Unfallen Dead by Mark Del Franco Read Free Book Online Page B

Something happens and causes something else. Your metaphors tend to be pretty simple.” Meryl was a Dreamer. She had visions in her sleep that told her things, sometimes things about people, sometimes things about the future. The visions tended to be littered with metaphors that mean something only to the people who have the dreams. Meryl was one of the few people who could consistently interpret her dreams. Mine started after my accident, but I never understood them until too late.
    “What about the figures?”
    She twisted her lips in thought. “Two many possibilities. You’ll have to Dream more to understand if they’re your generic symbology or a distinct message. They could be two sides of an argument or two real people or a past memory or a future struggle or . . .”
    “Okay, okay, I get it. I have to figure out my own personal metaphors. At least I’m not seeing dead bodies this time,” I said.
    Meryl looked skeptical. “As far as you know. There is screaming involved.”
    I slumped in my seat. “You always have a way of looking at the bright side.”
    She shrugged. “Can’t help that. It’s my sunny nature. What are you going to say at the hearing?”
    I pursed my lips. “Pretty much what I know. I think the part they’ll be most interested in is the part that I don’t remember.”
    Meryl leaned back again. “Lots of politics in that room. Briallen and Nigel Martin have a battle of wills going.”
    Before she became my friend, Briallen was my first mentor on the druidic path. Nigel took over after her. I used to think he and I were friends. Now I’m not so sure. “Briallen and Nigel have been bickering as long as I can remember.”
    Meryl grinned. “Pretty much everyone is angry with him except, ironically, Eorla Kruge.”
    “Eorla Kruge’s at the hearing?”
    Meryl’s eyes gleamed with mischievous pleasure. “You didn’t know? She got the Guild Director position. It’s driving Ceridwen nuts. Eorla refuses to testify or recuse herself from the hearings.”
    That didn’t surprise me. Nigel made some kind of deal with Eorla in exchange for her help at Forest Hills. When Eorla’s husband was murdered, she became the most powerful elf in Boston. Even though she was a high-ranking member of the Teutonic Consortium, her politics were nuanced enough to let me like her. She had the deft ability to anger her elven comrades as often as their fairy opponents and still get what she wanted. I respected that.
    I glanced at my watch. “Speaking of hearings, I have to go.”
    Meryl rocked out of her chair. “I’ll walk with you. I need to go upstairs and get some supplies before anyone finds out the budget is being cut.”
    Out in the corridor, I slipped my hand onto Meryl’s back and gave it a soothing rub. She didn’t pull away. The elevator arrived empty, and she hit the button for the next subbasement up. I hit 23. “How do you always know so much about what goes on around here?”
    She eyed me meaningfully. “Because the people upstairs always treat their assistants like crap, and they tell me stuff while they’re waiting for research.”
    Once upon a time, I was one of those people upstairs. “You are never going to let me live that down, are you?”
    The door opened, and Meryl stepped out. “Not yet.”
    That was when I had my oh-shit moment. “Meryl?” She turned with a smile. “I forgot to mention—I left an angry boggart in your storeroom.”
    She swept her hands up under her bangs, as anger flooded her face. “I am going to kill you.”
    The door started closing as she stepped toward me. There was no way I was going to stop it. “Sorry! I owe you one!”
    Her sending slammed into my mind. Oh, you will owe me more than one. Trust me.

5
    The twenty-third floor of the Guildhouse existed in two different towers connected by a sky bridge. One tower held meeting rooms and the main elevator shaft, the other a few private temporary offices with a separate elevator for executives to