Another slow nod. "Some."
"Do you know any of the local goblins?"
"A few, yeah."
"Do any of them owe you a favor? Or is there maybe one who you can scare into doing something for you?"
Ivan turned and looked at me. "Depends on what 'something' means."
I turned my stool toward him and leaned forward a little. "OK, here's what I had in mind."
By the time we finished talking with Ivan, who promised to stay in touch, it was getting near the end of our shift. But I wanted to do one more thing, before Karl and I parted company for the night.
"Since the bad guys know where I live," I said, "I told Christine to spend the day someplace else."
"Sounds like a good idea," Karl said. "You planning to follow your own advice, for a change?"
"Yeah, I am, as a matter of fact. I thought I'd get a room someplace until this mess of a case is resolved."
"Probably for the best. Got someplace in mind?"
"I want a hotel, not a motel," I said. "If I can get a room four or five stories up, or higher, I won't have to worry about anybody coming at me through the windows. And I'll set up some stuff at the door to give me a few seconds warning if anybody tries to get in that way."
"As long as you don't blow away some poor maid who just wants to change the sheets."
"I'll notify housekeeping to leave me alone," I said.
"So, there's five high-rise hotels in and around town, haina? Which one floats your boat?"
"I was thinking of the Radisson."
Karl whistled. "Stan the man is going first class."
"Fuckin' A," I said. "The city will reimburse me, since this is work-related, so I may as well make the most out of it."
I didn't tell Karl why I hadn't considered staying at the Hilton.
"Thing is," I said, "I need to go home first and pack a bag."
"And you want me to watch your back." One of the things I like about Karl is I don't have to draw him any diagrams.
"Exactly," I said. "Which is why I'd like us to go now, while there's still some night time left."
"So, let's do it."
Karl drove us back to the station house, where we signed out and got in our own cars. We'd agreed that Karl would leave first, and park a couple of streets over from my house. He'd quietly make his way through the neighbors' yards and get in position to watch my place before I drove up.
And if I encountered trouble from somebody already waiting inside, Karl's acute vampire hearing would pick it up, and he'd move in fast. He's been in my place many times, Karl has – he doesn't need to ask permission to enter.
I went in through my front door carefully, ready for trouble. But I needn't have worried. The only living soul inside was Quincey. Bringing his cage with me to the Radisson might draw attention, so I quickly changed his bedding, overfilled his food bowl, and attached an extra water bottle, so the little guy wouldn't dehydrate.
As I packed my suitcase, I kept one ear cocked for sounds of commotion outside. "If somebody does show up," I'd said to Karl, "take him – or them – alive, if at all possible."
"Fine with me, but if you're thinking of interrogating another one of these clowns – well, you saw what happened last time."
"Yeah, I know – they tend to be obstinate. That's why I have in mind something different to try, if we ever get our hands on another one."
But I guess the Church of the True Cross wasn't interested in me any more tonight. I locked the front door, waved in the general direction of where I figured Karl would be, and drove off to spend a few days in the lap of luxury. Of course, it's easier to enjoy elegant accommodations when you're not concerned about people trying to kill you.
On my way to the Radisson I called Christine. She had another half an hour to go on her shift at Emergency Services, but I wanted to be sure she knew where I was before she went to ground for the day. She's not supposed to take personal calls at work, and I'd already caused enough disruption over there for one night. So I called her personal number and waited for the voicemail to kick in.
"Hi, baby, it's me. I just stopped over to the house, and it's fine, but I still think we should both stay away for a few days. I'm going to be at the Radisson, under the name Michael Pacilio, P-A-C-I-LI-O. But if you want to call, you're probably better off just using my cell number. Love ya."
Michael Pacilio was the hero of that novel I'd been reading about scientists who'd opened the door to hell. I didn't think anybody would recognize the name – the book hadn't exactly been a bestseller.
I knew that using a phone while driving is against the law, and it's a law I usually agree with and obey. But shit happens, sometimes. I was tempted to arrest myself for the violation, but I decided to let me off with a warning, instead.
At the Radisson I talked to the assistant manager, Tim Walsh. I've known Tim a long time, and he agreed to let me check in under the false name I'd selected.
He also promised to override the computer's request for a credit card number to go with Michael Pacilio's name. Anybody with the resources of the Church of the True Cross might be able to access my credit card statements online. If they saw a current charge for the Radisson, they might send some people after me. Then the hotel would have more dead bodies to deal with, one of which might be mine.
Once I got into my room, I ordered a big room service breakfast, which Tim agreed to deliver personally so I wouldn't have to worry about who the waiter was really working for. He's a good man, Tim.
Then I called Lacey and brought her up to date. I also told her my idea about how to handle a prisoner from the Church, should we ever get another one. She agreed immediately, and said she'd start looking for a suitable place at once. I told her I'd ask around as well.
After eating, I left the tray out in the hall, took a shower, and went to bed. They say that we all dream, every night. Maybe that's true, but if I had any dreams this time, I was blessed by not remembering any of them.
I'd been at work about ten minutes when the Feebies marched in, intent on talking to McGuire. I received the usual Greer glare, but Thorwald didn't look at me at all. I tried to catch her eye, but it was like I didn't exist for her. Guess she didn't take kindly to being stood up.