Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

leased to Abraham
     Brown this past November, which is a pretty neat trick, considering he died in May.”
     She stopped. “You found something?”
    “Not on the lists. One of my people found elf-scent at a Whole Foods store in Potrero
     Hill.” Wherever the hell that was. He’d been so eager to move that he hadn’t asked.
     “Do you know where that is?”
    “Sure.” The way her eyes brightened said she was eager to get moving, too. “I’ll take
     you.” She stuck her head back out in the hall. “Bill! I’m going with Turner to check
     out another lead. Get out to that warehouse, see if there’s a watchman or someone
     you can talk to.”
    “Can we get a copy of the picture on Abraham Brown’s license?” Rule asked. “Maybe
     the elves used that likeness for their illusion. Maybe someone will recognize it.”
    “Good thinking,” Bergman said. “Harris, you’re quick with that sort of thing.”
    “Sure, pick on the new guy.” But the young man stood, stretched, and hurried out of
     the room.
    “I will come with you,” Madame Yu said, and stood.
    Beth popped out of her chair. “Me, too.”
    Bergman shook her head at both of them. “I need people who can take it door-to-door
     if we get a hit on Brown’s photo. I don’t need civilians.”
    Rule saw the hand first. About three feet away, emerging from the wall next to Bergman—a
     clear, distinct hand. A man’s hand with a glowing gold wedding band on one finger.
     It was gripping something tightly. Behind it…mist. Only mist.
    “Rule.” Madame Yu’s voice was quiet. Worried. She’d moved up to stand beside him.
     “What is it?”
    “Drummond,” he whispered.
    The moment he used the man’s name, the mist began shaping itself. It assembled slowly,
     painfully slowly, but at last Al Drummond stood there in front of Rule.
    He looked bad. He’d been dead for three months, but now he looked like he was dying,
     and dying in agony. His face was grooved deeply by pain. The tendons in his neck stood
     out. He seemed to be fighting to stand upright. He looked at Rule and said something.
    “I can’t hear you. I can see you, but I can’t hear you. Where’s Lily? Is she nearby?’
     he asked sharply.
    Drummond shook his head and shuddered. Again he said something. Rule watched his mouth
     carefully, but he’d never learned to lip-read. “Again,” Rule said. “Say it again,
     slowly.”
    It was no good. He shook his head. “I can’t understand you. Dammit to hell!”
    “Who can’t you understand?” Bergman asked warily.
    “Quiet,” Madame snapped. “Rule, the ghost tied to Lily is here and trying to tell
     you something?”
    “I can’t hear him,” Rule said, his voice sinking to a growl. “I can see him, but I
     can’t hear him, and I can’t read lips.”
    “Can he see me?”
    Drummond nodded.
    “Yes,” Rule said.
    “And the map? Does he see that?”
    Again Drummond nodded. Again Rule repeated that aloud.
    “Good.” She marched over to the wall. “Mr. Drummond, do you know where Lily is?”
    Drummond nodded vigorously.
    “He does,” Rule said. His hands were fists at his sides.
    “We will play the hot and cold game.” She studied the map a moment then put her finger
     on it. “As I move my finger, Mr. Drummond will nod if I am getting warmer and shake
     his head if I am getting colder. If I touch the place where Lily is, he will speak
     again. Rule will report this.”
    Drummond shook his head and began to…it looked like he was pulling himself forward
     with one hand. A hand that gripped nothing Rule could see. He got close to Rule then
     stopped, his expression obviously frustrated. He waved at Rule with his other hand.
    “Wait a minute. I think he needs to be closer to the map.”
    Drummond waved at Rule again. This time Rule got it. He wanted Rule to move closer
     to the map. He did. And Drummond followed…slowly. As if each step was killing him.
     When he stopped he was hunched, one hand clutching his middle, the other one gripping
     nothing Rule could see.
    “Okay,” Rule said. “Go.”
    “I begin on the block where our hotel is,” Madame Yu announced.
    Rule was watching Drummond, not Grandmother, so he didn’t see where her finger went
     on the map. Drummond shook his head quickly. “Colder,” Rule said. A pause, longer
     this time. Drummond nodded slightly. “Warmer, but not hot.” Several more heartbeats…“Colder.
     Cold…okay, you’re back on track. He’s nodding. He’s…there.