Read Online At the Behest of the Dead by Timothy W. Long - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Timothy W. Long
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the location. From there I use the oldest tool in the book.”
“A spell?”
“Wrong book. Intuition.”
“My ex had good intuition. He left me for someone that had their life together.”
Andrews looked better than she had earlier in the day and I guessed she’d recently had a dose of whatever she was addicted to. She had on a non-descript dark blue jacket that would probably look very official with SPD printed on the back.
I sipped the coffee as I studied her eyes. She glanced up and down the street and I could tell she was much calmer. More relaxed and accepting. Maybe too relaxed. How much and what was she on exactly?
“Hey Phineas, I hope I didn’t say anything to offend you earlier. I’m really disturbed by the murders and , well, I don’t normally turn to paranormal means to solve them. Okay, I’ve never turned to paranormal anything.”
“No worries , and I’m not offended in the least. Walk with me,” I said and we fell into step together.
We passed several bars on the way up Yestler Street to the next location. Revelers sipped beer outside so they could smoke, bundled up in thick jackets but laughing at jokes just the same. There weren’t many tourists this time of year but I marked one or two, probably here on business. The emerald city did have a reputation for the high tech.
“So you’re not married?” I asked.
“Was. He left and took the kids.” She didn’t sound bitter.
“Sorry to hear that.”
“So was I. I was even sorrier to learn he left me for another man. It’s okay now. We make better friends than a married couple.”
Jesus ..
“I saw that little move at the crime scene. Was it real?”
“Real enough.”
She didn’t say anything for a few seconds.
“I’ve seen ...”
“Some wild things in your time , but you’ve never seen magic. I’ve never heard that one before. Bet you’ve never seen monkeys fly out of someone’s butt either. Doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”
“Very funny , smart guy.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
A cold breeze kicked up and threw my robe around my body. A blast flew up and rushed over my chest, cooling the pentagram there. The chill that followed sank into my bones and made my hair stand on end.
“Oh.”
I stopped in front of a nondescript green door. There were no signs, but I was familiar with it.
“The next location is in this alley, just around the …” she said, stopping to watch me as I stared at the door. “You know where that goes, right?”
“I know , and I think I know what our problem is. You ever seen a real angry changer go rogue detective?”
“Sometimes it’s like you’re speaking a different language. I’ve never seen a changer , let alone an angry one.”
“They get too used to their ot her shape. Maybe they kill a guy for no real reason except for the thrill. They get addicted to the blood and then they fall for the solitude. The part that was human is slowly leeched away and they become their other self. Well I think that’s our problem, and I think he’s using this area as a base of operations.” It was the longest thing I had said to the detective.
She stared at me and her eyes seemed to grow together as she considered my words. The detective was angry. That much was clear. There was a lot of prejudice against my kind, but it was worse when it came to the changers. Fear of the unknown peaked when humans were able to change into animals.
“You serious? A goddamn changer, here?”
“Changers are everywhere and most want to be left alone. We may have a unique one. I can’t remember seeing a changer go wild like this in a long time.”
“How long?”
“Maybe a hundred years ago. Might be a bit less than that. I’d have to check the records.”
“A hundred, huh?” Sh e scoffed.
A couple of guys walked by holding red cups. Unless I missed my guess , the cups were full of beer. If it was illegal to drink on the street, Andrews didn’t seem to care.
“I don’t
“A spell?”
“Wrong book. Intuition.”
“My ex had good intuition. He left me for someone that had their life together.”
Andrews looked better than she had earlier in the day and I guessed she’d recently had a dose of whatever she was addicted to. She had on a non-descript dark blue jacket that would probably look very official with SPD printed on the back.
I sipped the coffee as I studied her eyes. She glanced up and down the street and I could tell she was much calmer. More relaxed and accepting. Maybe too relaxed. How much and what was she on exactly?
“Hey Phineas, I hope I didn’t say anything to offend you earlier. I’m really disturbed by the murders and , well, I don’t normally turn to paranormal means to solve them. Okay, I’ve never turned to paranormal anything.”
“No worries , and I’m not offended in the least. Walk with me,” I said and we fell into step together.
We passed several bars on the way up Yestler Street to the next location. Revelers sipped beer outside so they could smoke, bundled up in thick jackets but laughing at jokes just the same. There weren’t many tourists this time of year but I marked one or two, probably here on business. The emerald city did have a reputation for the high tech.
“So you’re not married?” I asked.
“Was. He left and took the kids.” She didn’t sound bitter.
“Sorry to hear that.”
“So was I. I was even sorrier to learn he left me for another man. It’s okay now. We make better friends than a married couple.”
Jesus ..
“I saw that little move at the crime scene. Was it real?”
“Real enough.”
She didn’t say anything for a few seconds.
“I’ve seen ...”
“Some wild things in your time , but you’ve never seen magic. I’ve never heard that one before. Bet you’ve never seen monkeys fly out of someone’s butt either. Doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”
“Very funny , smart guy.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
A cold breeze kicked up and threw my robe around my body. A blast flew up and rushed over my chest, cooling the pentagram there. The chill that followed sank into my bones and made my hair stand on end.
“Oh.”
I stopped in front of a nondescript green door. There were no signs, but I was familiar with it.
“The next location is in this alley, just around the …” she said, stopping to watch me as I stared at the door. “You know where that goes, right?”
“I know , and I think I know what our problem is. You ever seen a real angry changer go rogue detective?”
“Sometimes it’s like you’re speaking a different language. I’ve never seen a changer , let alone an angry one.”
“They get too used to their ot her shape. Maybe they kill a guy for no real reason except for the thrill. They get addicted to the blood and then they fall for the solitude. The part that was human is slowly leeched away and they become their other self. Well I think that’s our problem, and I think he’s using this area as a base of operations.” It was the longest thing I had said to the detective.
She stared at me and her eyes seemed to grow together as she considered my words. The detective was angry. That much was clear. There was a lot of prejudice against my kind, but it was worse when it came to the changers. Fear of the unknown peaked when humans were able to change into animals.
“You serious? A goddamn changer, here?”
“Changers are everywhere and most want to be left alone. We may have a unique one. I can’t remember seeing a changer go wild like this in a long time.”
“How long?”
“Maybe a hundred years ago. Might be a bit less than that. I’d have to check the records.”
“A hundred, huh?” Sh e scoffed.
A couple of guys walked by holding red cups. Unless I missed my guess , the cups were full of beer. If it was illegal to drink on the street, Andrews didn’t seem to care.
“I don’t
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