Blood Magic by T. G. Ayer Read Free Book Online Page A

eyebrows. I dusted myself off and said, "Long story. First you need to help me get the Chief and Chloe to a safe place."
    "That's all right, Mel." Chloe waved me away. "Just get us to my office, we'll arrange for transport on our own. Maybe it's best we not be seen together?"
    I nodded and got up, walking to them quickly. "I'll take you there now."
    Chief Murdoch placed a hand on my arm. "Melisande, if I know you at all, you will be blaming yourself for this and I would prefer you didn't."
    "But, your apartment . . ." The reminder of what they were about to lose weighed me down.
    He raised his hand to stop me from speaking. "It's just an apartment. We're all safe and that's what matters. It's not your fault." He smiled. "In the line of duty, shit happens."
    I snorted, but I relented, preferring to avoid an argument with the Chief. "What are you going to say about the evidence?"
    "What I would say about any evidence that burns up in my house. I signed it out, and it was destroyed along with my house. What can I do about a freak accident like that?" The Chief shrugged. "Now, if you could get us to Chloe's office we will go home and discover the destruction of our property."
    I nodded and held out my hands to them.
     
    ***
     

Chapter 10
    With the Murdochs safely at Chloe's office I returned home and threw myself onto the couch just as the clock struck nine. Was it really only an hour that had gone by? It felt like days.
    "You look like shit ," Drake said as he walked into the room with a tall glass of soda. He placed it on the tea tray beside the couch and sat beside me. "You've had a bit of an exciting day."
    I glanced at Drake, getting only a very neutral expression. "What's wrong?"
    "Nothing's wrong. Why does something have to be wrong?" He looked at me innocently, but innocence and Drake didn't go together.
    "Drake. I have enough shit to deal with right now. I do not need you keeping things from me." I turned to face the large gargoyle. "So start talking or I will have to make you." I choked down a smile. Here I was threatening a paranormal with the ability to crush me with his bare hands. Brazen.
    Drake turned and headed out the door. "Fine. You don't have to get all violent on me. Follow me if you want the information straight from the horse's mouth." I hurried out of the sitting room after him. Drake took the stairs two by two but I followed at a more sedate pace. I knew where he was going. Stephanie Maxwell was our resident computer geek and her computers lived upstairs in the attic, well hidden just in case the cops decided to raid my home.
    At the top of the stairs we turned right and climbed a too narrow staircase that led straight up into the dusty, cobweb-ridden attic. I could feel the hum of the computers from the bottom of the stairwell, something no normal human could do. We'd managed to soundproof the room but couldn't do much about the energy the machines gave off. At least I didn't have to worry about Fulbright's guys hearing it. Saleem was another story altogether. A paranormal might be able to sense the waves of energy coming from the room. But I wasn't worried about Omega or Sentinel. Both organizations hired me from time to time, both knew what I did for a living. Unlike Fulbright, who thought I was some kind of murderous private investigator.
    Inside the small attic we maneuvered past the old dusty trunks and boxes piled high at the eaves. At the far end an old grandfather clock stood beside a warped, gilt edged mirror that leaned against the wall, providing horribly distorted reflections to those who passed. Drake walked to the clock, and slid his hand behind the ancient piece, pressing the little button we'd installed there. The mirror swung forward on silent and invisible hinges, and we entered the tiny room behind it.
    Steph looked up at me, her expression worried, which made me worry.
    "What's up, geek?" I asked as I sat on the edge of her desk but she didn't smile.
    "You're not going to like this,