The Night Beat

reasons. It was a little longer and wider than normal, but nothing that couldn’t drive on a human street without too much notice. Well, as long as no one noticed what was painted on the sides. Merc and L.K. liked their fun, after all.
    “Ride with the best Little Devils anywhere,” Jack read aloud. “You called in evil demons?”
    I snorted. “Hardly. They just have an interesting sense of humor.”
    Two beings slid out of the Bus. Literally. They were both wraiths now, and they only used doors if they had to. Wraiths are more powerful than ghosts -- they have more of their human abilities with them, and can go solid if necessary. Plus, no icky ectoplasm smell. Of course, with these two, if they had smelled, they’d have found a way to counter it or, more likely, bottled it as the scent to attract the girls and boys.
    “That’s not Elvis,” Jack hissed at me as the wraiths solidified, touched ground, and sauntered over.
    “Nope.”
    Merc laughed at the expressions on Jack, Freddy and Sexy Cindy’s faces. “You didn’t tell them, darling?” He gave me a big hug.
    “It’s so much more fun to initiate this way.”
    “How’s Fangs doing?” Merc asked, as he let me go and L.K. gave me a hug.
    “Maurice is okay. Well, as okay as the rest of our team is.”
    “There’s big trouble going on?” L.K. asked, voice as smooth as single malt scotch.
    “Yeah, there is.” I gave them the fast highlights, reassured Merc that Maurice was really okay, and stressed that they were here for transportation assistance only.
    “Sounds like you might need us to do more than just drive,” L.K. said, looking and sounding worried.
    “L.K., you guys are the greatest but you’re not trained. I’m working with enough non-Enforcement personnel already.”
    “Why do you call him L.K.?” Jack asked finally. “And not Jim?”
    Merc and L.K. grinned. I shrugged. “He really is the Lizard King.”
    “And I’m not into titles all that much,” L.K. added. “But there are some undeads…well, you know…it’s easier if they don’t know where you are at any given time.”
    “Groupies hard to shake in unlife, too?” Sexy Cindy asked dryly.
    “You know it.” L.K. gave her a long, appraising look. “But, your Lizard King is always willing to make an exception for lovely and lonely succubae.”
    She snorted. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
    “Do.” L.K. looked at me. “And, of course, any time you’re ready, babe. You have the open invitation.”
    Jack glared and Ralph growled. I just laughed. “And I appreciate it, too.”
    Freddy was staring at Merc like he was seeing a ghost. Which, I guess, he sort of was. “That’s…you’re…this is Freddy Mercury,” he choked out finally.
    Merc nodded. “In the not-flesh, darling.” He cocked his head. “You were a fan?”
    Freddy nodded. “The biggest.”
    “A theology professor who was into Queen?” I wondered if I’d heard everything now, and figured I hadn’t.
    Freddy shook his head. “The insinuation that rock and roll was the Devil’s music always seemed unfounded to me.”
    Merc and L.K. grinned at each other. “Oh, Satan did have a lot to do with it,” Merc said.
    “He’s a cool dude,” L.K. agreed.
    Jack cleared his throat. “Anyone here want to help us get Nero into custody? Anyone at all?”
    “What’s the rush?” Merc asked. “Armageddon has a build, darling. There’s still time to avert it.”
    “Says a dead rock star,” Jack muttered.
    “Undead,” Merc corrected. He stared at Jack for a few long moments. Then he pulled me aside. “Why is he along?”
    “He’s my human partner. He’s handling all of this really well.”
    “And you’re sleeping with him.”
    “How can you tell?”
    He shrugged. “I can tell. Anyway, I don’t like him. And I know Jimmy doesn’t either.” Merc only called L.K. “Jimmy” when he was making the point that he was talking in a very personal way and about personal things.
    L.K. joined us. “I agree with Freddy. This one. Not his zombie namesake.” And, similarly, if L.K. was calling Merc “Freddy”, they were both making it clear that they weren’t kidding around. At all.
    “What’s wrong with him?” I asked a little more defensively than I wanted.
    Merc shook his head. “I don’t know. But…something’s off.”
    “Like what and how do you mean?”
    “He’s hiding something,” L.K. said. “You know, we spent our human lives around people who were hiding their real