sound of Meredith’s voice from below.
I crossed the living room and slipped through, the planks of the landing cool under my feet. Through the banisters, I saw a flicker of movement: Meredith was below, in the hall, her head down, speaking into her phone. “…have much choice!” Her voice was pitched low and she sounded scared and angry. “You said they wouldn’t come after me!”
The other person replied, an inaudible buzz. Whatever they said, it didn’t make Meredith any happier. “Don’t give me that! Did you know this was going to happen?”
“…”
“No! This wasn’t the deal.”
“…”
“Don’t you dare.”
“…”
“What, be your bait?” Meredith gave a shaky laugh. “You wish.”
“…”
“No shit I’m angry! If I hadn’t come here I’d be dead right—”
“…”
“Oh, now it’s
my
fault?” Meredith paced up and down the hall, only barely keeping her voice down. “Screw you!”
“…”
“Go to hell. Why am I even talking to you?”
“…”
“Yeah well, I’m a lot safer here than with you.”
The voice on the other end started to answer again but Meredith cut it off halfway through. “You’re gonna have to do better than that.” She hung up and switched off the phone.
I withdrew silently back across the living room, pulled the door to behind me, and lay down on my bed. A minute later I heard footsteps on the stairs, followed by the sound of the door to the landing being softly shut. A moment later the sofa’s springs creaked and there was the rustle of blankets followed by a soft sigh.
I lay awake, listening, but nothing further came. It was a long time before I fell asleep.
chapter 3
I woke to the sun on my face. Rays were streaming through my bedroom window, lighting up the drab room in yellow and white. Outside the window I could hear the chatter and bustle of the city. The storm had passed and the sky was blue with white cloud.
From the living room and kitchen, I could hear the bustle of movement. Meredith was making breakfast. I rose quietly and slipped into my jeans and shoes, then moved out onto the landing. The smell of something frying drifted from under the door to the kitchen and I heard the clink of plates. I opened the door out onto the balcony and stepped outside, shivering slightly in the cold, and the sounds from the kitchen cut off as I shut the door behind me. I climbed the ladder set into the wall and stepped off onto the roof.
It was a beautiful morning. Puffy white clouds were scattered across a clear sky and the sounds of the city washed up all around me, carried upon fresh, cold air. Puddles ofwater were scattered on the flat roof, left over from last night’s storm, but the sun had been up long enough for most of the damp to dry. A breeze was blowing, cool and brisk, sending ripples racing across the water. Chimneys and TV aerials rose up all around, and a little farther away were road and rail bridges as well as the square shapes of blocks of flats. The morning sunlight was clear and crisp, outlining every brick and stone in sharp-edged shadow. It was London: dense, ancient, and my home.
I took out my phone and dialled Talisid’s number. In case you’re wondering why I was climbing onto the roof to make a phone call, it’s because I didn’t want to be overheard.
It’s a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Stop looking at me like that.
Talisid answered when I’d expected. “Morning, Verus.”
“How did things go on Friday?”
“Routine. As far as the Council’s concerned, the matter’s closed.”
“Did you figure out what killed the barghest?”
“No need. Now that it’s dead, no one has any reason to spend the time.”
“Is the body in storage?”
“Destroyed.”
“Oh.”
“Did you want it examined?”
“I’d been hoping it would be.” I couldn’t honestly say it was unexpected but it was a bit disappointing all the same.
“I could always give you the autopsy report.”
“…Wait,
I crossed the living room and slipped through, the planks of the landing cool under my feet. Through the banisters, I saw a flicker of movement: Meredith was below, in the hall, her head down, speaking into her phone. “…have much choice!” Her voice was pitched low and she sounded scared and angry. “You said they wouldn’t come after me!”
The other person replied, an inaudible buzz. Whatever they said, it didn’t make Meredith any happier. “Don’t give me that! Did you know this was going to happen?”
“…”
“No! This wasn’t the deal.”
“…”
“Don’t you dare.”
“…”
“What, be your bait?” Meredith gave a shaky laugh. “You wish.”
“…”
“No shit I’m angry! If I hadn’t come here I’d be dead right—”
“…”
“Oh, now it’s
my
fault?” Meredith paced up and down the hall, only barely keeping her voice down. “Screw you!”
“…”
“Go to hell. Why am I even talking to you?”
“…”
“Yeah well, I’m a lot safer here than with you.”
The voice on the other end started to answer again but Meredith cut it off halfway through. “You’re gonna have to do better than that.” She hung up and switched off the phone.
I withdrew silently back across the living room, pulled the door to behind me, and lay down on my bed. A minute later I heard footsteps on the stairs, followed by the sound of the door to the landing being softly shut. A moment later the sofa’s springs creaked and there was the rustle of blankets followed by a soft sigh.
I lay awake, listening, but nothing further came. It was a long time before I fell asleep.
chapter 3
I woke to the sun on my face. Rays were streaming through my bedroom window, lighting up the drab room in yellow and white. Outside the window I could hear the chatter and bustle of the city. The storm had passed and the sky was blue with white cloud.
From the living room and kitchen, I could hear the bustle of movement. Meredith was making breakfast. I rose quietly and slipped into my jeans and shoes, then moved out onto the landing. The smell of something frying drifted from under the door to the kitchen and I heard the clink of plates. I opened the door out onto the balcony and stepped outside, shivering slightly in the cold, and the sounds from the kitchen cut off as I shut the door behind me. I climbed the ladder set into the wall and stepped off onto the roof.
It was a beautiful morning. Puffy white clouds were scattered across a clear sky and the sounds of the city washed up all around me, carried upon fresh, cold air. Puddles ofwater were scattered on the flat roof, left over from last night’s storm, but the sun had been up long enough for most of the damp to dry. A breeze was blowing, cool and brisk, sending ripples racing across the water. Chimneys and TV aerials rose up all around, and a little farther away were road and rail bridges as well as the square shapes of blocks of flats. The morning sunlight was clear and crisp, outlining every brick and stone in sharp-edged shadow. It was London: dense, ancient, and my home.
I took out my phone and dialled Talisid’s number. In case you’re wondering why I was climbing onto the roof to make a phone call, it’s because I didn’t want to be overheard.
It’s a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Stop looking at me like that.
Talisid answered when I’d expected. “Morning, Verus.”
“How did things go on Friday?”
“Routine. As far as the Council’s concerned, the matter’s closed.”
“Did you figure out what killed the barghest?”
“No need. Now that it’s dead, no one has any reason to spend the time.”
“Is the body in storage?”
“Destroyed.”
“Oh.”
“Did you want it examined?”
“I’d been hoping it would be.” I couldn’t honestly say it was unexpected but it was a bit disappointing all the same.
“I could always give you the autopsy report.”
“…Wait,
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