork. The woman was practically beside herself. So tell me, where do you propose we have Ms. Blatt stay while the investigation is ongoing?”