Black London 05 - Soul Trade

being a nutter in there,” Pete said. “Make me think you know all about my troubles with Jack and his sight.”
    Donovan shot her a glare, the first expression she’d seen of his that Pete judged genuine. “I spent a lot of time dealingwith smooth talkers when I was a cop,” Pete said. “So if there’s a recruitment spiel, get to it. Otherwise, let me find Margaret and you can do whatever it is you came here to do.”
    “Started out just getting you to come over to our side,” Donovan said. “Now, it’s finding out what’s going on here for the men upstairs.”
    “I hate secret societies, and I hate sorcerers, and I hate deadbeat parentsmore than the two of them combined,” Pete said, slowing as they reached the populated area of Overton. “So why the fuck, when I’ve already given the Prometheus Club the finger, would I consent to join Darth Vader and his merry band?”
    “Because I’ve looked into you, Pete, and you don’t like to lose,” said Donovan. “And when the Morrigan makes her move on the daylight world, that’s exactly whatthe Prometheans will do. They’re a Bic lighter in a hurricane. The Prospero Society is smart enough to realize you don’t beat the Morrigan by ordering her to stop all this nonsense and go back to her room. They know that you have to play dirty.”
    He grinned at Pete again, and the shiver it sent up her spine had nothing to do with the chill mist. “I know that about you, too. I know you’ve flatout made bargains with demons to get your way, Petunia. That’s the sort of dirty pool that plays very well among my colleagues.”
    Pete didn’t want to look at him, so she did a quick sweep of the road. It was lined with cars and caravans, and Pete caught a flash of movement from behind a few. The guillible sods who’d come to the tent meeting that morning stumbled forth and glared suspiciously atPete and Donovan as they passed, unblinking eyes watching them until Pete finally glared back. “What’re they waiting for? A written invitation to eat our brains?”
    “They can’t help it,” Donovan said. “It’s this place. This village. It works on you, makes you think strange things.” He cast a look down at Pete. “You must have noticed it, even only being here overnight. Had any bad dreams?”
    Petereturned his gaze steadily. He was fishing, and it didn’t take a former copper to see through him. “Slept like a baby,” she said. “Besides, prophetic visions are more Jack’s territory.”
    “I know you’ll do anything to save him,” Donovan said. “That’s why eventually you’ll say yes to the Prospero Society. To whatever it takes.” His words, calm and soft, still cut, and Pete felt the salvo all theway down to her bones. She didn’t bother snapping back. Men like Donovan lived for setting you off balance, and she was too sensible to play that game. If he wanted her to get defensive, proclaim her innocence, she wouldn’t. Because she wasn’t. She had made a deal with Belial—not just a Named demon but a Prince of Hell, for fuck’s sake—to save Jack from the Morrigan. What she’d resort to nexttime, to keep Jack or Lily from the Hag’s darkness, she had no idea.
    But Donovan was right—it would be whatever was necessary.
    “How well does the mindfuck trick really work?” she asked, to turn her thoughts from the dark, raven-filled place where they’d wandered.
    “I can’t keep all these bastards at bay, if that’s what you’re asking,” said Donovan. “But I can misdirect the ones around the bratlong enough for a snatch and grab.” He grinned. “Hope those short little legs can move if they have to.”
    “Worry about your hex, not my legs,” Pete said. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you chatting up your son’s woman is poor form?”
    “More than once. Can’t say it ever sank in, though,” Donovan said.
    The Leroys’ semi-detached drifted into view, a wind ruffling the mist and drawing back the curtain.Music still drifted from the open front door, but as they drew closer Pete heard the drone of a record stuck on the last five seconds, over and over. She stepped through the door and saw an old-fashioned turntable in the corner. Beer bottles and spilled food covered every surface, and flies clustered thickly, just as they had in the Killigan house.
    “This whole place is rotten,” Pete murmured,and jumped when she realized Donovan was just behind her.
    “Top to bottom,” he agreed. “So where’s your little