San Francisco Night by Stephen Leather Read Free Book Online

they’re building to something big. Something really big.”
    “What and when?”
    “They wouldn’t tell me,” said Mitchell. “They said I’d find out once I was initiated.”
     “What about the leader? Abaddon? What can you tell me about her?”
    “Just a name to me,” said Mitchell. “She gave the orders, but I never saw her without the mask. The masks muffle the voice, so I don’t even know what she sounds like, but I do know she’s pretty damned powerful. I’ve seen her grant favors to her followers, call down power for them, bring them success in what they want. It was what I was hoping she’d do for me. Look, time’s running out for me. A black SUV turned up at my house. That’s when I ran.  I have to get away from San Francisco, chances are I’m being overlooked right now, they’ll catch up with me soon.”
    “Overlooked?” said Nightingale.
    “Yeah, a powerful Satanist can do that, go up to the Astral and follow someone from there. Abaddon’s more powerful than you’d believe.” His whole body was shaking and he had trouble getting the cigarette to his lips. “I won’t be safe until I’m out of the country with a new name and a new identity,” said Mitchell.
    “Almost there,” said Nightingale. “Come back with me to my motel and we’ll wait there. I’m at the La Luna Inn on 101.”
    Mitchell shook his head. “No, I’ve been safe enough over the last couple of days on my own. Let’s keep it that way until Joshua gets back.”
    “That’s crazy,” said Nightingale. “I can protect you.”
    “Against Abaddon? I don’t think so. I’ll go back to the mainland, you stay here. Watch my back. If you see anyone get onto the ferry who looks like they’re following me, phone me or text. Then when Joshua lands, I’ll come to you.”
    “What are you doing for money?”
    “I’ve got some.”
    Nightingale took out his wallet and gave him a handful of bills and a credit card. “Use this if you need more cash, but not in a store,” he said, and gave him the
PIN
number. “Don’t use anything with your name on it. And change your
SIM
card often. Each time you change it, send me a text so I can stay in touch.”
    Mitchell nodded. He pocketed the notes and card. “You see anything, call me while I’m on the ferry. Otherwise I’ll see you at your motel once Joshua gets here.”
    He turned to go but Nightingale put a hand on his shoulder.
     “Be careful, Lee,” he said.
    Mitchell nodded, flicked away the remains of his cigarette, and headed down towards the ferry. Nightingale watched him go. He wasn’t happy about Mitchell staying out in the cold, but it was his call. There was nothing Nightingale could do to force Mitchell to go with him. And besides, it was only one more day.
     
     
 

CHAPTER 9
     
    Mitchell walked down the gangplank, pulled his hood even further forward and headed off down Fisherman’s Wharf. He kept his head down and didn’t notice the two uniformed police officers blocking his way until he almost bumped into them. He moved to walk around them but one of them put a hand on his arm. “Lee Mitchell?” he asked.
    Mitchell shook his head. “No,” he said, and tried to push his way by. The officer tightened his grip on the arm. The second officer moved to Mitchell’s other side. “What is this?” he said. He felt a sudden stab of pain in his left arm and almost immediately his legs buckled.
    The two officers grabbed his arms and dragged him to the cruiser, his shoes scraping across the sidewalk.
    “Looks like you’ve had too much to drink, Sir,” said one of the officers for the benefit of anyone walking by but no one paid them any attention, those that weren’t looking at their smartphones were caught up in their own thoughts. The officers pushed Mitchell into the back of the cruiser and drove off, followed by a black SUV.
 

CHAPTER 10
     
    Nightingale caught the next ferry back to the mainland and took a cab to the motel. He collected his SUV