Live and Let Drood

great doorway through which I could see a familiar London street. I sent the Phantom rolling smoothly forward and we left Brighton behind, in search of fresh prey.
    The Glass shut itself down behind us, ghosted through the back window, and nestled into the hand I put up to catch it. I put the Glass away, and tried to concentrate on my driving. This new Merlin Glass seemed to take a delight in demonstrating all the many tricks at its disposal. It seemed to have a lot more…character than the one I was used to. I wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or not. We’d appeared on a deserted side street, as I’d requested, and the few people walking up and down paid us no attention. I eased the Phantom V down the street and out into the main flow of traffic.
    “I know this is London,” said Molly, “but surely even the most blasé Londoner should have been a bit startled by a bloody big car appearing right in front of him.”
    “It’s all down to the Armourer,” I said. “Uncle Jack built some serious blending-in tech into the car’s shields.”
    “But the Phantom must have been identified by now,” said Molly. “And you can bet Crow Lee will have put out its description to everyone who answers to him. Or owes him favours, of which there are no doubt many. Why not just drop the car off somewhere safe and we’ll take the Tube? Who’s going to notice just another couple of tourists in London?”
    “Because I’m not ready to give up the car just yet,” I said stubbornly. “It contains many useful items, courtesy of my uncle Jack. And a whole armoury of heavy-duty weapons that I want close at hand, ready for when I need them.”
    “I’m not entirely helpless,” said Molly. “I still have a few charms left on my ankle bracelet.”
    I glanced at her carefully. “Just how low are your magic levels at the moment?”
    “Low,” said Molly. “I might be able to manage some impressive fireworks and whizbangs, but that’s about it.”
    “Then we need the car,” I said.
    “Don’t be smug,” said Molly. “Or I’ll hit you with my pony.”
    We drove steadily on through the early-evening London traffic. Cars and taxis and bendy buses flowed past, and the pavements were packed with people hurrying about their everyday business. No one paid the Phantom any undue attention, thanks to Uncle Jack. Droods aren’t supposed to be noticed. At least half our job is to keep people from noticing the very threats we protect them from. Droods are trained from an early age to deal with all the wonders and horrors of the hidden world, but even we have problems dealing sometimes. Humanity isn’t ready to learn who and what they share this world with. Of course, if I couldn’t find a way to bring my family safely home, Humanity might start findingout the hard way. There are all kinds of things out there who only play nice with everyone else because they know we’re watching.
    It didn’t take long to get where we needed to be. The Merlin Glass had followed my instructions to the letter, and we were soon easing up the Mall, with Buckingham Palace straight ahead. I smiled complacently at all the other cars, obediently paying London’s exorbitant congestion charge. Droods are exempt. In fact, we’re exempt from all the annoying intrusions of the Establishment’s bean counters. Perk of the job.
    “You do know where you’re going this time?” said Molly.
    “London is my territory,” I said grandly. “I was a field agent here for years before I even met you. Now, admittedly, I don’t know the city as well as I once did. My old armour had the equivalent of a sat nav built in. Complete maps of London and all its environs programmed into the torc, ready to be downloaded directly into my mind, as and when required. The rogue armour…doesn’t have that. So I’m having to work from my own personal memories.”
    “So, what happens when we get lost?” Molly said sweetly.
    “You get to ask for directions. But I don’t think that’s going to be necessary. Look up ahead. See the big palacey thing at the end of the Mall? Buck House, in all her glory.”
    “Yes, I can see the palace, Eddie; I’m just not sure why we need it. Madame O said we needed the Department of the Uncanny.”
    “So she did. She also said we’d find it at Big Ben. And how likely is that? Something that obvious, that public? How much do you know about the D of U?”
    “I know the name,” said Molly.
    “Then you’re ahead of most